[LI] Pete Buttigieg wants to charge you more to get to work and buy groceries. The former mayor-turned-U.S. Transportation Secretary renewed calls for a Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT).
Buttigieg discussed the Biden administration’s as-yet released infrastructure plan during a maskless (albeit socially distanced) interview with CNBC. He said he believes a mileage-based tax "shows a lot of promise" for funding an infrastructure package that will cost trillions and that existing gas taxes are no longer a feasible funding solution. Buttigieg also mentioned reviving the Obama administration’s "Build America Bonds."
Not discussed during the interview was the impact of such a mileage-based tax on low and middle-class Americans who do most of the driving in the U.S. The VMT directly targets those people who live in Republican-leaning states, many in rural areas. Urban areas offer residents public transportation and much shorter commutes. However, the backbone of America’s economy is small and medium-sized businesses run by people who still have to drive from suburban and rural areas to get to work and buy groceries to support their families. |