Drivers fume over Dem-led push that could see them taxed for every mile: Citizens treated like ATMs

California drivers and Republican legislators are furious over a Democrat-led proposal that could see motorists taxed for each mile they drive.With the state staring down a budget deficit in the billions and more Californians switching to electric vehicles, Democratic lawmakers are searching for new ways to shore up declining gas tax revenue.Californians pay the second-highest gas price in the nation behind only Hawaii.In January, the average price was $4.23 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.On Thursday, state legislators advanced Democrat Lori Wilson’s bill, AB 1421, which would direct the California Transportation Commission and the state Transportation Agency to continue studying options for a mileage-based tax, rather than implementing one.Opponents of the proposal were out in force Saturday, with activists gathering at Cal Expo in Sacramento to collect signatures opposing a raft of new Democratic tax measures, including a potential mileage charge.“I just got very tense and insecure, because I drive a lot of miles,” said Sherrie Ann Lorenzo, a Chico resident.

“I don’t want to be taxed for driving.It’s my freedom.

I live in the home of the free, I thought.”Under concepts outlined in the study, the tax could range from two to nine cents per mile.With California drivers logging roughly 11,400 miles a year on average, a mileage charge could cost motorists between $228 and $1,026 annually.Beyond the price tag, critics warn that tracking drivers’ mileage could be both logistically complex and deeply invasive.“This disproportionately hits rural residents and long-distance commuters,” Republican lawmaker Alexandra Macedo said.

“This favors wealthy EV drivers over everyday Californians.We already pay the highest gas tax in the U.S.

We shouldn’t be adding a mileage tax on top of it.”Bruce Lou, a delegate for the San Francisco and state Republican Party, was among those blasting the proposal online.“This per-mile t...