Joe Biden repeatedly made a direct promise to get elected that no American making less than $400,000 per year would see “one single penny in additional federal tax.” Like almost all campaign promises, that one had an expiration date.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki began the process of reconfiguring Biden’s unequivocal promise by saying what he meant was “families” or couples instead of “individuals.” Now the word “you” means an entire family when it suits a governmental need.
It’s not just Americans making hundreds of thousands who need to watch their wallets around Biden now. Virtually every person who drives a vehicle is at risk under the new bipartisan infrastructure bill that Democrats are brokering with some Republicans in the Senate.
The infrastructure bill includes provisions for establishing a pilot program for a “national motor vehicle per-mile user fee.” The 2,750-page statement, which describes in intricate detail each component of the plan, has been designed to charge drivers according to the total amount of miles they travel.
If enacted, the bipartisan infrastructure bill will instruct the Treasury and Transportation Departments to make recommendations to Congress. Lawmakers would then decide on creating a miles-traveled tax.
Every type of vehicle typically using the nation’s roads, including passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty commercial trucks, would be included. Rates would vary to “reflect estimated impacts on infrastructure, safety, congestion, the environment, or other related social impacts.”
The Biden administration is already scrambling to spin the consequences of the new mileage tax on his repeated pledge not to increase taxes on Americans making less than $400,000 per year.
The White House emphasizes that the bill only creates a pilot program, with one official stating that the administration will “evaluate all legislation” against the $400,000 promise.
It seems evident that if Joe Biden seriously meant to keep his tax promise, he would not be pressing for a program studying a millage tax that will directly hit every American who drives. Of course, the tax would also increase transportation costs for all consumer goods and materials. It would result in higher food and other goods prices for all Americans.
