March 12, 2007

OLYMPIA… The Washington State Senate passed a bill Monday that would authorize the creation of a regional transportation commission (RTC) for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.  The RTC would be responsible for a broad array of transportation projects, including highway and public transportation projects, to be submitted to regional voters. 

While the RTC would be authorized to create funding through new taxes and tax shifts, such as increases in the sales tax, motor vehicle excise tax, parking tax, gas tax, and employee tax, an amendment by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, would have prevented the proposed RTC from implementing a “mileage tax.” 

“This legislation gives the RTC the power to increase or shift all these specific taxes, but one line in the bill really concerned me,” Carrell said.  “All these new taxes would require voter approval, except for tolls, fares and user fees.  I asked nonpartisan staff if that could that be interpreted to include a mileage tax, and they agreed that it could.” 

To track the mileage a car travels in order to tax, the owner would be required to place a transponder in his or her vehicle.  Carrell believes this is a dangerous concern that should be brought to the voters. 

“Once every vehicle has a transponder, the government will be able to track the location and movement of our citizens,” Carrell said.  “I believe they will use this to tax you the instant you start your car and move it. 

“When I found out that the gas taxes passed in the last few years weren’t enough, and even collecting tolls wasn’t enough to pay for the projects in the state, I knew they were going to have to come up with more money,” Carrell added.  “They knew the voters would not stomach yet another massive gas tax increase, so the only way they can get around it is with this mileage tax.”

During floor debate today, Carrell proposed an amendment that would have changed the language of SB 5803 to exempt any possible mileage tax, saying the government keeping tabs on the travel and location of its citizens is something that cries out for voter approval.  Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, prime sponsor of the bill, admitted in essence that other forms of taxation were necessary to fund the RTC projects. 

“This amendment, for me, is asking for the largest gas tax in state history,” Murray said of Carrell’s amendment, “because we have $63 billion worth of transportation needs in just three of our counties and we can’t raise the gas tax high enough to fix all those problems.” 

“I believe that once they start tracking the cars inside the RTC’s district, it’s only a matter of time before they go statewide,” Carrell said.  “They’re already talking about doing this for commuters who use the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and they can easily use existing cell phone towers to implement a tracking system network. 

“This is a threat by the majority to either allow the mileage tax, or implement another massive gas tax increase,” Carrell added.  “They’re going to toll the roads that taxpayers have already paid for to generate huge amounts of money.  Once they get this bill into law, the sky’s the limit.” 

Senate Bill 5803 passed 33-14 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Sen. Mike Carrell represents the 28^th Legislative District, which includes Lakewood, Steilacoom, University Place, DuPont, Fircrest, and parts of Tacoma, Fort Lewis, and McChord Air Force Base.

For more information contact Erich R. Ebel
at (360) 786-7395