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Keith Fitz-Gerald of Money Map Press on the new efforts to raise money in Oregon.
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-- question.
That you never got to believe this one.
Apparently the green is in Oregon on not getting enough money from gas taxes because everybody's buying and driving those hybrids and electrics so now lawmakers want a mile tax for those fuel efficient -- to make up -- the lack of gas tax money.
Keith FitzGerald money -- press he brought -- the story he joins us now from Portland Oregon seems like.
They want your money any which way you can go Alabama do the right thing you can get yourself a Prius you can buy yourself a -- doesn't matter we're gonna tax you anyway.
-- feel about it.
I personally don't like it considering I drive to fuel efficient cars in the family a Turbo diesel and a Prius and I think that they want their pound of -- the matter which way they're gonna get it to compensate for decades of bad fiscal -- -- and it's coming to your neighborhood -- yet that passed the point does it at the moment it is a proposal in Oregon.
Does it look wanted to pass.
Well it's going to be 2015 -- working out the details but here's the thing.
Is they've had decades to work on this they've had decades to rein in spending -- figure out how to do it so naturally they're turning to any place they can get their meat hooks into -- -- wallet this is government at the people.
We don't know what's gonna pass yet or not but the Department of Transportation who comprise the test group logically thinks this is a good idea because they need the budget dollars.
Never mind that the consumers won't have a that they get extra taxes but yet let me just go through though one had -- to join -- -- was going on him -- five got a gas -- law.
I'm I'm paying a tax -- gallon of gas used so I'm paying a pretty high rate of tax.
It finds a way -- it's a month by the pump price if I if I switched to a Prius for -- -- on getting maybe forty miles of the gallon.
I'm paying a lot less tax -- gallon.
What they wanna do is make it up by taxing -- ton mile driven so they get a money any which way is that right.
That's right they want to discern what type of vehicle you're driving.
Specifically target -- -- it's -- fuel efficient vehicle and on top of that they wanna catch you wanna -- -- basis.
Which brings -- concern all kinds of privacy issues it brings tracking to bear it brings insurance issues there's all kinds of things.
And you can bet that once the government -- their hands into the data.
They're not to let -- of it how all they can -- do I have to -- thing.
But it -- Mike Condit says how many miles -- drizzly and not pay a tax on -- -- has it will.
Well there's two systems are being proposed one is that they use your ubiquitous Smart phone to track where you are when you are and how fast you've been driving which of course is a law enforcement issues as well.
But they're also talking about mandating specific installation of devices in your car -- every car and -- conceivably could have to have one of these devices.
Built into it which of course would raise the cost -- cars coming here to.
You you've gotta fight it you you just gotta fight this thing yet and I know you will but it before you go I want to comment on the California story.
The proportion of children in the population.
Going weighed down gives -- -- demographic problem you're the expert on Japan you brought -- that story.
Does the California story reminds you a little bit of what's already happened in Japan.
Not just a little bit Stewart a lot.
I mean this is this is it very serious issue they have tremendous fiscal imbalances already the lack of children speaks to a smaller workforce.
Lower number of jobs ahead at a time when they've got huge budget problems in a growing retiree base this is a very very serious development that cannot be overlooked in California it would behoove them.
To focus on this -- laser like intensity right now if they want to avoid Japan's experience cause they could also focus -- laser like intensity on that pension problem on a spending problem on their environmental but I I digress keys it's just that's why we called Fantasy Island gets.
We put them on front of the island every -- Keith FitzGerald good stuff thank you very much indeed see you soon.
