While browsing through the Congressional Record last night I came across a list of the memorials read and referred in the House. Memorials, according to the Congressional Research Service, are “a request, usually from a state legislature, that the Congress take some action, or refrain from taking certain action.” One in particular caught my attention.

Memorial 127 – A memorial of the General Assembly of the State of California, relative to Assembly Joint Resolution No. 5 requesting the President and the Congress to enact legislation to study the feasibility of the collection process for a transportation revenue source based on vehicle miles traveled; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Rarely do I feel compelled to applaud California for anything it does in relation to the automotive industry. Today I find myself wanting to do just that. If there were a Google Future app and you entered “fuel tax” you’d get back stories of either s bankrupt highway trust fund or outrage over a higher fuel tax. Either way, neither are good outcomes. While California is hell bent on killing the combustion engine, they also recognize the impact of that death – diminished transportation revenue.

We aren’t going to wake up one day and the only thing pulling into fuel stations are tumbleweeds and vintage Fox bodies. Instead it will be gradual reduction in fuel use resulting in small decreases in revenue. Right now it seems like every week an automaker announces an increased in fuel efficiency, which over a period of 10-20 years can add up significantly.

But what is the best way to address this? Levy a higher tax on commercial industry and blame their heavy loads for road wear and tear? Adopt a per-mile tax system where the fuel used is irrelevant? Print money and feed the trust fund directly from the Federal Reserve?

There are many options, but until we have a national debate on the issue we can’t come to an agreement on the best way ahead. In the mean time vehicles continue to become more efficient and fuel consumption will decline along with it.

Happy Motoring,

DCAG