Comments on: D.C. Commuter Tolls

By: Robert Prather

Robert Prather — Sat, 19 May 2007 17:43:53 +0000

Unlike James, I'm not particularly sympathetic to DC's plight. They benefit immensely from the presence of the federal government. I'm also a big fan of toll roads and don't have a problem with people being charged with the use of roads, provided that it's revenue neutral.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:15:30 +0000

I've certainly never heard a toll described as "confiscation from people who have no say in the matter." I was talking about standard "commuter taxes," which are income taxes paid by non-residents. But paying a toll for a road that's already been built by the federal taxpayer in order to visit the nation's capital--which only exists as a city of significance because of the federal taxpayer--is outrageous. It would certainly make me even less likely than now to venture into that horribly run city, too. It's already nigh unto impossible to drive and park there; I'd sure be reluctant to pay a toll, too!

By: jeff b

jeff b — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:25:07 +0000

There's actually a very good reason to prefer a toll over a tax on employers. The employer tax equally burdens all employees, regardless of the manner in which they choose to arrive at work. The same $10 will come out of the paychecks of those who walk half a block and those who park their cars inside the city. That wouldn't be a good policy since the cost comes from the driving and parking, not the walking. I've certainly never heard a toll described as "confiscation from people who have no say in the matter." All of the tollpayers could choose to not drive across the boundary.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:25:42 +0000

Mark: Most federal employees have no such 'free parking' spaces, in Washington or elsewhere. Only the top echelon of agencies or departments--and perhaps a few who, for safety reasons require it--get free parking. Even those, parking within federal buildings, do not get free parking: local prevailing rates are required to be charged.

If you're below the top tiers, you're on your own in the commercial parking world.

Instead of a commuter tax or toll gates, the DC government could institute an employment tax on employers. Since all employers gain benefit of DC infrastructure, they could all be taxed, morally and legally, with paying their share of the freight.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 18 May 2007 14:25:44 +0000

The federal employees union would never let this happen. Too many federal workers have cheap parking spaces they are not going to want to spend money driving to.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:37:52 +0000

True enough. I'm sympathetic to their desire for representation in Congress, too, although not their desire for statehood or quasi-statehood.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 18 May 2007 13:31:24 +0000

The punch line about the DC Council attempting "No taxation without representation" is that they've been complaining about this same principle (with themselves on the receiving end, rather than the taking end) for years with regards to DC statehood. It's even on the license plates: http://tinyurl.com/3a63br