The liberal agenda is to push everyone toward mass transit and urban living. This is just another way to try and do exactly that.
Where is Governor Doyle on this? He raided the transportation fund of more than 2 billion dollars. Where are these ex politicians that have caused this mess? They need to be put at the forefront and held responsible for what they have caused for once.

I would have no issue with these increases if all money collected now actually went for the intended purposes. Removing monies from piles like gas taxes to pay for trains and buses does nothing for the roads; intended target.

As a citizen, I see the Governor giving my family back $200 this next year in tax "breaks". He will then raise my family license fees to "shore up transportation funding" in Wisconsin. This will cost us $360. How is this not a "tax" increase? Why is it that politicians need to lie about the reality of funding imbalances? I know the governor's road building buddies want more funding but aren't there already enough pigs in this political trough? I believe a construction job building roads would be good for most job seekers. But who will really benefit from this proposal, the fat cats? I guess I can afford a "fee" increase because it will only cost our family 53 loaves of bread. I need to lose some weight anyway, but my kids and grand kids don't. Also, didn't the state already shift the shaft of greater taxation policy and responsibility to county and municipal governments? Why can't this state's representatives do like my family and try to get along with less?

NO! No new taxes or fees. These guys need to learn how to work with in a budget like the rest of us have to. I don't know about anyone else but in my opinion I can't afford to pay extra money is tight. Unless the state raises the minimum wage to pay for it I fop one am not willing to pay any more than what we are now. So Mr Governor and our politicians the answer is hell no no more taxes or increased fees until the minimum wage goes up.

Good idea so the next governor can steal from the transportation fund like the previous ones have and then they can claim they will need more revenue

MikeF, I drive 500+ miles/week just for work. 40 gallons/week could easily be done if you work in Madison or Milwaukee and especially if you drive an SUV. My Chevy Impala has a 17gal gas tank and I fill up twice a week.

So, will this mileage tax be placed on commuters only, or will business who's vehicles use the roadway too share in the sacrifice as well? I suspect business will not have to pay the mileage tax. You wouldn't want to burden the "job creators". Keep in mind too that Scott Walker's Act 32 brought you this Transportation Finance and Policy Commission. Check out the make up of the 10 person board. Six lemmings are governor Walker appointed, 2 are Republican appointed, 2 are Democrat appointed. Lots of business people/Walker people on the board. Do you think they will decide what is fair for everyone involved?

Honorfirst-I could not agree more. Had a friend who worked at one of the local road construction companies and he loved it when they got state work, his pay went up by more than 50% (and the union dues of course did too)
Just making that change would save millions. I am also tired of hearing that driving is a privilege, it's a necessity out here in the boonies.

I have a question about this "mileage charge". Most of my long distance trips are outside of the state (I "Escape from Wisconsin") so shouldn't we who are not using state roads NOT be charged extra for driving outside the state?
if it comes to that... guess it will be time to escape for good.

NBC15.com local tv news had former Madison mayor Dave C. on. He's an idiot, all people agree that I know (and I hate the Tea Party). He's the guy who got the boot for refusing to plow/salt roads in Madison a few years ago. Anyways, this idiot said the mileage charge would be one cent per mile, with a cap of $175 iirc.

truth1: My favorite law of unintended consequences. Government mandates a higher CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) so cars get more efficient. Current Administration has mandated even higher in years to come (around 50 mpg) so even less fuel will be used for same miles driven. Add to that the state of the economy and higher unemployment and you have much less gas being used so much less collected in gas tax for road upkeep. And yes the previous state administrations also raided the transportation fund to balance the budget. Pretty much a no win situation. Almost need to pay by the mile instead of by the gallon (some states are adding a special tax on hybrid or electric cars due to same difficulties). Then the ones putting the most wear on the roads would carry the higher burden. But with bad economy and some people having to drive farther to work just to have jobs ... likely the least able to afford to pay by the gallon or by the miles would get hit the hardest. So let's use the surplus as I said earlier before we even talk anything else but this problem is not limited to Wisconsin.

Soon they will tax you to walk

No gas, no plates, no car. Quess we'll walk? Oop's no sidewalks.............

There should be more than enough money in our transportation fund but it was mismanaged over the years, used for other purposes. Truth1 that's where it went

As reported earlier, the commission looked at tollbooths and concluded federal rules make tollbooths impractical in Wisconsin, at least for now. I believe the commission urged Wisconsin's congressional delegation to do something about it. -- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz

@MikeF: Why is it your business where anyone drives and how much? As for those of you who want tolls - brilliant - it's not like your city is located near the border and many of your residents work across the border.

acejd93- 40 gallons a week?!?! Just where do you drive? That is over 800 miles in my old beater van! Over 40,000 miles per year.

How about the DOT learn to live within it's budget?

Where is the 2 billion IOU in the transportation (so called) trust fund the politicians raided the past 10-20 years? Tell me where that money went, and what we have to show for it.

Now raise fees & taxes so when the fund runs a surplus they can raid it again. What a scam!

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/ga...

Maybe it's because we're already charging an arm and a leg for gas tax.

With the wheel tax and this....wow. Where is the consideration for people that own multiple vehicles? This is a load of garbage.

Based on an average 40 gallons/week, the increase tax would be $105/year vs. $150/year with the milage and increase in registration. Start calling your local crook (representitive) expressing your concerns NOW!

I'll bet most people are completely oblivious to the fact that EVERY gallon of vehicle fuel sold is taxed about FORTY CENTS for road repairs/construction and tires and auto parts are taxed similarly.
WHERE is all THAT money going?????
In total, it is a STAGGERING amount of money.

sleeponit...just another example that Walker doesn't work for the people of WI.

Sleeponit, Maynard, and Twerp: I couldn't agree more!!! Why punish the state of Wisconsin people for driving to work to pay for all the other stuff that Walker is indirectly raising! Just think of how much money could be raised on Friday-Sunday from the weekend warriors that come into this state if they'd just raise the gas tax or redirect the 'surplus' that he claims there will be. If Walker gets his way with this one too, he should distribute the funds to the county the vehicle is registered in for road improvements, otherwise our money around here is going to road projects in Milwaukee or elsewhere while our roads like HWY11 stays a washboard.

We may be able to get more for our money if we allow non-union workers to build and maintain our infastructure. We could do much more with the money we have without raising taxes or fees.

Governor Walker is opposed to raising the gas tax why? Raising fees for vehicle registration, mileage driven, and driver's licenses would insure that only Wisconsin residents would pay into the transportation fund. Raising the gas tax would insure that visitors to our state would help with that funding. It seems that Governor Walker thinks we are too stupid to figure out that he is giving us the shaft. He doesn't want to raise the gas tax but he will raise the fees on every other aspect of driving for Wisconsin residents. Put the surplus into the transportation fund and raise the rest by simply raising the gas tax. It's not that hard.

Simply divert the projected surplus talked about in another article to road repair and create some of those 250K jobs while you are at it. Why talk about $200 per family or a 300-350 million tax cut out of one side of your mouth and then talk about needing fee increases (still taxes) to fix roads. Why? ,, to buy votes of course just like both the Republicans and Democrats did at the national level for the last 2 years with the reduction of 2% in the social security tax. Program already in trouble. Not to worry though ,,, they replaced the money not collected with additional borrowed money from the general fund.

Put a Toll on the borders and problem solved ! No brainer to me,this would also create jobs !

Nothing is a great idea in these times but I would rather see a raise tax on the gas than the stupid idea of a millage fee. At least that way the tourists would be helping to maintain the roads they use too. That and the fact that it would cost a whole lot more to implement the millage tax...more government workers needed to keep track, devices to be installed in vehicals,and the fact that it punishes those who have to travel to work.
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The only other workable alternative is to increase the yearly registration fee...but NO to the millage thing !