Janie Lopez Voted for a Taxpayer-Funded Study of a Mileage Tax: House of Bad Cards

HB 3418
"Relating to the implementation by the Texas Department of Transportation of a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program and a task force to assist in developing and evaluating the program."

This bill authorizes a study on replacing the gas tax with a per mile mileage tax. The pilot program is on commercial vehicles, however, the parameters clearly intend to go after regular commuters in cars: 'vary pricing based on the time of driving, type of public highway, proximity to transit, vehicle fuel efficiency, participation in car-sharing or pooling, or the income of the operator.' The GOP Platform in Plank #63 takes a strong position against any form of mileage tax.

This pilot program and mileage tax study opens the door to a mileage tax (or toll for every mile you drive) on all vehicles.

There were two key votes on this bill. A Yea vote for either one allowed this bill to move forward.

RV#1063
Yeas 102 (R 42, D 60)
Nays 35 (R 35, D 0)
View in House Legislative Journal

Yea - Allison; Anchía; Bailes; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Burns; Burrows; Button; Campos; Canales; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Cunningham; Darby; Davis; Dean; Dutton; Flores; Frank; Frazier; Gamez; Garcia; Gates; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Goldman; González, J.; González, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris, C. E.; Harris, C. J.; Hernandez; Herrero; Hinojosa; Holland; Howard; Hunter; Johnson, A.; Johnson, J. D.; Johnson, J. E.; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kacal; King, K.; King, T.; Kitzman; Klick; Kuempel; Lalani; Lambert; Leach; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Lozano; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morrison; Muñoz; Neave Criado; Ordaz; Orr; Ortega; Patterson; Perez; Plesa; Ramos; Raney; Raymond; Reynolds; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Shine; Talarico; Thierry; Thimesch; Thompson, S.; Turner; VanDeaver; Vo; Walle; Wilson; Zwiener

Nay - Anderson; Bumgarner; Capriglione; Clardy; Cook; Craddick; DeAyala; Dorazio; Gerdes; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hull; Isaac; Landgraf; Metcalf; Noble; Oliverson; Paul; Price; Schaefer; Schatzline; Schofield; Shaheen; Slaton; Slawson; Smith; Smithee; Spiller; Stucky; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Jetton: "When Record No. 1063 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes."

Leach: "When Record No. 1063 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no."

Morales Shaw: "When Record No. 1063 was taken, I was excused because of important business. I would have voted yes."

Vasut: "When Record No. 1063 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no."

RV#1099
Yeas 96 (R 36, D 60)
Nays 46 (R 46, D 0)
View in House Legislative Journal

Yea - Allen; Anderson; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Burns; Burrows; Button; Campos; Canales; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Cunningham; Darby; Davis; Dean; Dutton; Frank; Frazier; Gamez; Garcia; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Goldman; González, J.; González, M.; Goodwin; Guillen; Harless; Harris, C. E.; Harris, C. J.; Hernandez; Herrero; Hinojosa; Holland; Howard; Hunter; Johnson, A.; Johnson, J. D.; Johnson, J. E.; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kacal; King, T.; Kitzman; Klick; Kuempel; Lalani; Lambert; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Lozano; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales Shaw; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morrison; Muñoz; Neave Criado; Ordaz; Orr; Ortega; Patterson; Perez; Plesa; Ramos; Raney; Raymond; Reynolds; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Shine; Talarico; Thierry; Thimesch; Thompson, S.; Turner; Vo; Walle; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Nay - Allison; Bailes; Bell, C.; Bumgarner; Cain; Capriglione; Clardy; Cook; Craddick; DeAyala; Dorazio; Gates; Gerdes; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hull; Isaac; Jetton; King, K.; Landgraf; Leach; Metcalf; Murr; Noble; Oliverson; Paul; Price; Rogers; Schaefer; Schatzline; Schofield; Shaheen; Slaton; Slawson; Smith; Smithee; Spiller; Stucky; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; VanDeaver; Vasut

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Ashby: "When Record No. 1099 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no."

Burns: "When Record No. 1099 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no."

Frazier: "When Record No. 1099 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no."

K. Bell: "When Record No. 1099 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no."

Leo-Wilson: "When Record No. 1099 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no."