I was disappointed last month when the Assembly passed AB 1421 (Wilson) over strong bipartisan objections. This legislation sets the stage for a new per-mile tax on drivers across our state — a move I opposed for its potential burden on everyday Californians without adequate safeguards.
Advocates for AB 1421 downplay the risks, insisting it’s merely a directive to “study” the contours of a mileage-based fee or road user charge. Indeed, the bill’s language focuses on preparing research and recommendations for such a system. But let’s be candid: In Sacramento, we don’t commission studies on policies we have no intention of pursuing. This “study” is a thinly veiled precursor to implementation, and it demands scrutiny.
