Pete Buttigieg wants to make it really clear that a mileage tax that shows a lot of promise is 'not part of the conversation'

It was Friday when Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNBC that taxing drivers by the mile showed “a lot of promise.” We’d been assured that people making less than $400,000 wouldn’t pay an additional cent in tax, but apparently on the condition that they don’t drive a car.

Feedback must have reached the White House, because on Monday, Buttigieg was on CNN with Jake Tapper to “make it really clear” that a mileage tax was “not part of the conversation” around the Biden-Harris administration’s infrastructure bill.

.@jaketapper: "You said also that a mileage tax showed, 'a lot of promise' as a way to help pay for the [infrastructure] plan … Is that under consideration?"

Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg: "No, that's not part of the conversation about this infrastructure bill." pic.twitter.com/zgjCfMtIbN

— The Recount (@therecount) March 29, 2021

As a reminder, here's what Sec. Buttigieg said Friday:https://t.co/t4NCW4va3U

— The Recount (@therecount) March 29, 2021

RTRS: U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG SAYS A TAX ON MILES DRIVEN IS NOT UNDER CONSIDERATION AS A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN -CNN INTERVIEW

— davidshepardson (@davidshepardson) March 29, 2021

Reverse! Reverse! But Pete’s original statement & Manchin floating a VAT shows that for all the “millionaires and billionaires” rhetoric, Democrats’ massive spending will require taxing everyone more, sometimes in regressive ways. https://t.co/zpLLNaeYf8

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 29, 2021

Nice walk back. Guess we all were heard.

— Gladys (@Gladys32096442) March 29, 2021

In related news, Buttigieg decided he might like to run for office again after all.

— Will Collier (@willcollier) March 29, 2021

Pete Buttigieg wants to make it really clear that a mileage tax that shows a lot of promise is 'not part of the conversation'

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