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User fees

Eric Boehm is seen with an airplane and an air traffic control tower in the background | Adani Samat/Cody Huff

Air Traffic Control

Why Does the Government Run Air Traffic Control?

Air traffic control is simply too important to leave up to the politicians.

Eric Boehm | 7.29.2025 11:00 AM

A photo of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, taken from shore | Jerry Jackson/TNS/Newscom

Congress

Taxpayers Outside Maryland Shouldn't Pay To Rebuild a Toll Bridge Inside Maryland

Part of the 1,500-page spending bill Congress is expected to pass this week would obligate federal taxpayers to fund the Key Bridge replacement.

Eric Boehm | 12.18.2024 2:30 PM

Pedestrians walk by a Wells Fargo in Manhattan | Jimin Kim / SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Newscom

Price controls

Bureaucrats Are Moving To Cap Bank Overdraft Fees, Which Will Hurt the People It's Meant To Help

Many who see overdraft protection as preferable to other short-term credit options will have fewer choices as some banks decide the service isn't worth offering anymore.

Veronique de Rugy | 2.8.2024 12:40 AM

reason-nyc4 | Malo299/Dreamstime.com

Congestion Pricing

New York Will Charge Drivers $15 To Enter Lower Manhattan

The new tolls are part of a congestion pricing scheme that's been years in the making.

Christian Britschgi | 12.8.2023 3:20 PM

Visa and Mastercard credit cards | Photo 45270296 © Ekaterina79 | Dreamstime.com

Credit Card

Progressives and Populist Republicans Are Coming for Your Credit Card Rewards

New legislation would intervene in the credit card market to help businesses like Target and Walmart, who don't like the fees they have to pay to accept credit card payments.

Veronique de Rugy | 7.20.2023 1:35 PM

A woman cuts up a credit card | Photo 27246429 © Sixninepixels | Dreamstime.com

Credit Card

The Government Wants To Cap Credit Card Late Fees. It Will Hurt the Poor.

Delayed payments will increase, and companies will respond by raising interest rates—or denying low-income applicants outright.

Veronique de Rugy | 5.4.2023 12:01 AM

topicslifestyle | Photo: Mike Riggs

Culture

One Foot off the Grid, Where We Don't Have To Deal With the City Water Department

Living without government services isn't necessarily cheaper or easier, but it sure beats putting up with municipal bureaucracies.

Mike Riggs | 12.26.2022 7:00 AM

Driver pumps gas into car. | Ishtygashev/Dreamstime.com

Transportation Policy

The Gas Tax Makes Sense. Biden Considers Canceling It.

Road maintenance and construction don't suddenly become free because gas hits $5 a gallon.

Christian Britschgi | 6.21.2022 2:00 PM

erik-mclean-w85wCFelnmw-unsplash | Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Gas Taxes

There Are Many Problems With Democrats' Plan for a Federal Gas Tax Holiday

A federal gasoline tax holiday would undermine the user fee system for funding highways and could worsen inflation.

Eric Boehm | 2.16.2022 2:40 PM

reason-desantis2 | Paul Hennessy/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Transportation Policy

Politicians On Left and Right Want Someone Else to Pay for Transportation

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed gas tax holiday and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's fare-free bus plan will both require taxpayers to subsidize infrastructure they don't use.

Christian Britschgi | 11.24.2021 11:30 AM

reason-highway3

Infrastructure

Republicans and Democrats Endorse Concept, but Gloss Over Details, of Funding Infrastructure With User Fees

A federal mileage-based user fee is still years away, and there's very little political support for a federal gas tax hike.

Christian Britschgi | 5.14.2021 2:50 PM

Large image on homepages | Sonnenbergshots / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: Taken for a Ride

Charles Oliver | 1.16.2019 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Martinmark/Dreamstime.com

Gas Taxes

Trump, Dems, Business Want a Gas Tax Increase. The President's Economic Advisers Suggest a Better Idea.

Mileage-based user fees would charge drivers for how much road they use, not how much fuel they burn.

Christian Britschgi | 2.22.2018 2:30 PM

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