As new opportunities emerge for private space travel, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) eyes the opportunity for a new tax.
The Securing Protections Against Carbon Emissions (SPACE) Tax proposes a new excise tax on flights into space for purposes other than scientific research. NASA would qualify for exemptions.
According to Blumenauer, the tax includes a tier for space flights lower than 80 miles from the Earth’s surface. A much higher tax tier would apply to orbital flights greater higher 80 miles.
“I’m not opposed to this type of space innovation”, said Blumenauer. “However, things that are done purely for tourism or entertainment, and that don’t have a scientific purpose, should in turn support the public good.” Apparently having the private sector build rockets that are more efficient, save taxpayer dollars, help advance US technology, win the Space Race while paying for it by having people happily volunteer their money by creating space tourism is NOT a “public good”? According to politicians like Blumenauer, the only thing that is the public good is if it is government doing it. This is why politicians find it so easy to tax us, tax our dreams, tax our success and tax our livelihood, because they only see themselves as good.
