It’s hard to imagine, but officials in six large cities want Congress to let them force the cities’ taxi services to switch to high-priced, more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles.
But that should be a decision by the local taxi companies, not by Congress nor by the cities in question – Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington.
After all, neither Congress nor the city officials would pay the cost of converting to hybrid vehicles. That cost would be borne by the taxi companies and their customers.
Some believe such a mandate would boost sales of hybrids. But forcing such purchases amounts to government picking winners and losers, rather than letting the free market decide based on consumer preference and choice. It also amounts to a backdoor tax.
There is too much of that meddling already. Government needs to stop substituting its judgment for the judgment of millions of consumers.