Delegate Scott Surovell and Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Awesomeness) have created a petition to urge Governor McDonnell to “Veto the Hybrid Tax”! The immediate goal is to get the governor to use his line item veto to remove this anti-clean energy provision from the transportation bill.
Whether this works or not, keep in mind the equally important goal of demonstrating the power of those who support clean energy and sustainability policy — of which Virginia remains one of the most backward states, and not getting any better. Unless we speak up now, we — and future generations — will continue to be ignored.
As Del. Surovell summarizes the reasons to kill the green car tax, in an email to supporters
This is bad policy.
The Hybrid Tax punishes saving energy. Virginia needs to create incentives to encourage energy conservation so America can be energy independent. Most states are giving tax credits for hybrid purchases, not punishing owners.
The Hybrid Tax is a punitive tax. The typical hybrid vehicle saves less than $35 per year in gas taxes – a $100 annual fee has no relationship to anything.
The Hybrid Tax is unfair. There are many non-hybrid vehicles that get better MPG than hybrids. They don’t pay the tax. This indiscriminately picks on one technology.
Hybrid owners already pay their fair share. Hybrids already cost 10% more than other cars and there is no personal property tax phaseout for vehicles worth more than $20,000.
The Hybrid Tax will barely generate revenue. There are only 92,000 hybrids in Virginia – 1.3% of the entire vehicle fleet.
The Hybrid Tax picks on Northern Virginia. 83% of Virginia clean fuel plates are registered in Northern Virginia. This is one more example of Northern Virginia being used as a statewide piggy bank.
I like the spirit of these guys, fighting well into overtime for what’s right. Please take just a minute to join them and add your name to the list.
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