Washington State Considering Fuel Efficiency Tax
Washington state jumps on the green wagon and is considering a bill that will tax citizens based on the EPA’s fuel efficiency ratings of their vehicle, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Senate Bill 6923 would impose an excise tax to aid (or replace the gas tax) in the state’s falling gas tax revenues – due to the high cost of gas, and popularity of fuel-efficient vehicles. Toyota Prius owners would pay roughly $60 annually, while Hummer H2 owners would pay $180.
Senator Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said, “The (governor's) climate advisory team said that the biggest global warming problem in this state is actually from transportation. “We have fairly clean industry, so we have to be careful that we don’t get into the situation where we’re punishing a few industries when the problem is actually the number of automobiles. This legislation finally takes into account global warming to the responsibility of owning a vehicle.
Comments
Rudy
"This legislation finally takes into account global warming to the responsibility of owning a vehicle"
so let me get this straight, because a car gets lower mileage you have to pay more to the government for using more gas. aren't you already paying more in gasoline tax, since you are buying more gallons? which side are they on? They throw this "global warming" buzz phrase in there as if they want people to use less gas..but the article says they need another tax to aid in the falling gas tax revenue. so essentially, the people with gas guzzlers are paying more taxes on both fronts. Let's just say this goes through and encourages people to buy more fuel efficient cars, then the revenue goes down for the state from both sources.
DOWNSHIFTER
So what's behind this tax, falling revenues or higher pollution levels? As more people drive cleaner or less, revenues will continue to fall. Yes, their air will be cleaner, but I bet they come back with their hands out.
Rudy
Well said, Downshifter. Thanks for making my long story short :D
Ben
So, gas taxes revenue is falling to keep fuel prices relatively low, and Exxon earns record profits for another year. I think they're proposing to tax the wrong people.
Mark
Here's an idea. Let's tax people more if they live farther away from work.
erth
they already do. it is called paying for gas.
and, buying a new car more often.
Scratch
Another self-defeating tax "idea" from the good folks at the American Democratic Party demonstrating that failed Economics 101 back in school.
If you tax the gas, it will encourage people to use less of it. If your goal is to increase state revenue, it will only work in the short term, until people replace their high mileage vehicles. Unfortunately, it also cuts into the profits of those that have no choice but to use high mileage vehicles like lots of businesses. That in turn discourages businesses from locating in your state, eliminating the massive tax revenues that they generate.
This is going to hurt Washington's economy immeasurably.
Mena
Scratch,
Commercial vehicles will be exempt. I agree with Tim Eyman in that the poor will hardest hit because they can't afford "green" cars. The poor don't have the luxury of choice between fuel efficient and gas guzzler, they only have the choice of cheap and cheaper.
FLASHPOINT
ATTENTION ALL GOVERNMENTS!! You can't tax your way to prosperity.
Ducati Minor
Bull sh*t. The "poor" can afford a used Civic. The poor here in LA seem to have no problem driving new Jeeps, Explorers, or any V-8 machine because it signifies they "made it." A gas-guzzler tax should be jacked up. There's no excuse for someone bitching about tax money when he spent $30,000 for a new F-150, even though he doesn't need the extra towing or power.
I'm all for it. Jack the federal gas-guzzler tax by 25%, and you'll see a big cut in the number of truck sales. If not that, pass a gas tax. Americans won't conserve unless they're forced to.
detroit9000
Finally!
Nice set of small-minded responses here, by the way. One of my big problems with being an auto enthusiast is that the community is stocked to the gills with morons.
Anyway, this is such a simple and effective way to steer toward greener transpo. And steer we must. I don't understand why people don't tax fuel more.
Oh yeah, I forgot, we hired oil people to run our executive branch. Hooray for Arabs!
Sure, this will slow the economy some in WA, but they'll have to improve their rail logistics to offset the costs. The end result will be slowly upgrading and paying for an improved infrastructure which will ultimately improve the economy. I guess one might say that doesn't jive with economics. I guess that's an opinion.
Anyone who says this will somehow decrease motoring fun just has to look to that zeitgiest of a country, Germany. Give me a break. Germany has great rail, cleaner air, and great cars. It's possible. It's just not possible to maintain profits at Exxon while you're doing it.
People. 2.5 cars per household is not necessary. Geez. I haven't driven my awesome sports sedan for 2 weeks because I use infrastructure. It's possible. Might have to get off your lazy arse and hoof it here and there. Wouldn't that be a start to the system?
Mena
California already has higher gas taxes than any other state and they're not doing anything to curb truck and SUV sales. I know that we can afford to pay gas up to $7/gallon before my wife needs to drive a more fuel efficient vehicle (mine is already fuel efficient) and that's only if our income stays stagnant (which it won't).
Regardless of what you say, the poor (I've been there..I know) does NOT have $5000 for used Honda Civic. The POOR only can afford to choose cheap. The POOR are concerned with putting food on the table and the eviction notices off the front door not esoteric things like global warming and CO2 gas reductions.
Cicero
Another stupid attempt by a government to interfere in people's lives. Then again this is the same state where the governor got fid of her chief climatologist for hi saying there was no good proof of global warming.
Nick
If this were truly a bill in support of "greener" transportation, that $60.00 per anum Prius tax would be $0.00, or a credit.
Rex
Just bring back the Gas Guzzler Tax and start taxing those greedy Oil Companies that are making money from the tragedy in the world.
detroit9000
Ducati Minor
Mena, Mena, Mena...
California's fuel costs aren't the highest in the country, the average household income is well above the national average, and the property values are blown into the sky. In short, California is not a wasteland of the struggling. Those "struggling" California residents took advantage of the inflated California real estate market to borrow money from their homes, using them like ATMs to purchase Cadillacs, Lincolns, Audis, and Benzes they shouldn't afford. When a rundown house in Norwalk is valued at $430,000, you'd be surprised how stupid the owners can be.
And, yet, the "poor" seem to have no problem having used Tahoes, Grand Cherokees, Explorers, and 4Runners in their driveways in Watts, Montibello, and Compton. If I recall correctly, truck sales have been down due to a "market shift" Detroit has admitted is changing everything, and that certainly stands in California.
A used Ford Focus, Kia Rio, Toyota Echo, and Hyundai Accent can be had for under $5,000 in fine condition, so there's no excuse to spending $7,000 on a V-8 Dodge. I'm glad you seem to think everyone can afford $7 a gallon, when you preceded that with a statement about how the poor don't have enough to spend on a used gas-sipper. If they can't afford a car that would, logically, be less expensive to purchase and operate than a full-size truck, maybe they should just stick to public transportation.
Hulkster
The heck with these taxes... What do these clowns in office think, that we grow money on trees!
I propose a salary cut for these clowns in office. But we all know that won't happen!
smokefreak2003
The Mileage in that pic is horrible, even for an SUV light truck.
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