We wouldn’t want Gov. Bob McDonnell doing his part to stave
off the worst consequences of global climate change, would we? Embedded in the
recently and somewhat unprecedented transportation package approved Saturday by
the Virginia General Assembly[1],
a “fee” (notice that the Republican term for a tax is “fee”) was included that places
a $100 annual tax on alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids[2].
I paraphrase the Godfather: “What have alternative fuel vehicles done to earn
such disrespect?”
Two Northern Virginia Democratic legislators to the rescue!
Sen. Adam Ebbin[3]
(Alexandria) and Del. Scott Surovell[4]
(Fairfax) aren’t taking kindly to McDonnell’s attempt to tax alternative fuel
vehicles and have launched the web site NoHybridTax.com[5]
that includes a petition for individuals who would rather not see a $100 tax
imposed for owning a relatively environmentally friendly vehicle.
Both of these planet saving hero’s also opposed the transportation
package[6]
that was passed on Saturday. The package is supposed to raise $3.5 billion in
new revenue for Virginia’s roads over the next five years (i.e., to squander another
$3.5 billion of our taxpayer dollars over the next five years).
Groups like the Chesapeake Climate Action Network[7]
(CCAN), those stalwarts of true environmental action, have protested the
proposed tax on alternative fuel vehicles since the beginning of February (full
disclosure, I think CCAN rocks). As with so many prophets, the seriousness and
reality of their concerns appeared to have fallen on deaf ears until the moment
of final reckoning!
Said Surovell about the proposed tax on alternative fuel
vehicles, “Taxing people for doing the right thing is outrageous. We may as
well start taxing solar panels and recycling while we’re at it.”[8]
Unfortunately, I’m sure a few Republicans in Virginia would think that’s a
great idea!
Again, the Republicans who talk about energy independence in
the same breath that they give their go ahead to tax fuel efficient vehicles in
Virginia are so hypocritical that their hypocrisy almost seems beyond human
comprehension.
Speaking on the floor of the Virginia Senate on Saturday,
Sen. Ebbin asked, “If we’re truly working toward energy independence, why are
we going to penalize investors in clean energy cars? …The Prius driver will pay
more in taxes than the average sedan owner.”[9]
Wait, I think I have the answer. Maybe another United
Nations conspiracy is being hatched, this time for the Republican Party. That’s
it!
Whatever the reasons, whether its stupidity, ideological
blindness, financial connections to oil and gas industries, or anything outside
and in between, taxing alternative fuel vehicles is truly absurd. It’s almost
as if some members of the General Assembly attempt to raise the bar of
absurdity a little further each year. If so, mission accomplished.
[1] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/general-assembly-passes-sweeping-roads-legislation
[2] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/two-dem-legislators-urge-mcdonnell-nix-100-hybrid-fee
[3] http://www.adamebbin.com/
[4] http://scottsurovell.org/
[5] https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/petition.aspx?X=4hC0RDTN%2bv4%3d
[6] http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=131&typ=bil&val=hb2313
[7] http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/
[8] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/two-dem-legislators-urge-mcdonnell-nix-100-hybrid-fee
[9] http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/two-dem-legislators-urge-mcdonnell-nix-100-hybrid-fee
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