Republican Governor says something perfectly reasonable, liberal media twists and contorts into partisan attack

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NBC Washington:

Under the plan, owners of the 91,000 hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles in Virginia would be hit with a new $100 per year fee. The governor reasons that because they fill up far less often, they pay less federal gas tax but their vehicles still have an impact on Virginia roads. The fee would be a way to get those alternative fuel vehicle owners to contribute to road needs.

Addicting Info:

Gasoline powered cars are one of the largest threats to the environment. Most people would probably feel that lower gasoline consumption would be a good thing for everyone. Not McDonnell. His plan is to reward gas-guzzling drivers by eliminating the state gasoline tax for them and to punish fuel efficient drivers by taxing them.

...

The Governor is unquestionably in the pocket of the energy industry, but the vast majority of his energy contributions come from coal. Out of over $1 million in political contributions from energy companies last year, a paltry $1,500 came from big oil. Maybe he’s looking to change that.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Money for road maintenance has to come from somewhere. If the hybrid owners aren't paying for it in gas tax money, they need to pay it somewhere else.

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Money for road maintenance has to come from somewhere. If the hybrid owners aren't paying for it in gas tax money, they need to pay it somewhere else.

Exactly.

[decocker 7,198]

this 100$ tax would be in addition to the annual personal property tax? damn. sure is expensive to buy a new car in virginia..

[Karee 4,190]

Maybe the tax can be levied based on miles driven? I guess that opens up a whole other can of worms though. What if you lived in Maryland and worked in Virgina etc?

[Ban Hammer 13,399]

the idea makes sense.

[catknit 144]

The idea makes perfect sense except it's coupled in a plan/bill that eliminates the gas tax. So, what you would be seeing is any gas-only vehicle paying no taxes for transportation/capital/maintenance upgrades [ie, road use] and hybrids paying a fee for road use. If he wanted to proposed only the fee on hybrids based on common sense, sure, makes sense. But, he's letting the gas-only vehicles completely off the hook. [His way to make up the lost revenue is via a change in sales tax because it shifts with inflation, our current gas tax is a fixed amount that hasn't been raised since something like 1988].

[^_^ 5,021]

The idea makes perfect sense except it's coupled in a plan/bill that eliminates the gas tax. So, what you would be seeing is any gas-only vehicle paying no taxes for transportation/capital/maintenance upgrades [ie, road use] and hybrids paying a fee for road use. If he wanted to proposed only the fee on hybrids based on common sense, sure, makes sense. But, he's letting the gas-only vehicles completely off the hook. [His way to make up the lost revenue is via a change in sales tax because it shifts with inflation, our current gas tax is a fixed amount that hasn't been raised since something like 1988].

True. Sounds like the Republican governor is suggesting a shift in the way they raise tax money that is actually more progressive! Hybrids are still more or less toys of the well off, so I don't see the problem with taxing those of means a bit more.

[catknit 144]

I think it's how they are packaging it that is making it hard to swallow for some.

To say there is a gas tax = road use makes sense in it's presentation.

To say that hybrids get away with not paying their fair share due to using less gas/mile makes sense.

To say that gas only vehicles no longer get a road tax but hybrids do = pissed off people.

They should have named it/presented it/tagged it something else...even if they want to call it a "hybrid fee" could almost be palatable to some. To game it as "you're not getting out of paying less gas tax hippie-sucker!" really doesn't help [and yes, some in our governor's side of the aisle have insinuated that].

Interesting fun fact - our governor's official salutation is "His Excellency" cause we're a commonwealth. Never, ever going to say that - even if my most perfect political fantasy governor existed.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Addicting Info is a batshit crazy left wing website (certain members use it as an actual media source *cough* Steven *cough*) that deserves an award for ignorant overreaction website of the year.

On fuel efficient vehicles paying a tax, I agree. It makes sense. - The same way cyclists should have to pay a license fee if they are going to used bike lanes that money is spent on to paint/pave.

Everyone seems to want all of these nice things, but then they refuse to pay for it....

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Perhaps they could just go to a smug tax. The more smugness your ride produces, the more you should have to pay.

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... cyclists should have to pay a license fee if they are going to used bike lanes that money is spent on to paint/pave.

Yes!

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

And pedestrians or those who don't own a car or a bicycle should have to pay a pedestrian tax to pay for cross walks!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

And pedestrians or those who don't own a car or a bicycle should have to pay a pedestrian tax to pay for cross walks!

Eh, I'd argue on your side here except for the fact that highways intrude upon normal walking activity, so it's on the drivers for this one. Perhaps the cyclists too! Cyclists are down right RUDE to pedestrians sometimes.

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Eh, I'd argue on your side here except for the fact that highways intrude upon normal walking activity, so it's on the drivers for this one. Perhaps the cyclists too! Cyclists are down right RUDE to pedestrians sometimes.

Cyclists are the worst. They should be limited to cycling in parks and other recreational venues and stay the f off the streets.

If you're commuting to work by cycle, you may wish to kill yourself.