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States look to tax hybrid and electric car owners to recoup road funding
So.. For whatever reason you buy a hybrid, save money on fuel, save the environment, whatever. BUT, because you use less gas, you pay less money in taxes. Well, The states need that money to maintain roads.
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Gas taxes are the most vital source of transportation funding, making up nearly 40 percent of all state highway revenues and more than 90 percent at the federal level, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
SO.. If you thought you were saving a few dollars by driving a hybrid..... Well, Here's more taxes.
Actually, this is more a matter of eliminating a tax dodge. By having highway funding so tied to gasoline, cars that don't use (as much) gasoline could, legitimately cause more wear-and-tear on the roads than they're paying for, proportionate to how much gasoline-based vehicles pay.
The ideal arrangement would be to tax based on miles traveled, at a rate based on weight of the vehicle. However, that's been impracticable, especially with regard to vehicles registered in other states. So the gasoline tax was determined to be a close enough approximation. It increasingly will no longer be, and therefore a different solution needs to be arrived at. I don't see this solution as any worse than any other alternative means of ensuring that those vehicles pay their fair share toward maintenance of the roads they use.
I'm all for rewarding hybrid and electric car owners for their impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but I don't think that that should necessarily be a windfall.
Roads and bridges are primarily funded through fuel taxes, cars using electric and other alternative fuels need to pay their fair share. It's simple as that.
Actually, this is more a matter of eliminating a tax dodge. By having highway funding so tied to gasoline, cars that don't use (as much) gasoline could, legitimately cause more wear-and-tear on the roads than they're paying for, proportionate to how much gasoline-based vehicles pay.
The ideal arrangement would be to tax based on miles traveled, at a rate based on weight of the vehicle. However, that's been impracticable, especially with regard to vehicles registered in other states. So the gasoline tax was determined to be a close enough approximation. It increasingly will no longer be, and therefore a different solution needs to be arrived at. I don't see this solution as any worse than any other alternative means of ensuring that those vehicles pay their fair share toward maintenance of the roads they use.
I'm all for rewarding hybrid and electric car owners for their impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but I don't think that that should necessarily be a windfall.
Ignoring the fact that gas taxes get use for a number of things outside of road costs.
Ideally the gubbement spends the money confiscated from us at the pump to pay for the things they say its for in the first place.
The ideal arrangement would be to tax based on miles traveled, at a rate based on weight of the vehicle. However, that's been impracticable, especially with regard to vehicles registered in other states.
Be more practical than a fuel tax, as far as the state issue that exists now.
Ideally the gubbement spends the money confiscated from us at the pump to pay for the things they say its for in the first place.
If you cannot get your local member of Congress to explain to you what taxes are used for, then that's on you. Regardless, the message you replied to was talking about parity between gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrids, and electric vehicles. If you have something to say with regard to that parity, then please do.
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Originally Posted by thecoalman
Be more practical than a fuel tax, as far as the state issue that exists now.
Not true: There is no reason to think the vehicles traveling through another state don't stop to purchase gasoline there.
Not true: There is no reason to think the vehicles traveling through another state don't stop to purchase gasoline there.
There is no reason to believe they do either.
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