For the federal portion of the gas tax (18.4cents/gal), I feel the Federal Gov't needs to step in and tell the states how to handle that tax shortfall. The new Virginia hybrid/plug-in tax ($64/yr) is mainly to offset loss in Federal Gasoline taxes, which according to our Governor, that money is given back to the state almost penny for penny. Do the Feds intend for the states to hold hybrid owners accountable for lost federal gaso taxes? if not perhaps the feds need to give out more $$ to compensate the states which have hybrid owners. It's really small dollars but it hurts to single out hybrid owners as the only drivers accountable for that problem.
I'm just amazed how these pinheads in government get together and single out one of the groups that has about the smallest impact.
It makes absolutely no sense...I have an idea for Virginia at least...get rid of that front license plate and I am sure there won't be much of a shortfall, but instead a surplus from the extra money saved. I haven't heard anything about Georgia deciding to tax all of us here, and maybe that is why? It was so strange driving up there and not seeing what sports team people were a fan of as the front plate. What is the sticker in the windshield, could that save a dollar?
The federal government collects 18.4 cents a gallon but spends 30 cents a gallon and sends it back to the states. Where does the extra money come from? The congress takes it from the general fund which means your income taxes or increasing the debt. Every state, but Texas, gets more than they put into the fuel tax fund back for roads and mass transit. Now virginia doesn't do much better than texas, they get all their fuel taxes back but only a little of their income taxes, but.... residence of virginia do use roads and public transportation in Washington DC, and they get lots of extra money. Your governor is just playing politics with the hybrids. More people in Northern Virginia drive hybrids, and he wants to get tax money, no matter how little from them. He is using the road taxes as an excuse, but in reality, he has lowered gas taxes to create more of a shortfall. I guess that means it needs to be made up by property and sales taxes. The federal government has nothing to do with hybrid or plug-in taxes in Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, and Oregon. Most of the country doesn't want these new taxes. You will notice this is not a red/blue issue. Now I have reason to complain. We were voted the 4th most congested city in america, because they don't improve the roads for all the people moving here. Then the president comes to visit today, and the traffic just got worse.
It's because of that smallest impact that they do. The politicians don't think hybrid and EV drivers have the clout to hurt them.
