OLYMPIA, Wash. – Drivers of electric cars may have left the gas pump behind, but there’s one expense they may not be able to shake: paying to maintain the roads.
After years of urging residents to buy fuel-efficient cars and giving them tax breaks to do it, Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure to charge them a $100 annual fee — what would be the nation’s first electric car fee.
State lawmakers grappling with a $5 billion deficit are facing declining gas tax revenue, which means less money to maintain or improve roads.
“Electric vehicles put just as much wear and tear on our roads as gas vehicles,” said Democratic state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the bill’s lead sponsor. “This simply ensures that they contribute their fair share to the upkeep of our roads.”
These are the same bufoons that passed an additional $1.00 a pack cig tax to increase revenue. The month after implementation…. tobacco tax revenue fell by $10 million dollars. Go figure!
I began to notice, back in the mid-2000’s, that these kind of words began to intrude upon rational conversations about issues. This was before I read Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. Since reading that great work, these kinds of statements seem to have exploded amongst the governmental planners, using them to justify all sorts of legislation meant to take more and more property away from people.
One is told to buy an electric vehicle to help the planet. Many people buy such types of vehicles, including hybrids, to save on gas costs, which can be staggering yearly sums for some people who commute long distances. Now, because the states are seeing less revenue, caused by their legislation and edicts from DC, because people are driving less, they must needs to acquire more money, so they basically tell those driving these types of vehicles that they must give extra money to help pay for the roads. Nice.
Anyone doubt Rand’s prescience now?
Along with my last post here, this as well;
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/04/21/nlrb-dictates-boeing-operational-plans/
Another moocher, and/or looter, promoting regulations that prohibit the freedom of association, trade, and business, of an American company. Using force to accomplish the goal of making Boeing provide it with unearned benefits.
And then this, as well;
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/04/23/the-main-street-fairness-act-illinois-tries-to-make-its-spending-woes-americas-problem/
Doesn’t the name of Durbin’s law sound like it should be within the pages of Atlas Shrugged?
The Washington St. progs would raise much more money if they could work out a plan to tax the Rainbows who will be gracing their fine state this July for their annual destroy the local community event. Unfortunately for the people of Wash. St. the hordes of stinken hippies will drain the local coffers requesting emergency welfare and food stamp assistance. But I sure the good citizens of Wash. will welcome them with open arms and praise their stewardship of the public lands.