Politics & Government

Officials Say Reduced Hybrid Tax Still Unfair

The governor's amended transportation bill should eliminate the fee on hybrid cars, according to some Northern Virginia Legislators.

Governor Bob McDonnell announced Tuesday that he was making a number of amendments to his massive transportation bill, including lowering the fee for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, but some legislators aren’t happy.

Among other changes, McDonnell has proposed lowering the annual fee for alternative fuel vehicles from $100 to $64.

“Virginia’s economy depends upon a safe, reliable, efficient transportation system spanning all areas of the Commonwealth,” McDonnell said in a statement. “This is why I have substantially agreed to the provisions in the compromise bill that passed our legislature.”

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But Northern Virginia Delegates Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) and Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) argue the tax should be eliminated from the bill entirely.

“While the Governor reduced the tax, he should have eliminated it,” Surovell said in a statement. “Basing a tax on a specific technology does not make sense when the mileage of hybrid vehicles ranges from 19 to 60 MPG. There are many gas-powered vehicles that get better mileage than many hybrids.  If the Governor wants an additional tax to pay for road damage, he should focus on vehicle weight.” 

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Ebbin said the tax made it seem like hybrid drivers were being punished.

“We still believe that hybrid drivers should not be singled out to pay higher taxes,” he said. “Typically, they already pay higher titling taxes, higher annual personal property taxes and higher sales prices for being good environmental stewards.”

Both Surovell and Ebbin said they planned to introduce legislation during the 2014 session to try to repeal the hybrid fee.

To read the bill as amended, click here.

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