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Virginia "NoHybridTax" Petition signatures needed

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by wjtracy, Mar 1, 2013.

  1. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    MassP- The taxes are all on Northern Virginia, for the most part.

    NoVa sales tax goes up 1%
    NoVA residents get taxed if they move ($1500 on $500K house)
    NoVa property taxes are higher
    Nova hotel taxes go up
    NoVa hybrids are taxed (most Prii in Nova)

    The whole idea of the new bill is to selectively tax NoVa. And NoVa was already paying 60% of VA taxes and getting only 40% of tax dolloars back. You seem to be voicing the opinion that NoVa should be taxed more than everyone else in the state, which is how Virginia works, let's face it.

    I am not complaining about it. I am just saying " hey: ixnay on the hybrid thing"
     
  2. massparanoia

    massparanoia Active Member

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    I agree the hybrid thing is BS. They should have eliminated the gas tax all together and increased the sales tax .8% statewide like I thought they were going to do originally.

    Any tax that uses a small group to pay for another is BS, but as I said before welcome to the USA. Remember this pain you feel every time someone goes to cash their "welfare" check. We all pay 60% of the country's taxes and only get 40% return, if we're lucky. Why should VA be any different?

    You have a nice car that you drive between your nice house and nice job. You are the 1%. Better get used to it brother.
     
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    You meant to say my wife has a nice car to go to work:) ...I use the minivan. But we are retiring so less miles to be driven by us, which means we have less need for hybrid in the future, if it is not cost effective.
     
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Letter I received today:
    Thank you for signing on to our petition asking the governor to remove the $100 annual hybrid tax provision from the transportation bill (HB2313). On Monday, March 18, 2013, we delivered nearly 7,000 signatures and comments to Governor McDonnell.
    [​IMG]
    Thanks to your effort, the delivery was covered by the media all over Virginia!

    Washington Post - Prius Tax Foes Urge McDonnell to Kill It
    Richmond Times Dispatch - Hybrid Tax Foes Take Tax Fight To the Governor

    Virginian Pilot - Tea Party Seeks Road Bill Veto, Others Want Hybrid Fee Gone

    Roanoke WDBJ7 - More than 6,800 Signatures Against Hybrid Tax Dropped Off at Governor's OfficeFox5 News - Prius Tax Petition in Virginia


    Over 7,000 people have now signed the petition!
    Governor McDonnell is required to take action on all pending legislation by Monday, March 25, 2013.
    It is our hope that he will offer an amendment that will delete the hybrid tax from HB2313. To become law, the amendment must be approved by the General Assembly.
    Thanks again for your support and stay tuned![​IMG] [​IMG]Adam P. Ebbin Scott Surovell
    Member, Virginia Senate Member, Virginia House of Delegates
     
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  5. LeeB

    LeeB Junior Member

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  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Thanks Lee I saw that last nite.
    What is he waiting for???? Gov McDonnell only has until Midnite tonite to make up his mind.
     
  7. LeeB

    LeeB Junior Member

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    Maybe tangling with Cooch?!
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Pumpkin time...witching hour...I hear nothing deadline was Midnite. I am starting a new letter-to-the -editor while we wait.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. LeeB

    LeeB Junior Member

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    "McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell said the governor would wait until the deadline to act on those [the transportation bill] measures. Caldwell said McDonnell would make give details on changes he is proposing for the transportation deal and budget plan early Tuesday morning."

    Daily Press

    Looks like Bozo Bob figures whatever he decided in the dark will sound better if announced in the daylight. Incredible.
     
  10. novasquid

    novasquid Junior Member

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    Just heard on the radio during an interview with the governor that the tax went from $100 to $64.
     
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  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ^^^Yes $64/yr hybrid fee NovaSquid listening now (WTOP). I called into the show, but they did not put me on the air. I would have asked rationale - hope it's in the bill. I wanted to pin him down on saying it is was to offset Federal gasoline tax shortfall.

    We have lost this battle, but I am told by my state senator that the message was heard, and the fee will be nixed next session in 2-yrs.

    To sum up, Virginia has taken the path less traveled. To quote Gov McDonnell, the gasoline tax was reduced to the lowest level in the continental USA (11 cents = 3.5%). Only Alaska has a lower gasoline tax at 8 cents. The needed transit funding will come from sales taxes and other taxes selectively targeted at Northern Virginia (and Hampton Roads).

    My take-
    The Democrats are extremely supportive of this bill. Why? well they have embarked on $Billion dollar projects. They need the money. Repubs gave the Dems the needed money, as long as the Dems would accept taxes the way Repubs wanted it. The Repubs wanted to mostly tax the dems in north Virginia, tax hybrids, and reduce gasoline tax. That's where we are.
     
  12. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    ^^^
    Democrats and Republicans working together to encourage more oil use and raise taxes.
     
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  13. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    to me
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    NAME-
    As a CCAN supporter in Harrisonburg, VA put it:​
    "Purchasing a car that helps to save our environment for future generations should not be a taxable offense."
    Outrageous. News just broke that Governor Bob McDonnell DID NOT kill the hybrid car tax, like thousands of Virginians demanded.

    But there's some good news, too. Thanks in large part to your action, Gov. McDonnell amended the transportation plan to reduce the punitive tax from $100 to $64. Because of your outcry, Virginians doing their part for a stable climate won't be punished as much.

    At CCAN, we're going to push for legislation to repeal the hybrid tax altogether, and to make sure climate solutions are rewarded -- not punished -- in Virginia. Are you with us?

    Help us repeal the hybrid tax and hold our leaders accountable to climate solutions -- chip in $10 today.

    CCAN supporters were instrumental in mobilizing opposition to the hybrid car tax, from leading a honking parade of hybrid and electric cars around the Capitol in Richmond to delivering thousands of petitions to Governor McDonnell. Numerous newspaper editorial boards, city councils and even some members of the Governor's own party joined the chorus of opposition.

    Senator Adam Ebbin and Delegate Scott Surovell deserve HUGE thanks for leading the post-session veto charge.

    We didn't win a veto today, but our pressure forced Gov. McDonnell to reduce the fee. Our CCAN Virginia Team is gearing up to keep this grassroots momentum going -- both to pass legislation to repeal the hybrid tax altogether and to make forward progress on the big solutions we know are necessary to move the commonwealth off of fossil fuels and to clean energy.

    Help us repeal the hybrid tax and hold our leaders accountable to climate solutions -- chip in $10 today.

    Whatever you’re able to pitch in now will help boost our on-the-ground organizing and impact across Virginia. Thank you so much for your support and for all you do to build the climate movement!

    Onward,
    Beth Kemler
    Virginia State Director
    [email protected]
     
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  14. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    ^^^
    So if you send them $10 they will pay for lobbiests to shift some of the $64/year tax to other things. They are charging you about an extra $0.50 for every gallon you save, someone check my math and tell me the scenario where it is much higher. Bad public policy to be sure, but not high on my list of out rage. Its low enough to not discourage hybrid purchase.

    Definitely protest, write, fire your elector that voted for this. I draw the line with using this to buy influence though. Give them money only if you believe in the other things they do, and think they have better use of it than you.
     
  15. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ^^^well the problem is, unlike plug-ins, we have no advocacy group supporting hybrids. So I am concerned just acting as concerned citizens, we do not have the needed clout. There may be the need to go to court too, so some group with legal resources is needed.
     
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  16. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    [​IMG]
    Thanks to your effort and over 7,000 other petition signers, Governor McDonnell has offered an amendment to the transportation bill (HB2313) to reduce the Hybrid Tax from $100 to $64.
    While reducing the tax by $36 will save environmentally conscious Virginians about little over $3 million per year, we are still disappointed that the Governor did not offer an amendment to repeal the tax. The tax still suffers from many fatal flaws.

    The Reconvened Session or "Veto Session" will take place on April 3, 2013. We will let you know if the amendment is adopted by the House and Senate.
    To become law, the amendment must be approved by the General Assembly.
    Whether the amendment is adopted or not, both of us can assure you that we will do everything within our ability to work towards the ultimate repeal of the Hybrid Tax next session! [​IMG] [​IMG]Adam P. Ebbin Scott A. Surovell
    Member, Virginia Senate
    Member, Virginia House of Delegates
     
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  17. Don in Alex

    Don in Alex New Member

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    I just sent a note to Sen Ebbin and Del Surovell thanking them for their support and I included the following:

    Please pass on to the Governor's office that I intend to make sufficient purchases in other jurisdictions to be sure that I deprive the state of at least $64 in sales tax to equal the amount that I am being unfairly charged.

    I encourage others to adopt this practice as well.
     
  18. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

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    Ya, I'm already doing that by buying everything online. You loose Virginia!
     
  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ^^^OK guys just keep in mind as of this September_2013, Amazon charges sales tax in Virginia due to the new facility in Richmond.

    Here's what I did, got an email from James Carville asking me to donate $5 to Terry McAuliffe's for Gov campaign. So I gave them $5 bucks and said $64 more in the mail if he publicly opposes the Hybrid fee. I would do the same for Cooch but he has enough money already so he is not asking. I have sent my hybrid comments to both candidates, and anyone else I can think of, to be honest. So I am on both mailing lists now.