Life

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished…by Washington!

Last Updated on July 26, 2020

There’s an old saying that all good things are fattening. Apparently, many of them are also taxable.

A new plan on the table would make owners of hybrid vehicles pay an additional tax to help the government afford to maintain our Interstate Highway system, which is on the eve of its 50th birthday. The Boston Globe reports that the country’s Highway Trust Fund is likely to reach a zero balance by 2008, and that by 2015, it will have fallen hundreds of billions short of what it would take just to maintain the current roadways.

The argument for requiring a hybrid vehicle owner to pay a higher tax is based on the presumption that their cars won’t use as much gasoline, and currently, it’s the Federal Gas Tax that raises revenue for the fund.

Another solution, one that no one will like, is that the gas tax, which has remained at just under twenty cents per gallon for more than a decade, be indexed to keep up with inflation.

I certainly don’t want to see gas prices go up again, now that there are a few stations around town that have finally dropped back down below the $2.00 mark. Still, there is something wrong with making hybrid vehicle owners pay a special tax: it’s like punishing them for doing their part to ease the energy crisis.

But perhaps there’s a compromise possible: in 2006, hybrid vehicle owners will receive new tax incentives for buying fuel efficient cars. A tax credit of between $400 to $3400 might be enough to entice some people to buy hybrids before that plan expires in 2009. If we’re in such bad need of money for our roads, why not take a percentage of the tax credit and roll it over into the fund? That way, the hybrid vehicle owners aren’t having to pay a new tax, and are still getting some reward for less dependance on gasoline. It won’t solve the problem…the tax credit isn’t big enough to do that…but every little bit helps.

Personally, I’d like to see the major oil companies be forced to contribute to the fund. They have a vested interest in keeping the roads driveable because that’s one of the things that keeps motorists buying their products. And considering their record profits since Katrina, I’d guess that they can afford to help out!

the authorPatrick
Patrick is a Christian with more than 30 years experience in professional writing, producing and marketing. His professional background also includes social media, reporting for broadcast television and the web, directing, videography and photography. He enjoys getting to know people over coffee and spending time with his dog.

3 Comments

  • This would be a dilemma for me. We are thinking about getting a hybrid, but would I still get one if I had to pay an additional tax on it? I’m getting it to save money on fuel so perhaps I would still get one considering hopefully the tax would even itself out over the life of the car.

    A better tax would be something similar to what they did in Montana this past year where they doubled almost the taxes on cigarettes to use for funds to pay for the cost of smoking related illnesses and education. That at least gave people a thought to perhaps give up a potentially life threatening habit.

    I don’t know; my jury is still out on this one.

    betty

  • Oh my gosh…..I just dropped by Saturday and I swear you had a different template.

    I love this one. Love it!!!!

  • Not a bad idea Patrick. I have been seriously thinking hybrid as I drive daily for home health care and the price of gasoline at the present time is making that an expensive form of employment. Personally, if the gas mileage on these hybrids is everything they are touting, I would be willing to forfit the whole tax credit thing to avoid paying a higher tax. What a blessing it would be to be able to go by the gas stations more often instead of turning in. =)

    Aren’t you fortunate to live in an area where the gas prices have fallen below the $2.00 mark. The lowest I’ve seen here is $2.07/gal. It will be interesting to see how all this works itself out.

    Auntie Lyn

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