WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

Petition Calls On McDonnell To Eliminate 'Hybrid Tax'

By: WAMU Staff // February 25, 2013
comments
Activists decried the inclusion of a tax on alternative fuel vehicles in a protest in January.
Armando Trull
Activists decried the inclusion of a tax on alternative fuel vehicles in a protest in January.

The Virginia Senate passed a bill overhauling transportation funding in the state on Saturday, sending the bill to Gov. Bob McDonnell to sign. Two lawmakers from Northern Virginia are still keeping up the fight to keep a tax on alternative fuel vehicles, the so-called "hybrid tax," out of the legislation.

Mt. Vernon Del. Scott Surovell and Alexandria Sen. Adam Ebbin have launched a website called NoHybridTax.com. The petition calls on the governor to repeal the provision in the transportation deal that would charge hybrid owners $100 a year.

During negotiations to reconcile the two versions, McDonnell explained that since alternative fuel vehicles utilize less gas, they generate less revenue for the state. He said the hybrid provision is intended as a way for hybrid owners to continue to contribute to the transportation fund.

The transportation funding deal passed by the Senate replaces the 17.5 cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline with a 3.5 percent wholesale tax. It also raises statewide sales taxes from 5 to 5.3 percent.

Related Links

Arts & Culture

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

Food

NPR

Could African Crops Be Improved With Private Biotech Data?

A plant scientist at Mars Inc., has appealed to the world's biggest life sciences companies to help him — by sharing what they already know about 100 crops that could provide better nutrition in Africa. But can the kings of agricultural intellectual property get on board with open source agricultural information for Africa?

Politics

NPR

Fears Of Killing Immigration Bill Doomed Same-Sex Amendment

Amid warnings the proposal would shatter support for the measure, Democrats backed away from a provision that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor foreign-born spouses for green cards. Advocates for gay and lesbian immigration rights accused Democrats of caving in to threats.

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.