MA Governor Patrick considers "Hummer tax"

[wtmusic]

"Governor Deval Patrick said today he is looking at a Hummer tax -- adding higher registration fees for gas-guzzling cars and offering discounts for those that do less harm to the environment. One industry opponent said it would be the first such fee in the nation on the state level.

The suggestion comes as Patrick prepares to unveil a fuller version of his much-awaited transportation plan on Friday. While he would not release details today, Patrick said at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce appearance that any gas tax increase would be coupled with a freeze on toll rates.

Environmentalists applauded the registration proposal, saying it would encourage people to buy smaller and more fuel-efficient cars, which are increasingly seen as key to curbing global warming. Similar proposals have been proposed in Massachusetts since at least 2001, but without the prominent backing of a sitting governor."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/02/governor_patric_9.html

[Greyskye]

1. WTF?

Oh, that Hummer.

Carry on.

[Donnachaidh]

2. ...

:spray: my monitor isn't going to survive much longer....

[kirby]

3. The shot heard round the world. n/t

[MADem]

4. It's going over like a lead balloon.

The problem is, it's not just for HUMMERS. It's for any fuel-inefficient vehicle. These are often the vehicles that are purchased by POOR people--when dealerships are selling the hybrids and the nice fuel efficient cars to the rich people, the poor people who have to get to work can only afford that ten year old beat up Jeep with the dent in the side on the "other" lot way off in the corner.

Opponents say they are already being shafted at the gas pump, by paying a gas tax on the extra gas they use.

The only few ways I could get behind this is if the cost of the vehicle paid by the person registering the car was over, say, eight grand. I think people driving "Luxury" SUVs that get lousy mileage just because they want to strut should get hammered, but some poor schmuck driving a 1994 Oldsmobile SUV that he bought for a couple of grand because that's all he could afford should not. The other way is if the law is implemented starting next year, applying to NEW vehicle sales only (or resales of vehicles less than, say, four or five years old). There should also be a business exemption, but only if the business name is painted (not attached by a metal magnet thing, permanently PAINTED) on the truck, and there should also be a large family exception that can be applied for.

Patrick is throwing everything against the wall, and some of it is incredibly stupid. He wanted to put chips in our cars and tax us for using the highways (yeah, that'll work--we'd have a generation of cheapskates who know the side roads better than moonshiners). He wants to screw people for not getting those transponders for the tolls--even if you only go to the airport twice a year to pick up your kid from college, you have to get one or pay a higher toll--and never mind the "Big Brother" aspect of that shit. He wants to do this so he can fire a bunch of toll taking people, and throw them out of work. I'd rather he just eliminate the tolls and raise the gas tax, and maybe nail the taxi/limos for a little bit more, too--that will more than make up the difference, if he's going to start firing toll takers.

I think he'd be better off cutting out porky appointments, forcing people to take early retirement, sitting down with Unions/trades (to include public safety, teachers, and ESPECIALLY their piggy superintendents who have bloated staffs and make way too much for doing way too little) and telling them they're gonna have to get the spirit, and either join the austerity program or risk slash-n-burn layoffs.