Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Virginia's Gov. McDonnell proposes elimination of gasoline tax]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/virginias-gov-mcdonnell-proposes-elimination-of-gasoline-tax/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/virginias-gov-mcdonnell-proposes-elimination-of-gasoline-tax/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/virginias-gov-mcdonnell-proposes-elimination-of-gasoline-tax/#commentsFiled under: , ,

VA governor Bob McDonnell at podium

The assessment of a gas tax and the role it plays in a state's transportation and overall budgets has been a topic of discussion for a while, and Virginia state governor Bob McDonnell is the latest to offer up another way to secure more revenue from the state's residents to pay for their roads and public transportation. McDonnell's proposal would eliminate Virginia's 17.5-percent gas tax entirely, with funds for infrastructure projects coming from an increase in the sales tax from five percent to 5.8 percent and an annual $100 fee assessed on drivers of alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles. He would leave in place the tax on diesel fuel, and naturally, the federal gas tax would remain untouched.

Much of the response to the proposal has been, "Um... what?" - as well as "bad policy," "a no-brainer for dumb idea of the week" and "'bold' and 'unprecendented." McDonnell is right to suggest that a possible response to "any innovative and comprehensive transportation plan" is dislike. Still, we think there are holes in parts of his plan. Virginia's gas tax is already one of the lowest in the nation, doesn't rise with inflation and hasn't been increased since 1986. According to McDonnell, the revenue from it has 45 percent less purchasing power now than it did 27 years ago, so "It's a tax that's losing its value every year."

Raising it, or getting it adjusted to inflation, is for some reason not on the menu. The 0.8-percent bump in the sales tax would bring in $600 million more per year than the current gas tax does, yet to eliminate the gas tax entirely seems a bit much; it might not pay as much as it used to, but its still a pretty fair and direct usage fee, so why not take advantage of whatever it can provide?

On top of that, to jettison the gas tax but then tax owners of alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles because "these vehicles generate little federal gas tax revenue and therefore need to contribute their share to fund the roads they use" seems disingenuous. That means the SUV buyer pays for roads at the cash register, while the Honda Insight buyer has to chip in at the register and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

And on top of all that, the move to a sales-tax funded transportation infrastructure unlinks the "fair share" argument from "the roads they use." People who buy more goods will pay more for their roads, not necessarily people who use the roads more. It's only a proposal at the moment so it has a way to go before becoming law, our guess is that it will have a long fight as well.

Virginia's Gov. McDonnell proposes elimination of gasoline tax originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelbob mcdonnelldepartment of motor vehiclesdmvgas taxsales taxtaxtaxesvirginiaWed, 16 Jan 2013 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20427076/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/16/virginias-gov-mcdonnell-proposes-elimination-of-gasoline-tax/20427076/article-detail.xml 20427076 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/virginia-gov.-bob-mcdonnell-speaks_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/virginia-gov.-bob-mcdonnell-speaks.jpg <![CDATA[Virginia offering you the chance to name your own rest stop?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/virginia-offering-you-the-chance-to-name-your-own-rest-stop/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/virginia-offering-you-the-chance-to-name-your-own-rest-stop/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/30/virginia-offering-you-the-chance-to-name-your-own-rest-stop/#commentsFiled under: ,

Virginia freeway rest stopThe beautiful state of Virginia is reportedly looking to offset some of the $20 million it costs to operate and maintain its 42 rest stops, and perhaps you can help. NBC Washington reports that the state is selling the naming rights to each of the stops to help raise revenue needed to keep the facilities open.

Former Governor Tim Kaine apparently closed 19 of the facilities back in 2009 as a cost-cutting measure, but current Governor Bob McDonnell re-opened the structures eight months ago, promising to find other ways to raise the needed money. Also being discussed is the idea of using prison labor for maintenance. Somewhere, somehow Warden Norton is pleased.

Meanwhile, we're wondering whether "Autoblog: Obsessively Covering This Rest Stop" has a ring to it. Let us know what you'd name a Virginia rest area in Comments.

[Source: NBC Washington | Image: Virginia Department of Transportation]

Virginia offering you the chance to name your own rest stop? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob mcdonnellname a rest stopname a virginia rest stoprest arearest stoptim kainevirginia department of transportationvirginia dotvirginia rest areaWed, 30 Mar 2011 18:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19896219/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/30/virginia-offering-you-the-chance-to-name-your-own-rest-stop/19896219/article-detail.xml 19896219 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/virginia-dot-rest-stop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/virginia-dot-rest-stop.jpg -1 2