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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Many of you have heard me discuss the Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax over the years. It’s an idea that continues to rear its ugly head as transportation budget writers search for funding sources to replace or add to dwindling gas tax revenue (despite WA having one of the highest “travel taxes” in the nation when you add in the cap-and-trade costs and Climate Commitment Act costs). As the Tax Foundation says:
These rates don’t include the effects of cap-and-trade carbon policies or low carbon fuel standards, which drive prices even higher in California, Washington, and select northeastern states.
The exact impact of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act is hotly debated, but Ecology officials and supporters of the program admit to about 27 cents of price increases. Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program was estimated to increase gas prices by 9.8 cents, and the Climate Protection Program will likely raise prices further once implemented.
And, according to WalletHub:
Factoring in gas, insurance, and maintenance costs, Washington ranks as the third-most expensive state for car ownership.
I did the math on this, folks. If you drive 40k miles (which is not uncommon in rural areas), the RUC will add $1,040 to your license costs. If you want more information on The Transportation Crisis in our state, click here and scroll down to Transportation.
Here is more information on the RUC
It’s important to note that as proposed, the RUC would not replace the gas tax! It would be in addition to the gas tax.
House Bill 1921 creates a 2.6 cent road usage charge that is meant for preservation and maintenance of highways and a road usage charge assessment that is 10 percent of the road usage charge amount less the credit for fuel charges paid. The assessment supports rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation. This is a two-tax program which they are calling the road usage charge program.
- All electric and hybrid vehicles are subject to mandatory fees starting July 1, 2029.
- Internal combustion engines start July 1, 2031 through a phased approach based on the fuel economy rating of the engine with the more fuel efficient vehicles starting first and changing each year until all are covered in 2035.
- Payment will be at the time of vehicle registration and transfer/sale of the vehicle. Yet, registration of the vehicle will not be denied if the odometer reading is not available.
- The road usage charge will be reduced by a fee credit in the amount of the fuel tax either constructively calculated or actual for the vehicle’s fuel usage. The credit is nontransferable to future years. (So, they are going to ATTEMPT to estimate the gas you’ve used, the avg MPG your vehicle gets, and then devise a way to get that money back to you? Remember this is the same government that couldn’t figure out how to give a rebate back to farmers when they were supposed to be exempt from the CCA (Carbon Commitment Act! I did the math, folk. If you drive 40k miles a year – which many of us in rural areas do – the would be an extra $1,040 out of your pocket!)
- The department is granted authority to adopt rules for implementation and enforcement, including using third-party tax collectors and options for tracking other than odometer readings. (Privacy issues, anyone?? Also, it leaves the door open for “future technology” to accurately assess miles travelled, like “tracking device.” Do we really want the government knowing where you’ve been and where you are at all times?)
- Sec. 18 says personally identifying information will be only what is necessary to properly calculate, report, and collect the fees unless the owner provides express written consent for the collection of additional information. Personally identifying information means any information that identifies or describes a person, including, but not limited to travel pattern data, address, telephone number, email address, photograph, bank account information or credit card number. (Yet, the department gets to do rule-making of what information will be covered. What will change? How much information will be gathered in the future? This is the “nose under the camel’s tent.” It won’t stop! When does state government ever ‘shrink’ or ‘stop doing’ something?)
When the bill had a public hearing yesterday, nearly 20,000 people signed in to testify against the bill. Compared to 239 that were for it! Obviously the people of Washington state don’t want this proposal.
I’ll continue to update you on this bill as it moves through the legislative process.
Cancelling George Washington by removing him from the state flag?
House Bill 1938 – This is a Democrat bill that would redo the Washington state flag and remove George Washington. The bill says that “George Washington’s image lacks a direct connection to the state’s history and cultural diversity.”
Our state has REAL problems – REAL issues, like:
▶️Third highest crime rate.
▶️Third highest cost of gas.
▶️Third largest homeless population.
▶️Fourth most expensive housing.
And some politicians want to cancel George Washington? We don’t need less George Washington, we need more! Let’s focus on the real issues our state is facing and get some work done for our citizens. They expect and deserve better.
Thank you for reading my email update and for staying involved. I appreciate the comments and concerns you’ve expressed to me this past month. It’s an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmick
