MONEY GRAB: Washington State Bill Raises Gas Tax, Car Tax, And Adds Bicycle Taxes

House Democrats rolled out a nearly $10 billion transportation package Wednesday that would boost taxes on gasoline, increase car tabs and even charge a bicycle fee to raise money.

The proposal would increase the state gas tax by 10 cents over five years, eventually reaching a total of 47.5 cents per gallon. Washington currently has the nation’s ninth-highest gas tax.

In addition, it would create a car-tab tax equal to 0.7 percent of a vehicle’s value — $140 for a $20,000 car.

There’s even a $25 sales fee on bicycles worth $500 or more that would raise $1 million over 10 years, a nod to motorists who complain that bicyclists don’t pay their fair share.

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PLAY - 2/21/2013 12:05:34 PM

0 Boost

Oh my goodness, a government doing what it is supposed to be doing? Raising revenue to pay for infrastructure projects and upkeep of existing infrastructure?

atc98092 - 2/21/2013 7:01:57 PM

+3 Boost

You obviously don't live here in WA. They raise taxes and do less with the money. Our state transportation department is almost criminal in the way they spend money on projects with little to no oversight and costly overruns.

LexSucks - 2/22/2013 9:29:22 AM

+3 Boost

atc98092, State level spending and federal level spending are two different things. The money that your state is screwing up on local projects doesn't come from federal Gov't. It comes from your state and local taxes. Now watch me get deboosted for stating an obvious fact.

Agent009 - 2/21/2013 2:58:00 PM

+5 Boost

Gotta love the irony:

Feds push you to very expensive better mileage options that cost you more to buy and insure.

States: see decreased revenues because you are now saving gas, so they tax the heck out of those same options. Penalizing you for doing what the fed wants.

All in all the consumer pays more in the long run than if they bought a guzzler.

PUGPROUD - 2/21/2013 5:09:10 PM

+5 Boost

For years the folks in Washington stole funds from transportation and infastructure projects to fund other favorite and pork barrel projects. Now to make up for their direlection of duties they want us to give more of our hard earned income. Its not a government finally acting like a responsible government...far from it. It "tax and spend", "tax and spend" as usual. I dare anyone who voted for this administration to add up for one year all taxes paid at every level plus government fees and surcharges on bills and purchases. You will get a big surprise. For example here in NY the cost of government fees and surcharges on water
bills exceeds the charge for the water itself. Its shameful. The government will not cut back in spending but expects every family in
America to cut back to fuel their spending.