Who's ready to pay up $325-$600 per yr for driving a GTO?

[ChiefyGTO]

Senate Bill 6900 wants to charge us each year on the size of the engine now. What's next?!

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6900.pdf

http://echo.bluehornet.com/hostedemail/email.htm?h=d40c23faf4e7d04a66f5a3d203747450&CID
With this 2nd link, CONTACT THE SENATE NOW and tell them to vote NO!

The "little people" - the working and middle class - the ones these so-called democrats claim to fight for, they're now ATTACKING with such a bill!

Might I add, for large families who need multiple vehicles and/or large vehicles to haul the family around in, it's really hitting them.

I was thinking... can you say holy qualdrupledip?! I mean, look at this:
-You get taxed when you purchase a vehicle so you can actually have one. I might add, depending on MPG, you could get hit TWICE.
-You get taxed on tab renewals so you can drive your call legally
-You get taxed at the pump so the car can actually run
-And now they want to tax us on the engine size, just because?!

Also, think about this:
Engine size isn't exactly the leading reason for polution. It comes down to:
-The gearing of a car. A 350Z gets worse real world mileage on the highway because they cruise at over 3K RPM in 6th gear!!!
-The larger engines usually equate to more torque. The more torque means you don't have to prod the gas as much or rev as high as smaller, less torquey engines to pass, merge, or move away from a stoplight. Someone who was to rev to 4K+ and be more aggressive with the pedal to acc. will use more gas, while someone who has the torque down low can keep low RPM's and push the gas lightly to move just as quickly, using less gas.
-It comes down to the driver. There are so many aggressive, fast driving kids and adults who are driving those small engined cars. They will use alot more gas that somewho who's cruising along in their V8 powered Cadillac, Lexus, or family hauler simply because of driving so much more aggressively, even in a small engine, means alot more pollution.
-Also, keep in mind there's some cars under the 1.9L size, such as an RX-8, that gets as bad or worse real world gas mileage than most V8's - they're consistantly in the low teens real world. Ask any of their owners. And that's a 1.3L engine.

[JLP]

It is interesting that all must emit the same amount of HC/CO and other pollutants from the factory. The 1.9 and the 7.5 must emit the same. So where does this come from? The PPM is the same for all engines of a given year. This is just another way to make a few more $$ to the state coffers and circumumventing the will of the people when we passed the $30 tab several years ago.
When you vote, vote against these kind of people who are supposed to represent you. We know they represent their own interests first, then their party then whatever special interest group is helping them get elected/reelected.

__________________________________________________ __
Here is my reply and letter I sent. Please feel free to copy, edit, etc and send.

Below is a copy of the letter I sent to each one on the list. I just failed to change the name at the top each time.

Jack Peters

__________________________________________________ ______________________



Ms. Haugen,

I am trying to figure out the logic of this bill.

All engines must meet certian federal standards. The Parts Per Million is determined by the EPA. It is based on an arbritary rule. Regardless of the size of the engine the output of pollutants must be the same.

Therefore, the amount emitted by a small engine is the same amount permitted for the larger engine. Most small engines run at a higher revolutions per minute (rpm's) than a larger engine so the emissions of the smaller engine(which is usually reved higher for a given speed than a larger engine) may easily excede those of the larger engine.

The cost as shown in the bill is astronomical for ANY household. 2 cars that I own will cost me an extra $550 per year to license. My vehicles are not large at all. One is a 4.3 and the other is a 3.8. We (the people who elected you--the voters) do not in general have that kind of money to pay for WHAT. What is the direct benefit of this bill.

How much will it cost per year for the average household?

I am against any law that makes no fiscal sense, average voter sense and is questionable as to the environmental sense.

The state of California has a law that if the vehicle was not sold new in CA then there is imposed a very large fee to register it in CA. How does that reduce emisssions? I am concerned that you folks in the legislature are disconnected from the average person who voted you into office.

How far back will this affect vehicles or is there a cut off when this would not apply? What about collector cars? What about State vehicles? I realize they are exempt from licensing but I think the budget of each part of the state government should be made to pay into a special fund (if this is what this is) just like the average citizen/resident.

I would like a response to this e-mail.

Jack L. Peters

14102 120th Ave Ct E

Puyallup, WA 98374


JLP

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

I wonder if these politicians think that the driving public are just plain stupid. I have always said to not vote for any incumbants looking for reelection in this state. Since this state is as screwed up as it is and has been for many years maybe now we will get a change in Olympia. I believe this is a death nell for any politician in Oly looking to be reelected.

[G6T8O]

VOTE: Dino Rossi!!

[THOR]

JLP, great communication in that letter, I"m borrowing some of that in my effort. I'm sick and tired of taxes :mad: :mad: :mad: and this is worth writing a letter, I think they may actually get it if enough of us write them

[RCRead]

I posted this on the Corvette Forum, encouraging people to write to their state senator. One of them received a response from Rodney Tom, who is one of the sponsors of the bill. Here it is the response:

I understand your frustration. The bill is not going to pass, I didn't even try to get it out of committee. What I wanted to do was start what I believe is an important conversation we as a society need to have regarding how we can reduce our adverse environment impacts, while reducing out dependence on foreign oil from an unstable region. Pouring billions into the Middle East is adding fuel to the fire.

My frustration stems from the auto companies fixation on every car going zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. There are a ton of clean burning diesels in Europe that are getting 50+ MPG. The US auto manufacturers are looked into yesterdays mentality that they can make $10,000 off every SUV sold. I remember in 2005 when we were debating the clean car bill (HB1397), when a lobbyist out from Detroit told me, "We (auto companies) have Washington DC locked up." Washington State has a rich history of showing leadership, and I believe we must do everything we can to intelligently address global warming. I appreciate your thoughts and feedback.

Best of success,


Rodney Tom
State Senator
p 360.786.7694
o 800.562.6000 hotline

[First Lady]

..

[G6T8O]

WOW...A response...Thats more than I expected...

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

Well now seems Rodney Tom needs to leave office ASAP. I don't believe any of the voting public likes 'scare tactics' regardless of their reason. The way to get dialouge started is exactly that...start talking and bring it to the forefront. To do it this way is irresponsible at least.

[THOR]

Well now seems Rodney Tom needs to leave office ASAP. I don't believe any of the voting public likes 'scare tactics' regardless of their reason. The way to get dialouge started is exactly that...start talking and bring it to the forefront. To do it this way is irresponsible at least.

I agree.
Why the heck are our legislators wasting time fooling around with stuff that won't get passed?
They need to spend time working on things that are realistic and beneficial to taxpayers in WA state for crying out loud. How about some public transit and wider roads so that we don't sit around twiddling our thumbs in traffic jams for starters. If that's too hard for them to conceive?
They're a bunch of total goobers and won't get my vote. I don't think Dino Rossi is our saviour either :rolleyes:

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

+1
I'm not sure Dino is the answer either, but...35 years of Demo goverment...Time for a change.

[G6T8O]

Right now the dems have all the control! We need new blood. Dino would have VETO power. Thats gotta help.

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

Right now the dems have all the control! We need new blood. Dino would have VETO power. Thats gotta help.

I voted for Rossi last election. They counted the votes until mine didn't count.

[G6T8O]

Yea...Yours and mine both!

[JLP]

Got the following answer this AM from Jim Kastama.
Bland, non commital, won't say that it won't come up again or answered any questions.

JLP

Dear Mr. Peters:

As of a few minutes ago, the information that I have on SB 6900 is that it never made it out of the Senate Transportation Committee, nor did it even have a hearing. You can check the progress of this bill from the following link: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6900&year=2008
If you are hearing anything to the contrary about the progress of this measure, please let me know.

Thanks,

Jim

[ViolentBird]

Does this include the public transit companies as well ?
Buses and taxi companies ?

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

Does this include the public transit companies as well ?
Buses and taxi companies ?

Are you kidding? Even motorhomes would have been exempt.

[JLP]

Here is the latest from yet another State Senator. Wow I got 2 replies. At least this one admits it is a bad bill and not thought out.


Jack,

Thank you for writing to me about Senate Bill 6900, which requires vehicle engine displacement and emissions fees for certain motor vehicles. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me.

I have heard similar concerns from many other people, and I can certainly understand the issues with this type of legislation. I don’t think this bill is very well thought out, and it is a bad idea for Washington State. SB 6900 was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee for consideration. As Chairman of the Transportation Committee, I choose what bills to hold a hearing for, and because of my objection to the bill and the concerns of the people in my state, I did not give this bill a hearing. It is no longer under consideration this session, and will not become law.

Thank you again for writing to me about SB 6900. I appreciate hearing from you and can understand your concerns, and that is why I do not support this bill. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if you have questions or comments about this or any other issue.

-Mary Margaret

[G6T8O]

Wow , How bout that!!

[THOR]

It's good that our legislators are saying this bill is a goner.
Now, when do we get to flog the joker that tried to introduce it ? :twisted: :D

[G6T8O]

Not soon enough!!

[miltvine]

Didn't pass. Nice call to action by the participants of this message board!

This update from AWB's (Association of Washington Business) newsletter today:

AWB opposed pesky transportation tax bills cause heated debate

Two transportation tax bills that are dead for the session are still causing trouble for lawmakers and their legislative staff. These bills on vehicle engine displacement taxes are affected by Initiative 960, which requires the Office of Financial Management to notify taxpayers via e-mail of new proposals that raise revenues by imposing taxes or fees. Notification of these bills is circulating around the Internet, leading angry voters to post blog comments and make calls to action. SB 6900 would charge vehicle owners a yearly fee based on engine size, while SB 6923 would base its fees on gas mileage. Car club members are leading an aggressive grassroots campaign against both proposals. AWB opposes both bills, which failed to pass the Senate Transportation Committee.



Please also see these related links:

SB 6900 by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina

SB 6923 by Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle