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www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2585.asp

11/3/2008
Virginia to Consider Per Mile Driving Tax

Virginia legislature could begin study of per-mile driving taxes in
2009.
A member of the Virginia House of Delegates last week introduced
legislation that would create a system to track the driving habits of
Virginia motorists, imposing a tax on every mile driven. Delegate David
Poisson (D-Loudoun) argues that his measure should be adopted by the
legislature's 2009 session because he believes gas tax revenue is
dwindling.

"Inflation and escalating construction costs have severely eroded the
purchasing power of fuel-tax revenue," Poisson said in a statement. "At
the same time, tax receipts are dropping as soaring gas prices and a
weak economy reduce traffic volume. When people do drive, it is in more
fuel-efficient cars, which only makes our revenue problems worse.
Clearly, we can't continue this way."

According to the latest available state data, gas tax revenue was down
1.5 percent in the current fiscal year compared with last year. However,
gas tax revenues -- about $900 million per year -- continue to climb
when compared to previous years. Current year collections were up 2.6
percent compared to fiscal 2007, despite gasoline prices that were 75
cents per gallon more expensive. Even the 1.5 percent drop in motor
vehicle fuel excise tax collections had little effect on total
transportation fund revenues. Thanks to increases in other fees and
taxes, overall collections were up 13.9 percent for the year. (PDF File
View latest tax collection data in a 450k PDF.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2008/va-tax0908.pdf)

Nonetheless, state lawmakers and Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) officials have embraced the tolling concept, agreeing in June to
add toll lanes to the Capital Beltway (view details). The tolls on this
project will rise and fall based on congestion levels, a key element in
Poisson's proposal. A private consortium headed by Transurban will
operate the toll lanes for a significant profit. To help advance its US
plans, the Australian company gave $179,000 in illegal campaign
contributions to legislators and Governor Tim Kaine (D). Transurban also
spent $596 on dinners with a handful of key lawmakers including House
Speaker William J. Howell (R) and Senate Majority Leader Richard L
Saslaw (D).

If supported by these lawmakers, Poisson's measure would create a joint
subcommittee of the legislature that would decide by November 2009 how
best to create new per-mile taxes or congestion charges. The legislature
would then vote on the plan in the 2010 session.

Poisson introduced a separate measure, House Bill 1590, that makes rush
hour toll payments tax deductible. In effect, this lowers the price of
driving for in-state motorists and raises the cost of driving for
out-of-state motorists.

A full copy of House Joint Resolution 626 is available in a 28k PDF file
at the source link below.

Source: PDF File House Joint Resolution 626 (Virginia General Assembly,
10/14/2008)
http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2008/va-hj626.pdf
_________________
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Riders Against Constitutional Erosion
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New York Freedom Riders

Boil · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject:

Here is a link to the legislation, it is to conduct a study, not enact anything yet.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HJ626

I still think it is a bad idea, but we have more opportunity to stop it this way.
_________________
Jim Cannon, Director
Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists