A Hummer Tax?

SUV owners are already paying more to fill their tanks at the pump. Now, in Massachusetts, they could be forced to pay even more just to hit the road, charged a higher fee when registering their vehicles.

If implemented, the so called 'Hummer Tax' would be the first in the nation.

Tim Lerchenfeldt, general manager of Cadillac Hummer Saab Village, a dealership in Norwwood, argues now is not the time for another fee, when sales are down and the auto industry is struggling.

"It's a penalty for driving an SUV, which currently is not the popular choice. Or you're being penalized for a lifestyle choice, or maybe the fact that you have a large family and you need that size vehicle to put them in and it just doesn't seem fair," said Lerchenfeldt, who adds that a given SUV owner may spend less time on the road and burn less gasoline than a given hybrid car owner.

Under the new proposal, owners of more fuel efficient vehicles would pay less. The ultimate goal of the policy is supposedly to get consumers to buy those instead.

"If you're going to make a choice that's counterproductive for the planet, counterproductive for the state, counterproductive for America, then if you want to make that choice, it's America, you can make that choice, but if you have to pay for it, I think that's fair," said Josh Wright, a Toyota Prius owner who lives in the town of Hanover.

The plan to charge larger gas guzzling vehicles more has the backing of Democratic Governor Deval Patrick who admits there are some kinks to work out, like how to protect larger families from being unfairly impacted. The Governor is calling for a wide array of new fees and taxes to fund and fix the state's ailing transportation system, which he says has suffered more than a decade of neglect.

Among the most controversial elements in the plan, Patrick is calling for a 19 cent increase in the state's gas tax. He is appealing directly to voters, crisscrossing the state and holding town hall style meetings, listening to the fears and concerns of Commonwealth residents.

"For the average driver what we're talking about is the equivalent of a large cup of coffee per week, but still, for some people that's a lot." Patrick said, admitting the choices are hard.

As part of the package, Patrick is promising to streamline the state's transportation bureaucracy and put the breaks on government spending.

"I think a gas tax without the reforms is unacceptable. More to the point, I will veto that bill. But, I think reforms without the new revenue doesn't really get us very far."

The administration estimates that up to 19 billion dollars will be needed over the next 20 years to pay down debt and to maintain and update the Massachusetts transportation system.


Class warfare at it's Liberal best...so who defines what a "SUV" is? It used to be there was a very definite line between cars, minivans, trucks and SUV's. Now with the new generation of "cross overs", that line is at best, a bit blurry. And what about other vehicles, like a Jeep? I drive a Jeep Wrangler. Is it a SUV? It has 4 wheel drive, like a Hummer. and all models made by Subaru. it carries 4 passengers. like a Prius. I get 17 MPG on the highway, better than my Father's Dodge Minivan. But according to some sources I have read, my Jeep is the direct descendant of the source of the name. It fits all the specs for one, light truck chassis, box shaped (station wagon) body,gasoline engine, high towing capacity, four wheel drive, off road ability, high ground clearance.
So I guess I am to be made to pay more for my "lifestyle choice" than others.
I have a huge problem with this.
Mainly, it was MY CHOICE.
I love my Jeep. I live in upstate NY. It snows here. A lot.It is something like 15 miles to the nearest large supermarket for me. I NEED 4 wheel drive.
There have been many times I have been out and the weather has changed from a nice sunny day to a snowstorm that puts a few inches of snow on the roads. I dislike ending up in a ditch, so I drive in 4 wheel drive. Even last night, we had a record amount of rain fall. You guessed it, 4 wheel drive it was.
I drive a lot.
I have over 150,000 miles on my '04 Wrangler.
So that makes me a bad person.
BITE ME.
I know people who drive a new Ford Mustang. it has a huge modified V8 engine. It carries 2 people. They get something like 9 MPG. why do they get a break when I don't?
Don't get me wrong. I dislike Hummers. But not for the same reasons as the treehuggers do. They are just a waste of money when compared to a Jeep. But it is there choice to buy one. I also hate it when I see a Jeep all chromed out with ghetto wheels and fuzzy seats.
I also dislike Smart cars. I worry that I might run one over and then have to remove the remains from the underside of my Jeep. My John Deere riding mower is bigger.
But do I feel that they should be punished for risking their lives driving one on the highway?
Hell No.
The less the government, and the Leftists that control it intrude into my life, the better I off I am.
I know this proposed tax is in another state, but trust me, New York is just as cash starved as it is, and it is only a matter of time before my blind governor proposes this plan here.
Truly a case of monkey see, monkey do.
oh, sorry, was that racist?
Too bad.
Oh, by the way, I have noticed that the local Sheriff's Department has started to switch over from sedans to Chevy Tahoe's for all the road patrol vehicles.
Seems the Police have decided that the officers are safer in the larger SUV's, as well as being still V8 powered, and can carry all the first responder equipment they need and still fit the captured bad guys in the back.
Maybe they are on to something.