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Assembly deadlocks on question of tax incentives for SUV's
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - A bill to disallow tax incentives for many businesses that own large sport utility vehicles and steer the incentives instead to owners of small fuel-efficient cars deadlocked Thursday on a 36-36 vote in the state Assembly.
Though Democrats argued that the bill would help owners of environmentally friendly vehicles, opponents defeated the effort with arguments that it would harm businesses that rely on large vehicles that weigh more than three tons.
Backers had promised the tax breaks would remain intact for farmers and timber industry workers who need large trucks. But not for others.
"You shouldn't give people a break just because they buy a super-large vehicle for their business," said Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael, author of the bill.
The measure deals with how much the vehicles can be depreciated for tax purposes.
Nation and other bill supporters maintained that a rising number of big vehicles are harder on the state's roads, get poor gasoline mileage and are harming efforts to clean up the air. Nation cited vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Astro, Ford Expedition, GMC Envoy and Hummer H2.
But opponents pointed to use of larger vehicles by real estate agents, flower deliverers and companies that use them for carpoolers.
"There are a lot of other folks who need these vehicles for their businesses," said Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico.
Nation said Oregon lawmakers voted last year to disallow the incentives for large vehicles, while New York Gov. George Pataki has sponsored a bill to do the same.
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Note that Joe Nation, Democratic Assemblyman, planted the blame again solely on domestics first....no mention of Toyota Land Cruisers or the like that also get poor gas mileage.
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - A bill to disallow tax incentives for many businesses that own large sport utility vehicles and steer the incentives instead to owners of small fuel-efficient cars deadlocked Thursday on a 36-36 vote in the state Assembly.
Though Democrats argued that the bill would help owners of environmentally friendly vehicles, opponents defeated the effort with arguments that it would harm businesses that rely on large vehicles that weigh more than three tons.
Backers had promised the tax breaks would remain intact for farmers and timber industry workers who need large trucks. But not for others.
"You shouldn't give people a break just because they buy a super-large vehicle for their business," said Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael, author of the bill.
The measure deals with how much the vehicles can be depreciated for tax purposes.
Nation and other bill supporters maintained that a rising number of big vehicles are harder on the state's roads, get poor gasoline mileage and are harming efforts to clean up the air. Nation cited vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Astro, Ford Expedition, GMC Envoy and Hummer H2.
But opponents pointed to use of larger vehicles by real estate agents, flower deliverers and companies that use them for carpoolers.
"There are a lot of other folks who need these vehicles for their businesses," said Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico.
Nation said Oregon lawmakers voted last year to disallow the incentives for large vehicles, while New York Gov. George Pataki has sponsored a bill to do the same.
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Note that Joe Nation, Democratic Assemblyman, planted the blame again solely on domestics first....no mention of Toyota Land Cruisers or the like that also get poor gas mileage.
