WA residents - time to contact your State Reps

There is a new bill being proposed that would significantly raise the cost of registering a vehicle. This new tax is being proposed under the guise of emissions control. Details:

There is a bill that the Washington State Legislature is trying to pass in Olympia that, if successful, will directly add huge costs to our vehicle license fees. Everyone needs to know about so this situation so that you can contact your representatives and voice your objection.
The bill is SB 6900 and it adds an "engine displacement" fee to the vehicle license tabs upon renewal. The fee has a varied amount depending on the size of the vehicle's engine:

Engine Size (liters) Rate Schedule
Up to 19 $0
2.0 - 2.9 $70
3.0 - 3.9 $225
4.0 - 4.9 $275
5.0 - 5.9 $325
6.0 - 7.9 $400
8.0 or over $600

For each car & truck that you own, calculate the rate by matching the engine size in liters to the dollar amount. Add the amounts for each vehicle and you'll see that the average two car family will be paying $500+ every year in "displacement fees" on top of the normal license fees. If you have three vehicles, you'll be paying even more.

The average family is already struggling with the high cost of gasoline, electricity, food and everything else, and our lawmakers want us to pay more, thinking we have unlimited deep pockets. This will do great damage to the budgets of retirees on fixed incomes as well. Now is the time to be very vocal against this bill.

I have contacted all of our representatives, and I would encourage everyone reading this to do the same.

To view the actual bill - click HERE
To find your state reps and email them - click HERE.
- they will ask for your address and then show you your reps, and give you the chance to email them all at once.

Please email them and oppose this bill. It is bad science, and bad taxation. We have an old work truck we use once, maybe twice a month. We should have to pay the same about for emissions that someone who drives hundreds of miles each month. Personally I think that person should not have to pay either - but this bill especially penalizes families and the little guy. A gas tax would be more fair but our reps know that is a hot button and are afraid to touch that...

UPDATE: 2:45pm I received a prompt response on this issue:

"Hi Eric, you will be pleased to know that SB 6900 did not make it through the committee process before the deadline. In fact I don't believe that it was even given a hearing, that means that it will not pass this session. Please write again.

Jim 
Rep. Jim Moeller"

Especially impressive in that he replied so quickly - on a holiday...

CRISIS RESOLVED!