...or no sales tax?<br><br><b><i>Tom Ivie <the_ivies3@yahoo.com></i></b> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> ...and how many of those "surrounding states" with higher vehicle registration rates have a state income tax?<br><br><b><i>Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com></i></b> wrote:<blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> <!--[if !mso]> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <style>
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:#C4A53C; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:gray; text-decoration:underline;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:Arial; color:windowtext;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> </o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType></o:SmartTagType><div class="Section1"> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">From today’s (February 26, 2008) Spokesman Review –<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:
10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“Proposal includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150”<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Remember the sole-parent, hard-working <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> waiter(ress) example I presented earlier? Remember how (s)he drops off his/her child at a day care center (that does not require background investigations of its employees), working as a waiter(ress) for $3.50 an hour (since <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> allows employers to include anticipated tips as part of their employee’s income)? Well . . . that same waiter(ress) must pay $150 minimum
each year to keep his/her car on the road so shat (s)he can get to work.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">If Governor Otter truly does wish to stay in step with local states, I suggest he increase minimum wage to $8.00 an hour and start taxing services (i.e. attorneys), instead of dumping the financial burden on those who so sorely cannot afford it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:
10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Otter has plan to raise millions for roads <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Proposal includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">John Miller <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Associated Press<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">February 27, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:
10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><st1:City w:st="on"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">BOISE</span></font></st1:City><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> – Gov. Butch Otter is touting fee increases he says will help raise an additional $202 million annually by 2011 to maintain <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>'s roads and bridges, including a plan for substantially higher registration fees for cars.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In addition to those hikes, proposals discussed at a meeting Tuesday of the House and Senate transportation committees to increase money for roads also include a 4 percent rental car tax and increasing fees on commercial
truckers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Idaho Transportation Department estimates it will have an annual $200 million highway funding shortfall in coming years. If Idaho doesn't take action to bridge the gap, officials say the only other alternative is to develop a strategic withdrawal from maintaining some roads so the state has enough cash left over for its most-important thoroughfares.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"There are plenty of projects we could do, if we had the money to do them," Darrell Manning, the chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board, told
lawmakers. "We have procrastinated too long."<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">According to Otter's proposals, he's pushing a 4 percent tax on rental cars that would raise about $1.3 million annually.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Otter also wants to gradually boost fees on commercial truckers, raising $25 million in the 12 months starting July 1 and increasing the proceeds to $50 million by 2011. About $22 million would come from light trucks, with the rest from larger tractor trailers. Otter hasn't proposed specific legislation; instead he's working with lawmakers and the
trucking industry to come up with a package that accomplishes his goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"We wanted to find some middle ground," said Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home and a trucking company owner who has been helping draft proposals for his industry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">By far the largest piece of Otter's package to increase roads revenue calls for boosting registration fees for personal vehicles to a flat rate of $150 annually, from between $24 and $48 now, depending on a car's model year. After the changes, <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State> would rank just 17th among states in registration costs, said Clete Edmunson, Otter's transportation policy adviser.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Even by increasing revenue up to $150, it's still fair and it's still equitable with the surrounding states," Edmunson said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Some lawmakers already indicated opposition to trying to raise the lion's share of new revenue by increasing registration fees for cars.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, said it made little sense that people who drive their cars very little should pay the same as those who use their cars every day for long distances.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"My neighbor who is 90 years old drives very little," King said. "So why not raise your gas tax? I think for seniors, it would be fairer to charge per mile."<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Edmunson countered that Otter is
philosophically opposed to raising the state's 25-cent-a-gallon gas tax, which hasn't been increased since 1996. Transportation Department officials also contend revenue from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></st1:place>'s gas tax is stagnating and can't be counted on in years to come, especially as cars improve their gas mileage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">-----------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Details of Otter's plan <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:
10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Registration fees: The current state registration fee – excluding county charges – would be increased to $150, from $24 to $48 now, depending on the car's model year. The plan would raise $134 million more in revenue by fiscal year 2011, according to the governor's estimates.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Rental cars: Rental cars would be taxed at 4 percent; the resulting $1.3 million in proceeds would be deposited directly in the State Highway Account.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Truckers: Gov. Otter, lawmakers and the trucking industry are working on a plan that would raise $25 million in fiscal year 2009 from commercial trucks, with revenue rising to $50 million by 2011. About $22 million would come from fees on light trucks, with the rest coming from larger tractor-trailers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ISP shift: Otter wants to shift $16.7 million in funding for the Idaho State Police that now comes from transportation-related fees. Instead, the money would be taken from the state general fund. That would free up money for road work. The Joint Finance-Appropriations budget writing committee has already expressed skepticism over the shift, recommending against it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div
class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Seeya round town, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size:
10pt;">Moscow</span></font></st1:City><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"If not us, who?<br> If not now, when?"<br> <br> - Unknown<br> </span></font> <o:p></o:p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div> </div> =======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the
communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> http://www.fsr.net <br> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>=======================================================</blockquote><br><br><br>Tom & Liz Ivie<div> </div><hr size="1">Never miss a thing. <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs"> Make Yahoo your homepage.</a> =======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> http://www.fsr.net <br> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>=======================================================</blockquote><br><BR><BR>Tom & Liz Ivie<p> 
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