On July 1st 2013, one of the worst ideas of the year became law in Virginia: the state began taxing climate-conscious owners of hybrid vehicles $64 per year. In response to this absurdity, Democratic Delegate Scott Surovell and Senator Adam Ebbin joined me to protest the tax and announced their intention to introduce a bill repealing it during the 2014 General Assembly session. Yesterday, on the first day to pre-file bills for the upcoming session, the two legislators kept true to their word.

Del. Surovell and Sen. Ebbin announced that they have pre-filed legislation to repeal the hybrid punishment tax. These two legislators have opposed the tax from the beginning. Thus, their leadership on this issue should be applauded. In recent weeks, several other legislators from both sides of the political aisle have publicly supported repealing the tax. Bi-partisan agreement like this doesn’t happen often enough in Richmond. The fact that legislators from both sides of the aisle can agree that the tax is illogical is indicative of just how backward it truly is.
But thankfully, Del. Surovell and Sen. Ebbin have taken things one step further. Support for repeal is an admission that the tax was unfair from the beginning. Doesn’t it seem slightly half-hearted to admit the wrong by repealing the law without addressing any restitution for those who had to pay the unfair tax? Thus, the bill Del. Surovell and Sen. Ebbin support also calls for a refund to those Virginians having already paid the unfair tax.
Hopefully enough of their colleagues will take their lead once again and support this sensible measure as well. Fair is fair.