"Oregon Moves to Claw Back Bush's Big SUV Tax Break"

[maybe some day...]

USA: June 27, 2003


PORTLAND, Ore - In a backlash against sports utility vehicles, Oregon is seeking to pass a law that would make buyers of big SUVs pay more in local taxes if they claim them as a business expense in their federal tax returns.


At stake is a federal tax loophole that lets small business owners reduce their taxable income by as much as $75,000, a limit that was recently raised from $25,000 under the tax cut legislation President Bush signed into law last month.

Oregon legislators, who are grappling with a $2 billion budget shortfall, said the federal SUV tax break is costing the state valuable tax income worth some $750,000 a year.

Jackie Dingfelder, one of the bill's sponsors, said this week that the bill only disconnects Oregon from a federal law that is abused by business owners.

"It makes good public policy for a number of reasons," Dingfelder said. "It encourages people to buy vehicles that create less pollution and it puts money back into the state coffers. It's a win-win."

Under the proposed legislation, which is making its way through Oregon's state Senate, businesses would be required to report triple the amount of their federal tax write-offs as income when they file their local tax returns.

The state law, if passed, would take effect from 2004 and apply only to larger SUVs rated over 6,000 pounds.

Farmers and construction workers would be exempted, Dingfelder said.

Auto dealers said the state's proposal was full of "smoke and mirrors" and said the bill would harm business growth at a time when small businesses are struggling.

"The whole idea of the federal government is to increase spending right now to quicken economic development," said Monty King, executive director of the Oregon Independent Auto Dealers Association.

"Probably the worst thing about this is it points to Oregon and says they're against small businesses; they don't understand small businesses," King said.


Story by Lee Douglas


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

[maybe some day...]

USA: June 27, 2003


PORTLAND, Ore - In a backlash against sports utility vehicles, Oregon is seeking to pass a law that would make buyers of big SUVs pay more in local taxes if they claim them as a business expense in their federal tax returns.


At stake is a federal tax loophole that lets small business owners reduce their taxable income by as much as $75,000, a limit that was recently raised from $25,000 under the tax cut legislation President Bush signed into law last month.

Oregon legislators, who are grappling with a $2 billion budget shortfall, said the federal SUV tax break is costing the state valuable tax income worth some $750,000 a year.

Jackie Dingfelder, one of the bill's sponsors, said this week that the bill only disconnects Oregon from a federal law that is abused by business owners.

"It makes good public policy for a number of reasons," Dingfelder said. "It encourages people to buy vehicles that create less pollution and it puts money back into the state coffers. It's a win-win."

Under the proposed legislation, which is making its way through Oregon's state Senate, businesses would be required to report triple the amount of their federal tax write-offs as income when they file their local tax returns.

The state law, if passed, would take effect from 2004 and apply only to larger SUVs rated over 6,000 pounds.

Farmers and construction workers would be exempted, Dingfelder said.

Auto dealers said the state's proposal was full of "smoke and mirrors" and said the bill would harm business growth at a time when small businesses are struggling.

"The whole idea of the federal government is to increase spending right now to quicken economic development," said Monty King, executive director of the Oregon Independent Auto Dealers Association.

"Probably the worst thing about this is it points to Oregon and says they're against small businesses; they don't understand small businesses," King said.


Story by Lee Douglas


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE

[RasterMaster]

"The state law, if passed, would take effect from 2004 and apply only to larger SUVs rated over 6,000 pounds."<p>

How many exactly would fall into this category other than H2's?

Check out the OkC Chapter Page!

[maybe some day...]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RasterMaster:
How many exactly would fall into this category other than H2's?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is a list that has appeared with several of the articles on the suv tax break that says 38 trucks qualify. A brief glance a the list shows several vehicles missing so perhaps there are 40-42 trucks... don't forget this exemption includes the monster sized cargo vans and the big pickups. SUVs? Perhaps 8-10? I don't have the list handy.

[RasterMaster]

The title says it all....Oregon wants ALL your money! The politicians in Oregon need to study simple High School economics.

Check out the OkC Chapter Page!

[BKLYNH2]

To pass a law that would be exempt to construction workers and farmers only is total BS discrimination. Gotta love big government telling you, what you need to drive. Vermont has a bunch of BS discrimination laws like this. The "wonderful" Howard Dean while governor there managed to divide the entire state by taking local taxes from some towns to support other's school systems. Additionaly this program was crafted to hit second homeowners(who can't vote in VT, but basiclly keep it's economy afloat) worst of all. All I can say is Oregon don't let this crap happen to you.