Jay Inslee already made his desire to reward his millionaire friends at the expense of working families known when he declared his wish to extend a tax loophole for electric vehicles and explore giving solo electric vehicle drivers access to carpool lanes. As Shift reported, the state Department of Revenue estimates that, if the tax break is extended, it would mean a nearly $13 million hit in tax revenues in fiscal year 2016, and $17 million in 2017.
Who benefits from the tax break? Washington State’s budget and K-12 education certainly do not benefit. Working families who simply cannot afford higher end vehicles (Tesla price tag: $85,900+, Nissan Leaf price tag: $28,800+) do not benefit. By every indication, by supporting those who have supported him, Inslee’s campaign war chest stands to benefit the most.
Well, Inslee wasn’t done suggesting ways he could reward his millionaire friends as was discovered when he introduced his $12 billion transportation plan yesterday. According to the Washington Policy Center, our green governor’s transportation proposal appears (details are scarce) to grant electric vehicle owners free use of ferries and toll roads. If Inslee gets his way, he would reward electric vehicle owners with “taxpayer-subsidized ferry rides and tolls, while most people continue to pay full fare.
