[PLUG-TALK] HR4569, the "Destroy Electronics in America Act"

[Russ Johnson]

Paul Johnson wrote:

>Out of state plates aren't honored in Oregon.  Tourists are expected to stop 
>at DMV and pick up a tour permit to pay for their share of road wear on their 
>way into the state.  That's how we solved that, though it needs to be far 
>better enforced.
>  
>

Um, no...

Roads are paid for (in part) by gasoline taxes. The only vehicles that 
are required to stop at the border and get a permit are commercial 
vehicles. I.e. the ones that don't pay road taxes with their fuel. This 
is called a PUC permit, and is administered by the same folks that 
regulate PGE.

In addition, several counties within Oregon have "Transient Room Tax". 
When you rent a motel room, you pay what amounts to a sales tax on the 
room. This money goes to the county where the motel is, and is usually 
earmarked for county infrastructure (i.e. roads) or tourist generating 
expenses.

Tourists don't have to stop anywhere. We welcome them with our "No Sales 
Tax" mantra and those of us that live here end up paying more. Yes, 
tourists spend a large amount of money in this state. That's the point 
of many that are in favor of sales tax. Tourism is the #1 industry in 
this state. A sales tax would generate billions of dollars in revenue 
that people from other states are used to paying. Coupled with a 
property tax decrease, it has the potential to lower the cost of living 
for all Oregonians. Administered as it is in many states, basic living 
necessities (i.e. food, medicine, etc.) are not taxed. This foils the 
argument that a sales tax isn't progressive because it hits the poor 
harder. In addition, if I have more money, I will spend more on taxed 
items.

Russ