Electric and Hybrid Car Tax Overturned
Thanks to Gary Richardson and the Sierra Club
Both Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Gary Richardson and the Sierra Club challenged HB 1449 as an illegal or unconstitutional bill that placed a tax on electric and hybrid vehicles. It was passed in the final five days of the legislative session, passed with less than the required ¾ majority votes, and it was a tax, not a user fee as alleged by House and Senate leaders. The "fee" was $100.00 on electric vehicles and $30.00 for hybrid vehicles to offset the wear and tear on the roads not paid for in fuel tax.
The Supreme Court refused to allow Gary Richardson's suit to merge with the Sierra Club lawsuit and the final ruling was on the Sierra Club suit. The ruling overturned HB 1449, saving Oklahomans about a half million dollars a year. However, Richardson was allowed to argue and submit filings that were considered in the case so it was a huge win for Richardson and ought to show the voters that he is proactive at limiting the damages to the voters even before he runs for office.
Of course the Supreme Court couldn't allow Richardson to be the case that was overturned because it would make him too powerful and too likely to win in the Republican primary in the 2018 governor's race.
