McLane blasts Democrats’ proposed $1,000 old-car tax

A top Republican lawmaker from Powell Butte on Friday blasted Democrats for proposing legislation that would, among other things, put a tax on coffee and a $1,000 “impact tax” on cars more than 20 years old.

In addition to introducing a tax on coffee Thursday, House Democrats also introduced HB 2877, which would levy a $1,000 surcharge on used vehicles, said state Rep. Mike McLane..

The $1,000 tax, which would be paid by any Oregonian who owns a vehicle from 1997 or any year prior, is sponsored by the Democrat-controlled House Revenue committee, McLane said.

“The used car tax proposal is pathetic,” McLane said “Only out-of-touch liberals could have come up with an idea this dumb, which would hurt seniors, students and working families.”

As drafted, HB 2877 would allow the Oregon Department of Transportation to levy penalties, interest and collection charges on top of the $1,000 tax on Oregonians who fail to pay the fee on time.

The tax would be applied every five years. HB 2877 was referred to the House Revenue committee on Friday.

Oregon House Republican Office spokesman Preston Mann noted Willamette Week updated its story Friday to report that Democrat lawmakers said the coffee tax bill was unlikely to make it out of committee, which Mann said “begs the question, why did they introduce it yesterday?”