Deadest of the dead bills – engine displacement fees

OLYMPIA — “I’ve never had so many people asking me to kill a bill that’s already dead,” said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, in response to the flood of e-mails and phone calls from people opposed to legislation that would require vehicle owners to pay a fee base on the size of their cars’ engine.

Senate Bill 6900, sponsored by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, would have required vehicle engine displacement and emissions fees for motor vehicles with an engine displacement over 1.9 liters based upon a sliding scale. It was initially heard in the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee, which referred it to the Senate Transportation Committee without recommendation.

Haugen, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, decided not to bring the bill up for debate in her committee because she doesn’t think Washingtonians can afford increased fees on their family vehicles.

Since the legislative deadline for bills to be heard in their house of origin was Feb. 19, there is absolutely no chance for SB 6900 to pass.

“I appreciate hearing from constituents who are concerned, but I think someone out there did people a disservice by misinforming them about this issue — this bill never had a chance, so there was never anything to be worried about,” said Haugen.

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