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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Babette Josephs |
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Josephs introduces measures to exempt nonprofit car
sharing organizations from the state sales tax
HARRISBURG, April 2 -- As energy prices continue to rise and the state works on reducing Pennsylvania's dependence on Middle East oil, Rep. Babette Josephs has introduced related legislation with an incentive to put fewer cars on the roads.
Josephs has introduced two bills (H.Bs. 2409 and 2411) that would exempt from the state sales and county rental tax nonprofit car-sharing rental organizations and services.
"Current gasoline prices nearing $3.50 a gallon and diesel fuel topping $4 are just some of the reasons why there is a real need for alternative-energy solutions," said Josephs, D-Phila. "Concern for the air we breathe is another. By encouraging the use of such car rental organizations as PhillyCarShare and other similar entities, we can reduce congestion, parking problems and pollution."
Car-sharing services make vehicles available for its members to rent, thereby reducing the need for individual car ownership. In addition, the vehicles are often newer and more technologically advanced, which results in fewer emissions into the atmosphere.
Josephs said that these services and organizations benefit local residents of the area, rather than the conventional car rental agencies, which are mostly used by tourists and other out-of-towners.
"People should be encouraged to utilize such environment-saving practices, and these bills would help do that," she said.
The organizations excluded from these taxes under her legislation would be those nonprofit entities that provide a city-wide network of neighborhood-based vehicles with the goal of reducing overdependency on individually owned motor vehicles.
Josephs does not own a car; she utilizes public transportation where at all possible.
Both pieces of legislation have been referred to the House Urban Affairs Committee.
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