Remember Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer's long-sought $20 per month tax credit for bike commuters, intended to extend a benefit to cyclists that motorists have received for decades? The measure ridiculed by North Carolina Rep. Patrick "Give Me Fossil Fuels or Give Me Death" McHenry? It didn't make it into law last year, but it seems the bike commuting credit has found its way into the latest version of the financial bailout package.
Section 211 of the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" allows for a "qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement" for "reasonable expenses incurred by the employee during such calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle and bicycle improvements, repair, and storage, if such bicycle is regularly used for travel between the employee’s residence and place of employment."
Other transpo-related items in the bill include credits for biofuels and other "alternative" mixtures, plug-in electric vehicles, and what looks like a few goodies for oil and natural gas producers. Another section includes incentives for green construction and renewable energy production.The full text of the 451-page bill, expected to be taken up by the House of Representatives on Friday, is available here:
1 comment:
Dear Mr McHenry,
I was wondering what you thought on the new Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 that includes a bicycle initiative?
I understand that bicycles might not be the solution for all the Tenth District, but it is in some areas, like Hickory, and certainly in other areas of the Nation. The bicycle can help alleviate our dependancy on foreign fuels. Is this not a good thing?
It appears that your thinking is that of a 20th century politician. I would suggest that you look outside the box and understand that to solve the energy crisis, we all need to do whatever we can, and not just on a legislative level, but on a personal, day-to-day level, and, most importantly, open our minds to all solutions.
-CB McQueen
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