Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven and Senator John Barrasso have introduced the Eliminating Lavish Incentives to Electric (ELITE) Vehicles Act, aimed at ending the federal electric vehicle (EV) and charging stations tax credit. The bill targets taxpayer money from subsidizing the purchase of luxury electric vehicles for high-income individuals and corporations. Senator Hoeven expressed his concerns about the current policies, stating, "At the same time that the Biden administration is imposing policies to eliminate choice in the new consumer car market, they have advanced incentives that benefit those who don’t need assistance at the cost of U.S. taxpayers." Senator Barrasso echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the tax credit benefits the wealthiest Americans and costs hardworking taxpayers billions of dollars. He added, "Working families in Wyoming shouldn’t be footing the bill for the luxuries of Biden’s climate elitists."

The legislation not only aims to repeal the electric vehicle tax credit but also to prevent China from exploiting loopholes to access U.S. tax credits associated with electric vehicles. Senator Barrasso highlighted the importance of repealing these tax credits to keep China out of the U.S. markets and allow Americans to make their vehicle purchase decisions based on their preferences and affordability. The bill has garnered support from several cosponsors, including U.S. Senators Mike Braun, Shelley Moore Capito, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Pete Ricketts, Jim Risch, Mike Rounds, Marco Rubio, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, and John Thune.

The introduction of the ELITE Vehicles Act reflects the ongoing debate surrounding the federal support for electric vehicles and the role of government incentives in shaping consumer choices in the automotive market.