Parsing Kaine
By Norman Leahy | Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 | Catch-AllThe NV Daily’s Garren Shipley recounts an amusing exchange between himself and Gov. Kaine’s press secretary over the small matter of raising the gas tax. Much weaving and bobbing ensues:
I asked Hickey twice whether the governor would sign a bill that came out of June’s likely special session that included a gas tax hike. I got no answer either time. Hickey also declined the offer of a story clarifying Kaine’s position on the gas tax once and for all.
So in conclusion, Kaine didn’t specifically say he supports a gas tax hike, but he certainly aimed his remarks in that direction. As usual, there’s a Cheap Seat with Gov. Kaine’s name on it if he or his office decide they want to clarify his position on the gas tax.
We’ll even buy the popcorn.
Like any good reporter (which is a very small band, indeed, in Virginia) Garren links to an additional source where Kaine speaks about the gas tax…and all but says it needs to go up. Because it’s all about safety, dontcha’ know.
I can appreciate the Governor’s flak taking issue with a story — any story — that seems to portray his boss in an unkind light. However, in this case, Hickey was wrong…his boss is going to plump for as many different types of tax increases as possible in order to expand VDOT’s budget.
Regrettably, Kaine and others refuse to consider other possibilities — like a thorough independent audit of VDOT’s books to see where the money they have right now is being spent, and why. And setting congestion-cutting priorities? Just not sexy enough, it seems. Looking at other means of road funding? Eh, no. It’s all going to come out of your pocket, whether you drive a car, ride a bike or telecommute.
Because it’s all about safety. Or maybe global warming. Or was it the children?
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Post contributor.
Comments
2 Responses to "Parsing Kaine"
That’s the problem, Norm. The past two governors didn’t run on a transportation plan.
You want a transportation plan cobbled together by 140 individual legislators? You don’t need gubernatorial leadership for that.
But if you want a cohesive statewide transportation plan, it’s gotta come from a Governor, and he’s got to be elected on it.
First, this does not come from a stalwart Kaine supporter.
The waffling from Kaine’s staff might be because the Governor is unsure which of the two competing proposals he supports to raise increased revenue. Proposals he might throw his weight behind are the increase in the fuel tax or an increase in the titling tax.
Personally I support the increase in the fuel tax. I want to motivate increased fuel conservation. An increase in the fuel tax would increase revenue at the same time it motivated conservation. An increase in the titling tax would punish those that buy more expensive fuel efficient vehicles. If someone must have an SUV for their family, I would prefer they buy one of the new hybrid SUVs because the economics make sense due to high fuel costs. The more they spend the more they save. With an increase in the title tax we punish them for paying more for the increased fuel economy without rewarding them for making the investment.
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