Lots of focus on this in today’s Virginian-Pilot. Kerry Dougherty leads with a Bearing Drift hat-tip, citizens at a General Assembly public hearing give many ideas, and General Assembly Democrats finally assert themselves as the preeminent tax increasers in Virginia.
“Turns out that buried deep in that CNU study are few startling nuggets. So far, it’s only attracted the attention of bloggers at Bearing Drift.”
“Math isn’t my strong suit, but it seems as if 78 percent of us believe politicians will take our money and blow it on something else.”
That would be us, and the post is here. Citizens still don’t believe politicians are on the up-and-up about taxes for transportation. Folks, that’s gonna kill every proposal that involves tax increases.
Boy! Did the last 5 years get wasted in NOT passing a constitutional amendment to “lock box” transportation funding (a Kaine campaign promise, just in case no one remembers)
BD commenter Reid Greenmun made the paper for his comments.
He said lawmakers should force Virginia to pay for rebuilding U.S. 460 and the proposed third bridge-tunnel linking South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula. Those projects are economic development initiatives and as such the state should fully finance them – not the region, he said.
Uh, not really. He said the T-CONNECTOR is an economic development project for the port. Pilot Reporter Tom Holden seems to want us to think a third crossing and the port t-connector are the same thing. They aren’t.
In all friendship to Reid, my favorite comments from the VBTA were from two who didn’t make the paper. John Moss said the state should match any tax increase with existing revenues. Taxpayers have to cut their budgets and contribute more? The state should do the same. Neat, if not blatantly political, idea.
Wally Erb brought it more globally, saying that everyone at the national level wants to jumpstart the economy by giving us our money back, while the state wants to take it away. I doubt Congress is cutting taxes so Virginia could raise them.
General Assembly members from Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia met in Henrico to discuss transportation (and scare the bejesus out of rural legislators who don’t want funding formulas changed).
“There is not unanimity on any of these approaches at this time,” said Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria.
Well, show some leadership, Mister I-wanna-be-Governor. Put an idea on the table. All reports tell me that Del. Moran did stay in the room the entire meeting, so he’s making progress.
Sen. Yvonne Miller stepped up and lobbied for heavy tax increases.
“We have to tell ourselves the truth,” said Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk. “You cannot fix transportation without a huge infusion of funds. You cannot have a huge infusion of funds unless people are able to bite the bullet and take the hard votes.”
She didn’t mention that those bullets would be in the form of Democratic mailpieces in 2009 which would attack Republicans for doing what Democrats are urging them to do now.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled. 
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Brian, nice overview of what is going on transportation wise. I’d just like to add that the date for the Special Session was announced by the Governor yesterday. It is June 23rd.
While Del Cosgrove informed us that the HRTA is dead as a door nail, I would not be so sure – the whole reason the HRTA was created in the first place was to hide bond debt. It looks to me like “Da Beach” govies are making waves to try to scare the folks in Richmond into keeping the HRTA.
Reid,
If we have a regional tax package without the HRTA, who oversees the funds: the CTB?
I’m not in love with the HRTA, and realize how unpopular it is, but how do you have regional taxation without a regional board?
My preferences are (both of the below):
1) – There must be an inviolate funds lockbox, and
2) – The funds be related to fuel purchases however structured. I see scant correlation between the transportation issue and sales taxes other than perhaps sales taxes from vehicle sales. Fuel derived income reflects the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, the miles driven, and wear and tear on transportation infrastructure. It receives funds from residents and visitors alike and does not penalize non-vehicle owners (BTW we do own three vehicles).
John, I see your philosophical argument, but a gas tax is just not in the cards.
Gas prices are so high, the presidential candidates are talking about cutting the federal tax for the summer. How popular do you think it would be to raise gas taxes while the feds are cutting them?
The sales tax has traction because it generates a LOT of money, and it’s money that grows over time, where fuel economy just eats away at gas taxes over time.
I hate to be a spoilsport, but I’m tired of Republicans offering solutions and Democrats sitting in the weeds to attack over it at election-time. Let the Democrats offer a tax increase to Virginians at election time.
Henry, the MPO can be (should be) staffed to manage regional projects, the state/VDOT will manage the contracts/funds.
Brian, if you ascribe to the philosophical principle that “user pays” and that
“those that benefit most” from the 6 MPO project should pay, then a regional and/or state sales tax is not the way to go.
If we are looking for a simple fix as the Governor stated recently, why not simply be honest and upfront? Why not simply create an annual state-wide Transportation Tax”?
Reid, because folks in your organization would nail those who voted for it in primaries.
Have to agree with you there, Brian
In my opinion, any tax increase is bad. I’d even consider cutting out museums, libraries, etc before agreeing to a tax increase.