Two Delegates have already filed bills for the Transportation Special Session, including the Trust Fund Lockbox by Del. Glenn Oder and the “Fix Mark Warner’s tax increase” bill by Del. Cole.
Del. Oder patrons HJ 6001, the Constitutional Amendment to protect the transportation trust fund from raids. This has always passed the House but hit a brick wall in the Senate Finance Committee. Several of its opponents are no longer there, however, so this might fly through. My brilliant idea would be to trigger all new revenues for transportation contingent upon this being enacted. No lockbox, no new revenue!
That does two magnificent things. One, it brings those two divergent political wings together. Two, the statewide referendum for the lockbox amendment would then be a defacto referendum on transportation revenue. New revenue only flows if the referendum on the lockbox passes.
Del. Cole has 3 bills in so far. Two (HB 6001 & HB 6003) change the funding formula to population or number of vehicles.
But I like HB 6002, which takes Mark Warner’s tax increase and dedicates some of it to transportation. Let’s see the Democrats oppose that!
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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Got to love HB 6003. What is by far the largest city in Virginia?
I haven’t been in Virginia but a year or so, but didn’t the Republicans pass the so-called “Warner tax hike?” If so, then shouldn’t it be accurately labeled the “Warner/Republican tax hike”?
Just curious how Republicans can criticize a tax hike that was passed by….. Republicans.
But again, I’m new to occupied, VA so I may be mistaken.
Brian R, who are you talking to? Warner doesn’t object to being associated with his own tax hike. Why should you?
More Democrats than Republicans voted for it, so you could call it the “Warner/Republican/Democrat tax hike.”
And some of those Republicans used to be Democrats, so you can call it the “Warner/Republican/Democrat/Republicans-who-used-to-be-Democrats tax hike.”
As usual, followers of Ron Paul Hubbard would rather bash their own party than the Democrats.
Lock-boxes and other gimmicks that tie the hands of our elected representatives could serve to harm our citizens in times of unforeseen crisis, such fallout from attacks or natural disasters.
I will be the first to say that I do not trust the current legislature, executive of judicial gangs that are trying to run Virginia into the ground. However, we needn’t create additional controls to limit the ability for our governing bodies to craft solutions to meet the emerging and long term needs of our citizens.
The lock-box idea, much like the No Tax Pledge, are well intentioned, but they contribute to bad governance as our legislators and the Governor try to find required revenue to support government programs. This is why we got goofy “abuser fees” instead of a logical revenue program to fund transportation; the legislators were trying to hide a tax increase, because so many had signed the No Tax Pledge.
It is better to have our representatives free to openly use funds on an as needed basis to meet real needs at the particular time of crisis, then have their actions judged, for better or worse, at the ballot box.
It is inaccurate and prejudicial to refer to re-allocation of funds as “raiding” or “looting” a particular fund category. The adjusting of funds from one place to another is all part of responsive, responsible government. If we do not like a particular allocation, then by all means, make this clear to your Delegate. Give them a chance to respond to the will of the People, and when they don’t, vote them out of office, but don’t tie the hands of our legislature so that they cannot move resources in response to the needs of our citizens.
“As usual, followers of Ron Paul Hubbard would rather bash their own party than the Democrats.”
Damn right. I’m concerned with getting the big-government Republicans out of the Party, or either the Party leaders officially stating that, like the Democrats, they also favor big government.
I have no reason to bash Democrats. They’re acting like they’re expected to.
I’ve just been confused on everyone labeling it the “Warner tax hike” when it was a Republican led legislature that passed it. But as I said, I’m new to occupied, VA anyway.
To learn about my anger with the Republican Party, read my post here:
http://theoldright.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/its-about-principle/
Brian R, keep protecting Democrats, they’ll keep winning, and you’ll get the kind of government you “say” you don’t want.
J Tyler, at least read a bill before you demagogue it. It has an override for an “unforeseen crisis.”
The lockbox is favored by 90% of the people, which puts you in the enviable position of having 9 out of 10 people think you’re wrong. Even I don’t get that bad.
Transportation is long term funding with bonds. The least we can do is protect it from dollar shufflers on budget committees. If transportation is SO important, it’s important enough to protect.
“Brian R, keep protecting Democrats, they’ll keep winning, and you’ll get the kind of government you “say” you don’t want.”
From an objective standpoint, I really don’t see any difference between what the current crop of socialist Republicans will give me and what the Democrats will give me.
Republicans have increased government by more than any administration since Johnson, so I don’t see how they’ll be any worse.
Also, perhaps the Democrats are winning because Republicans are acting like Democrats. As a wise man once said, “give a voter a choice between a Democrat and a Democrat, and a Democrat will win every time.”
Just go ahead and admit that you think big government is good government.
You don’t see any difference between Republicans and Democrats, but you treat them differently.
Let’s see. Next you’ll tell me I need to read “Dr. Paul’s book” and then you’ll go into a tirade about the Patriot Act and the New World Order.
yawn….
“You don’t see any difference between Republicans and Democrats, but you treat them differently.”
Dude, I’m a life-long Republican. The Democrats are open about their support of more government. My goal is to return the Republican Party back to its true principles, so I’m not wasting time on the Democrats.
“Let’s see. Next you’ll tell me I need to read “Dr. Paul’s book” and then you’ll go into a tirade about the Patriot Act and the New World Order.”
What’s with your Ron Paul fetish?
I just get so excited talking to a Ron Paul Hubbard state coordinator like you.
Ok, so we get a sales tax increase and VAB gets a higher allocation. Just how is all this going to fund the six regional projects? You know, the ones the campaign check writers want. Del. Cole must not get off the farm much.
Oh yea, almost forgot. When is Marty going to join his buddies over at Virginians for Warner?
HB 6002 is pretty good – but they forgot to line out a few more lines.
The bill leaves in the dumb diversion of transportation funds to the PORT and AIRPORTS.
As well as the diversion of much need highway funds to wasteful “mass transit” (Isn’t it fun to watch hery and his followers (or is it follower?) have their transit loving heads explode?)
I’d like to see the following crossed out:
Of the funds paid to the Transportation Trust Fund, an aggregate of 4.2 percent shall be set aside as the Commonwealth Port Fund as provided in this section; an aggregate of 2.4 percent shall be set aside as the Commonwealth Airport Fund as provided in this section; and an aggregate of 14.5 percent in fiscal year 1998-1999 and 14.7 percent in fiscal year 1999-2000 and thereafter shall be set aside as the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund as provided in this section. The Fund’s share of such net revenue shall be computed as an estimate of the net revenue to be received into the state treasury each month, and such estimated payment shall be adjusted for the actual net revenue received in the preceding month. All payments shall be made to the Fund on the last day of each month.
2. There is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury a special nonreverting fund which shall be a part of the Transportation Trust Fund and which shall be known as the Commonwealth Port Fund.
a. The Commonwealth Port Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller and the funds remaining in such Fund at the end of a biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Interest earned on such funds shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Funds may be paid to any authority, locality or commission for the purposes hereinafter specified.
b. The amounts allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority to be used to support port capital needs and the preservation of existing capital needs of all ocean, river, or tributary ports within the Commonwealth.
c. Commonwealth Port Fund revenue shall be allocated by the Board of Commissioners to the Virginia Port Authority in order to foster and stimulate the flow of maritime commerce through the ports of Virginia, including but not limited to the ports of Richmond, Hopewell and Alexandria.
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If the Port is “ecomonic development” then let’s the port pay for it’s own costs.
Darrell, sorry to interrupt your hate spewing, but Cole’s bill doesn’t increase the sales tax. It reprioritizes it.
B Gentry,
In 2004, the GOP legislature basically split in half. Warner had enough Republicans to pass his tax hike.
Last year, the GOP went nearly entirely to the tax-hiking side with HB3202. With that junked by the Supreme Court, the question now is if the GOP will take the opportunity to atone for their mistake or repeat it.
I wish I knew the answer.
I will say that whatever the GOP do, the Dems will be worse, if only by a matter of degree.
So gasoline is at $4 and climbing, and Reid wants to pretend we can move by automobile alone?
Too drunk on his conspiracy theories to have a clue!
The fish took the bait… too funny.