HB 3202 passed. It was signed into law by the governor. It was found unconstitutional. The only thing unconstitutional about it was how regional taxes and fees were imposed.
Enter HB 6055. Del. Dave Albo and Del. Phil Hamilton of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads respectively crafted this bill to ensure that the regional taxes were passed at the state level, but that the raised revenue would be used locally…which is very similar to how transportation fund money was raised by a 1/2-cent statewide sales tax increase in 1986. Never before had sales tax been used for transportation, but Virginia law made it so. The same would be true this year for money rasied by taxes and fees for NVTA.
Now, it appears that Gov. Kaine and the Democrats are balking at supporting the substitute bill and Hamilton lays into them:
“It appears that the Democratic leadership is more interested in holding Northern Virginia’s and Hampton Roads’ transportation needs hostage for higher statewide taxes during the current economic downturn and when Virginia families are already suffering,” Hamilton said. “It is almost as if these Democratic leaders are more interested in petty, partisan politics than trying to improve the quality of life in two regions that provide the majority of the economic revenue for the Commonwealth.”
Hamilton indicated that HB 6055 offers an opportunity for the Governor and the General Assembly to work together to address the unique regional transportation needs of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
“If the desire is to legitimately address the regional issues brought about by the Supreme Court’s decision, Republicans and Democrats should offer ideas to fashion a compromise for the transportation needs of these two regions,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton added, “To date, Republican legislators have risen to the occasion and offered reasonable and responsible ideas for discussion on addressing the regional transportation needs of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. If Democratic leaders refuse to offer regional solutions, it will be obvious that this special session was never about transportation solutions any way.”
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. 
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Why does Delegate Hamilton champion the creation of foreign-owned toll roads, a program that would sentence our children to lifelong traffic jams at toll plazas, and even with so-called “fast pay” which should be referred to as, “fast-rob” would ultimately destroy our sovereignty and require our families to pay double or triple the cost through tolls, instead of had we merely funded the roads ourselves through a simple and auditable gas tax increase, in the first place.
Who is funding Delegate Hamilton to shill for these foreign companies?
Tyler, what the hell are you talking about? Losing sovereignty? To who? Toll road operators. You must be joking. American companies can bid to run toll roads if they like. It’s called open competition, getting the best deal for the taxpayers and free trade. Will your next post be about the black helicopters you see flying over your house or maybe how best to put tin foil on your head to keep the CIA satellites from reading our thoughts? Join the 21st Century, man.