Senate Finance committee kills transportation plan again
By Brian Kirwin | Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 | PolicyAccording to Democrat leader Dick Saslaw, the problem with this transportation plan was that it didn’t raise taxes.
(Virginian-Pilot) Directing criticism at the measure, Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said it is like so many that originate in the House of Delegates which remove money from state coffers “without raising taxes.”
HB 1579 would’ve earmarked future revenues from economic engines like the ports to help pay for new highways in Hampton Roads. It would’ve done similar things in other parts of Virginia.
But without a tax increase, the Saslaw was having none of that. Even Kaine’s Transportation Secretary fought the bill, closing the door on a Kaine administration that finally can say it was like Mark Warner’s.
Neither administration did anything about transportation.
But to kill a bill now because it doesn’t raise taxes? How looney can the left be? Isn’t it funny how boldly the Democrats want to raise taxes when there isn’t an election coming up?
Again, House Republicans want to begin solving our transportation problems. And again, the Senate Democrats refuse to do anything but raise taxes.
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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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5 Responses to "Senate Finance committee kills transportation plan again"
[...] would have none of it, because it didn’t hit up Virginians for more taxes (Brian Kirwin @ Bearing Drift): According to Democrat leader Dick Saslaw, the problem with this transportation plan was that it [...]
How did they vote on the Bill?:
YEAS–Stosch, Stolle, Quayle, Norment, Reynolds–5.
NAYS–Colgan, Wampler, Houck, Howell, Saslaw, Hanger, Watkins, Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Lucas, Whipple–11.
I would really like to thank Stolle for voting for this bill. I complain at times about Stolle but, give credit where it is due.
Of particular disappointment were Republican Senators voting against this:
William C. Wampler, Jr. Republican – District 40
Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Republican – District 24
Senator John Watkins; Republican – District 10
Gee thanks guys! Thanks for letting us down!
[...] Kirwin over at Bearing Drift explains the demise of the transportation plan. Senate Dems to Virginia – If we can’t raise taxes, you can rot in [...]
I am pleased that Senator Stolle voted for this as well. I supported an even HIGHER amount of Port revenue INCREASES be used to pay for the Port’s required infrastructure improvements. The $4.4B socalled “3rd Crossing” and the “new” RT 460 to Petersburg are both Port projects. Since the non-elected Virginia Port Authority decidied THEY want to expand and thus FLOOD our local highways with thosands of additional trucks everyday, the Port should pay for the needed additional lane expansion needed for THEIR trucks.
Instead we have the local business lobby and the General Assembly working to expand the Port of Virginia (AKA “Hampton Roads”) and looking to TAX and TOLL just the locals living in Tidewtaer – yet ALL of the taxes from the state owned port go to Richmond and are used to feed the General Fund – thus the entire STATE!
If the entire STATE is collecting and spending the Port tax revenues then the entire STATE should pay.
This bill was a reasonable compromise – it only asked for 30% of the INCREASED Port tax revenues. It did not take a dime away from the money the state was collecting from the port prior to the expansion.
Those that voted this down – and Governor Kaine who opposed this idea are to blame for the failure of our state to deal with our region’s transportation needs. Their political backers in the Hampton Roads Partnership and the Chambers of Commerce, long with the MSM (Pilot/Daily Press) are also to blame.
This was a good idea that was allowed to die due to a lack of political leadership and will to make it work.
It’s obvious that Democrats are more interested in increasing taxes than making transportation a priority.
Anyone who supports transportation should see that Democrats are the ones saying NO to any progress.
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