Virginia House vs. Senate: Who’s right on transportation authorities?
By Brian Kirwin | Friday, February 20th, 2009 | PolicyHampton Roads Transportation Authority. House of Delegates wants to abolish it immediately. Senate wants to possibly end it in 2011 unless they find significant revenue for it, in which case it won’t end.
Two bills at issue: Del. Oder’s bill (HB 1580) to end it and Sen. John Miller’s bill (SB 1018) to end it maybe in 2011. Oder’s passed the House, and Miller’s passed the Senate, and then when they crossed over, each were substituted for each other’s bill. Showdown in conference. Daily Press has more here.
Who’s right?
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About the author
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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3 Responses to "Virginia House vs. Senate: Who’s right on transportation authorities?"
There’s no question in my mind that the HRTA should be killed for good.
Following your, it appears that Miller’s bill as introduced simply removed the Penninsula, and other cities but of course left the HRTA intact with south hampton roads cities still stuck in it. It was changed to end the HRTA, repeal taxes etc. , and “requires that the Statewide Transportation Plan incorporate long-range plan measures and goals developed by the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, instead of those of the Authority. ” -much better.
In that fashion it might be acceptable depending on what the “long-range plan measures and goals are.
Oder’s bill as introduced was great. It abolishes the HRTA pure & simple. Unfortunately language was added to it. It went from:
Introduced by Oder:
The proposed legislation would abolish the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (the Authority) and the taxes, fees, and charges dedicated to financing its operation and programs.
To adding planning etc. go to the MPOs as the senate bill does currently and also stipulates that the localites have the ability to impose and additional tax on certain industrial/commercial properties.
Well, I guess “planning” should be in a Metropolitan Planning Organization. The additional taxation ability I might not object to. I take it this additional granted ability to tax is due to the Dillon Rule, which I love. At least the end result would be holding the council members of each city responsible for those taxes.
What really matters is the end resulting legislation and who votes how. Additionally, the HRTA must be fully abolished with no other unconstituional and unelected governing body being established in place of it.
Debating the multitude of amendments and substitutions to the legislation is the GA’s job, not mine. Evaulating the end results and holding our elected representatives accountable is duty of all of us.
I’ll say it again, no matter how unpopular it is: if we’re going to have regional taxation for Transportation, we need a regional commission to oversee it.
Abolish the HRTA. We taxpayers don’t need or want unelected authorities forcing “regional taxation” for transportation upon us – just take a look at SPSA.
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