Comments on: Va. Senate Kills “Royalties for Roads” Legislation

By: cairns charters

cairns charters — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:02:41 +0000

The Great Barrier Reef is situated about 30km from Cairns. Cairns has some world calss white water rafting on offer.

By: Reid Greenmun

Reid Greenmun — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:51:39 +0000

Mike, the sale of future oil and natural gas revenue bonds is probably just as much like the sale of the “fairy dust” the TOD scam you and your developer pals keep promoting … my point remains correct, selling bonds is a way to acquire new transportation funding in the near term. Gee, it is not like that hasn’t been the standard operating procedure for transportation funding for many decades.

This is not to give the impression that I agree with issuing more debt to fund our roadways, bridges, and tunnels – because I find the abuse of FRANS over the years to have been one reason we are now in the financial mess we find ourselves in, when it comes to funding our transportation system. But … it was simply a point to address Eileen’s point that the state agreeing to drilling for oil and natural gas and working to have the Federal Government agree to a revenue sharing formula is a valid strategy for adding more funding to our transportation budgets – without raising taxes – but, by collecting new sources of taxes that we do not now collect. Much like Brian Kirwin’s point to Mr. Barrett regarding TIFs – it is the same theory.

By: eileen

eileen — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:14:00 +0000

Weigh in liability with that fairy dust too, Mike.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:10:04 +0000

So how would a rating agency value fairy dust?

By: Reid Greenmun

Reid Greenmun — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:30:08 +0000

Mr. Barrett sure makes a lot of noise, but he does not refute the point I made to counter Eileen’s point – new funds for transportation can be available prior to the drilling being completed if the state committs the new tax revenues to go to the TTF and then bonds can be sold, similar to the way FRANS have been used by both Democrat Party and Republican Party administrations and General Assemblies.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:39:41 +0000

How long have you been waiting for that change?

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:25:38 +0000

Yes, but voter sentiment can change in future elections, and it is amazing how quick things can change based upon the quantity and depth of pot holes.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:15:15 +0000

My party? 8 years of non-leadership in the Governor’s mansion…Democrat, mind you.

The only voter wrath I’ve seen over the last decade has been against those who pushed tax increases. Deeds said transportation taxes were on the table, voters didn’t exactly applaud. He was handed the worst Democrat defeat in Virginia gubernatorial history.

Heck, I spent the week listening to everyone complain about the need to keep radar detectors illegal because of all the speeding going on.

This must be the first state where people can be stuck in traffic at 70 mph.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:55:36 +0000

Yes, change the subject when you finally realize that your position is absurd. Your party has presided over the destruction of the transportation system required for economic development and prosperity in Virginia. How moderate and business oriented republicans can allow this to continue is absolutely amazing to me. The tactics now employed to befuddle the public (appropriating funds that don’t exist, proposing to sell assets that make a contribution to the Commonwealth) are just further delaying tactics, but soon, voters will display their wrath. Quips from the maestro will not be enough to forestall that reaction.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:30:40 +0000

Mike, I never called myself anti-tax. You’ve called me that, but then again I never had my city hand me $135,000 either.

But at least I’m consistent. I supported Town Center’s tif using the growth in revenue to pay for investments that fueled that growth. I support the port’s revenue growth paying for HRBT/Third Crossing whatever.

All you have to do is agree with yourself, Mike, and you’ll be supporting it, too.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:48:24 +0000

No Brian, it did not. And if you are as anti tax as you say, the contribution of close to $5,000,000 annually to the tax base resulting in a one cent decrease in the tax rate should not bother you either.

By: Tim J

Tim J — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:04:41 +0000

The VA Dems apparently had not completely worked out the amount of the Federal kickbacks needed for approving the environmental permits to let this go forward.

There are also looming issues of State vs Federal sovereignty off the Virginia coastline as many Federal agencies from fisheries, Corps of Engineers, NOAA and others have overlapping jurisdictions from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay out to and beyond the 100 fathom curve. Lots of fingers in this pie and all of them want a piece.

By: Brian Kirwin

Brian Kirwin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:29:20 +0000

Town Center’s TIF didn’t seem to bother you, Mike.

By: Mike Barrett

Mike Barrett — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:26:59 +0000

Yes, reminds you of Governor Gilmore issuing federal revenue anticipation notes and counting that as new revenue instead of classifying it as a note that had to be paid back. How business oriented citizens can continue to buy into these schemes is beyond belief. Sure, you can continue to fool the general citizenry, but business folks? Come on.

By: Steve Vaughan

Steve Vaughan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:06:02 +0000

Like “using revenue from expanded use of the ports and Dulles airport” to fund roads, this was another dodge to avoid actually doing anything about the transportation problem. Dedicating non-existent revenues to road building doesn’t really solve the problem.
Reid: I wouldn’t want my money in any financial insituation stupid enough to lend money on the prospects of Virginia ever seeing a dime in revenues from gas and oil drilling.