The 2011 Virginia General Assembly commences on January 12, 2011, and there is already a bill being proposed to protect taxpayers by eliminating provisions that increases or revives any tax, fee, or fine. HJ 496 [1] was proposed by Delegate Bob Marshall [2] (R-Manassas) on July 19, and it would allow voters to decide on adding to the Virginia Constitution an amendment that would prohibit any law that appropriates funds from provisions that would increase or revive taxes and fees, in addition to, prohibiting any provision that reduces or eliminates any credit or exemption of any tax, fee, or fine.
This is a good move for taxpayers, especially after the previous General Assembly session. Marshall said in a statement:
In 2010 the General Assembly put $130 million in new fees and business tax credit cuts into Virginia’s budget on the last day to meet with little debate or publicity.
None of the $130 million in fee and tax increases passed Virginia’s Assembly on separate record votes. Members claimed they “had to vote for the hikes” or risk shutting Virginia’s government down.
Citizens reject Washington politicians who do this. Why accept them from Richmond Republicans who voted for fee and tax hikes as part of the Budget?
It will be interesting to see the momentum from this proposed amendment and to see whether this will make a difference regarding backroom deals in the legislative process.