Guess Who Owns The Largest Tax Increase in Virginia History?

/ February 25, 2013

So I was having a conversation with Jamie Radtke about whether or not the McDonnell/Howell tax increase outpaced the Chichester tax hike of 2004.

The answer?

1986: Baliles ($442 million per year)
2004: Chichester ($680 million per year)
2013: McDonnell/Howell ($880 million $1.13 billion per year) 

That’s right folks…

Governor Bob McDonnell and Speaker Bill Howell just crammed the largest tax increase in the 400+ year history of the Commonwealth down our throats.

UPDATE:  Paul Blair helpfully points out:

It’s $880 million per year in revenue, but $200 million per year comes from the general fund (not a higher tax itself). $680 x 5 = $3.4 billion over 5 years. Hampton Roads tax addition: $200 mil/yr x 5 = $1 billion over 5 years. Northern Virginia tax addition: $350 mil/yr x 5 = $1.75 billion over 5 years. 3.4+1+1.75 = $6.1 billion over 5 years. Am I missing something or over-including?

…bringing our grand total to $1.13 billion per year in tax increases.

Shaun Kenney is an editor for Bearing Drift and Editor-in-Chief of the Jeffersoniad. 

  • EricMcGrane

    On his way out the door, Governor McDonnell
    wanted to give you something to remember about his last General Assembly
    session in office.

    • It will be remembered if he comes seeking higher office in the coming years. Talking about burning political capital.

    • looks like a move to the center in preparation of a WH run. Elephants never forget.

  • I urge everyone to send a token contribution to Governor McDonnell in appreciation for his work during this session. Send him $1.50. In nickels. Make sure it arrives on or before Good Friday.

  • Guest

    “Commonwealth” redefined.
    As the federal
    government’s budget failures reduced the take home pay for working
    families, the Virginia General Assembly just historically raised taxes
    and fees on Virginia families. Your sales tax now increases to
    6% and gas costs – which have already doubled in the last 4 years – are
    headed even higher with more taxes at the pump for cars and trucks.
    Even fees on alternative fuel vehicles are increased.
    HB2313.
    Remember it. It The bill skyrockets the sales tax on cars a stunning 40%
    and, on the precipice of sequestration no less with the pending impact
    on Virginia’s businesses, residents, homeowners and governing bodies,
    these are but a mere sampling of the protections gained for – and
    deference toward – taxes by the State Senate versus the citizens of the
    Commonwealth. They have identified no cuts, no innovation in offsets and
    no corresponding savings.
    As in Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, all
    we find is “the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every
    corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude.
    Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for
    revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits
    none to escape without tribute.”
    Bereft of common sense, this is the “Commonwealth”, redefined.

  • “Commonwealth” redefined.
    As the federal government’s budget failures reduced the take home pay for
    working families, the Virginia General Assembly just historically raised taxes
    and fees on Virginia families. Your sales tax now increases to 6% and gas costs
    – which have already doubled in the last 4 years – are headed even higher with
    more taxes at the pump for cars and trucks. Even fees on alternative fuel
    vehicles are increased.
    HB2313. Remember it. It The bill skyrockets the sales tax on cars a stunning 40% and, on the precipice of sequestration no less with the pending impact on Virginia’s businesses, residents, homeowners and governing bodies, these are but a mere sampling of the protections gained for – and deference toward – taxes by the State Senate versus the citizens of the Commonwealth. They have identified no cuts, no
    innovation in offsets and no corresponding savings.
    As in Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, all we find is “the greedy hand of
    government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and
    grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to
    furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its
    prey and permits none to escape without tribute.”
    Bereft of common sense, this is the “Commonwealth”, redefined.

  • It’s $880 million per year in revenue, but $200 million per year comes from the general fund (not a higher tax itself). $680 x 5 = $3.4 billion over 5 years. Hampton Roads tax addition: $200 mil/yr x 5 = $1 billion over 5 years. Northern Virginia tax addition: $350 mil/yr x 5 = $1.75 billion over 5 years. 3.4+1+1.75 = $6.1 billion over 5 years. Am I missing something or over-including?

    • So we’re really looking at $1,130 million per year? Wow…

  • Sorry, let’s clarify. Bob’s bill, as written, was an elimination of the gas tax. In its entirety. The House and Senate bastardized the bill, changing and adding, etc. So because Bob supported the compromise crafted by Howell and Norment, it’s Bob’s? Doesn’t pass muster.

    • D.J. McGuire

      He’s praising it. He made the Medicaid deal for it. He owns it.

    • Dan

      The GA also decreased the sales tax hike from 5.8% to 5.3%, which was the original figure proposed by Governor McDonnell/Speaker Howell. As DJ points out, he’s crowing about the deal so your post is irrelevant, but let’s not forget what the original proposal included.

      • Tom Dykers

        So it is actually a tax cut of .5%.

    • pinecone321

      “So because Bob supported the compromise crafted by Howell and Norment, it’s Bob’s?”

      Do you even think before you post such garbage? If Bob supported the compromise, it in fact is his. What part of Bob supported the compromise do you not understand. Geeez that is liberal logic, or should we say liberal no logic. Duh- If McDonnell supported the compromise, he own it. It really isn’t hard to get to point B from point A.

  • I am dismayed by the recent doublespeak on the part of Governor McDonnell.

    Another betrayal by yet another politician whom I have supported. Ugh.

  • Barry G

    With Virginia turning blue in NOVA and Hampton Roads, they wish to
    complain about the taxes? You say he has burned his political capital?
    Warner was elected to the US Senate, Kain was elected to the US Senate.
    McDonnell, did what he needed to do to be elected to the US Senate. I
    have not seen one alternative given to your complaints here. You people
    moan and groan about the raising of taxes, but continue to allow the
    politicians to push more social programs without cuts. Quit complaining about the self evident, they see it, they just ignore it. Start demanding a change that may make a difference. Such as,
    demand a drug test for ALL on any welfare program, that should cut the
    budget by about 40%. Many of us are subject to random testing in our
    work place, if we refuse we are terminated, if we fail we are
    terminated. If they say it is demeaning, how much more demeaning is it
    to the one working for pay compared to the one just standing there with
    their hand out? I am sure we can find more changes that the hard working, tax paying
    Virginian can stand behind, and still be “compassionate” to the “poor”. So quit complaining and start solving.

    • EricMcGrane

      lol…laughable. Lots of people worked really hard on McDonnells campaign so they wouldnt find themselves in a position to NEED to address this issue. McDonnell is the one who betrayed his earlier stance on taxes, and now its the fault of the people that blast him for that betrayal? Amazing.

  • Christie

    And we are suppose to fix our MAJOR transportation problems…..HOW?……. It takes guts to finally tackle our transportation needs that are an economic draw to our area. I. Don’t like taxes but nothing is free. Richmond is not Washington,they balance a budget every year. Our transportation problems have been mounting for over 20 years, if it did not get fixed this year it never would. The money raised will stay in Hampton Roads, be used for only roads and we will see results! It was a very hard vote for some but NEEDED. It amazes me that people can complain but offer no REAL sustainable, long term, funding. It saddens me that some of you so called conservatives don’t get it you can be a conservative and responsible at the same time. Businesses are hurting, gridlock and time wasted in traffic will add up to money saved. My time is precious so if I pay what a few extra dollars to get home earlier to spend time with my family, I call that PRICELESS.

  • Marveling at the number of McDonnell lovers who didn’t see this coming. Chairing Obama’s Council of Governors should have been a clue…

  • pinecone321

    Thankfully the largest tax increase in VA history is finally getting some national coverage. Not like the coverage from some major conservative org’s seemed to escape national attention. This sorry debacle is now finally getting out in many places. Mark Levin is hammering McDonnell, the Republicans that voted for this bill, and those that hammered Cuccinelli in a round table discussion. I am wondering if McDonnell thought this tax increase news, by a Republican would stay within the state, and McDonnell would escape criticism from his treachery. Even the WSJ has declared any future office McDonnell “I’m Available” McDonnell would leave him unscathed from public notice. Not so, and thankfully. You can’t pass the largest tax increase in VA history, and as a Republican, and stay under the radar.

  • Shaun my friend the lefties continue to laugh at the division in the conservative ranks which do nothing but increase their chances for November….We have selective amnesia when we forget another Governor gave his state the largest tax increase in history and raised taxes nationally 11 times….Our beloved Ronald Reagan. Now here comes the extremists of selective moral outrage who will trash our greatest President. Again we reap what we sow.

  • rrm

    the 17.5 cents per gal gas tax is being eliminated. posters should crank that tax decrease into their math

  • Larsele

    Who “owns” this? Why, Gov. Bumpersticker does, of course.

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  • Susan Wood

    What about Warner’s $1.36billion (Roanoke Times, April 28, 2004)?

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