The Virginia state senate yesterday approved a 5-cent-per-gallon increase in the state's gas tax, to be phased in over the next five years. The vote was 25-15, with the following Senators voting "nay":
Cuccinelli, Hurt, Martin, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Ruff, Smith, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner, Wample
According to the Washington Post, "Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said the tax increase is needed because there is a $390 million shortfall in the part of the budget used to fill potholes, plow snow and otherwise maintain roads." According to Saslaw, "We are gradually draining our construction budget dry, and now we have eight years till it is dry." Virginia's gas tax hasn't been raised since 1986 and is one of the lowest in the country, so obviously this is not exactly earth shattering. Still, it will be interesting to see if the flat-earth, no-tax-ever House Republicans go along with this. Personally, I doubt it -- they'd apparently rather have our roads crumble, our bridges collapse, and all of us sit stuck in gridlock than raise the revenues to address the situation. Yes, my friends, that's "conservatism," House Republican style.
For a reasonable Republican view, here's what Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta) had to say:
...[Hanger] suggested that Virginians would prefer an increase in the gas tax to the abusive driver fees. And he suggested that with rapidly changing gas prices, most wouldn't even notice it."The pricing is so volatile right now I think it would be foolish on our part to say that a penny would impact behavior or cause hardship, or even a nickel," Hanger said.
Anyway, good work by the 25 Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who voted to fund necessary infrastructure in Virginia. Shame on those -- Cooch, Norment, Obenshain, Stolle, Vogel, etc. -- who would rather posture ideologically than suck it up and deal with reality.
Of course, the way to overcome this is with facts.
Lowell, a few weeks ago, when the budget fiorst came up, I seem to recall a post you did that measured the average effect a few cents tax per gallon would have on the average family. It was minimal figure. I am really not sure how to find that post again (I apologize for my limited RK skills -- I just figured out how to rate a comment the other day!), but it might pay to repost that information for folks, ifit's not too much trouble. I know I'll be keeping an eye in my local media for the GOP propaganda on this, and those facts would be helpful in crafting a response.