As regular RK readers knows, we were not exactly big fans of last year's Virginia transportation bill. In fact, we liked it so much we often called it the "transportation monstrosity." The Roanoke Times didn't like it either, calling it "fatally flawed" and unwise" and urging Gov. Kaine to "Veto this roads monstrosity."
In the end, Gov. Kaine didn't veto the bill and it became law, abuser fees and all. It wasn't pretty, but one could argue "at least it was something." Now, the General Assembly is busy picking apart that "something" -- which was, again, not a solution to Virginia's transportation problems but at least a try -- and, according to the Roanoke Times, putting us "back in the same hole as before."
The latest forecasts estimate the state will receive $1.1 billion less in transportation revenue over the next six years than originally expected."This is a very serious and troubling financial situation," state Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer told the Commonwealth Transportation Board earlier this week.
It gets worse. Lawmakers are subjecting the transportation bill to a death of a thousand cuts.
The abusive driver fees and the $65 million in revenue they were supposed to bring in are gone.
The General Assembly is considering several bills to exempt tow truck companies, utilities and others from paying various regional transportation taxes allowed by last year's plan.
Localities will take the biggest hit from the looming shortfall. State law governs transportation spending priorities. Loan payments, maintenance and contributing to the state's share of federally financed projects all take precedence over local projects.
In other words, the General Assembly, mainly House of Delegates Republicans, are taking what already wasn't a particularly good bill and making it even worse. They're also not facing up to the magnitude of this problem -- billions of dollars in transportation investment and maintenance needed ASAP, at the same time that Virginia's overall budget is heading deep into the hole.
In response, what's the House of Delegates doing about this? Is it providing "a fresh infusion of revenue," as the Roanoke Times calls it, into the system? Nope. Is it planning for a "broad-based, stable sources of revenue for roads?" Nope. Is it digging in its heels and saying "read my lips, no new taxes?" You got it -- ideology trumps reality once again in the Virginia House of Delegates. Enjoy sitting in gridlock, because with House Republicans blocking all transportation progress, that's exactly what you'll be doing for years to come.
1) The Republican-based dedication to the No Tax (bull-headed) ideology is not the same as prudent fiscal management, and running public business based on that premise is very stupid... and
2) All Dillon Rule prattle aside, Virginia must devise additional sources of funding for local jurisdictions beyond the few presently reserved to them, which is mainly real estate property taxes. I sincerely hope the Democrats, and anyone interested in Virginia's future, make the first point painfully clear, and then begin whatever action is necessary to resolve the second.