Road Money to Run Out, House GOP Says "Tough Luck"

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/3/2008 8:14:08 AM

This is what things have come to in Virginia regarding transportation:

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told legislators Wednesday that the highway construction budget will be nearly depleted within a decade, but House and Senate leaders remain sharply divided over whether a statewide tax increase is needed for transportation.

[...]

Howell also questioned the Kaine administration's premise that highway construction money could dry up soon. In response, Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said Howell "is not facing reality."

[Republican House Speaker Bill] Howell said a tax increase would not pass in the House without near-unanimous support from the Democratic minority. Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) said House Democrats are "assessing the need and evaluating the options."

In other words, says Bill Howell and his merry band of flat-earth House Republicans, the message to Virginia motorists is "tough luck!"  Obviously, with that kind of attitude, it's hard to see much getting done in a special session.  Which leaves us all stuck in the same place we've gotten used to in recent years -- legislative and traffic gridlock.  In other words, enjoy your commute today, because it's only going to get worse tomorrow.  Oh, and just in case you're so inclined, you can send your "thank you's" to:

Speaker Bill Howell
Virginia House of Delegates
General Assembly Building, Suite 635
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Virginia 23218  

Comments



What's Brian's comment that Dems. are "assessing the need" ?! (Tom Counts - 4/3/2008 9:06:28 AM)
I don't doubt the validity of Howell's statement that a tax increase won't pass without near-unanimous Democratic support. But what does Brian mean by his statement that the Dem. minority is assessing the need ?

I understand why they are assessing options for a possible funding compromise acceptable to the Republicans (none likely to be acceptable) but I am mystified by the "assessing the need" part of Brian's remarks. I can also see why rural Democrats don't like the idea of funding transportation needs in urban areas, but I can't see how they would doubt the "need".

                        T.C.



Maybe he simply meant (Lowell - 4/3/2008 9:10:38 AM)
assessing the SPECIFIC "need," as in exactly how much money's required right now and into the future.  I really doubt that Brian Moran is unaware of how badly we "need" transportation funding in this state, but he's also a smart guy who is well aware of the political realities dealing with a bunch of flat-earth, rigid ideologues in the House.


Simply meant? (suzden - 4/3/2008 6:37:34 PM)
I think Brian meant that he wants to be sure something can get passed - that is, all democrats will vote for it - before he votes to raise taxes or lets the Dem minority take the hard vote.

I think the speaker told it like it is.  If the dems can get a
unanimous vote, then there are probably enough republicans to carry the vote.

But Brian is not going to support any tax hike unless he knows it will actually pass.



Quick question (Va Blogger2 - 4/3/2008 9:45:29 AM)
How much money did Kaine successfully raid from the transportation trust fund in the this year's budget? I remember he wanted to, but after the scale-down, I didn't see the final numbers for that.


Also be sure to thank (citizenindy - 4/3/2008 9:51:57 AM)
All of our local governments for approving development that overwhelms our transportation network


No doubt, there are a lot of thanks (Lowell - 4/3/2008 10:00:29 AM)
to go around for our sprawling, gridlocked, screwed-up transportation and (ex)urban development patterns.  But right now, the ball's in the House of Delegates' court, and they're not budging on their ideological opposition to taxes - unless you call them "fees" or something, I suppose - to raise money for transportation repairs, improvements, or anything else. That's today's Virginia Republican Party...rigid and out for ideological purity more than solutions.


Maybe my question should have been: Why not "near-unanimous Dems. ? (Tom Counts - 4/3/2008 10:36:20 AM)


Ward Armstrong statement (Lowell - 4/3/2008 3:32:45 PM)
As embattled House Speaker Bill Howell clings tenuously to his shrinking majority, he has attempted to lay preemptive blame for Virginia's transportation crisis on Democrats - before a plan has even been introduced.

These complaints ring hollow, since Bill Howell is no stranger to playing politics when he lacks the will to offer real solutions.

Visit Assembly Access to see more examples of Howell playing politics: http://assemblyaccess.wordpres...