Gridlock Prevails In Virginia

By: RayH
Published On: 9/27/2006 12:02:14 AM

Today, state lawmakers on the House Finance Committee voted 17-5 against the proposal to raise revenue for better roads. A three-day special session of the General Assembly begins tomorrow (Wednesday). I guess they'll try to bury it for good.

Under the proposal, $414 million a year would have been raised and spent in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to address our traffic nightmare.

A spokesman for Gov. Kaine, Kevin Hall, said: "It's disappointing... Their answer appears to be borrowing and diverting money from public schools, colleges, public safety and public health. That is no way to pay for a 21st-century transportation network."

The House Finance Committee did approve a plan to generate $2.4 billion over six years with existing revenue and bond debt but no tax increase.

This stalemate over transportation really galls me.

Six Northern Virginia lawmakers opposed the tax proposal: Frederick, C. Charles Caputo (D-Fairfax), Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), Robert D. Hull (R-Fairfax), L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) and Stephen C. Shannon (D-Fairfax).


Of these six, the Republicans opposed it just because they're against taxes. The Democrats didn't have the same rationale.

Shannon said he had been prepared to vote for Albo's proposal, except for a provision to divert $167 million from schools, health care and public safety to roads.

"What I don't want to do is raid money we spend on core government services," Shannon said.


The situation in NoVA is intollerable. Why can't these legislators get something together?

Comments



Why don't you include (Gordie - 9/27/2006 6:53:21 AM)
The Virginia Taxpayers Association of Fairfax County come out against this and scared all the politicians in Fairfax County. The rest of the state left these jerks destroy our schools and everything else in the state. These bunch of jerks led by Arthur G. Purves have certainly done our grandchildren and injustice. He can be reached at the below www if you wish to give him your regards. Another Republican who only knows how to mortgage our future.

www.fcta.org



Yeah, tell 'em thanks for nothing. (RayH - 9/27/2006 7:17:12 AM)


Getting Even (Teddy - 9/27/2006 11:22:08 AM)
Every one of these Republican yahoos will have to run for re-election. Can the business community overcome their Republican bias to fund the campaigns of either/both 1) a republican challenger in a primary and 2) a democratic opponent in the general? I believe even Speaker Howell of Freericksburg can be beaten if we go about it right. Don't just get mad, get even. Start now. We should be full of the Wrath of God.


Getting Even (Teddy - 9/27/2006 11:26:04 AM)
Every single one of these Republican yahoos has to stand for re-election. Can the business community overcome their Republican bias to fund either/both: 1) a challenger in the Republican primary and 2) a Democratic opponent in the general election? I believe that even the mighty Speaker of the House, Howell, can be beaten. Start now. We should be full of the Wrath of God.