GOP Transportation Deal is an "Abomination"

The plan also envisions dedicating half of future budget surpluses to transportation projects and diverting $250 million from other state programs starting in 2008. The state would also borrow $1.3 billion in 2008 and an additional $700 million in 2012 and repay the debt with money raised from the plan.

In addition, other taxes and fees would increase, raising $345 million for Northern Virginia and $212 million for Hampton Roads each year. The Northern Virginia plan is likely to include a new fee when buying a car, and higher taxes on commercial real estate and lodging, legislators said.

Unfortunately for the Republicans, their plan is looking more and more like a lemon to "Democrats, some moderate Republican senators and conservative Republicans," for whom "the plan's contents [have] sparked intensifying opposition."  The fundamental problem here is represented by three quotes from different parts of the political spectrum:
1) Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax): "We have to make sure while we protect transportation money, we don't raid the general fund and steal from our children's education."

2) Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William): "I don't understand why we have a $1 billion surplus, and we're out grabbing for more tax money."

3) Senate Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester (R-Northumberland): "is opposed to the use of general funds for transportation" and says "I'm going to have a drink."  Ha.

Increased taxes, increased borrowing, AND a raid on the general fund?  What a deal!  No wonder why "House leaders, including Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), face a near-revolt from their most conservative members."  Maybe Republicans should stick to issues they're good at, like insulting minorities or not apologizing for things?

[UPDATE 1/19:Gov. Kaine issued "a restrained statement after the GOP plan became public:"

"We have concerns about some elements of this proposal, but I recognize that this is an early -- and significant -- step in the legislative process," Kaine said. The governor repeated his call for "reliable, long-term funding to build and maintain a 21st-century transportation system, while keeping the commitments we already have made in the areas of public education, public safety and public health."

Unfortunately, it looks like this intra-Republican comporomise fails on all counts - reliable? long-term? keeping commitments to education, etc?  Uhhhhhhh.

But it's not just Tim Kaine. Check out what a key Republican leader has to say about this...thing:

Sen. John H. Chichester (R-Northumberland), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said borrowing billions of dollars and using money that ought to be going toward public schools, colleges and health care is a terrible idea.

Terrible idea is right.  Other adjectives come to mind as well, like short-sighted, irresponsible, heartless, and politically desperate.  But then again, these are the same Republicans who have blocked progress in Virginia for years, who ran the states' finances into the ditch during the Alllen Gilmore Administrations, and who care more about "baggy pants" or gay-straight alliances in schools than about solving real problems for real Virginians.  So what else would you expect?]

[UPDATE #2: In today's Washington Post, columnist Steven Pearlstein somehow goes from this:

..this looks like a sucker's deal that falls short of what is needed and sets a dangerous precedent, funding transportation from the same pot of money needed for education, public safety and social services.

to this:

..this looks like a big step in the right direction, not only in alleviating congestion and laying the groundwork for future growth, but also in giving the region the autonomy it needs and deserves.

Huh?  It's a big step in the right direction to accept a "sucker's deal" that screws over education, etc. and STILL doesn't adequately fund transportation (while building up debt, one should add, and raiding "surpluses" that don't even exist yet).  What a joke.]

[UPDATE #3: Ben Kyber nails it, Jim Bacon eviscerates it.  Read it all, then tell your representative to oppose this "abomination," as Bacon rightly calls it.

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