According to today's Washington Post, the State Senators appointed to a House-Senate conference committee on transportation are: Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City), Phillip P. Puckett (D-Russell), Kenneth W. Stolle (R-Virginia Beach), Frank W. Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) and Martin E. Williams (R-Newport News). Here's a quick guide on what to look for from these guys.Norment says that his "sole objective has been to try to advance a transportation plan that has some modicum, some scintilla, some prayer of a chance of passage." Norment was a leader in crating the Republican "compromise" transportation legislation that would divert $250 million a year from the general fund. Norment has stated that if the "compromise" package dies, "then we are all going to go home without a transportation plan."
Stolle has said that any increase in the gasoline tax would be "counterproductive and idiotic." Stolle supports the Republican "compromise" plan that raids the General Fund.
Wagner said the other day:
I don't think the average Virginian understands the difference between the general fund and the transportation trust fund. They understand the issue is transportation, transportation, transportation.
Wagner has proposed "that Hampton Roads cities and counties be able to choose between two packages of regional tax increases" - "the taxes and fees now in the compromise plan" or "a 5 percent sales tax on gas."
Williams is Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, where he said earlier this week that "The bill we report out will look much like" Howell's "compromise" bill. Williams also has said that "Senate negotiators were willing to yield on some points because 'we don't feel like we can fail another year.'"
According to the Roanoke Times, Puckett is "the only Senate negotiator who voted for the version of the bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday" and is "really interested in protecting the general fund."
By the way, everyone here but Puckett has consistently voted against Chichester and Potts on their "don't-raid-the-general-fund" approach. For instance, Stolle and Norment voted against the majority (including Chichester and Potts) on February 13, in the 9-6 vote that reported a transportation bill out of Finance Committee with protection for the General Fund. Check out this vote as well.
The bottom line is that this conference committee appears to be completely stacked for the Republican "compromise" plan. This doesn't look good if you care about health, education, public safety, the environment, or just about anything else in Virginia that is paid for by the General Fund.
Will Kaine sign it if they raid the general fund? I suspect he will.
Ultimately there is no choice but a movement to create a 51st state called Northern Virginia.
Oh, Virginia, its a privilige to live here but...
Don't tax you. Don't tax me. Tax that stranger behind that tree.
Or newspapers. DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT, AS USUAL, LOWELL DID BETTER ANALYSIS OF THE FACTS THAN SHEAR AND GARDNER FOR THE POST? AND THAT SOME OF THE BETTER BLOGS OUTCLASS THE JOURNALISTS FREQUENTLY?
And in NOVA, we have a highly educated population that reads a lot.
Some of the old time politicians just don't understand that yet.
If passed, this bill would take 250 million dollars from education, police protection, health programs, first responders, etc. etc, etc.
End of message....if that's okay with you Virginians, I don't want to hear about it later!
Compromised: to endanger or expose to scandal by acting indiscreetly; imperil, harm..
word defs found here: [http://www.allwords....]
did someone drop a "d" ?
If passed this bill would reduce the rate of government growth.
Funding of education, police protection, health programs, first responders, etc. etc, etc would continue to increase from FY 06 levels.
Go to page 6 and subtract 250 thats all it is
What happened?