I haven't had a great deal of time to study the Governor's amendments to the transportation monstr...er, bill (HB 3202). At first glance, I'd have to say that this does not look like the major rewrite many of us had hoped to see with regard to this GOP-sponsored bill. To the contrary, Governor Kaine appears to have gone far more than halfway in trying to reach a compromise deal with Republicans on transportation this year. That's good, if your goal is to pass something this year. However, if you wanted a total or near-total rewrite of this bill, as I did, there doesn't seem to be a great deal to get excited about.
Let's start with the good, then move on to the, well, less than good.
The Good
1. I like the fact that Gov. Kaine signed another bill, SB 1181, which "strengthens standards for accepting subdivision streets into the state system by increasing connectivity standards for roads and subdivisions, enhancingthe overall capacity and efficiency of the transportation network." That's good.
2. I am happy that Gov. Kaine signed two bills (HB 2228 and SB 1312) that "[promote] traffic flow and interconnectivity on the state's road system, ensuring that new and existing roadways are not degraded by the creation of too many and poorly spaced intersections, turn lanes, median breaks, and other impediments."
3. It sounds like a good idea that Gov. Kaine signed HB 2163 and SB 1144, which "[allow] VDOT vehicles to participate in clearing cars and restoring traffic flow after an accident, improving clearance time."
4. I very much like the fact that Gov. Kaine has amended HB 3202 in a way that "[i]ncreases percentage of bonds going to transit capital from 15.7% to 20%."
5. I also very much like that Gov. Kaine allocates recordation taxes so that "two cents...go to transit funding and one cent...go[es] to highway maintenance."
6. In theory, I like that Gov. Kaine "[c]reates a lockbox on new revenues - if transportation funds are diverted to other purposes, revenues in the bill cease."
7. I like that the bill now "Expands scope and application of transportation impact fees for by-right commercial and residential development in communities with growing population, which will encompass about 75 communities across the state."
As you move to the "flip" and look at the "less than good" parts of this bill, keep in mind that Gov. Kaine has done plenty of good here, under a lot of pressure and facing very difficult choices.
The Less Than Good
1. To quote Jim Bacon:
Gov. Kaine has excoriated Republicans for wanting to finance transportation projects with General Fund revenues, including one half of the ongoing budget surplus. Transportation, he said, should not have to compete with other needs such as schools, health care and law enforcement, and he didn't think the surplus, which can increase or contract dramatically, was a stable, ongoing source of revenue. So, now he proposes to increase reliance on the budget surplus, tapping 2/3 of the surplus? The inconsistency is so jarring that I must be missing critical context. Could someone please enlighten me?
Me too. I don't get it.
2. Again, let me quote Jim Bacon:
Waving credit cards mockingly in the air, Democratic legislators lambasted the Republican plan earlier this year for "mortgaging our children's future," putting state debts on the credit card, etc. Now comes Gov. Kaine, proposing to jack up transportation debt from the $2.5 billion the GOP legislators proposed to $3 billion. Again, a jaw-slapping inconsistency. Am I missing something?
I must be missing the same thing that Jim Bacon is missing.
3. What I'm most disappointed about is that I don't see any clear lines drawn in the sand here, something that Democrats can campaign on this year. Check out Democratic House Caucus leader Brian Moran's NoRaid.com site, and please explain to me how the amendments offered today address Moran's main concerns. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't see it. How does this stop what Del. Moran called "the Republican raid on the future?" How does it address Del. Moran's concern that "spending the savings account and maxing out the credit card won't solve the transportation problem?"
As I said, maybe I'm just really confused here, but I was looking for major surgery to this bill, not just outpatient surgery.
* I voted against the Kaine Amendments because I thought we should be straight w/voters and take the money out of the General Fund instead of taking it out the back door via a surplus, Kaine's amendments were trickery;
* It should take all 9 localities to approve it not just 6 so that Prince William can't free ride on Fairfax County, that's not fair.
* The Gov. shouldn't to tie future GA's & Governor's hands on surplus revenues. It's important to have the flexibility to use surpluses for emergencies.
* The auto insurance premiums tax shouldn't be committed to the Transportation Trust Fund, because of X, Y & Z.
Blah, blah, blah, blah.
This plan - IF THE "SURPLUSES" EVEN PAN OUT - provides for $20B of new money over 20 years - WE ARE $108B SHORT. This is like putting a bandaid on a slit jugular vein.
This plan still dumps these burdens disproportionately on the poor.
It is capitulation to a Republican 2007 pre-election publicity stunt. I'm disappointed.