Well it only took two weeks of bashing, but the truth has finally come out. Del. Dave Albo has been running around telling the press that his "abuser fees" were adopted to make the road safer. Well, we get this bit of honesty from Friday's Virginia-Pilot:
Many commentators have said that these "abuser fees" will cause judges around the Commonwealth to drop their fines on various offenses in light of the mandatory assessments. What does that mean? Less money for school construction and teach retirement. In other words, a General Fund raid. Where have we heard this before?Kaine said legislators might consider expanding the fees to cover out-of-state motorists, but he made no promise to push for such a change. It sounds like a simple fix, but it's not.
The fees are currently treated as civil penalties collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you don't pay the fee, your driver's license could be suspended. The fees would have to be changed to criminal fines in order to collect from out-of-state drivers. Virginia's constitution earmarks all court fines to be spent on school construction and teacher retirement benefits. The bad-driver fees were adopted to generate new money for road maintenance. It would take three years and a voter referendum to amend the constitution.
Del. David Albo, R-Fairfax, said he doubts there will be public support for a constitutional rewrite. The Virginia-Pilot, Virginia Motorists Vent to Kaine About Bad Driver Fees (June 29, 2007).
"The bottom line is that NoVa needs at least $300 Million more per year in addition to what has already been proposed, and the existing gas tax will not deliver it. If I was Governor, I would deliver $400-500 Million by cutting spending in our core service areas of government. But I am not Governor. . . ."-We all know that Delegate Albo has a great record when it comes to teachers. AMG, Dave Albo vs. the PTA (Apr. 25, 2006). Make sure you tell your teacher that they better increase their Roth IRA contribution - looks like their retirement just got raided.
Del. Dave Albo In Letter to Constituents - quoted in AMG, Cutting Gang Prevention, Kids & Community College (Peter) to Pay Paul (Apr. 16, 2006).
Devolites - she carried this bill through the Senate and her husband was adamant that she be the co-sponsor (http://notlarrysabat...)
O'Brien & Cooch - This is the only transportation measure the two of them have EVER voted for.
Hugo - This was his baby also along with Albo. Hugo thinks he's a transportation financing genius because he used to be a staffer in Congress on a Transportation Committee.
(Yeah, I know Governor Kaine pushed it and so did Dems. I have no comment. I have repeatedly been on the record that these were a mistake, along with Estate Tax repeal, and many other anti-progressive measures Democrats have capitulated on).
Kaine, of all people, should recognize this and show some leadership and help correct this mistake. Instead he suggests expanding the fee target base.
Kaine is starting to look like a "careful" politician setting himself up for future career opportunities. Perhaps he should be focusing on being a strong Governor - one that is willing to take some risks for the right reasons.
I'm starting to really miss Mark Warner.
A bipartisan list of why the system is broken
Gerry Connolly, Tom Davis, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John Edwards,
A bipartisan list of why there is still hope
John McCain, Mark Warner, John Warner, Ken Cuccinelli (seriously I know most of you disagree on some issues but he is doing it for the correct reasons), David Englin and thankfully many more who smartly avoid the limelight in favor of doing what they think is best for their constituents and the country as a whole.