RICHMOND
Republican House leaders intend to direct Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s bill for an $860 million tax increase for transportation-related projects to an unfriendly legislative committee with a history of killing tax bills.
Speaker William Howell said Wednesday he intends to send the bill to the House Finance Committee, which in recent years has spiked dozens of measures that would have imposed new taxes for road construction and maintenance.
“I think the bill is appropriately before the Finance Committee and I think that’s where it’s going to end up,” Howell said during a news conference.
Howell and other Republican House leaders strongly oppose new state taxes for transportation. Instead, they say localities should be given broader powers to raise taxes and charge tolls for road projects.
Kaine, a Democrat, says the state needs a combination of new taxes and tolls to ease gridlock in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. He has called for a special session of the General Assembly to start June 23 to address transportation funding.
The House last year passed a new rule that essentially allows Howell to bypass the conventional committee process and send bills of his choosing to the House floor for a vote.
Kaine, in an interview, said it is “interesting” that Howell would not invoke the rule change to ensure the full House has a chance to vote on the transportation proposal.
Under Kaine’s plan:
- The 5 percent state sales tax would be increased to 6 percent in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
- The 3 percent state sales tax on car sales would be increased to 4 percent.
- Annual vehicle registration fees would increase by $10.
- The grantor’s tax paid by parties that sell homes would increase by 25 cents per $100 of the sale price.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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ok so...
this is what i would like to know. why is it, or does it seem so easy for other major cities or metropolitan areas, to get a decent public transportation system together without a bunch hassle?
i know it doesn't have to do with what party the leaders are with.
this is kind of a dumb question but i would really like an answer that would just bring me closure.
So now we have heard form
So now we have heard form Delegate Griffiths who denies we have a problem (I guess he can get around in Salem just fine) and from the Speaker, Bill Howell, who last year sponsored HB 3202 but who now denies there is a problem and denies that we have to fix it. Can any right thinking Virginian believe political leaders like Howell and McDonnell who push for the legislation last year and now back away from a solution as if the problem has miraculously solved itself? It is almost laughable, except we all pay the consequences of this political charade everyday in lost time with our friends, our families, and our businesses. We must trust that our delegation, republicans and democrats, house members and senators, will work for a sustainable solution that removes this issue from partisanship and places it where it belongs; that is, right in the center of our future prosperity.
I have a suggestion
Lets moan and groan for the next decade and do nothing.
Do nothing? So what?
Better than the democrat way of thinking that government needs to take care of you! Government is the solution to everthing! The government knows what is good for everyone! How about this, read the UC Constitution and the Federal Papers for once! Oh that`s right you democrats just believe in parts of the Constitution!
Oh and Michael! Please keep us all informed when you write out that EXTRA check because you don`t pay enouth taxes! We are all holding our breath! hahaha
do-nothing republicans
Do-nothing republicans hard not at work.
OK Here is the solution. So let us stop it quick.
Finally someone has come up with a solution to our "Hampton Roads" traffic problem that sounds like it makes sense. Fix it now or fix it later at more cost because the "Hampton Roads" road system is broke. If you live here and you drive you know this is true. So why are we going to assume the Republican commitee is going to kill this bill because they are Republicans? What sense does that make?
What does make sense is that here is a solution and I see no other options on the table. So if you are not going to go with the solution then you are part of the problem and I will support and campaign for the side that has solutions to my local problems in the upcoming elections and every election after them until we not only have a solution but have implemented it into action.
question
why does everyone seem to think that the third crossing isn't going to help anyone besides the ports? Really, if you're going from Norfolk to Hampton, and the HRBT is backed up 6 miles (like it is virtually every single day), and the third crossing is there, aren't you going to use it? If you're leaving the base going to the Churchland/Western Branch area, and you hear the midtown tunnel is backed up past 21st street (like it is virtually every single day) and the third crossing is there, aren't you going to use it? I know in both of those instances I would.
Put Up
Actually, I don't mind paying extra in taxes. I used to commute from Ocean View Station to Busch Gardens to work. I would've happily paid a toll to cross the HRBT. I used to go from West Ghent to Churchland all the time. I would rather take the Jordan Bridge and pay the $0.75 toll then sit in tunnel traffic. Going to my birth state of RI: I take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel for $12 each way as well as turnpikes and toll bridges up north.
77Billion
That's the VA current budget I put up and I wont shut up. I work, I pay taxes and I don't get good value for my taxes. So when a democrat governor wants more I question his tax and spend ways!
hahaha
Hey Michael and pierrig, stop boohooing and do something about it! Like put your money where your mouths are. Send the Commonwealth of Virginia $200-$300 more money a month out of your own pocket!! Either put up or shut up! Plain and simple like all of you tax and spenders.
MPO
The MPO didn't choose to fix the HRBT! That's why we are so angry at this mess! Instead they picked projects that will help their developer buddies over real traffic solutions.
Recommend you move to
Recommend you move to Norfolk.
Tax less, spend less.
Go figure
Is anyone surprised? Howell, time for you to go. Come, take a ride with me through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel during rush hour. Come for a ride on the #61 leaving Wards Corner at 4:38 PM or 5:38 PM. Tell everyone on the bus how you feel about paying for fixing the HRBT. Please be advised that we can not be held responsible for the uproar this would cause. You are aware that something has to be done and since you refuse to do anything, this is a solution. NOTE: please everyone, let's keep it peaceful. Remember to clean House come November.