In a stalemate over roads, lawmakers look to 2010

You know, the do nothing about anything Republicans. They played a game and that's all it was the object of the game was play as I say or we don't play at all. Real smart! Yeah, right! So what did we get? NOTHING! I'm impressed!

The republicans are simply running a shell game. By moving money from one place to another, eventually some fund will run short. Their only real intention is to make the person who comes asking for more money a democrat. Regardless of political affiliation this is painfully obvious.

The do-nothing republicans love taxes as well. Of course their only solution is an unconstitutional taxing authority.

Quote: "It's been said that the definition of insanity is expecting a different result from the same set of inputs,"

Over and over we have seen taxes go up and up with no result regarding transportation improvements. Matter of fact, we've seen the money hijacked to pet projects. So, if the Democrats really expect a new result from this same tired input, we can only conclude they are insane.

Thank cripes the Republican representatives are breaking the cycle and forcing the hand of the do nothing but tax Democrats.

"House Republicans leaders, relishing their success in killing tax increase bills this summer, promised a repeat performance in the winter. "We're not willing to take up the same old ideas from Democrats," said Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. "Those ideas have been rejected." "

Don't forget Morgan Griffith's name when he runs for re-election. Show him the door instead. We need poiticans that do their job, not politicans willing to sit and do nothing. Morgan Griffith is only interested in himself as a Republican instead of a representative.

In all due respect, any attempt to deflect criticism of the GOP is simply pure baloney. The republican bill provided no new revenue; it simply stole revenue from the General Fund. To suggest that stealing from the General Fund money, which would need to be replaced by additional taxes, is new money is absurd. Of course, that is exactly the kind of tricks and obfuscation that characterized Governor Gilmore and we know what trouble that got us into. The simple conclusion is that the republicans in the House would not vote for tax and fee increases for tranpsortation even if the the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel collapsed or the Coleman bridge fell into the water. They have made it quite clear that the public interest be damned; they will follow Grover Norquist over the cliff before they will vote for tax increases. That got most of them elected, and that is how they will run again, so if we want more of the same, return them to office.

If poor planing produces piss poor performance What does no planing produce...NOTHING...Right where we are now with every one whining about what taxes to increase what fees to raise and o my god where is all this money going to come from...its just mind boggling...Our leaders got paid to do nothing and every one went home pointing fingers...If this was a household budget with household problems most families would tighten their belts and do without something or somethings liking it or not....I guess most of our leaders hell all of them dont live or have not lived from paycheck to paycheck befor..it must be nice..If most of us went to work and did nothing we would be fired peroid....These lawmakers got paid to show up were reimbursed for mileage and probabily feed to do nothing...I wonder how many of them were in Va. owned cars...our leaders need to be replaced ITS clear our roads wont be any ti

and relieve all of the unnecessary accountants and collectors of their duties such as chasing delinquents, etc. It would take far less manpower to manage revenue from sales taxes than income taxes, so raise the sales tax. That way, taxing will be proportional to spending/income and nobody is expempted by loop holes. Criminals and employees paid under the table will have to pay their share too if they want to purchase goods and services. Raise the sales tax to where enough revenue is generated to meet the state's needs. Done deal!!

Do you honestly think we will have a Republican Governor any time soon??? It simply won't happen!

Most of the taxpayers don't want a tax increase to build anything and your saying it is a lack of leadership is a popus statement. What you are trying to say is a lack of dictatorship like you run the city. If you want to be a dictator you need to go see your buddy in Venezuela. He is a visionary like you.

Our roads really aren't that bad I don't know why this is the #1 issue folks keep griping over. I've lived in several different states and Virginia roads really aren't that horrid. I'm glad that we had this stalemate, I'm glad that we have a good balance of republican and democratic voices so one party doesn't always get to railroad the other. If Gov. Kaine wants progress he needs to work something out that more conservatives voices can endorse instead of bigger taxes, big money and ignoring the wants of the people who voted the last time they asked if they wanted more taxes and said 'no'. While yes taxes are a necessary evil to provide public functionality to our commonwealth, squeezing a rock in a recession is only going to make people grumpy.

Submitted by paulp93418 on Fri, 07/11/2008 at 9:58 am.
Does anybody really believe the answer is as simple as 'cutting the budget'? I'd love know, from our resident experts, what we need and what we don't need.

I believe it's a start, and if I was being paid to fix this mess I'd take the time and have the guts to make the hard choices. Raising more taxes is not a hard choice it's the easy way out.

And, paulp, just because I have a few bucks left over at the end of the month doesn't mean that the govt is entitled to it. Why don't you lower YOUR standard of living, give the extra money to the GA, and let us know how it works out.

jmo

I have read most of the post here and I see that most of you blame the GOP. When in fact the GOP is trying to get the money neede with out takeing any more for my pocket. I will fight a third crossing to the bitter end. If the ports want this thing then tax the shipping and trucker for it.

As for taking the ports money and given it to schools just take that chek away and let the schools deal with it.

Give me a break, George; Warner did it.

Oh, and he was a Democrat...

"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, said Thursday he will push again for a transportation tax increase when the General Assembly convenes in January"

Wow what a surprise. Gov Kaine is a failed leader who is unable to think outside the box and solve the problems of Virginia. He fails to work with all sides to find solutions to our problems. Instead he keeps shoveling the same old mantra "Raise Taxes".

Why do I feel like I'm Horton in "Horton Hears A Who"? WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE!

What's 2 more years before any other considerations will be made regarding our trans. needs? What will the costs be then? Even if in 2010 something is agreed on, how long will the delay be before we see any real change?

"Local folks", you advocate the replacement of only the General Assembly. If you really want to clean house you need to begin with VDOT and the CTB - and the Governor. Sure, the General Assembly needs a good house cleaning too, but the real problem with the General Assembly is not those we elect, but the Democratic and Republican Parties that place the good of their political party aheda of the good of the citizens. While this is bad enough, we have unaccountable MPOs that select the wrong projects. We have an all-appointed CTB that selects the wrong projects. And we have an out of control Port Authority that lobbys for BILLIONS of new transportation projects for their benefit, not ours. All of this is mismanaged by a lousy VDOT. So, cleaning house in the General Assembly is only a small part of replacing the people that have messed up our state's transportation system.

Kevinh said: "Seems to me the House of Delegate Republicans DID introduce a bill to help fix the transportation problem during this special session."

Are you talking about the bill that would tax unapproved drilling that wouldn't come online for at least another 10 years? Or do you mean the bill that would remove funding from schools? Both were ridiculous and were rightly drummed out of the Legislature.

Another attempt right of the GOP playbook - deny, deflect, and blame. Way to go, GOP!

We do pay, at the DMV and personal property tax so don't preach on your high horse. I have spent about $250 at DMV this year and over $850 in personal property tax (cars) plus 30% of my earnings, sales tax, meal tax etc etc so I do have a right to complain. If you want to pay more then mail a check as I am positive the government will not return it and say no thanks but I am also sure it will probablly fund some project to see how ants behave when drunk!

What happens to all the money DMV collects? I know I have spent about $250 this year at DMV.
Nothing will change until we have new leaders that do what is best for the people instead of Politicians who's sole purpose is to make the other party look bad no matter the outcome to the people.

"I don't think I've ever seen a group work so hard to do nothing," he said.

We see our political leaders do this all the time. If they ran a private business like this, they would be out of business and brought up on charges. But instead they see they have a never ending income stream courtesy of tax dollars. Tighten the belt and streamline first, then see if you really need more money.

So he makes a special session to look at a plan without public concensus?
Sounds like the prior unconstitutional taxing authority, and now they want to tax us more and he wants more spending. We are all tired of new taxes, because we can't afford it due to everything else going on, (gas, electricity etc.) but they can't come up with a way to help with that, (like drilling for oil, or using wind turbines and solar power). They want our money for all. Remember the lottery funds that were donated for education? Remember how they were taking money back from education as lottery funds were being given? What happened with that? Do you really trust these people to do the right thing for you? I say clear them all out and get a new general assembly with common sense and a governor that knows what to do. If these people ran businesses, they would all be bankrupt, so how are they running the state?

As a Governor in VA you only have 4 years to even try to make an impact on solving any problems in this state. That needs to be corrected. Governors should be able to run for re-election like everyone else. Do you honestly think the next Governor will be a Republican? That won't happen!

Seems to me the House of Delegate Republicans DID introduce a bill to help fix the transportation problem during this special session. A bill which was promptly rejected by the Democratic controlled state senat. Get your facts straight before pointing fingers.....

And YES, I am GLAD the Democratic measures didn't pass. Raising the state sales tax is unfair, and its unfair to tax me more just because I live in an area that needs bigger roads because of all of the tourists and port traffic!

If people aren't willing to pay aliitle more in taxes to help fund the much needed road projects they have no right to complain about them then.

Does anybody really believe the answer is as simple as 'cutting the budget'? I'd love know, from our resident experts, what we need and what we don't need. You obviously have a better handle then the officials you have elected. You pay taxes (and yes, tax increases) to continue to have a high quality of life, and to be a part of the most robust country in the world. If you believe you cannot afford to pay more taxes, take a long, hard look at your standard of living compared to the rest of the world. The simple fact you can access the internet to post your opinions puts you above 95% of the worlds population by default.

If he was worth his weight, he'd get in there and bring the parties together. Warner did it and things got done. Kaine's a pansy politician who's using this post as a stepping-stone. Unfortunately for him [and fortunate for us], that stone is a step down. He'll never be elected to a higher office with his horrific track record of getting nothing done while the politicians argue like children.

I don't place all the blame on him. The childish bickering I witnessed yesterday should be a wake-up call to us all. Get these self-serving idiots out of office.

This isn’t a right or left issue, both sides are to blame on this one…

We have witnessed the most monumental waste of human effort. We deserve better representation from both parties. I call for a immediate recall election for all members of the General Assembly. That is my out cry!!!

Kaine started to realize that he will have nothing but failure to put on his future election posters, so he has given up on transportation and looking for something else. How shallow and obvious. Can't find a valid way to tax the citizens for roads, move to the environment and energy. What's he want to tax now? During his watch my VA Power bill went up 18% and Natural Gas up 36%. Gee, thanks Timmy, appreciate your help.