Voting rights, lending limits on agenda for Va. black caucus

RICHMOND

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus promoted an agenda Friday to expand voting rights, restrict car title lending and protect funding for education and health care.

However, the 17-member caucus did not endorse proposals by its new chairman, Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, to increase the gas tax by 18 cents and raise the income tax on people who make more than $300,000 a year. Alexander said he chose not submit the bills by Friday’s filing deadline for the session.

“Everybody agreed that something should be done but they didn’t feel that the bills were going to make it out of subcommittee,” Alexander said.