The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
To no one’s surprise, a series of legislative proposals for higher taxes to pump new revenue into Virginia’s deteriorating transportation system were defeated Wednesday in a House of Delegates subcommittee.
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly’s Republican leadership have made it clear that tax increases are off the table as a fix for the state’s crumbling roads, but that didn’t stop four lawmakers from making their pitches.
--Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, proposed HB393, a bill to raise the state’s gasoline tax by 10 cents per gallon from the current 17.5 cents. Howell said spreading the cost of road improvements over the entire road-using public would be fairer than the impending reimposition of tolls on the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels, which will cost a daily commuter as much as $1,000 a year.
--Del. James Scott, D-Fairfax County, submitted HB983, which would convert the gas tax from a cents-per-gallon rate to a percentage rate pegged to the current level of revenue generated by the tax. As the price of gas rises, the tax would produce new revenue.
--Del. Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax County, proposed HB422, a package of taxes including a new 4 percent motor fuels tax, a half-cent hike in the state sales tax and a new recordation tax in Northern Virginia. Watts, a former state secretary of transportation, said Virginia has lost $8 billion in revenue by not indexing the gas tax to the inflation rate over the past 25 years.
--Del. Joe May, R-Loudoun County, submitted HB802, imposing a new “pump toll” consisting, among other things, of a 50-cent levy on each use of a retail motor fuels pump.
All four measures were tabled by the panel with virtually no discussion, meaning they will not advance.
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Our problems are w/how the
Our problems are w/how the money is collected, then spent. $$'s collected from the sale of fuel, vehicle inspections & repairs are suppose to be reinvested back into the roads, but we know that's not what happens. If we could put the gas tax $$'s in a lock box for trans only, in lieu of into the general fund, then there would be plenty of trans $$'s. & I also agree w/indexing the fuel tax rate for inflation. I know "technically" that raises the tax, but not the percentage. & I also think most people could stomach that approach, but i wouldn't bet the farm on it.
As expected.
"Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly’s Republican leadership have made it clear that tax increases are off the table as a fix for the state’s crumbling roads-"
Translation: "Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly’s Republican leadership have made it clear that fixing the state’s crumbling roads is off the table".
Remember this when the military starts pulling out of this area due to decaying roads and exorbitant tolls. Then ask if the theology of Norquistism is still a viable option.
hmmmm
A 75% on developer profits aught to take care of the problem .... you want a new project then pay for necessary infrastructure to support that project
Comment deleted
Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Personal attack, name calling
GOOD!
The government doesn't need to take anymoreof anyone else's money.
Stay out of our wallets and our lives. Interstates need to be cared fopr by the Feds. Local roads by the states and localities. Both already get enough of our money. Like businesses today, governments need to tighten their belts.
poor choice
The Feds don't pay for interstate highway maintenance. When they were built, the deal with the state was that the Feds would pay 90% of construction costs and the state would pay 10% plus handle future maintenance. If Virginia doesn't maintain the roads, they just turn to crumpled chunks and powder.
Wah! Wah! Wah!
The [stupid, ignorant, poorly informed] voters have spoken.
They all must have it wrong.
There must be something about higher taxes that they do not like or support.
Elections have consequences.
Never enough tax money for Mike Barrett & "friends"
Has everyone noticed that no matter how much of our maoney the government takes from us it is never enough tax money for Mike Barrett and his business lobby "friends"; not to mention Mike's non-elected, taxpayer spending vacation buddies like Virginia Beach City Manager Jim Spore?
Tax, tax, tax ... ad out of the other side of their two faces we hear "spend, spend, spend ..."
Tax money spent for entertainment venues, "amenities", fancy hotels, fake "town centers", stunningly expensive convention centers, endlessly expensive light rail, slow-speed passenger rail marketed as "high speed" rail, unneeded Laskin Road "gateways", a Dome site make over, theaters, sportsplexes, golf courses, and a long list of failed "public-private partnerships"
Agreed Reid. It's a fly in
Agreed Reid. It's a fly in Mikes ointment when members of the VBTA point out the facts that disagree with Mike's "in the public interest" mandate. His definition of public interest depends on whether he agrees with it or not.
Don't vote for them again!
Yes, the majority in the House of Delegates would much rather stick their noses into the private lives of couples and the advice from their physicians instead of actually fulfilling their sworn duty to serve the Commonwealth in the public interest. These clowns are responsible for the slow and steady destruction of our roads, bridges, highways, and tunnels, and frankly, they could care less; afterall, they earned their pensions by lying to the public, why should they noy continue to do so? And since we just participated in this debacle by reelecting almost everyone of them, we have no one to blame but ourselves. But voters, if you have one iota of integrity left, remember this cowardice and act accordingly; don't vote for them again.