Kane Proposes (Surprise) A Tax Hike
By Greg L | 12 May 2008 | Virginia Politics | 14 Comments
Governor Kaine’s transportation proposal has been leaked, and to nobody’s surprise, Kaine will be proposing tax hikes. To top it off, he’s proposing the same 20% sales tax hike in Northern Virginia that was defeated in a referendum in 2002 that would apply only to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, despite the fact that these two jurisdictions receive back only about half of the transportation dollars they contribute to the state right now. On top of this tax hike, Kaine is proposing a 30% increase in the vehicle titling tax and an increase in the “grantors tax” that applies to real estate transactions. Nice way to help along a recovery in the residential real estate market, isn’t it?
If we could gain control over entitlement and discretionary spending in the Commonwealth we’d have more money for transportation. If we’d stop funneling transportation from Northern Virginia to other parts of the state with less significant transportation problems, we wouldn’t have this tremendous backlog of critical infrastructure upgrades. If VDOT would prioritize transportation projects so they would actually reduce congestion and improve safety, we might not be in this mess. Tax increases like these just pump money into a system that isn’t working yet, although some of the improvements made in 2007 might help some of these situations, although not nearly enough of them.
This isn’t going to fly in the House of Delegates one bit, and that will give the initiative to the House of Delegates to come up with an alternative plan. I can’t imagine them coming up with anything worse than this.
H/T: Right Wing Liberal
UPDATE: The DC Examiner has additional coverage.
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They are building a useless rail line to Dulles airport. One billion or more down the drain. A billion could widen 66 or 28 or 15 or 95.
They keep putting up town homes in places where they should be widening roads.
Unfortunately, I think Timmy is counting on having time and frustration on his side. He knows folks want something to be done with transportation, and by hammering away at how he feels(tax increases) this will help, Timmy is counting on folks to call the GA and demand action. Timmy will just keep pushing tax increases until some or all pass in some form or another.
He also knows his fellow libs do not mind at all paying more in taxes, and with the ever shifting demographics, he too is betting on that helping his cause out.
Of course we can sink billions into transportation, but that is not going to spur people to drive better, stop rubber necking, stop using their cell phones while driving, etc, which are all major issues that cause many needless traffic jams and which make our roads parking lots even during non rush hour traffic.
Where do you get the facts for this comment?
“To top it off, he’s proposing the same 20% sales tax hike in Northern Virginia that was defeated in a referendum in 2002 that would apply only to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, despite the fact that these two jurisdictions receive back only about half of the transportation dollars they contribute to the state right now. “.
I was of the impression that the transportation taxes collected in NoVA came back at just over 100% in road construction and maintenance spending. Maybe I have my facts wrong. I’d be very interested in any sources for this.
Tuesday 7:00 p.m. you will have the opportunity to tell Tim Kaine what you think about raising taxes.
The “voice of the business community” is likely to be there in force to praise Tim Kaines transportation funding solution.
Bob Marshall and Keith Fimian, have a better plan, they want to reduce rush hour traffic by allowing government workers to telecommute and encouraging business and government to encourage flex time. Why does everyone’s work day need to be from 9 to 5?
Getting cars off the road reduces fuel consumption, air emissions, and travel time without spending more money and improves quality of life. No brainer right? Wrong……
The secret here is that BIG business stands to make million if not billions of dollars, whether it’s the best solution or not.
Tell TIM KAINE…you’re already paying for transportation and it’s time put our money to smarter use.
Furlazzo building 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 13th
Gilmore taketh away, Kaine tries and tries to taketh back. We already told the Legislature that we don’t trust them or VDOT to utilize any special road tax wisely. The Legislature will divert it for something else or the VDOT will waste it. We just went through 4 years of waste and abuse in Hampton Roads on an I-64 project that took twice as long and twice as much money to finish than budgeted. Why aren’t the builders/developers paying for infrastructure? Oh, yeah…they make campaign contributions, which is cheaper.
The best Guvor Goober could do for VA transportation would be to enter his law enforcement dudes and dudettes in a 287g agreement with ICE and run about 200,000 illegal immigrants out of this state. That would take a lot of traffic out of VA and into the People’s Republic of Maryland.
Anonymous 2:20am
Widening the roads - not enough. I suggest putting a second story on the present roads; like the two-tiered Bay Bridge Oakland/San Francisco, with one-way traffic on each tier.
If we keep widening and widening the whole place will be a layer of concrete. We’re almost there already (see the parking lots adjacent to the shopping malls). Houses and trees must be leveled in order for our thirsty automobiles to stand in traffic, while we’re too tight to spend money on rail and/or tunnel traffic.
Marshall, Lingamfelter and frederick will torpedo any tax increase. Flex time, and tele-commuting is the best answer. You could pave PWC, Stafford, Alexandria, Fairfax and Arlington from border to border and it would solve one damn thing.
“The best Guvor Goober could do for VA transportation would be to enter his law enforcement dudes and dudettes in a 287g agreement with ICE and run about 200,000 illegal immigrants out of this state. That would take a lot of traffic out of VA and into the People’s Republic of Maryland.”
Not to mention the fact that it would take some of the worst drivers out of VA and into the People’s Republic of Maryland.
Let’s hope Lingamfelter (and Frederick) hang in there with Marshall this time around.
Don’t forget all the Republicans that sold us out on HB3202 in 2007 in the end. To name a few:
Jackson Miller
Scott Lingamfelter
Michele McQuigg
Bill Howell
Dave Albo (he doesn’t really count as a Republican)
And the list goes on, and on.
It’s time to hold our elected officials accountable. Lingamfelter let us down and we forgave him. Lets make sure he doesn’t let it happen AGAIN!
I am going to assume that this quote was in error or was an opinion rather than a fact:
“…despite the fact that these two jurisdictions receive back only about half of the transportation dollars they contribute to the state right now. “.”
That ratio of taxes paid to benefits received seems pretty important to me. Before NoVA and Tidewater start paying special transportation taxes it would good to know whether we are getting our fair share of what is already paid.
What we need is public transportation that works. I live 20 miles from work, 28 of which is covered by bus service. Push comes to shove, I could use the bus.
Glad I don’t do math for a living.
CONVA said on 12 May 2008 at 11:04 pm:
Marshall, Lingamfelter and frederick will torpedo any tax increase. Flex time, and tele-commuting is the best answer. You could pave PWC, Stafford, Alexandria, Fairfax and Arlington from border to border and it would solve one damn thing
IT is very simple to just say NO as the three delegates for PWC do but they have no solution to the funding of the problems. All three would rather the State get the money to pary for Capital Improvments then for the local counties to get it. The state and local BOCS would rather the builders pass on ” Proffers” to the public as part of the cost of a new home then call it a Tax which it is and get you to deduct it on your tax return. This of course would MAKE the Federal Governmnet and State Government give the public back some of the money they paid for these cost. Of course the public would rather believe the lie that the Builders pay Proffers then the truth that the public does. Why do not all new construction pay off site transportation cost rather then just new homes? Why does the public accept the lie that the 800 million dollar bond would not increase taxes? Why does the public accept the fact that you have to pay an extra dollar in taxes inorder to get .10 to pay for debt service? That is the fiscal mentality of the BOCS and your three do noting delegates for PWC.
Hope you enjoy the shafting you get now and will get for years to come…