THE JOY OF DEADLOCK

No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. — Gideon J. Tucker

To find money to spend on transportation infrastructure, Governor Tim Kaine called a Special Session of the General Assembly.  What is the governor’s plan to resolve the so-called transportation funding crisis?  Taxes, taxes and more taxes.  Fortunately, thus far the General Assembly has not passed anything.  In fact, with its usual originality, the news media is lamenting that the General Assembly is “gridlocked” (see here and here for examples).  The Winchester Star, on the other hand, simply said “Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s proposal has zero chance of success” (see here).  Plain prose can be so refreshing.

Here is how the happy taxer sees the situation.

Kaine, a Democrat, chose not to include a gas tax increase in the plan he introduced last month, saying at time that there was little legislative support for such an increase while gas prices are hitting $4 a gallon.

The governor, during a news conference Thursday, declined to endorse a gas tax increase, but suggested he might be willing to live with one if it’s part of a transportation package that provides ample money to maintain roads across Virginia and build new ones in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

“You’re not going to see me veto a bill that meets those objectives,” Kaine said.

The odds of the gas tax increase reaching Kaine’s desk are tiny, however. House GOP leaders strongly oppose raising that levy or any other general tax. (from here)

Unfortunately, Republicans still have not learned their lesson.  They too, want taxes, just not in their backyard.

The measure - proposed by Del. Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News - proposes no statewide tax increase or new roads revenues for Virginians outside of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

The bill, HB6055, would allow Hampton Roads local governments to raise about $50 million a year by imposing additional $20 fees on vehicle registration and inspections, and a 2 percent tax on car rentals.

The measure also would allow the region to capture up to $250 million a year in future new tax revenues that might come from a growth in business at the Hampton Roads port if roads are improved.

The measure is likely to be opposed by rural legislators, who also are looking for road money, and by Senate Democrats, who are insisting on a combination of regional and statewide tax increases. (from here)

This special session designed to find new ways to tax us is now in recess.  The General Assembly will resume its search for new taxes on July 9.   Only you can stop them.  As Delegate Bob Marshall made clear in this email to his constituents, there are good alternatives to allowing these people to raid our wallets.

Delegate Bob Marshall’s Transportation Measures:
2008 Special General Assembly Session

Whether or not you will pay higher state or local taxes for transportation will depend upon what you do or fail to do in the next few days and weeks!

The Virginia General Assembly meets June 23, 2008 in a special session to consider various bills to address transportation.  The length of the session is yet to be determined.

Governor Tim Kaine and Senate Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly have different plans to increase your taxes for transportation purposes.  House Republican leaders want to give local governments in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads the authority to increase local taxes for transportation purposes.

Below are my measures to help commuters and travelers by investigating alternate fuels, increasing program efficiency to free up transportation funds, and constructing road and mass transit with tolls and user fees.  None of these measures increase taxes.  In fact, if all of the Wilder Commission efficiency measures could be implemented, at least $1.1 Billion could be saved, almost exactly the amount of tax revenue Governor Kaines proposes to raise.

If you agree with my proposals below, please contact your state senator and delegate and urge them to support one or more of my measures.  Click below to learn how to contact your state representatives: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

Contact me at delegatebobmarshall@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

I do not have bill numbers and specific language yet, but the bill numbers should be assigned by June 24th. .  They will be available at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?083+mbr+H57C.

State Government Efficiency (money saved to go for transportation):

In 2002, the Wilder Commission recommended selling certain state assets, merging or reorganizing state agencies, and changing procurement practices to produce billions of dollars in savings. (In 2002, the savings was $750,000,000 annually; in 2008 savings would be $1.1 Billion).  Governor Wilder told me last summer that most of the recommendations were not implemented by either Governor Mark Warner or Governor Tim Kaine.  I have introduced several bills and joint resolutions that implement the Wilder reforms.  Any money saved or generated would be spent on transportation projects and maintenance.

Also, I have introduced a bill that creates permanent agency oversight commissions consisting of legislators, agency personnel, and citizens who will review agency operations for cost savings, duplication, and sale of capital assets.  Any money saved or generated would be spent on transportation projects and maintenance.

Road/Mass Transit Projects – Using Tolls/User fees — NOT tax increases:
$4.11 Billion Statewide Revenue Bond Projects to be repaid with easy-pass or cash tolls and portions of fares:  

Northern Virginia: 
Mass Transit:  $300 million capital expenditures for new Metro Subway rail cars and repair of existing track/stations;   $290 million Virginia Railway Express extension from Manassas to Haymarket, additional track, six locomotives and 36 double-decker, 80-passenger rail cars..
Roads:  $300 million to widen I-66 from Gainesville past Haymarket, and construct bypass  from I-66 to US Rt. 29 in Fauquier with easy-pass toll; $570 million for Tri-County Parkway between Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun using the Comprehensive Plan Alignment.

Hampton Roads:
$2 Billion to construct four new lanes on I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (Congestion Relief)

Shenandoah Valley:
$550 Million for I-81 improvements for tractor trailers.  (Only trucks stopping at weigh stations would pay tolls.)

Southwest Virginia: 
$100 million to construct 20 mile four lane segment of Rt. 460 from west of Grundy to Kentucky line (460 is four lanes in Kentucky).

Tractor Tailor Road Damage and Repair Fees:  Requires the Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the Commissioner of Transportation to calculate the fees needed to cover the costs of maintaining Virginia Roads from use and damage from overweight trucks. Trucks will be required to stop at weigh stations.  Fees will be based on the truck weight, number of axles and miles driven.

Additional Non-Tax Transportation Measures:

Rescind Ethanol Mandate:  General Assembly to request the US Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the current Ethanol gasoline additive mandate authorized by federal law.  Ethanol decreases gas mileage and increases food prices.  My joint resolution does not need the Governor’s signature.  It is only presented and voted on by the House of Delegates and the State Senate.  (Gov. Kaine opposes lifting the EPA ethanol mandate.)

Biofuel:  General Assembly to study and identify all sources of methane gas in Virginia (animal feed lots, municipal waste treatment plants, and land fills) to develop alternate commercially available fuel sources for cars/trucks.  Other countries and some states are transforming waste to energy.

Four Day Work Week-Flex Time:  Requires the governor to implement, wherever practical, a voluntary four 10 hours work days (or five-day, 40 hour flex time) for state employees, to reduce fuel consumption and take cars off roads.

Naming Rights:   Allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to accept cash or in-kind payments in exchange for naming rights of transportation projects (roads, bridges, traffic circles, access roads, etc.)

Transportation Lock Box:   Amendment to the Virginia Constitution prohibiting the shifting of dedicated transportation taxes/fees to non transportation uses, except that money may be diverted for up to three years and paid back to the Transportation trust fund with interest.   The $317 million in transportation funds diverted in 2002 by Gov. Warner and the state senate has not all been paid back.  I have worked more than 10 years for this proposal. 

Please contact your state delegate and senator if interested in supporting these bills. With your help, some or all of these measures could become law and improve transportation without tax increases.  Thanks very much.

Sincerely,

Delegate Bob Marshall