Register for E-mail alerts. Comment on articles. Sign up today, it's easy.
Close
The Washington Times Online Edition

EDITORIAL: Bipartisan fiasco in Richmond

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Despite protests by anti-tax groups, Gov. Tim Kaine says he has "heard again and again from Virginians that they understand how desperately we need to invest in our transportation network."ASSOCIATED PRESS Despite protests by anti-tax groups, Gov. Tim Kaine says he has “heard again and again from Virginians that they understand how desperately we need to invest in our transportation network.”

After a two-week recess, the Virginia General Assembly returns today to resume a special session on transportation called by Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine. The session has all the makings of a political debacle that will move the state farther away from a viable long-term solution to its transportation woes. At times, it seems as if the governor, Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, Fairfax Democrat, and House Republicans led by Speaker Bill Howell are competing to see who can take “credit” for pushing through the worst possible package of tax increases on the people of the commonwealth. Northern Virginia’s transportation problem remains what it has been for a generation: a seriously flawed state transportation funding formula that funnels transportation dollars to sparsely populated rural areas while shortchanging regions of the state that have the most pressing needs. The Prince William County Board of Supervisors last year) threatened to defeat legislators who oppose a “long-term transportation solution” to her liking.

And for now, the harangues seem to be succeeding. Fairfax that would provide new road funding through a series of increases in taxes and fees.

This is a terrible idea - a point being made by more sober-minded Republicans. State party Gov. Mark Warner’s $1.4 billion tax increase in 2004 (only to learn several weeks later that the deficit Mr. Warner warned about was fiction, and that Virginia had a budget surplus.) Mr. Howell would do well to heed the warnings from Mr. Frederick and Mr. Cuccinelli.

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
You Might Also Like
  • President Obama speaks Feb. 13, 2012, about the "Community College to Career Fund" and his 2013 budget at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va. (Associated Press)

    Obama unveils fiscal 2013 budget proposal

    By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

  • President Barack Obama speaks about the "Community College to Career Fund" and his 2013 budget, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

    Social Security reserves forecast to run dry in 2022

    By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times

  • **FILE** This photo from Dec. 13, 2011, shows workers inside Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. (Associated Press)

    Arizona lawmakers: No more teachers’ dirty words

    By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

  • In Case You Missed It
    Happening Now

          Independent voices from the TWT Communities

          The Sports Philosopher

          A statistically slanted view of sports, brought to you by a disciple of the Bill James movement.

          Egypt: Pyramids and Revolution

          Egypt is filled with first hand accounts about Egypt - sharing stories, culture and news.

          Pakistan: The Untold Story of Trauma, Transition, and Opportunity

          This is story of a beleaguered nation which, on the strength of its heroes, talent, geo-politics and history, can see light at the end of the tunnel.