Pick a number, any number. Reporters across the Commonwealth can’t seem to agree on how many “renegade” Republicans there are supporting HB5018, the tax plan that passed the House Finance Committee yesterday. Some say 17, others 18, and some say 17 to 19 members visited the Governor’s office to push for the compromise. Geez, is 19 too high a number for reporters to count to? Christina Nuckols of the Virginian-Pilot says there were 19 but one fell by the wayside.
Wonder what constituents of Allen L. Louderback of Luray, Mark Cole of Spotsylvania and John O’Bannon and Bill Janis of Henrico will think? All are opponents of tax increases but all were absent from the House Finance Committee yesterday when it voted to pass the tax bill. At the request of Speaker Howell, they stayed away to allow the tax bill to report out of committee. Will the Club for Growth challenge them in primaries?
Here’s what the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star reported:
“Leadership had promised to get the bill to the floor, and I certainly cannot support it, so I was asked not to attend the meeting,” Cole said later.
Asked if he was OK with that approach, Cole answered, “not really.”
“It’s nearly a billion-dollar tax increase, and it’s the wrong way for us to go,” he added. “This is the wrong time to be raising taxes, period. I don’t think the House needs to be held hostage to a tax increase from the Senate or the governor.”
Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, did vote for Parrish’s bill in committee but said he will vote against it on the floor.
Louderback was also “conflicted”
Which brings us to the “Quote of the Day”: “There’s not a whole lot of profiles in courage on this one.” Del. R. Lee Ware Jr., R-Powhatan, who voted against the compromise bill.
Here’s the vote:
Yes: Harry J. Parrish, R-Manassas; Robert D. Orrock Sr., R-Spotsylvania; Joseph P. Johnson Jr., D-Abingdon; Kenneth R. Melvin, D-Portsmouth; Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville; Franklin P. Hall, D-Richmond; Robert D. Hull, D-Fairfax; Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax; Stephen C. Shannon, D-Fairfax; Lynwood W. Lewis Jr., D-Accomac.
No: Harry R. “Bob” Purkey, R-Virginia Beach; Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk; R. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan; John J. Welch III, R-Virginia Beach; Samuel A. Nixon Jr., R-Chesterfield; Kathy J. Byron, R-Lynchburg; L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William; Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax.
Not voting: Allen L. Louderback, R-Luray; Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania; John M. O’Bannon III, R-Henrico; Bill Janis, R-Henrico.
In response, here’s what Governor Warner said:
“The bill offered by Delegate Parrish in its current form addresses the goals that I have laid out since the beginning of this process. It makes the tax system more fair, meets our core commitments in education, public safety and health care, and protects the commonwealth’s fiscal integrity. Combined with the decision by the Senate leadership to remove the new higher income tax brackets from the Senate proposal, passage of this bill by the House in its current form would be a breakthrough that, in my opinion, will lead to a meaningful compromise by all parties. I will continue to encourage the Senate to move as soon as possible to reach a final budget agreement.”
Republicans duel in the press here and here
The anti-tax lobby is cranking it up but UVA professor Larry Sabato thinks it might backfire. (Link to Virginian Pilot story may be bad.)
More polls, more confusion.
Good article today in The Washington Post about Speaker Bill Howell’s style.
The Post also reports traffic gridlock has no end.