The plan the House GOP introduced yesterday to address transportation issues does not solve the long-term problem. Even the GOP admits that (see previous post).
The major new revenue sources, Republicans said, come from diverting about one-third of the state’s taxes on vehicle insurance premiums, ranging from $127 million to $169 million a year, and raising about $100 million annually through imposing bigger fines on bad drivers.
Two questions comes to mind: One, what other services will be cut from the general fund if you take up to $169 million out of it?, and two, who has verified that the $100 million estimated to be raised by larger fines are anyway near accurate?
Clearly, the GOP is on the defensive. Note some of their language in the transportation stories.
“We applaud the governor for getting out of the blocks on some of these things, but the majority of the funds the governor is putting in with that $800 million-plus are in one-time deposits,” Del. Robert F. McDonnell, one of the sponsors of the GOP initiative, said during a news conference outlining the package.
“Governor Warner took a positive step last month. I want to thank the governor for presenting, like the House Republicans, a transportation plan that does not include a gas tax increase or any other general tax increase,” Howell said. “We can work with the governor on transportation issues.”
[Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) … said the governor has proposed pouring a large amount of general fund money into the transportation budget, and he intends to work with other Southwest Virginia legislators to bring a share of that money home for local improvements.
Everybody wants to be seen as doing something for transportation. And even the House GOPers want to be seen as working with governor. Can those who see a certain hypocrisy between wanting to address the funding issue and anti-tax stands reveal the flat-earthers sleights of hand?