While at the G.A. this year, I saw this bill come through and thought it might be an example of Republican lawmakers doing good. Patrons:
• R. Lee Ware, Jr. (chief patron)
• David B. Albo
• Clifford L. Athey, Jr.
• Vincent F. Callahan, Jr.
• John A. Cosgrove
• William H. Fralin, Jr.
• Thomas D. Gear
• C. Todd Gilbert
• S. Chris Jones
• Terry G. Kilgore
• R. Steven Landes
• Daniel W. Marshall, III
• Harvey B. Morgan
• David A. Nutter
• John M. O’Bannon, III
• Thomas Davis Rust
• Robert J. Wittman
• Thomas C. Wright, Jr.
Apparently, Virginia is kind to folks who want to help conserve land and conserve their money, too.
Those tax benefits have fueled an explosion in easements, particularly in Virginia, which offers additional state tax credits. In 1995, Virginia landowners placed easements on fewer than 6,000 acres; last year, the figure exceeded 35,000.
But the IRS has other ideas. Seems it just another ploy to give developers a way to rob the treasury.
Meanwhile, the Democratic supervisor in Fairfax makes a fool of himself.
To support his argument that more homes could have been built on the property, [the developer] Turner introduced a letter signed by Fairfax County Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) saying that Turner had the “right” to build 62 houses. But Hyland testified that Turner wrote the letter and that Hyland signed it without checking whether it was accurate.
Nice move, Gerry. I guess if business interests can write legisaltion, they surely can write letters for lawmakers signatures.