Negotiators for the “House 17” and the Senate leadership are still talking about a compromise tax bill, while Gov. Mark Warner indicates he wants it at $1 billion in new taxes, just about where he first proposed and sure to make Senate Democrats feel they’re left hanging.
“I think we’re going to see some movement,” the governor said on his monthly radio call-in show broadcast from WTOP radio in Washington. “I think we’re going to end up around that billion-dollar figure.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports a local option sales tax increase is also on the table.
Proposals to freeze the car –tax reimbursement is a “non-starter,” according to Del. Brian Moran (D- Alexandria) and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, “noting that the car-tax program means dollars for Northern Virginians.”
But some Senators says a compromise isn’t nigh and that the car-tax is “poison.”
“The car tax repeal is the poison to the state budget right now. I would be agreeable to try to minimize the poison effect that it’s having on our state budget and our ability to fund core services. If we do not address the car-tax dilemma, then we’re going to be right back in this same dilemma next year, the next biennium. The future of the car tax just continues to grow and grow and grow and grow, and it really thwarts our efforts to meet funding for core services.”
-Sen. Edd Houck (D-Frederickburg)
One report says the costs of the car tax is growing at a rate of $150 a year, while the Roanoke Times editorial page says it’s only $50 million a year.
No wonder a compromise is so hard. We seem to disagree on the basic numbers. (See yesterday’s post.)
Paul Goldman has another op-ed piece that can be boiled down to these four paragraphs:
Today, the whole debate over the tax issue is symptomatic of a deeper issue.
Our leaders presume that they cannot level with the people, for they feel the people are not to be trusted at election time to make the right decision.
So they justify not telling the truth on taxes as a necessary evil.
And they justify breaking their no-tax pledges as another necessary evil.
Unfortunately, the Augusta Free Press editors allow him to go on for over 1400 words, making him the Henry Kissinger of Virginia op-eds, and taxing the readers’ ability to stay with him. Get me re-write.
Here’s why we need a change in Virginia’s “21-day” rule:
Prince William, that supposed bedrock of conservatism, passed a budget that increases spending 11.4%. (Scroll down the news round-up.)
The headline doesn’t jive with the story: Where’s the improvement?
Gov. Warner’s opponent in 2006 is in trouble with his playmates.