Harry Parrish: "How Do You Like Me Now?"

Ok, thats not a direct quote. But reading the Washington Times on my lunch break today, that rolled through my head. Parish's Finance Committee killed tax hikes on car purchases and car insurance. This is a very encouraging sign as to the unity of our majority--now its time to put forth our own plan. Its interesting that Parrish, who drew Steve Chapman for a primary last year, a conservative with dog problems. The centerpeice of Chapman's campaign, much like fellow young turks like Michael Golden and Chris Craddock, was that Parrish had voted for the tax hikes. So now, it Parrish who has gone anti-Chichester and killed these in his committee. Interesting . . .

Even more interesting is Del. Callahan's part in the article:
    "It will put a whole bunch of new money into transportation," House Appropriations Chairman Vincent F. Callahan Jr. said. "The governor's increase was just too high. They can't justify that to the public."
    The Fairfax County Republican sses no chance there will be a repeat of the 2004 legislative session, when lawmakers, after a record 115 days, approved a $1.38 billion tax increase to balance the budget.
    At the time, the state faced a significant shortfall and was in danger of losing its prized AAA bond rating.
    Now, Mr. Callahan said, legislators will not vote for a tax increase in the face of a "booming" economy and "huge" budget surplus. "The dynamic is just not there now," he said.

So, Callahan is arguing that many of those NOVAGOP taxraisers where doing so because they had no choice? Plausible. Maybe a better way to look at it is that when we thought we had a defecit and were going to lose our AAA bond rating, combined with 115 day session, that there was no way they could go home and win reelection after fighting Warner on this. And you know what, they were right! Every open seat in NOVA went Dem! Because many of the candidates were critical of what the GOP Delegates did. I was too. But losing has a way to put things into perspective. Now that we have a booming economy and a surplus, the need for tax increases is no longer there. Its like Parrish and Joe May want to kill the Democrats with the issue that they are winning with! Kaine talks consistantly of "good government" and how well things are going, so why keep raising taxes when the economy is doing so well? What is the point of a suprlus? Its fun watching it be May and Parrish and the "tax raisers" make this argument.

Comments

[Shaun Kenney]

The alternative argument would be that the challenge Parrish received last year was enough to make him pay attention to his base.

Of course, I could be entirely wrong...

Do you have some personal vendetta against Golden? You mention him in discussions that have nothing to do with him and constantly misrepresent him. I've know Golden for years, and Golden (and his campaign) were totally different than all other VCAP challengers. His problem with Dillard started before the 2004 tax increase, and that most certainly wasn't the centerpiece of his campaign against Finerfrock or Marsden.

As for Parrish, Golden sought his support, got his endorsement, and got $$ and advice from him. (He also sought and got the support of Callahan, Rust, Jones, and a lot of others who voted for that increase.) I have talked to Golden, and I think he disagrees with the notion that 1 bad vote justifies a primary.

[James Young]

Shaun may be right on this one. At least, I hope so.