Where Are We Going To Get Our Money?

The State Supreme Court rules the regional tax authorities are unconstitutional, Tim Kaine is taking money out of the Transportation Trust Fund, who is going to figure out how to help Northern Virginia?  When will Northern Virginia get the respect our size deserves?  We are the economic engine fo the state, and every part of this commonwealth owes our area for the money we pump in.  I supported the bill in its entirety, but I totally understand why the Supreme Court ruled as it did.   But now what?  I accept the court's ruling, but who will step up to get our region the money we are owed.

Comments

[mytwocents]

When 3202 first passed I though it was probably a very good idea util around a month or so ago I guess.

The citizens of PWC spoke loudly when they elected Corey Stewart as chair for the next full term. Governor Kaine I believe then basically spit in their face and appointed Sharon Pandok to the NVTA that has taxing authorithy for PWC. THis is contrary to the idea of taxation without representation. Why in the world would PWC want someone taxing them who was just soundly defeated at the polls.

In the end, I am glad a few people like Bob Marshall and even Dick Black who spoke strongly against this had the nerve to bring this before a court of law and actually won despite long odds against him.

Now I think we as a Republican party needs to look long and hard at those who were pushing this at us, especially the state house leadership. This is a servere blow to Governor Kaine, Speaker Howell, and head constitutional cheerleader Attorney Gen. McDonnell.

What happens next? I say make a majors cut to ALL sectors of the budget. During hard times, everyone must sacrifice, believe it or not even the government. The bigger question is will the Speaker and AG be able to survive this politically since Kaine is basically done with state politics?

[Spank That Donkey]

Chris:
The money got divied up back in 2004,2005,2006... the whole time we were supposed to have transportation crisis.. yet every thing else got funded, and the GOP Senate Leadership demanded new taxes for transportation...

All the while they refused to put those new funds into a 'lock box'... so everyone knew where that was going...

There is a 2% tax on all auto insurance premiums in VA, along with other Property and Casualty insurance products such as General Liability, & Property Coverages, such as a homeowners insurance.

Now the homeowners is supposed to fund fire trucks for smaller jurisdictions like Bolar Mountain Fire Department in Highland County... I doubt the lion share of the tax even goes to that..

Regardless, only 1/3rd of this revenue is going to transportation now, as it pays the debt service on the 3 billion in transportation bonds passed last year in the compromise...

So basically $200M of the $600M that the tax brings in is dedicated.... Now where can we get a dedicated source of funding for transportation in VA? Uh, freaking duh... Wait a minute, don't we have a tax on auto insurance in VA?