Finger pointing does not fix transportation
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Kevin M. Raymond
Published: August 2, 2008
Delegate/State Republican Chairman Jeff Frederick escalated the war of words in the transportation debate for funding the NVTA in his recent letter. Rather than doing anything constructive, he continues
to point fingers at others.
All sides agree that it will take money to fix the transportation problem.
However, the Republicans continue to propose outlandish schemes! Last year, they passed the ridiculous ‘abuser fees’ including a charge of up to $3,000 for Virginia residents for traffic fines.
This year they came up with new taxes for offshore oil rigs! And don’t forget the perpetual audit of VDOT — every few years the Republicans try to sell the myth that an audit will fix everything. But do
anything substantive? Not a chance. They stand idly by as our transportation woes increase daily, to say nothing of what BRAC will bring in just three short years — an additional 16,000 DOD
employees.
In the last week, the cost of gasoline ranged from $4.34 per gallon down to $3.85 — a 34 cent difference in one week. So what is the big deal about a six cent increase, which Democrats say will take
care of the problem for the next generation? This will provide funds not only for highway construction, but also for enhancements to public transit, including VRE and Metro.
The Democrats brought Virginia kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a tax in 1988 for the first, and so far the last time in our history. Virginia’s current gas tax of 17.5 cents per gallon is
among the lowest in the nation; the national average is 23 cents. This issue should not be about politics, but about solving a serious problem with realistic solutions.
KEVIN M. RAYMOND
Dale City
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Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on August 05, 2008 at 8:07 am
Oh yes lets let NOVA secede, they also have the most crimes and demand the most in illegal benefits as well. Why is it Democrats supposedly had so many solutions for the so called transportation problem yet they couldn’t agree amongst themselves how to raise taxes and yes they were going to raise taxes since it is their only solution to a perceived problem. Roads like the PWC Parkway which are not even remotely congested being expanded by two lanes. I have traveled that road extensively before, during, and after rush hour or the proposed route 7 project which would create a traffic nightmare for many years on a major NOVA artery. Logically that project should be built underground, sure it may cost a little more or so they say, but it will have less of a traffic impact. Wouldn’t it be wiser to have a bond issue or put tolls on the roads in NOVA you know the roads that could bring the most revenue so NOVA can generate more revenue so they can fix some of these so called road issues. Road isssues that the new Springfield interchange and the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge were supposed to address. Why not cut spending on illegal aliens. I’m sure if the Governor cared about how serious an issue that was he would find billions of dollars wasted at emergency rooms, food stamps, WIC, public schooling<not including the ones born here>, and other monies spent on projects put forth by the Governor in his disastrous few years in office. I say few even though it hasn’t even been two years and he turned a big surplus into a deficit. LOL Chris Cummings
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 04, 2008 at 12:29 pm
“But I don’t see our dollars being spent wisely. I’m not sure where the money goes that we already give our state. “
I think most people would agree with you. Isn’t Richmond the problem when it comes to this money though? People in NoVA and Hampton Roads have a far greater need for transportation money than the rest of the state (and generate more tax money), yet these areas don’t necessarily receive as much attention as they should?
That’s the way I’ve always understood the issue. In that regards, its not even a partisan issue at all. More like Northern Virginia vs. the rest of the state.
Anybody else get a little angry at the quality of the roads and highways around Richmond? I know I do.
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Posted by ( richarcm ) on August 04, 2008 at 12:15 pm
nova has already seen a larger increase in revenue due to the 2% gas tax that they recieve on top of the state tax. As the cost of gas has doubled (thanks ms. Pelosi!) nova has already received a tax increase. If this tax were to actually equate to better roads (tax revenue tends to mysteriously disapper) then fine. But I don’t see our dollars being spent wisely. I’m not sure where the money goes that we already give our state.
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 04, 2008 at 11:27 am
“I side with the Republicans. If nothing is going to get fixed regardless, I’d just assume not pay the tax. “
Great plan man. Let’s just all give up and not do anything to fix the roads. clap. clap. clap.
Seriously, this is the kind of ill informed nonsense we have to listen to from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Democrats proposed to raise the gas tax by SIX CENTS. The last time this tax was addressed was TWENTY YEARS AGO. And yet, here’s richarcm spouting some nonsense about the Democrats constantly raising taxes.
If you mean TWENTY YEARS AGO, then yeah, you’re right.
I will agree with you on one point, if anybody agrees to additional taxes it HAS to be done with the explicit guarantee that the money can only be used specifically for transportation in NoVA. If you could be guaranteed of this, would you pay an extra 72 cents at the pump?
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Posted by ( richarcm ) on August 04, 2008 at 6:18 am
There is ALWAYS a need for a new tax. Funny thing is it is always cloaked as a tax to “fix the roads” or “fix the schools”. Ironically however, every year the roads and the schools are claimed to be worse than the previous year. Why is this? Because the money being taxed for these roads and schools are not being used responsibly. I agree with the Republicans. There is no sense in increasing taxes, yet again, to “fix” something that, yet again, will never get fixed.
I wrote to Senator Barker my thought on this tax hike. What annoys me with all of these taxes/fees/penalties are that I will have to pay them and I will most likely not use the roads that may or may not get fixed. My suggestion to Mr. Barker was to retrieve this additional revenue via toll booths. The people who tear up the roads end up paying for the maintenance of them.
These Democrats are like leaches. They will find any and every reason to increase taxes. Always in the name of some incredible cause. Yet nothing ever gets fixed. Our problems are ALWAYS worse than the year before. Its pathetic. I side with the Republicans. If nothing is going to get fixed regardless, I’d just assume not pay the tax.
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Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on August 03, 2008 at 6:19 pm
If you remember Kaine wanted these abuser fees as well. Yet he didn’t want out of staters to pay them. Taxes and more taxes are not necessary. Is this Kaine and today’s Democrat Parties only solution to a problem. Incidentally some of the proposals for roads are ridiculous. Expanding PWC Parkway for one. It isn’t even congested yet they want to expand it two lanes or that nightmare building scenario proposed for metro to Dulles alongside route 7 a rush hour commuters nightmare road. Wouldn’t it be logical to build the metro underground. Then again logic has escaped Timmy Kaine and his cohorts in Fairfax Saslaw and Moran who supposedly couldn’t agree on a road transportation plan even though they had so many tax raising solutions. Hiking fees on abusive drivers actually was logical when you iclude out of state drivers in the mix. Too bad the body that was going to do it was unconstitutional. LOL Chris Cummings
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Posted by ( swim11111 ) on August 03, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Now, THIS is a solution to a problem!!!
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 03, 2008 at 9:10 am
No taxes ever! No taxes ever! Now fix the roads you incompetent politicians and pay for them with money milked from magic unicorns in the rainbow gardens above Richmond!
Good letter Mr. Raymond. Republicans will never seriously address transportation in Virginia. They are considered only with addressing their own re-election campaigns.
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