“At least 8O% of these proposals highlighted by Del. Marshall are good ideas worthy of passage now or as soon as possible. If not, aggravation will build and it will take Virginia’s next Governor to push truly reasonable common sense measures into effect. Like most Virginians, we are annoyed by waiting for action on some of these and other good ideas.” -George Allen

No need to raise taxes for roads
Bob Marshall
July 9, 2008
The Daily Press

Virginia’s families face falling home prices, increased real property taxes, skyrocketing gas and food prices, an 18 percent electric-rate hike for Dominion, a 6.4 percent monthly increase in natural gas prices, almost five decades of federal deficit spending, and a devalued dollar.

Enough is enough. Surely this is not the time for the General Assembly to be raising taxes and fees.

If Virginia’s government cannot operate on 97 percent of its $75.9 billion budget (2009-10), something is definitely wrong. Three percent of that figure is $2.277 billion, or $1.14 billion that could be re-directed each year to fix roads and transit systems.

No Democratic (SB 6009) or Republican (HB 6055) tax proposal pending in the General Assembly raises more than $1.1 billion a year. Also, the Assembly should support changing work schedules or tele-work, use toll- and fare-supported transportation bonds, set up bio-fuel capture centers and permanently make state government more efficient for it to spend the savings on roads and transit.

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