Press Release
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING RESPONDS TO SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ACTION ON REPUBLICAN TRANSPORTATION PROPOSAL
Friday, February 02, 2007
RICHMOND - On February 1, 2007 the Senate Finance Committee rejected a compromise transportation proposal that had been offered by Republican leaders in the General Assembly and replaced it with a proposal sponsored by Senator John Chichester and Senator Russ Potts that would enact massive statewide and regional tax increases. In response to this development, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling issued the following statement:
"I am very disappointed by the actions taken by the Senate Finance Committee. Their actions will make it very difficult for us to make any meaningful progress in addressing Virginia's transportation needs this year. The legislation approved by the Committee would result in higher gas taxes and sales taxes, and the people of Virginia will not support another round of massive statewide tax increases."
"This proposal would increase the state gas tax by 10 cents a gallon. The people of Virginia do not support higher gas taxes. In addition, this proposal would give local governments the ability to increase the sales tax in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, even though a similar proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in 2002. The voters expect their wishes to be honored, not ignored."
"The Committee's refusal to use existing general fund revenues to help increase transportation funding is also disappointing. In the past two years state spending has increased substantially. Clearly, we can transfer some of these revenues to transportation without jeopardizing funding for other government programs, and this should be done before we ask the people of Virginia to pay higher taxes."
"In the coming days the members of the Senate must decide whether or not they are serious about addressing Virginia's transportation needs. If no agreement can be reached, the responsibility for that failure will rest squarely on the shoulders of those who rejected the compromise proposal to stand on the side of higher statewide taxes."
###
For additional information contact Randy Marcus at 804-814-7117 (cell) or randy.marcus@ltgov.virginia.gov.
