Saslaw: GOP Riding "no tax philosophy into oblivion"

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/19/2008 6:42:38 AM

I don't know what Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw had for breakfast yesterday, but  based on this, it must have been something good.  First, I'm impressed that Sen. Saslaw would have the cojones to "push for the first increase in Virginia's gasoline tax in more than two decades."

Saslaw's proposal would raise $250 million a year when fully implemented. The additional revenue, he said, would enable the state to scrap controversial abusive-driving fees and would help close a projected $290 million shortfall in funding to repair and maintain roads and bridges.

Under the plan, the state's 17.5-cents-a-gallon tax would rise by 1 cent a year until 2013. The plan would cost the average motorist an additional $10 in the first year, Saslaw said.

Kudos to Sen. Saslaw for proposing what used to be known as GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.  Frankly, I'd like to see a hefty carbon tax, not just a gas tax, but a small gas tax increase -- with revenues funneled into repairing and maintaining our crumbling roads and bridges -- is exactly the targeted type of tax that makes sense from a public policy perspective.

Second, I love the way Saslaw explains his proposal's cost -- or lack thereoof -- to Virginians:

"It is going to cost the average person the equivalent of two Big Mac meals a year," said Saslaw (D-Fairfax). "Voters tell us to go down there and do things, fix things, and that is what this intends to do, or at least it keeps it from getting worse."

Exactly what we've been arguing here for months now; a few cents a gallon in the gasoline tax is like a couple of visits to Starbucks, or as he says "two Big Mac meals a year."  Big freakin' deal.  Also, I'd point out that gas prices have risen from $1 per gallon a few years ago to $3 per gallon now (a $2 per gallon increase, 20 times the 10 cents per gallon Saslaw is proposing), except that almost all of that money is going either to Big Oil or to countries like Saudi Arabia.  That's the exact OPPOSITE of smart public policy; to the contrary, the money going to the Saudis, Iranians, etc. is helping to promote extremism and terrorism while keeping us bogged down in the Middle East, therefore constituting a serious national security threat.  Not to mention that our "oil addiction" is melting the polar ice caps and threatening world environmental catastrophe.

Third, I applaud Dick Saslaw for calling out the Republicans for their utter inability to govern:

Saslaw said House Republicans, who lost four seats in last year's election, are going to "ride their 'no tax' philosophy into oblivion" if they fail to address the state's transportation needs. "You can't sit there and ignore this and say we don't have a problem," he said.

Actually, you CAN "sit there and ignore this" -- if you're a Virginia House of Delegates Republican.

Finally, Dick Saslaw must have really eaten his Wheaties yesterday, as he even takes on Gov. Kaine!

Last week, Kaine suggested that Senate Democrats should consider an increase in the 3 percent sales tax on cars, an idea the House rejected in 2006 and 2007.

But Saslaw said he prefers a gas tax increase because Northern Virginia just started paying an additional 1 percent tax on vehicle purchases. The increase was included in last year's transportation package.

"You can't dump tax on top of tax," Saslaw said. "We hit them last year" in Northern Virginia.

All I can say is, I hope I don't run into Badass Dick Saslaw in a dark alley anytime soon, cuz the man's on fire! :)

Comments



By the way.... (Lowell - 1/19/2008 7:02:14 AM)
...for everyone who says they can't afford $10 a year to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, think about the fact that it costs you about $8,000 per year to own and operate a vehicle (counting depreciation, financing, insurance, taxes and fees, fuel, maintenance, and repairs).  That's nearly $700 per month, compared to Saslaw's extra $1 per month.  That's right, $1 per month in slightly higher gas prices equates to about 0.1% of the total cost of owning and operating a vehicle.  Not 1%, but ZERO POINT ONE percent.  In other words, it's nothing.   Save 4 gallons of gas PER YEAR (at $3 per gallon) and you've more than made up the difference.  Frankly, you can save a lot more than 4 gallons of gas per year simply by making sure your tires are properly inflated.  That's right, simply keeping your tires inflated to proper pressure is estimated to increase your gas mileage by 3.3% - about 14 gallons per year savings (if your vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon and you drive it 15,000 miles per year) or about $42 savings per year (far more than the $10 annual gas tax increase).


The thing about Saslaw (Teddy - 1/19/2008 2:29:17 PM)
is that he has always told it as he sees it, no dancing around with diplomatic circumlocutions. He is Virginia's Straight Talk Express, only better. He also has excellent political in-fighting skills, and I look forward to watching him at work as Senate Majority Leader. It will be a great show, only most outside viewers will not get to see and appreciate the real inner workings. Saslaw says what the law should be.  Go, Saslaw!