State Senate Approves Gas Tax Increase

By: Lowell
Published On: 2/16/2008 9:06:24 AM

The Virginia state senate yesterday approved a 5-cent-per-gallon increase in the state's gas tax, to be phased in over the next five years.  The vote was 25-15, with the following Senators voting "nay":

Cuccinelli, Hurt, Martin, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Ruff, Smith, Stolle, Stosch, Stuart, Vogel, Wagner, Wample

According to the Washington Post, "Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said the tax increase is needed because there is a $390 million shortfall in the part of the budget used to fill potholes, plow snow and otherwise maintain roads."  According to Saslaw, "We are gradually draining our construction budget dry, and now we have eight years till it is dry."   Virginia's gas tax hasn't been raised since 1986 and is one of the lowest in the country, so obviously this is not exactly earth shattering.  Still, it will be interesting to see if the flat-earth, no-tax-ever House Republicans go along with this.  Personally, I doubt it -- they'd apparently rather have our roads crumble, our bridges collapse, and all of us sit stuck in gridlock than raise the revenues to address the situation.  Yes, my friends, that's "conservatism," House Republican style.

For a reasonable Republican view, here's what Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta) had to say:

...[Hanger] suggested that Virginians would prefer an increase in the gas tax to the abusive driver fees. And he suggested that with rapidly changing gas prices, most wouldn't even notice it.

"The pricing is so volatile right now I think it would be foolish on our part to say that a penny would impact behavior or cause hardship, or even a nickel," Hanger said.

Anyway, good work by the 25 Senators, Democrats and Republicans, who voted to fund necessary infrastructure in Virginia.  Shame on those -- Cooch, Norment, Obenshain, Stolle, Vogel, etc. -- who would rather posture ideologically than suck it up and deal with reality.


Comments



Good for them! (Rutchy - 2/16/2008 10:24:32 AM)
I've never understood why some seem to mildly accept a 10 cent increase that goes straight to the oil companies' bottom line, yet whelp loudly about a 2 cent increase in the gas tax that  builds roads, fills potholes and repairs bridges.


Actually, over the past few years (Lowell - 2/16/2008 10:34:43 AM)
we've had a $2-per-gallon price increase that goes straight to the oil companies' and OPEC's bottom line.  None for us, all for them?  Yet a 5-cent-per-gallon increase to fund needed road and bridge repairs/upgrades causes, as you say, "whelp"s of outrage?  It makes no sense.


how will this correlate (Alter of Freedom - 2/16/2008 12:11:54 PM)
with the Watkins (R) Powhatan push for eliminating cash proffers and going to a staight "impact fees" for new housing developments that was to be directed at transportation and road repairs as well. There maybe some hedging in the House on this one with the increase in gas tax. On the one hand it appears they may be able to give developers are break in fees but at the same time be perceived as increasing the taxes on citizens. Not the best position to be in.


It' never make the trough the Mad House (The Grey Havens - 2/16/2008 8:06:28 PM)
but it's important to make the statement and start educating the public.  Until Virginia learns to invest in the future transportation will remain in crisis.


Probably stating the obvious (aznew - 2/17/2008 7:01:00 PM)
but the trouble with the Senate doing this is that while it is good policy, it is very though politics.  It just plays into the meme of Democrats as taxers.

Of course, the way to overcome this is with facts.

Lowell, a few weeks ago, when the budget fiorst came up, I seem to recall a post you did that measured the average effect a few cents tax per gallon would have on the average family. It was minimal figure. I am really not sure how to find that post again (I apologize for my limited RK skills -- I just figured out how to rate a comment the other day!), but it might pay to repost that information for folks, ifit's not too much trouble. I know I'll be keeping an eye in my local media for the GOP propaganda on this, and those facts would be helpful in crafting a response.