Speaker Howell Slams Virginia Business Community

By: Lowell
Published On: 5/7/2008 8:33:25 AM

In yet another sign that the Republican Party of Virginia has lurched far to the right and increasingly become the party of flat-earth anti-taxers plus the Pat Robertson "religious" right, Speaker Bill Howell is now attacking the Chamber of Commerce and other (normally pro-Republican) business groups for stating the obvious:

A letter sent to Gov. Tim Kaine, House Speaker Bill Howell and other legislators said the business groups--25 in all--had gotten together to talk about the state's transportation needs, and agreed that the state needs to invest another $1 billion a year in transportation.

"We believe the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure is a critical component of its economic success and the quality of life of all Virginians. Additional investments of at least $1 billion annually must be made to sustain maintenance and construction costs," the letter said. "The most appropriate solution is a package of revenue generators that are simple, sustainable, and sufficient and accrue from broad-based revenue options."

The groups said those options include a "cents-per-gallon" increase in gas sales at the pump, or an increase in the sales tax of up to 1 percent, if the money is exclusively dedicated to transportation funding.

This isn't rocket science, of course.  Virginia faces enormous needs in the transportation area, yet right now we've got no money (in fact, we're running deficits) due to an economic downturn combined with House Republicans' obstinacy and rigid "conservative" ideological approach to (not) governing.  Anyway, what does Bill Howell have to say about the business groups' letter? Nothing good, that's for sure.

"I'm disappointed. I'm a little concerned that the quote 'voice of business' would be calling for a one and a half billion tax increase in a time of recession, a rough economic time," Howell said. "Their businesses are certainly going to pay the additional expenses. I think it's ill advised, ill thought out."

[...]

"I really don't think it's representative of the business community at all. And for good reason, it's not a pro-business thing," Howell said. "The state chamber of commerce does not represent the small business, it represents the large businesses that are going to do OK. They don't speak for business, I don't believe."

And so the Virginia GOP continues its slide into irrelevancy and extremism, while the Virginia Democratic Party of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine continues as the party of fiscal sanity and fact-based governance.  Which do you prefer?

Comments



Reread the transportation diary by Green Miles (citizenindy - 5/7/2008 9:35:32 AM)
The Business Community is the King of Status Quo.  Status Quo is a failure.

Howell is totally right on this they represent the large companies that can afford higher taxes and benefit the most from transportation improvements

These businesses knew what risks they were taking when they decided where to locate.

What is to stop them from organizing and creating a private partnership like what happened on 28 in Western Fairfax and Eastern Loudoun.

No instead like many localities all we get is whining and complaining

Kaine ran on we can't tax and pave our way out of this mess.  Encouraging the status quo only kicks the can further down the road until 2028 when even more revenue and taxes will be needed.  Enough is Enough we need fundamental change.  



HA! (legacyofmarshall - 5/7/2008 11:58:38 AM)
That's awesome!  The Speaker just dissed the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - saying they DON'T SPEAK FOR BUSINESS!  Wow!  You might as well say the NRA should be banned from the Commonwealth.

Every candidate in Virginia, Republican and Democrat, gets down on their knees before the Chamber of Commerce.  It is powerful, and rightfully so.



Just another thought (Alter of Freedom - 5/7/2008 2:17:01 PM)
Many local chapters of the Chamber of Commerce, my county specifically, are not in favor of an increase in the state sales tax nor the tax on gasoline. Both initiatives it was declared would negatively impact business or patronage, especially local retail and business employing less than twenty employees. Ever wondered just how many of these there are? How many of these business are members of the Chamber? Most are not.
I am not speaking in support of Speaker Howell in any way other than to say that it is true that the State lobbying group does not always align itself with the local chapters in different parts of the State. Regions already impacted by this economy certainly do not want to see further pain no matter how noble (transportation) the cause. Self-serving yes but pretty darn honest.
In fact these chapters are already seeking other measures from localities given the State is without funds. Chapters are supporting an increae in business fees they are willing to pay (license etc I presume) over say food taxes and such.
Another aspect localities MUST consider is raising or implementing on food service establishments the requirement for certified food safety managers on premise at all times and require the fee paid to the local government along with increasing the food safety inspection fee/permit. This is an area where revenue is certainly "simple, sustainable, and sufficient" as Howell says. Think of how much the State gets from ABC licenses annually. How many restaurants, fast food, fast casual, chain, and fine dining do we have? And besides it goes to the safety question as well given the increase in issues related from a lack of command and control at the Federal level and the Bush administration in this area of inspecting food imports.
Another area is this whole smoking debate. If we are not going to pass legislation outlawing it, why do we not pass legislation in the General Assembly that requires a permit or license to allow smoking just like ABC and alcohol and use those funds for our Health administration programs and transportation. ABC has varying programs for different establishments but say 1K per year per establishment.
Seems "simple, sustainable, and sufficient" Speaker Howell. Lets get it done.


We also pay for an inadequate system (TJ's Ghost - 5/7/2008 9:10:58 PM)
The Speaker hasn't considered the fact that businesses large and small also lose out when our transportation network can't keep up.  An inadequate network equates to more difficulty getting goods to market, higher maintenance costs for any vehicles they own, lower productivity from employees stuck in traffic, and difficulty for customers getting to and from places of business.

Either way, businesses (and you and me) pay.  Maybe these businesses and trade groups would rather have some progress to show for what they're paying.  Novel idea there don't you think, Mr. Speaker?