Virginia transportation bill is a step in the right direction
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| Saslaw speaks at the Legislative Town Hall. |
The landmark transportation bill passed by the Virginia
General Assembly last week is far from perfect, but it provides a badly needed infusion
of new money and sets a precedent for recognizing the needs of Northern
Virginia, lawmakers representing the Annandale area told constituents at a Legislative
Town Hall April 6.
General Assembly last week is far from perfect, but it provides a badly needed infusion
of new money and sets a precedent for recognizing the needs of Northern
Virginia, lawmakers representing the Annandale area told constituents at a Legislative
Town Hall April 6.
Rep. Kay Kory, Sen. Dave Marsden, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, all of them Democrats, discussed a range of issues before a large crowd at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School.
The transportation bill could have been much better, but
“it’s the first new revenue for transportation in 27 years,” said Kory (38th
District). “It was the most bipartisan effort that I have ever seen.”
“it’s the first new revenue for transportation in 27 years,” said Kory (38th
District). “It was the most bipartisan effort that I have ever seen.”
The final measure was far different from the transportation bill
proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) at the start of the session, but it wouldn’t have passed if he didn’t
support the compromise, Kory said. Although the money it provides isn’t enough
to cover what’s needed, it does recognize the value of keeping a large
proportion of the funds in Northern Virginia, she noted. “It sets a foundation;
we’ll be able to build on this.”
proposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) at the start of the session, but it wouldn’t have passed if he didn’t
support the compromise, Kory said. Although the money it provides isn’t enough
to cover what’s needed, it does recognize the value of keeping a large
proportion of the funds in Northern Virginia, she noted. “It sets a foundation;
we’ll be able to build on this.”
The measure approved in a special session last week substantially
cuts gasoline taxes and offsets that loss of revenue by raising the state
sales tax from 5 percent to 5.3 percent and shifting $100 million from the
general fund—which goes to schools, law enforcement, and other needs—to transportation.
It also provides more funds for regional authorities in Northern Virginia and
Hampton Roads, which they could earmark for transportation projects.
cuts gasoline taxes and offsets that loss of revenue by raising the state
sales tax from 5 percent to 5.3 percent and shifting $100 million from the
general fund—which goes to schools, law enforcement, and other needs—to transportation.
It also provides more funds for regional authorities in Northern Virginia and
Hampton Roads, which they could earmark for transportation projects.
Those changes—along with higher fees for car registration
and titles—will generate about $600 million a year for transportation
statewide, including around $200-$275 million a year for Northern Virginia, said
Saslaw (35th District) said. Over the next six years, that comes to $3.5
billion a year for the state and more than $1.5 billion for Northern Virginia.
and titles—will generate about $600 million a year for transportation
statewide, including around $200-$275 million a year for Northern Virginia, said
Saslaw (35th District) said. Over the next six years, that comes to $3.5
billion a year for the state and more than $1.5 billion for Northern Virginia.
The impact of those changes will result in an increased tax
burden of about $100 a year for the average household, he said, although the
amount will vary depending on how much people spend.
burden of about $100 a year for the average household, he said, although the
amount will vary depending on how much people spend.
Saslaw said the new $64 fee for hybrid cars—cut back from
McDonnell’s original proposal of $100—“doesn’t make any sense.” The idea is to
generate some revenue from hybrid owners because they will pay less in gas taxes.
But the major automakers produce small cars that use regular gas and get
around 44 miles per gallon, while larger sport utility hybrids, like the Chevy
Tahoe hybrid, only get around 21 miles per gallon.
McDonnell’s original proposal of $100—“doesn’t make any sense.” The idea is to
generate some revenue from hybrid owners because they will pay less in gas taxes.
But the major automakers produce small cars that use regular gas and get
around 44 miles per gallon, while larger sport utility hybrids, like the Chevy
Tahoe hybrid, only get around 21 miles per gallon.
In attempting to explain the hybrid fee, “you have to
understand the Southern Virginia mentality,” said Marsden (37th District). “We
all spend an hour driving to work, but people in rural Virginia drive 45 miles,
while commuters in Northern Virginia only go 12 miles,” he said. Rural
Virginians buy more gas and fewer consumer goods. They say people in Northern
Virginia have higher incomes and are more likely to drive hybrids—and it’s
Northern Virginians who are complaining about traffic.
understand the Southern Virginia mentality,” said Marsden (37th District). “We
all spend an hour driving to work, but people in rural Virginia drive 45 miles,
while commuters in Northern Virginia only go 12 miles,” he said. Rural
Virginians buy more gas and fewer consumer goods. They say people in Northern
Virginia have higher incomes and are more likely to drive hybrids—and it’s
Northern Virginians who are complaining about traffic.
The beltway express lanes aren’t producing nearly enough
revenue as expected, Saslaw said, adding that he never supported the
public-private partnership under which Transurban paid for the vast majority of
the project in return for keeping the toll revenue.
revenue as expected, Saslaw said, adding that he never supported the
public-private partnership under which Transurban paid for the vast majority of
the project in return for keeping the toll revenue.
Transurban needs to rake in $275,000 a day in tolls but is
only collecting about $25,000 to $30,000, Saslaw said. The regular lanes are
moving faster, so fewer people are paying tolls. “They’re getting killed,” he said of Transurban. That’s why they opened up the express lanes for free
this weekend. “If they go under, we have
a pretty good chance of getting it at bargain basement prices.”
only collecting about $25,000 to $30,000, Saslaw said. The regular lanes are
moving faster, so fewer people are paying tolls. “They’re getting killed,” he said of Transurban. That’s why they opened up the express lanes for free
this weekend. “If they go under, we have
a pretty good chance of getting it at bargain basement prices.”
Saslaw derided the governor for having the state spend $1.4
billion for Route 460, which he called “the road to nowhere.” This new toll
road, from Suffolk to Hopewell, is parallel to an existing road that has few
stoplights, he said, and gets fewer cars a day than Sleepy Hollow Road.
billion for Route 460, which he called “the road to nowhere.” This new toll
road, from Suffolk to Hopewell, is parallel to an existing road that has few
stoplights, he said, and gets fewer cars a day than Sleepy Hollow Road.
Medicaid
Kory credits a “huge outpouring form the public” for the
General Assembly’s agreement to expand Medicaid as part of a compromise on
transportation.
General Assembly’s agreement to expand Medicaid as part of a compromise on
transportation.
If Virginia doesn’t apply for the expansion, hospitals will
be taxed as if Medicaid coverage is expanded, Saslaw said. That would have
raised their costs by some $2.3 billion, which would be passed along to
patients. In addition, people without coverage would end up in the emergency
room, which also drives up health costs. For those reasons, business groups
supported the Medicaid expansion, he said.
be taxed as if Medicaid coverage is expanded, Saslaw said. That would have
raised their costs by some $2.3 billion, which would be passed along to
patients. In addition, people without coverage would end up in the emergency
room, which also drives up health costs. For those reasons, business groups
supported the Medicaid expansion, he said.
According to Saslaw, the expanding Medicaid coverage would help an additional
400,000 Virginians get access to healthcare and could generate about 30,000 new
jobs.
400,000 Virginians get access to healthcare and could generate about 30,000 new
jobs.
Guns
The lawmakers expressed disappointment that the General
Assembly failed to pass legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. A bill to
require universal background checks on gun buyers—aimed at closing the gun show loophole—failed on an 8-7 vote. “That would have been a crack in the door,”
Marsden said.
Assembly failed to pass legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. A bill to
require universal background checks on gun buyers—aimed at closing the gun show loophole—failed on an 8-7 vote. “That would have been a crack in the door,”
Marsden said.
Despite the national focus on gun violence following the
horrific Sandy Hook massacre, Kory said gun rights advocates lobbied heavily in
Richmond, and “there was huge resistance in the Generation Assembly” against
doing anything to restrict guns.
horrific Sandy Hook massacre, Kory said gun rights advocates lobbied heavily in
Richmond, and “there was huge resistance in the Generation Assembly” against
doing anything to restrict guns.
Voting
According to Saslaw, the new law requiring voters to have a
photo ID was put forth in the General Assembly for one reason: “to suppress the
minority vote.” Voter fraud is not a
problem in Virginia. The only states where voter IDs laws have gotten passed is
where Republicans hold a majority, he said. Voter suppression was also the reason behind the failure to expand early voting.
photo ID was put forth in the General Assembly for one reason: “to suppress the
minority vote.” Voter fraud is not a
problem in Virginia. The only states where voter IDs laws have gotten passed is
where Republicans hold a majority, he said. Voter suppression was also the reason behind the failure to expand early voting.
There is a generation of blacks in the state that don’t have
birth certificates and that don’t drive, Kory noted. Those are the people
targeted in the photo ID law. “We’re trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist,” Saslaw
said. It’s easier to buy a gun in Virginia than vote.”
birth certificates and that don’t drive, Kory noted. Those are the people
targeted in the photo ID law. “We’re trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist,” Saslaw
said. It’s easier to buy a gun in Virginia than vote.”
Saslaw did give credit to McDonnell for trying to restore
voting rights for felons. But that measure was killed by his fellow Republicans.
voting rights for felons. But that measure was killed by his fellow Republicans.
Criminal justice
Sometimes it takes a long time to get some things
accomplished, said Marsden, but continuing to speak up about an issue will
hopefully pay off in the long run. That’s how he feels about his bill to get
Virginia to stop sentencing youth under 18 to life without parole for crimes in
which no one died. Marsden’s bill to change that to 20 years to life didn’t get
anywhere, so he plans to try again next year.
accomplished, said Marsden, but continuing to speak up about an issue will
hopefully pay off in the long run. That’s how he feels about his bill to get
Virginia to stop sentencing youth under 18 to life without parole for crimes in
which no one died. Marsden’s bill to change that to 20 years to life didn’t get
anywhere, so he plans to try again next year.
Marsden also failed to get the state to close state
correctional facilities for juvenile offenders. He said these kids would be
better off in local detention centers where they can be near their families and
schools.
correctional facilities for juvenile offenders. He said these kids would be
better off in local detention centers where they can be near their families and
schools.
The General Assembly took action on distracted driving,
imposing a fine of $125 for a first offense, $250 for a subsequent offenses,
and a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for a driver convicted of reckless driving
while texting. In addition, police can now pull over a driver for distracted
driving as a primary offense.
imposing a fine of $125 for a first offense, $250 for a subsequent offenses,
and a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for a driver convicted of reckless driving
while texting. In addition, police can now pull over a driver for distracted
driving as a primary offense.
Other legislation
Most the bills that would have made it more difficult for
women to make decisions about abortion were killed. One measure that passed
prohibits private health insurance plans in federally mandated exchanges under
Obamacare from covering abortions.
women to make decisions about abortion were killed. One measure that passed
prohibits private health insurance plans in federally mandated exchanges under
Obamacare from covering abortions.
A lot of people think it’s tax dollars that pay for
abortions, Kory said. It’s not; it’s private insurance companies. And now
private companies can’t even offer coverage for abortions.
abortions, Kory said. It’s not; it’s private insurance companies. And now
private companies can’t even offer coverage for abortions.
Marsden said he’s disappointed that his bill to ban the
inhumane practice of fox penning failed to pass but said he will introduced it again next year. Meanwhile the
continuing attention to the issue has resulted in the Department of Games and
Fisheries issuing regulations to prohibit cash prizes and restrict the number
of dogs. Fox penning is a blood sport in which foxes are trapped in fenced-in
areas so dogs can hunt them down and sometimes rip them apart.
inhumane practice of fox penning failed to pass but said he will introduced it again next year. Meanwhile the
continuing attention to the issue has resulted in the Department of Games and
Fisheries issuing regulations to prohibit cash prizes and restrict the number
of dogs. Fox penning is a blood sport in which foxes are trapped in fenced-in
areas so dogs can hunt them down and sometimes rip them apart.
A member of the audience pressed the lawmakers to introduce
legislation to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. “I just don’t see that
getting through the General Assembly,” Saslaw said.
legislation to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. “I just don’t see that
getting through the General Assembly,” Saslaw said.