Virginia senate Democrats kill "Royalties for Roads" legislation

Statement of RPV Chairman Pat Mullins on Senate Democrats decision to
kill "Royalties for Roads" legislation....

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins issued the following statement following Wednesday's vote on Senate Bill 601, patroned by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach:

"For the life of me, I can't understand why Democrats in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads would vote against sending additional money to transportation.” Mullins said.

"In its original form, SB 601 was something that should have made everyone happy — more money for roads that doesn't come out of taxpayers' pockets," he said. "Yet for some reason, the entire Democrat Northern Virginia delegation voted on Monday to send that money to the General Fund. It simply defies logic."

"Then, when Democrats had the chance to re-think their vote on Wednesday, they went the opposite direction and moved to kill the bill outright on a party-line vote," Mullins said. "Senator Dick Saslaw went to great lengths to talk about how the money that would be parceled out is nothing but 'false hope.' "

"But it's important to remember that 'false hope' is what they called offshore drilling just a few years ago. Now, the only thing between the Commonwealth of Virginia and that 'false hope' is foot-dragging at the Obama administration's Interior Department. If anyone is perpetuating false hope it is the Obama administration – not Republicans in Virginia," he said.

"At the end of the day, the Democrats talk a good game about transportation, but when the rubber meets the road, they're not interested," Mullins said. "The only money they want to spend on roads is money that they raise through higher taxes on hard working Virginians."

Republican Party of Virginia

RPV's 2008 Legislative Policy Agenda: Transportation

Looking ahead to an even better, safer, more prosperous and opportunity filled future, Virginia Republican leaders in the General Assembly are championing a forward-looking agenda for governing that builds upon their past accomplishments.

Transportation

· Applying the abusive driver fees to out-of-state residents. While the version of HB 3202 that was approved by the General Assembly in February included this provision, Governor Kaine’s completely rewritten version of the bill did not.

· Eliminating the fees for crimes below Class Two misdemeanors and reevaluating the remaining higher offenses for their seriousness. Additionally, the General Assembly will reassess the reckless driving statute (not changed by HB 3202) to ensure the speeds resulting in reckless driving charges are reasonable and reflect current speed limits. For offenses that will no longer be subjected to the fees, anyone convicted of the deleted offenses after July 1, 2007 would not have to pay an abuser fee. Another change under consideration would give judges the discretion to waive the fees for those subjected to them for driving on a suspended license where the suspension was solely due to failure to pay a fine or fee.

VCAP's coverage of Republican Transportation Proposals

This week's issue of the online VA Conservative Action PAC newsletter covers the Republican Transportation Proposals and VCAP's views on the debate. Check it out at VCAP's website.