Tax-and-spend liberals hurt the little man they say they want to protect.

Date published: 3/18/2004

TED HONTZ in his March 11 response to Del. Mark Cole ["'No new taxes'? How about 'no new progress' on budget mess?"] offers the same tax-and-spend mantra against conservatives who dare stand behind Virginia's working families and against tax hikes.

Mr. Hontz poses several questions, all of which run to the tune of where Republicans intend to fund a variety of public programs without a tax increase.

The real question is how we intend to fund these programs, but who do tax-and-spend liberals intend to bleed for this funding?

Yet another question for tax-and-spend liberals: At what point will the taxpayers of Virginia have paid enough? Over the past five years, the state budget has increased by nearly 50 percent, and this year Virginia taxpayers are being asked to foot an additional bill for a $4 billion tax increase.

And to what ends? Have the taxpayers of Virginia seen a 50 percent increase in the quality of our roads? Our schools? Teacher salaries?

The short answer to the litany of complaints of tax-and-spend bureaucrats is the pay stub of the average Virginia household. Today, nearly 40 percent of our income is spent on taxes. How much more should our working families bleed in order to feed bureaucratic mediocrity?

Take for instance the outrageous 13 percent tax hike being proposed in Spotsylvania County. Proponents of tax hikes in Spotsylvania County will argue that the 13 percent tax hike is a necessary investment. To which one may reasonably ask: What returns can we expect to see?

Will taxpayers see a 13 percent increase in the quality of public services? Should we expect and demand a 13 percent increase in test scores? Will teachers see a 13 percent increase in pay? Can taxpayers expect a 13 percent decrease in their commuting time thanks to county planning?

The answers to these questions are clearly in the negative.

Not only are there unanswered questions as to whether or not tax increases translate into better services, there is the additional problem of the impact these taxes have on the Virginia taxpayer.

Date published: 3/18/2004