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As Gov. Kaine himself noted: We can't tax our way out of traffic. So how come only the House Republicans seem to agree? Date published: 9/6/2006
FOR VIRGINIA'S General Because the debate over transportation improvements degenerated into a dispute over new and higher taxes, a resolution has been elusive. Recently, an independent public opinion survey To some, this result seemed contradictory. Those advocating higher taxes maintain daily commutes cannot be shortened without increased revenues offsetting the expense. Regrettably, the governor and his Senate allies have asserted that increasing taxes is the only way to improve transportation. Encouragingly, the public appears to have wisely rejected this assertion. The insistence of Virginians that transportation improvements be accomplished without raising taxes does not indicate residents expect something for nothing. It instead demonstrates an understanding that revenue alone will not reduce daily commutes. Further, it instructs lawmakers that their constituents expect more from the ample funds already provided to government. While Governor Kaine and the Virginia Senate have focused almost exclusively on increasing taxes to address transportation, Republicans in the House of Delegates have advanced a comprehensive approach. By implementing innovative solutions to improve the performance and accountability of VDOT, to better coordinating land use, to redirecting current revenues to transportation, Over the last few years, VDOT has made much of being "on time and on budget" with its projects. While this should be expected of any government agency, touting it as accomplishment only reinforces the public's already low expectations of government. The focus of VDOT should be redirected--with a new emphasis on how effectively the priorities and projects it selects reduce the time spent commuting by residents.
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