Delegate Abuser Fees SPEAKS

From the WaPo:

"Del. David B. Albo, a Fairfax Republican involved in transportation negotiations, said Kaine's plan had a "0.000 percent chance" of winning approval."

This is how Tim Kaine stays so popular.  All the voters see is the idiots in the General Assembly attacking him, and assume he must be doing a good job.  I mean if Delegate Abuser Fees doesn't like the bill....

Comments

[Bubby]

Albo shows a pair of 3's and a worried look. Kaine takes a long sip from his sugar-free iced tea, and leans back in his seat.

Wait a minute. One second you say that the Gov's plan sucks, which is does, becuase it hurts the poor more. then you attack Albo for stating a reality, that it is DOA. Even Democrats agree with Albo. It doesnt say anything about the mearits of the proposal, just that it wont pass. BTW, Saslaw doesnt like it eather. Going to whack him? I dare you!!!!!

[charlie]

This is what drives me crazy about Kaine. OK, give the republicans a proposal for some taxes and watch them foam. D in senate will come to the rescue (10 cents gas tax). Kaine takes credit.

Assuming this is true (and that gives Kaine more political sense than he is capable of) he is just using politics to beat up on the R and not doing ANY work. A real gov would lay out a vision and say, look Virginia, we are spending close to $25 billion a year on buying gas. Let's find a way to cut that number down (through removing congestion, limited mass transit) and move the number of miles Virginians drive each year from 17K to 15K.

But as I said, given his mistakes on abuser fees, the first transport delegation plan, coal plant, executions, etc, I don't think he is that smart.

He is just trying to raise money for Dulles Rail so he'll be in the history books.

[TJ's Ghost]

I personally think the Gov. and the Speaker are both content to have this special session accomplish nothing and to make transportation an election issue again in 2009. Of course we all know who won that issue in November 2007.

[charlie]

dear TJ: my point exactly. But isn't that what we are criticizing the R's for -- for making political hay while we sit in traffic jams -- you're probably not familiar with the concept, but image 3000 horses all on the road to Culpepper. What is worse -- making noise about taxes and not building roads - or making noise about roads then not building roads.

[TJ's Ghost]

Charlie: The Rs might want to reconsider if "no" is their plan to make political hay. Hasn't worked very well for them over the last couple of elections.

If I were a Republican member of the House, I'd be working as hard as I could to find a way to infuse more cash into our transportation system without resorting to unconstitutional schemes to get there. I can't understand why they're not being proactive in setting the agenda - instead they're letting the Gov. set the agenda and reacting (like schoolchildren I might add). I'd love to see a sensible R alternative.

[TJ's Ghost]

I should add to my previous post that I think Kaine's plan leaves a great deal to be desired, but the fact remains that there is no Republican alternative other than "no".

[charlie]

TJ's G: I ** think ** the republican plan would be for local counties to raise the taxes themselves. The counties won't (too much even for NoVA) and then we can move to pay-HOV lanes. Oh wait, Kaine wants those too.

Kaine is lucky in his choice of opponents.

Sigh.

[TJ's Ghost]

Charlie: I agree that the R plan is to have localities in NoVa and Hampton Roads vote to authorize the regional authorities to collect the taxes and fees outlined in HB 3202, but that plan amounts to nothing more than passing the buck. HB 3202 was concocted by House Rs solely to prevent them from having to vote for a tax increase without saying no to new transportation funding.