Posted on 04/12/2017 10:52:58 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
State Sen. Frank Wagner, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday he'd like to turn much of U.S. 58 into an interstate as part of his plan to juice transportation construction in Virginia with an increase in the gas tax.
The increase, part of a tiered plan that would charge more per gallon when prices are low, then roll back the rate when prices rise, wouldn't just affect rates in Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia, which have regional taxes. It would be statewide in implementation and effect, Wagner said.
Wagner is charting an unusual course in this GOP primary: running on a tax increase. His opponents, longtime GOP operative Ed Gillespie and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, are both pitching tax cuts that Wagner, who helps negotiate the state budget in the Senate, has dubbed irresponsible given the current budget situation.
"I'm absolutely convinced that a Republican has got to wear it on his sleeve," Wagner said of his proposals Monday.
Without more infrastructure investment, "we are going to cripple Virginia," he said.
Wagner, who has represented Virginia Beach for 25 years in the General Assembly, met Monday with the Daily Press editorial board. He's running a lower key campaign for governor than his opponents and volunteered Monday that his campaign is "going to get killed in fundraising" by Gillespie, who recently traveled to Texas for a fundraiser with former President George W. Bush.
But Wagner said he has a turnout strategy for the June 13 primary.
"There is a method to what we're doing," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...
A supposed Republican running on raising taxes.
Head shaking. And shaking.
There is likely an optimal tax rate. In Va. it’s likely way higher than the optimum already.
Well, yeah, guess that wouldn't play well with the voters now would it? Maybe it's time to issue more school bonds which we say will be used for construction, but actually simply pays into the retirement system instead. It's for the administrators.
I live and work in this area and often drive Rte 58; the road network of Hampton Roads, especially on the south side of the James River, is as crowded as a Detroit welfare office on a Friday. The other option would be to institute yet another bridge/tunnel toll or increase those already in existence. A minimal gas tax hike to fund road maintenance would be the least painful in a list of only bad options.
Is Frank Wagner sure that he is a Republican? A politician promising to raise taxes usually does not get very far.
Same thing in Indiana. Raising the gas tax and the license plate renewal fee.
Concur, I drove 58 last December to visit good friends in Newport News. It was not a fun drive, the traffic load easily could support an interstate grade highway.
However, before you increase a fuel tax, any Republican candidate should be prepared to explain why other options will not work. It feels like he just decided to propose a tax increase instead of figuring out other options.
I don’t live in VA, so I don’t have a feel for how this proposal will play there.
LOOSER! Prediction have been since Jan of higher gas prices, we jumped 10 cents in a week. When cost of gas goes up so does the cost of a gallon of milk, bread, eggs, etc.
He’s better than most Republicans who campaign against raising taxes and then, when elected, votes to raise them.
Brilliant! /s
Disgusting, who would vote someone running on a gas tax hike?
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