Gubernatorial hopeful Frank Wagner pushes infrastructure investments

The Roanoke Times ^ | May 5, 2017 | Carmen Forman

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Frank Wagner visited Roanoke Friday to pitch his campaign message of improving transportation infrastructure in order to create more jobs across Virginia.

At a Roanoke County Republican Committee luncheon, Wagner, a GOP state senator from Virginia Beach, discussed his proposal to raise the gas tax for projects like widening Interstate 81 and building Interstate 73 and the Coalfields Expressway.

Yes, he’s a rare Republican calling for a tax increase. He understands the irony.

Building up major pathways in and out of Southwest Virginia will improve the business climate, he said.

In the economically depressed Southside region , adding broadband and building a major interstate like I-73 for high-speed travel could revive the economy, Wagner said.

“It’s the interconnectivity that’s going to allow the Roanoke area to A, diversify, and B, grow,” he said.

As for the additional taxes, consumers might not even notice, Wagner said, citing North Carolina’s gas tax that is more than double Virginia’s. But the price per gallon at most convenience stores in North Carolina is still at or below the cost of gas in Virginia, he said.

Wagner also took the opportunity to criticize the tax plan of his opponent, front-runner Ed Gillespie, which proposes a 10 percent “across the board” tax rate cut.

Wagner argued the “centerpiece” of the GOP frontrunner’s campaign is disingenuous because it doesn’t save the average Virginia family $1,300 a year, as Gillespie has said. That figure is based on a family that makes $135,000, when the state’s household median income is about half that amount, Wagner said.

Following a General Assembly session during which lawmakers cut about $1.5 billion in spending from the state budget, now is not a responsible time for a tax cut, Wagner said.

When Wagner called Gillespie’s plan “phony math” at a news conference earlier this week, a spokeswoman for the Gillespie campaign retorted that Wagner’s tax plan will increase taxes for hardworking Virginians, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“My definition of conservative is this: Conservative is someone who pays their bills,” Wagner said. “Conservative is one who doesn’t go out and borrow money for highways and put tolls up and make you pay $2 for $1 worth of road construction. I think you ought to pay as you go.”

Corey Stewart, the third Republican in the governor’s race, has proposed completely phasing out the state income tax.

Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, leads Wagner and Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, in both fundraising and in opinion polling.

At the luncheon, Wagner also talked about education, emphasizing the importance of career technical training. He proposed separate paths for school accreditation, one for traditional schools that includes standardized tests, and another that measures through the various industry credentials they acquire.

On higher education issues, Wagner proposed capping tuition at higher education institutions.

The winner of the June 13 Republican primary will face either Lt. Gov Ralph Northam or former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, both Democrats, and possibly a Libertarian candidate in the Nov. 7 general election.

[DoughtyOne]

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...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[vooch]

Eliminate the gas tax

privatize the interstates

[factoryrat]

That would single-handedly destroy the interstate trucking industry.

But at least it would boost the railroad industry. Besides, it’s much cheaper to ship freight by rail than truck.

Don’t get me wrong, trucking is necessary as the “last mile” form of shipment, but over land long distance shipping is cheapest by rail.

[Theodore R.]

I can’t see Ed Gillespie doing much when he could have won in 2014 for the Senate (the 60,000 felons started voting) had he been aggressive.

[GailA]

Not Rare, Gov Haslam-RINO of TN just did a PROGRESSIVE GAS TAX INCREASE, we were already at .28 cents which is higher than the Feds.

HE PULL A FAST ONE: shifted the road money to the “General FUND” said the road fund was broke, and pushed this PHONY increase through with the help of party chair Beth Harwell and Rep Susan Lynn. ALL GOP. All but 10 GOP voted for it. They did a fake punt with we will cut your Sales tax on Groceries buy .05%. Drop in the bucket, Grocery tax is income tax deductible, Gas tax is NOT.
Jeremy Hayes is opposing Lynn for 2018 for her total deception and vote pro Gas tax. Lynn is a RINO. Jeremy Hayes is a Christian and Conservative: https://www.facebook.com/JeremyHGHayes/

[vooch]

factory,

letting the free market reign always provides the best outcome. Thanks

[DIRTYSECRET]

Can he win?

[pennyfarmer]

That would be awesome. Then all the “boot strap” republicans could actually pay for their use of the highway.

[pennyfarmer]

You do know where the road fund comes from right?

It is an expenditure from the general taxes. Where would you like a general tax expenditure to come from? From the general tax fund??? I know, it sounds ludicrous
.

[vooch]

the less the government is involved the better.

if we are true conservatives than we should recognize this truism always

[GailA]

Gas tax should be a DEDICATED fund that funds only roads, streets, Stop lights, and signs posting legit info, not that this stretch of Hwy is named for a famous person, and bridges. NOT fancy Median’s, or wild flowers in them or other plants, which grow to such heights it obscures vision of drivers. The ones they installed in Millington, TN are badly designed and stick out to far into HWY51 which makes making a left turn very hard to do with out running it over, they have had to install those crash post to protect it. DUMB IDIOT DESIGNERS. And the city had to hire a $50K per year Horticulturist to take care of those crappy plants that block your view of the opposite side lanes.

Feds only give $$ when states comply with their DEMANDS.

We have a $2 Billion surplus, there was no need for raising the TN Gas tax. Or any other states for that matter.