Posted on 08/29/2007 11:28:55 AM PDT by JZelle
An Arlington judge yesterday ruled that starting in January an unelected regional body can levy on Northern Virginia residents a slew of new taxes and fees to pay for local transportation upgrades.
The ruling by Circuit Court Judge Benjamin N.A. Kendrick would allow the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, composed of 14 voting members, to raise about $300 million a year through higher taxes on home sales, car safety inspections and auto repairs to fund regional road and rail projects.
"Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is an independent political subdivision similar to other entities such as water and sewer authorities, sanitary districts, and industrial development authorities," Judge Kendrick said. "It is not a local government with an elected governing body."
The court battle is the latest sign of contempt for the multibillion-dollar transportation package the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed earlier this year.
The public outcry over the new "abuser fees," ranging from $750 for driving on a suspended license to $3,000 for a driving-related felony, has led Republican leaders to say they plan to refund some of the charges when they return to Richmond in January.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The power to tax is the power to kill.......
Time for another Tea Pary.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I suspect that this abomination would not pass a constitutional challenge
I have a Gore Tax on my phone bill,is this different?
You suspect correctly.
There is ONLY ONE way to describe this accurately.
It is TYRANNY!
TYRANNY!
TYRANNY!
Agreed Darkwing.
You see, the camel got his nose under the tent back then.
It’s about time the rest of the US starts catching up with the People’s Republic Of Washington State (PROWS) - we’re the cutting edge of taxation without representation! We’re not called PROWS for nothing - all your State’s ships will eventually follow our leading edge!
After all, we have an unelected board - Sound Transit - deciding how to spend and squander billions of dollars. Supposedly “authorized” by a vote where the elections office and elections director are appointed - not elected!
To top it off, we have a multi-billion dollar sewage treatment plant for King County being built in Snohomish County. Essentially put into a county where not a single resident could vote on the need for, funding of, oversight, or representation of the controlling authority (King County).
Welcome to the new era - the appointed ones know better than us, so just eliminate those pesky, time consuming, and expensive elections and let them make the decisions!
Good grief it sounds like the citizens need to form their own “political subdivision” regarding this judges decision. Incidently I always thought political sub division refered to police departments ie: ATF form 4.
Unfortunately, that’s what everyone said about McCain-Feingold.
Another wacko judge making another illogical decision.
Ha. Good one. Am I supposed to be able to keep up with every shiv that gets jammed in my ribs by the thousands of politicians and bureaucrats that control my life? Just wondering. And I suspect the "camel got his nose under the tent" far sooner than Gore's birth.
And you can bet the hordes of illegals in NoVa won't be paying any of these new taxes!
The State of VA is losing money on housing tax assessments as the housing market continues to tank. This will affect state budgets nation wide. Just a prediction.
And you’re right - the illegals tax contribution won’t cover their use of services, if they pay taxes at all.
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