'The people's business was not done today' (Virginia General Assembly Adjourns)

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | March 10, 2002 | JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, PAMELA STALLSMITH AND MICHAEL HARDY

[Ward Smythe]

In a stunning setback for Democratic Gov. Mark R. Warner last night, Republicans in the House killed voter-choice tax increases for roads and schools by adjourning rather than voting on the hard-fought proposal.

In a partisan power play, the House GOP used its 2-to-1 majority to force the adjournment of the 2002 General Assembly and avoid a vote on a compromise freeing Northern Virginians - in a single regional vote - to raise the sales tax from 4.5 cents to a nickel on the dollar for transportation and education.

[Ward Smythe]

Spread the word.

[Eala]

In a partisan power play, the House GOP

Had it been a democRat move, I'm sure the article would have read very differently...

[Ward Smythe]

Had it been a democRat move, I'm sure the article would have read very differently...

Sure, but at the end of the day, all that matters is that the tax referendum went down.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

i wish we had republicans in the us senate with the guts of the Virginia General Assembly

[07055]

the House GOP used its 2-to-1 majority

Isn't this called representative democracy?

If the citizens want higher taxes, they will vote out those rascally Republicans, right?

And, isn't it true that this RAT Governor ran on a platform that he wouldn't raise taxes?

[Oregon Coast Conservative]

Oh my God! the GOP somewhere actually showed some spine? Hey Lott, are you listening.

[Dan from Michigan]

That effort is certain to escalate Warner's struggle with Wilkins, who, as the most powerful Republican in the state, has shown little reluctance to publicly direct the GOP caucus, sometimes through legislative intimidation, to thwart the governor.

It's good to see toughness.

[Ward Smythe]

i wish we had republicans in the us senate with the guts of the Virginia General Assembly

Hey, we sent George Allen. You can't expect Virginia to do all the work can you?

But, I must agree with your assessment of the U.S. Senate overall.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

no insult of allen intended he is a good man

[Ward Smythe]

And, isn't it true that this RAT Governor ran on a platform that he wouldn't raise taxes?

Yes, and it took him only 42 DAYS to break that promise.

RPV Chairman's Statement on Mark Warner's Broken Promises

[Ward Smythe]

no insult of allen intended

None taken, I'm just waiting for him to be there long enough to be in a significant leadership role.

[Dr. Frank fan]

a compromise freeing Northern Virginians - in a single regional vote - to raise the sales tax

Truly Orwellian, here. Right now, Northern Virginians are unfree. To be "free", they need to pay higher taxes. Bad, bad Republicans for squashing the "freedom" of Northern Virginians.

[DesertWalker]

When I lived in Richmond 30 years ago, that paper was referred to as the "Richmond Times-Disgrace". Seems that it still deserves the name.

[rmgatto]

But rather, the people's business was done. Mark Warner is a dealmaker whose fortune was make by luck and the powers of association during the great cell phone license lotteries of the early 90s. He would have us all pay more and more taxes, now that he has such a large portfolio he will never have to work and his marginal tax rate is irrelevant. Yucch. Mark--take your smarmy politics out of Northern Virgina. We don't need your lousy tax increase.

[Moose4]

Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr., R-Amherst

That's my hometown rep. He's been representing Amherst County as long as I can remember (and I'm 35). GO VANCE!

}:-)4

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

"What happened this afternoon on the floor of the House of Delegates was wrong . . . The people's business was not done today."

Well, my dog just went out and did her business and DID NOT do it on the floor. So, I'm happy. Too bad Warner. You sound like Clinton Jr.

[Mark]

The Tax Poem

Tax his land, tax his wage,

Tax his bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor, tax his mule,

Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow, tax his goat,

Tax his pants, tax his coat.

Tax his ties, tax his shirts,

Tax his work, tax his dirt.

Tax his chew, tax his smoke,

Teach him taxes are no joke.

Tax his car, tax his ass

Tax the roads he must pass.

Tax his tobacco, tax his drink,

Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze, tax his beers,

If he cries, tax his tears.

Tax his bills, tax his gas,

Tax his notes, tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know

That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers, tax him more,

Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin, tax his grave,

Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb,

"Taxes drove me to my doom!"

And when he's gone, we won't relax,

We'll still be after the inheritance TAX

[RecallJeffords]

Warner is whining about the adjournment primarily because Wikins outfoxed him. Warner is now is a position of passionately arguing for higher taxes. What a maroon. The real reason that the sales tax referendum did not pass is that the liberal Northern Virginia representatives were at each other's throats over whether the tax increase would be for roads and/or schools. Typical -- there was no tax increase and they were laready arguing how to spend it all.

[RecallJeffords]

Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax

That's my hometown rep, as long as I can remember. He's a buffoon.