Posted on 05/23/2002 4:59:40 AM PDT by JamesParmelee
May 23, 2002
Tax increase opponents step up opponents
Coalition distributes fliers to combat big spenders
BY CHRIS NEWMAN cnewman@potomacnews.com
WOODBRIDGE -- Members of a Republican-heavy coalition set out Wednesday to distribute 10,000 fliers in the next two weeks persuading Northern Virginians to vote against a half-cent sales tax increase in November.
"The other side is going to outspend us, but they have to because we have the foot soldiers and volunteers," said James Parmelee, spokesman for the Northern Virginia Coalition to Stop the Sales Tax, which consists of 14 organizations including the Prince William Taxpayers Alliance.
Sales tax proponents will have to spend at least $1.5 million for their effort, said the author of the sales tax referendum bill, Delegate John A. "Jack" Rollison, R-52nd District, on the "Virginia Politics Hour" on WAMU 88.5 FM on Tuesday.
"You're going to need to set up an outreach program that will be very similar to a congressional campaign," the Prince William Republican said.
During the General Assembly session, the pro-referendum political action committee spent more than $100,000 to pass the proposal that would fund $5 billion in roads and mass transit with a half-cent increase during the next 20 years. Less than $10,000 was spent by opponents, Parmelee said.
Parmelee said it is a certainty his coalition will be outspent during the five-month battle to November.
Rollison is joined by fellow legislators who voted for the measure and Gov. Mark R. Warner, as well as high-profile lobbyists Mame Reiley on the Democrat side and Bill Lecos on the Republican side.
Reiley and Lecos have said the effort will cost $2 million to $3 million.
Rollison put the present odds of passage at 50-50. He cited a predicted low turnout, which would lead to mostly those opposed to the tax motivated to come out on Election Day.
The arguments over the referendum go from whether or not state government has enough money to pay for the region's needs, whether the projects are needed or could just lead to sprawl or not solve traffic problems.
The anti-tax coalition flier states the last two state budgets have increased spending more than 40 percent: "Even with a 'budget crisis' state spending is increasing yet another 7 percent. But out of all this new spending virtually no new money is being provided for transportation."
"That's a big, fat ton of money. That's an ocean of money," Parmelee said.
The General Assembly found more money for other state functions but not transportation, Parmelee said. It was unable to restrain itself to limit the increases to inflation and population growth -- while Northern Virginia continues to get back far less than it sends to Richmond, he said.
"I would challenge Parmelee or anyone else to suggest specific cuts to specific programs to realize the type of savings [that would fund $5 billion over 20 years]."
Chris Newman is a staff writer for the Potomac News/Manassas Journal Messenger.
I don't follow the budget much. Where have the increases been?
That has been the case in California until now , but Davis has made such a mess with his blundering on the Energy crisis, that he is trying to minimize his budget cuts and hiding his tax increases by heavy borrowing!
But we are hoping that the bond buyers aren't having any of his Energy Revenue Bonds!
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