Va. lawmaker proposes higher gas tax to pay for road construction

WTOP.com ^ | November 16, 2012 | WTOP.com

[Timber Rattler]

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has called for tolls to pay for the state's much-needed road construction, but another option is now on the table.

State Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan) proposed a plan that would increase Virginia's gas tax from 17.5 cents a gallon to 31.5 cents a gallon. The 14-cent increase would eliminate the need to add more toll roads.

In the proposed legislation, taxpayers in the three lowest state brackets would get a break on their income tax. Electric and hybrid vehicles would also have to undergo an annual assessment of $102 a year.

[CatherineofAragon]

"And Governor McDonnell is now in favor of new taxes as part of an agreement with Obama."

That's right. In McDonnell's words, elections have consequences and the people have spoken, so we need to look at raising taxes.

I voted for this invertebrate; it's a good thing VA governors are limited to one term, because he wouldn't get another vote from me.

[Principled]

The argument is to have gas taxes pay for things needed by gas users. That is, not have gas taxes used to pay for things unrelated to gas usage [eg medical benifits.]

Separately,

We all use most every road at one time or another and rather than carry around $50 in quarters, we pay for our roads thru taxes.

Since we all use most every road at one time then it fits well that we all pay for most every road. Tolls should be applicable in the situations in which generally speaking the road is used by a much smaller group of users regularly [like Ga 400 north of Atl.]

I don't understand your last sentence.

[vet7279]

I don't understand your last sentence.
In the 1960's the FAA decided to build Dulles airport and the politicians wanted non-stop access to their shinny new airport and thus, there were no entrance/exit points built on the roughly 20 mile, 4 lane divided highway. You got on at the beltway, and you did not get off until you got to the airport. Within a few years of the development of the airport, thousands of houses sprang up in the Dulles corridor and the only way for commuters to get to work was via back roads. After a few years of yelling, VA decided to build us a road to get to work faster so we would not use the back roads but they sold bonds to build the Dulles Access Toll road and used tolls to pay for the bonds so tax payers would not have to pay for "our" road. The Dulles Toll road has been paid for 10 fold, but we still pay tolls so the state can pay for all the other crap they do. Now these ----- want to raise the toll on the toll road again so they don't have to pay higher gas taxes so those of us that live in the Dulles area get the opportunity to pay for their roads too. And to some this makes perfect sense. They are also the ones that voted for BO.

[matginzac]

Stand by, Scott...
They’re talking tolls on I-64, too...
Our gov has already made the deal with a private company to put tolls on all the tunnels going into and out of Norfolk with increases built in each year.
The new, widened 460 through the southern part of SoEast Hamp Rds will be a toll route too...
Around here it’ll be “pay AND show your papers” soon.

[Road Glide]

“State Sen. John Watkins (R-Powhatan) proposed a plan that would increase Virginia’s gas tax from 17.5 cents a gallon to 31.5 cents a gallon. The 14-cent increase would eliminate the need to add more toll roads.”

With “Republicans” like this, who needs democrats?

[ScottinVA]

Ugh... we`ve been paying tolls over the Coleman since the rebuild in 1996.. I guess VDOT figures we`re doing such a good job replenishing their Christmas party fund, they`ll just keep the good deal going.

[ncpatriot]

I remember a toll road between Richmond and Petersburg back in the 60s. Is it still there? I think it was I-85.

[Timber Rattler]

There was a really good article in a local SWVA newspaper this week that discussed how the election revealed the growing cultural and economic chasm between SW and Central VA and Northern and Eastern Virginia. It's very much a split that may never be repaired.

[zeugma]

Based on adjacent states, Virginia fuel is under taxed.

Or, looked at another way, perhaps fuel in adjacent states is overtaxed. 

[HokieMom]

Virginia Ping! If you want on or off the Virginia Ping List, please freepmail me.

[outofsalt]

Where is the flying car I was supposed to have by now?