Free Republic

Not surprisingly, former Gov. Tim Kaine's proposal to raise the state income tax was killed in the GOP-controlled House of Delegates this afternoon. Democrats tried to pull the bill before the vote but their Republican counterparts would have none of that. The GOP majority wanted to force Democrats to vote on the bill, leaving them with the choice of raising taxes or voting against Kaine, the chairman of their national party. Kaine's proposal died by a vote of 98-0. Only the sponsor, Del. Bob Brink, abstained from voting on the bill because well, you can't vote against your own bill....

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) proposed Friday replacing the local car tax by increasing income tax $1.9 billion a year. But Republicans in the General Assembly and Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell (R) have said they are opposed to any tax hikes. The outgoing governor also proposed about $2.3 billion in budget cuts to help make up for a nearly $4.2 billion shortfall by 2012. ... Kaine recommended eliminating 1,879 jobs as well as 664 layoffs, many of them in the departments of transportation, corrections, juvenile justice and at the University of Virginia. In public education, he would cap the number...

<p>RICHMOND — Most Republicans, who less than two months ago were fiercely opposed to raising taxes, are now choosing between two tax-increase plans, each devised by the Republican-controlled House and Senate.</p> <p>Conservative Republicans say they are worried particularly by the Senate, whose money committee has proposed raising $3.8 billion in taxes by increasing the gasoline levy, the sales tax and adjusting income-tax brackets.</p>