Beep, Beep, Beep – Watch Out for the Trucks Backin’ Up
Yes, that is the sound one can imagine as Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is backing off his strong support of the abuser fees that he has been pushing since the day he raised his hand to be sworn in as His Excellency. The dawg days of a political summer are heating up – and it’s causing some exhaustion for Governor Kaine. Just the other day in the Washington Post we see his latest sentiments about the approval of the abuser fees as part of a bi-partisan transportation package:
Also on July 31st, he told Virginia voters on WTOP's Ask the Governor: “I talked to the [House] leadership and said, ‘Look, I am willing to embrace a package that uses the fees to raise a little bit of the money, but we are not going to use it to raise a significant amount of money.’”
This is after he did all this to push abuser fees:
Governor Tim Kaine: January 20, 2006, Transportation Plan Press Release : This plan includes enhanced fees for abusive drivers.
Governor Tim Kaine: August 28, 2006, Before the Money Committees : “Both Houses agree on abuser fees. The dangerous behavior of unsafe drivers threatens the safety of other drivers and causes accidents that create congestion. Those drivers should be financially accountable for their actions.”
Governor Kaine: January 10, 2007, State of the Commonwealth Address : Both houses agree that abusive drivers should pay stiffer fines to be used for transportation needs. To solve our funding dilemma, I have proposed a basic transportation financing package. Three elements of the package-proper use of existing auto insurance premium taxes, charges to abusive drivers and a commitment to using surplus dollars for transportation-require no new revenues from law-abiding citizens.
Governor Kaine: January 4, 2007, Transportation Plan Press Release: Imposes an abuser fee on motorists who drive under the influence, drive recklessly, or commit certain other offenses.
AND this is the amount of funding he projected – FY 08 $57.5 mil; FY 09, $80.5 million; FY10 and beyond – $108 million a year – that is a SIGNIFICANT amount of money.
Other folks aren’t missing this either, check out this post from Bearing Drift:
Democrats support Virginia-only abuser fees
Posted on August 1st, 2007 by Brian Kirwin
Let’s see….who voted FOR abuser fees when they were for Virginians only?
Brian Moran – House Democratic Caucus Chair
Ward Armstrong – House Minority Leader
Mary Margaret Whipple – Senate Democratic Caucus Chair
Now who voted AGAINST abuser fees when they applied to out-of-state drivers too?
Brian Moran – House Democratic Caucus Chair
Ward Armstrong – House Minority Leader
Mary Margaret Whipple – Senate Democratic Caucus Chair
Nice to know where the Democrat leadership stands, isn’t it?
And I’m Not Emeril points out what’s happening in Virginia’s 20th Senatorial District, from Democrat Senator Roscoe Reynold who sponsored abuser fee legislation this year:
“Reynolds said adding the measure was not his first, second or third choice to provide more transportation funding…”
Beep, beep, beep – the trucks keep backing up…