OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Richmond Times Dispatch - McDonnell: Plan Would Boost Transportation, Avoid Education Cuts

News Article

Date: Sept. 28, 2009
Location: Richmond, VA
Issues: Transportation Government Budget and Spending

By Andrew Cain

Bob McDonnell, the Republican nominee for governor, insisted yesterday that he can raise money for transportation without raising taxes or taking money that now goes to education.

During an appearance by McDonnell on "Fox News Sunday," host Chris Wallace noted that 46 percent of Virginia's general fund goes to education, 24 percent to health and human resources and 11 percent to public safety. He asked McDonnell which he would cut to fund transportation.

"If we do a good job on job creation and economic development, Chris, you don't cut any of them because you're going to expand the economy," McDonnell said.

R. Creigh Deeds, McDonnell's Democratic opponent, says he is willing to sign a tax increase to fix Virginia's $1 billion gap in road funds, as long as the plan emerges from a bipartisan consensus.

McDonnell says he can come up with $1.46 billion annually for transportation without raising taxes. McDonnell's plan would get an estimated $150 million annually by dedicating at least 1 percent of the state's revenue growth to transportation.

McDonnell's other funding mechanisms include expediting approved bonds and tapping revenue from offshore drilling and from revenue growth generated by the Port at Hampton Roads. He also would apply a portion of the sales tax collected in Northern Virginia, install tolls on Interstates 85 and 95 at the North Carolina border, and sell off the state's ABC stores.

"I think being a governor takes leadership," he said. "If you stake out a vision and you're strong about these things that need to be done . . . you can get the job done."

Deeds and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine say McDonnell's plan relies on questionable assumptions and that the Republican's plan would take funding from education.

Asked whether President Barack Obama helps Deeds or McDonnell in Virginia, McDonnell said: "Probably a little of both."

Wallace said Deeds declined an invitation to debate McDonnell on the broadcast.


Source
arrow_upward