Will anyone speak for the taxpayers at the special session?

Just before I skipped town for my sister’s wedding, Governor Kaine called for another special session on transportation funding (AP via Daily Press), meaning we can look forward to yet another argument between tax-hiking Democrats and tax-hiking Republicans.  Whether or not we will see a group of lawmakers opposed to any tax increases (i.e., if anyone will join Bob Marshall) remains to be seen.

So far, the tax-hikers are holding - such as they can - to their already vague positions.  Kaine wants a tax increase on car sales, but he is also clearly open to a gas-tax hike (WTOP).  Whatever his plan is, he apparently won’t see it for another week and a half.  Senate Democrats are already on record demanding a gas-tax hike.

Meanwhile, Republican Delegate Chris Cox called Governor Kaine’s projected transportation revenue and spending numbers “alarmist data” (DP).  Yet even he, like the rest of the House GOP leadership, would prefer some sort of regional tax hike.

There is, however, another way - an alternative that would not rely on tax increases at all, but rather download the cost of secondary and subdivision roads where they belong - localities for the former and homeowners for the latter.  The question is, will anyone in the legislature have the courage to present it?  Will anyone (besides Marshall, Mark Cole, Tom Gear, and Johnny Joannou) stand up for the taxpayers?

Or must we pray for a train wreck to avoid a tax hike?

Cross-posted to the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia