Legislators from NoVa and Hampton Roads are getting together to figure how who to hit up their constituents for more money solve the transportation problem (Washington Post, h/t Shad Plank):
Legislators from Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads will meet for the first time next week to tackle transportation problems that have left the state’s two most congested regions searching for millions of dollars for roads and transit.
The two regions, the most populous in the state, boast more than 60 legislators from both political parties. They will play an integral role when the 140-member General Assembly returns to the Capitol next month for a special session on transportation.
“If we could come up with a solution, nothing could stop us,” said Del. John A. Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake), chairman of the Hampton Roads delegation.
The meeting, which will take place Wednesday in Richmond, was put together by the delegations’ chairmen. More than 40 legislators have agreed to attend.
Just so there’s no confusion here, what is being discussed above is a meeting that involves legislators determined to raise taxes across the state (the Democrats) and legislators who would rather put a gun to the heads of local officials and make them do it (the Republicans). At present, no one has picked up the plan that would avoid tax increases altogether. All of this is happening with a June special session barreling down the track, and Governor Kaine presenting his own tax-hike plan sometime next week.
