This day in Virginia history: June 24, 2008

Cross-posted from Virginia Virtucon

One year ago today, Creigh “What’s in Your Wallet?” Deeds established himself as one of the most prolific tax-hikers in Virginia politics.

It was June 24, 2008, and three separate tax-hike bills passed the Senate Transportation Committee (of which Deeds was and is a member): SB6009, SB6010, and SB6015. Deeds voted for all three.

Now, this version of SB6009 (LIS) did not have all of the tax increases its hideous floor version acquired, but Deeds still voted in favor of the following:

• An increase in the gasoline tax by 6 cents
• An increase in the state sales tax on cars by 1/2%
• An addition sales tax of 1/2% on Northern Virginia
• A hotel occupancy tax of $5 per night on Northern Virginia
• A grantor’s tax (real estate) of $.40 per $1000 on Northern Virginia

Not conent with that, Deeds proceeded to vote in favor of SB6010, which imposed the following (LIS):

• A “recapture” index on the gasoline tax that would lead to a de facto tax increase of over 14 cents per gallon
• An increase in the state titling tax on cars by 1/2%
• An additional sales tax of 1/2 cent on Northern Virginia
• An additional sales tax of 3/4 cent on Hampton Roads
• A hotel occupancy tax of $5 per night on Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads
• A grantor’s tax (real estate) of $.40 per $1000 on Northern Virginia
• An additional increase in the gasoline tax by 1% on Hampton Roads
• An addition 1% sales tax on the Richmond metropolitan area, the Fredericksburg region, and (by my reading) the SWAC area

The regional tax hikes would become part of the floor version of SB6009.

Finally, Deeds voted in favor of SB6015 (LIS), which imposed these tax hikes:

• A increase in the wholesale gasoline tax by 5%
• An increase in the state sales tax on cars by 1/2%
• An increase in the state rental tax on cars by 1%

That’s one Democrat running for Governor, three bills, and (without double-counting) thirteen different tax increases – all in one day!