TWO TRANSPORTATION REVENUE BILLS
REMAIN ALIVE
The House and Senate have both voted to repeal the
"abusive driver" fees passed by the General
Assembly in 2007. The repeal of those revenues will
result in a downward revision of the VDOT Six-Year
Improvement Plan by over $60 million a year. We are continuing
to work to find sources of new revenue to replace that
loss.
Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee passed two
bills that would provide new revenues for
transportation. Those bills go on to the full Senate for
a vote today.
SB
713, introduced by Senator Richard Saslaw
(D-Fairfax), would increase the gas tax one cent a year
for five years. That would provide over $750 million in
additional highway maintenance over the next six years.
The money would go to highway maintenance. The bill
passed out of the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of
12-3. Senators Colgan, Houck, Howell, Saslaw, Quayle,
Hanger, Watkins, Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Lucas, Whipple,
and Reynolds voted in favor of the bill. Senators
Wampler, Stosch, and Stolle voted against the bill.
Senator Norment did not vote.
SB
597, introduced by Senator Norment (R-Williamsburg),
would add historical horse racing, or instant racing, to
the types of horse racing on which pari-mutuel wagering
is permitted in Virginia. Fifty percent of the proceeds
would go to transportation. The value of that revenue
stream depends on the market for such wagering. Best
estimates are that over $70 million a year would be
generated for transportation. Senators Colgan, Wampler,
Stosch, Houck, Howell, Saslaw, Stolle, Quayle, Norment,
Watkins, Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Lucas, and Reynolds voted
in favor of the bill. Senators Hanger and Whipple voted
against the bill.
It is important to contact your Senator and let them
know you support a sustainable revenue stream to replace
the lost revenues from the repeal of the "abusive
driver" fees.
Contact information for your Senator can be found by
clicking on their name on this listing: Senator
Contact Information
If you are not sure who your Senator is click on Who's
My Senator
|
