As for the Know Nothing No-Party, is there any way the state can deny their districts any state funds for anything? I mean, they seem opposed to paying for government, so give them no government (funds).

Brief and to the point.

Vivian, your arm is being twisted.

Here’s another thought. Will the “No bird” politician be the first to stand in front of the bridge with a sign, for a photo op, that reads “Keep our bridges open” when VDOT starts condemning them and closing them due to lack of funding to maintain them?

Once VDOT starts closing them, it is going to take some time to fix them and get them reopened. And if VDOT officials bow to political pressure and do not condemn unsafe bridges, they are going to be thrown in prison for failing to do it if they do fail with resulting loss of life. Too bad the politicians that refused to fund the maintenance needed do not end up rotting alongside them.

The “No” crowd is going to continue to shout NO until the cows come home.

It is my understanding that studies have shown an increase of 5 cents per gallon in the fuel tax is necessary to continue maintaining what we already have, and such an increase would not help fund needed improvements.

Once our bridges start collapsing due to failure to maintain them (like they did up in the Twin Cities in Minnesota) perhaps then we can run the No Birds out of office. It would be a shame if loss of life would be necessary to get the No Birds to change their votes or run them out of office.

I’ll stop demanding that you help pay for transportation maintenance and improvements when you stop using the highways.

Vivian,

Governor Kaine’s plan for alternative methods (other tax increases) is just as DOA. Meanwhile Dick Saslaw in the Senate has put together a plan with some support that largely would increase fuel taxes to raise increased revenue.

Since neither Kaine’s nor Saslaw’s plan is apt to win support from the “No New Taxes” crowd, I do not think it is wrong to support Saslaw’s plan as being the better of the two.

And if neither plan goes anywhere? Well then who opposed them and who is to blame for “No New Progress” on funding our transportation infrastructure needs? Who do we need to run out of office?

What was that? Nothing?

Right. STFU.

Don – don’t the cars use the roads?

James – transportation costs money. How do you propose we pay for it?

If the answer is “Nothing,” stop trying to stick your hand in my pocket until it isn’t.

Evidently you are a Libertarian. Evidently you are in favor of every highway being a tollroad.

I stand with Ronald Reagan who increased the fuel tax to pay for his transportation improvements. I stand with Dwight D Eisenhower who envisioned a system of freeways paid for through a fuel tax.

Tollways are inefficient. They only add another layer of beauracracy to pay those who must stick their hand out at the tollbooth to collect the tolls. There is also all the supporting cast who must manage and provide accounting for all the new public employees who stick their hand out. Tollroads are a wasteful method of paying for our infrastructure. Of you want to waste tax dollars, vote for a tollway.

but sadly enough, they’re obviously not gonna agree on funding plan either. i’m thinking we have to flood them with emails, just like with the abusive drivers fees. Let’s send them so much we’ll shut down there mail servers

Why should the people of Hampton Roads alone pay for infrastructure for the benefit of those who buy products which come in through the Port of Virginia, and who live all over the Eastern half of the United States? The only right way to pay for the 3rd crossing and associated roads, which account for more than 2/3 of the $9 billion MPO plan, is to collect weight based tolls, which will fall primarily of the trucks for which they are being built, and will be passed along through shipping costs to the eventual beneficiaries.

The Tidewater Libertarian Party presented Gov Kaine with a road funding plan, perhaps Democrats and Republicans should give it some thought instead of just immediately seizing on transportation needs as an excuse for more taxes on one group or another.
You can read it at . http://tinyurl.com/4kwcjh

An increase in the fuel tax would cause those that benefit and use the transportation infrastructure the most to pay for it. I do not comprehend how any other method would be as fair.