Is that a copy of Mein Kampf next to McDonnell’s desk, I see?

Fact is, its a solid idea, rid us of a poorly administered tax, up the income tax. Disabled, some retired, and those who can’t afford it, no longer have to pay it. Only those highly paid “Political Consultants” will have to pay now! How appropriate. Lot of good things in the Kaine budget, but with the mindset of people like Anon E. Mouse and those of his ilk(of which there are too many) it may be dead in the water. Probably pass the Senate, but get stuck in the House, where any good idea is dead before it even gets into committee!

i’ll just sit back and wait for the clown show next year

to be honest i wish Mr Mcdonnell’s won based off of another issue versus this one. now it’s just gonna be the same thing all over

I am also a member of a number of U.Va. alum groups and a number of the younger alums (those who have graduated since 1980) are all in favor of privatizing the school.

Good for you. I’m sure we can’t reasonable expect Jefferson’s valuing of public service to be successfully transmitted to every UVA grad, so this sort of thing is to be expected. What isn’t to be expected, however, is that a UVA alum with even the most passing knowledge of Jefferson’s hopes for UVA would be so intellectually dishonest as to invoke Jefferson in favor of privatization of the place.

“What does this do to help enhance our liberty?” then we would quickly find our way to core functions.

Doubt it. I suspect our definitions of liberty are only partially overlapping (esp. if you think VA gov’t – about as lean as any state gov’t I’ve seen – is “intrusive, bloated and has, in most cases, been used to punish us[.]“).

I’m sure all three Presidents would privatize and reimburse the state a few billion if allowed for the facilities and the land.

Looks like someone is unaware of Jefferson’s history.

The idea of the Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer is anachronistic to say the least. Most cities and counties have finance departments that could easily incorporate these functions at less cost and make them more efficient.

I don’t like a lot of Kaine’s proposals, but this makes sense.

I’m shocked that he won’t let VT, U.Va. and William and Mary privatize as all three desire. It’s rather assinine to take these great institutions and give them 5 or 6% of their operating budgets and then saddle them with countless state mandates. Rather ridiculous if you ask me. I’m sure all three Presidents would privatize and reimburse the state a few billion if allowed for the facilities and the land.

Alena

You could allow localities to raise the 1% income tax sort of like Maryland does (that’s be your lockbox). But then, perish the thought, we’d be like Maryland. =)

Keep it Simple Stupid: The KISS principle should be employed to seek revenue. We could still eliminate the, much hated, “car tax” and raise more than enough through gas taxes and sales taxes, coupled with a bottom-up review of all state functions, where we eliminate non-core functions. (Hint: Fire the senior bureaucrats first!) If we examine each program with the query, “What does this do to help enhance our liberty?” then we would quickly find our way to core functions.

I remain baffled as to what is the value-added for our citizens by having State Troopers hiding in bushes with radar guns? Imagine trying to explain such a concept to our founders, “First we restrict the ability to travel to state owned roads, then we pay people to hide in the brush and assess huge, life-changing fines, on the People as they try desperately to travel from one town to another while pursuing a living.” Sam Adams would say, “Get a rope!”

Government here in Virginia is too intrusive, bloated and has, in most cases, been used to punish us rather than to enhance our LIBERTY. We need to re-think and re-structure our government so that it, once again, becomes a servant to the People, and not the other way around.

Democrats and Republicans could, if they really wanted, work together to produce a much leaner government that is dedicated to doing more FOR the People instead of doing more TO us!

Yeah…they’ll believe that! In fact, every City Council member I’ve ever met has always told me, “Brian, one thing I know I can always count on is Richmond to come through for us.”

Take it elsewhere.

I don’t think the proposal survives, either, despite it making sense.

(Speaking of inefficiencies, cars certainly do attract quite a few of them in VA. Local tax decal (plus fee) + registration stickers (plus fee) + inspection stickers (plus fee). All these stickers strike me as unnecessary. Only portion that actually seems to get it right are emissions, which are tracked and tied into the registration database. Why not do the same with tax decals and safety inspections?

(Can you tell that I had to deal with an emissions inspection today?))