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Virginia State Senate
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State Senate sends gas-tax increase to hostile House, which may kill bill
The Virginia Senate on Wednesday quickly passed a gas-tax increase that would notch up the levy on a gallon of fuel by a cent a year for six years, sending the proposal to the Republican-controlled House widely expected to kill it. All 21 Democrats in the chamber’s slim majority voted for the tax measure, while 16 Republicans opposed it.
Highlights of gas tax bill
Major components of the transportation funding bill (SB6009, Saslaw) passed 21-16 by the Virginia Senate:
Spend road funds on roads
One week from today, the Virginia General Assembly will meet in Richmond for a special session on transportation, but it’s not likely to produce progress toward relieving traffic congestion. The state Supreme Court gutted last year’s compromise bill as unconstitutional, Republicans are digging in over Gov. Tim Kaine’s plan to raise taxes by $1.1 billion (including a regional sales tax hike rejected by Northern Virginia voters last time it was proposed), and Democrats are feuding among themselves over which taxes to raise. With Virginia now considered a battleground state, the upcoming presidential election serves as a political backdrop to the bickering.
Webb, Kaine, Warner to address Va. Dems
There's little business for Virginia Democrats to handle at their state convention Saturday, but they will get a unique peek at a who's who of potential vice presidents.
Watchdog sues to stop new identity theft law
A privacy advocate is suing the state of Virginia to block a new law designed to stop her from publishing Social Security numbers online.
Sen. John McCain to visit Richmond, McLean
The presidential battle for Virginia continued Monday with a Richmond visit by Arizona Senator John McCain. |
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