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Dems: Replace abuser fees with gas tax
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Virginia Democrats want to scrap the dreaded abuser fees by raising the gasoline tax.
Richmond (Map, News) - Democratic legislators, set on scrapping the hated driver “abuser fees,” are proposing raising the gasoline tax as a way to pay for Virginia’s transportation needs.
Del. Kristen J. Amundson, D-Mount Vernon, is proposing a 1.5-cent increase in the 17.5-cent tax, which would raise the $65 million a year the abuser fees were created to generate.
“A 1.5-cent increase will allow us to repeal the fees and refund those who already got them,” Amundson said.
The abuser fees, enacted last year as part of a statewide transportation funding package, were meant to help Virginia’s growing highway maintenance deficit. They quickly came under fire, especially from Democrats, because they targeted only in-state drivers and added hundreds or thousands of dollars to the costs of some traffic offenses.
Senate Democrats committed to scrapping the fees Thursday but would not comment on how the money they would raise would be replaced.
Nonetheless, Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield, one of the fees’ chief architects, expected senators to seek to raise the gas tax.
“It’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard, that some of them want to cut taxes on criminal drivers and increase taxes on law-abiding citizens, and that’s basically what they’re doing,” Albo said.
He warned a 1.5-cent gas tax could be the first step in a much larger increase.
A gallon of gasoline costs an average $3.10 last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
State auditors reported last month that the abusive-driver fees would not raise as much revenue as predicted and failed to curtail bad driving.
Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, proposed repealing the fees Wednesday, joining lawmakers of both parties who want to abolish them.
The highway maintenance deficit for fiscal 2009 is $290 million and growing, according to state Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer.
Income from the gas-tax increase would go toward the deficit as well as funding projects, Amundson said.
“It’s an honest replacement,” she said. “People understand it takes money to maintain our roads.”
William C. Flook contributed to this report.
Paying at the pump
Current local gasoline taxes in cents per gallon
» Virginia: 17.5
» Maryland: 23.5
» District: 20
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:16 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008 re: "Architect of driver fees votes for repeal"
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10:55 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008
re: "Dems: Replace abuser fees with gas tax"
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10:44 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 4, 2008
re: "Moves afoot to repeal 'abuser-fees' bill"
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1:38 PM MST on Mon., Jan. 14, 2008
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7:23 PM MST on Sun., Jan. 13, 2008
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3:09 PM MST on Sat., Jan. 5, 2008
re: "Va. lawmakers seek stiffer penalties, arrests, prison for unlicensed drivers"
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2:45 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 27, 2007
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12:38 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 27, 2007
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6:27 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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6:07 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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5:56 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 26, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Albo has a new scamn now. He just won't give it up
119 agree | 114 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's a great idea, lets raise the gas tax.? that way our money will go towards fixing the roads that no one will be able to afford to drive on cause the gas prices are so high. our govt constantly wants to rob peter to pay paul. how about our govt make attempts to fix the problem instead of putting bandages on everything. our economy is down the toilet but everyone seems to want to be in denial about that. grow up people, canada's economy is worth more than ours; our economy is crap. why don't we take responsability for that. it's not canada's fault their govt is not as greedy as ours.
121 agree | 130 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
we need to get off of our lazy american butts and vote all the rich new age Adolf Hitler's out of office. the poor people seem to be the only one's suffering with all these new ignorant laws. if the issue is to raise taxes why do the higher taxes mainly affect the population that barely make enough money to survive. before long there will be no middle class is virginia even though the middle class puts more money back into the economy than the wealthy do. oh that's right the wealthy are the ones making all these stupid laws because they don't want to be the ones paying higher taxes. WHY ARE THE RICH GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR GETTING POORER? Robin Hood might actually be on only one to fix this horrible economy our politicians have put us in.
118 agree | 121 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
albo will have someone run against him sooner or later and when he is voted out,i think he needs to retire,(SHADY PINES )mabe they have a good staff there that can help people when there minds wonder.
140 agree | 125 disagree
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Jim said:
The Albo Fees must go. They cost more in hate than they made the state. If they are not repealed and fees refunded, they will eventualy be ruled unconstitunal
120 agree | 106 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
good....about time.
137 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
These are the guys who came up with the abuser fee idea. Now, anyone whose license is suspended for nonpayment of the abuser fees will be subject to immediate arrest and 30 day impoundment of the vehicle. Guess that got lost in the fine print here. Check out the actual language of HB 91 and HB 123. Also would apply to a teen out driving illegally on a learner's permit. Automatic arrest, fingerprint and photo and the family car? gone for 30 days unless mom and dad can prove they didn't know the kid was driving.
152 agree | 151 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They are all skanks lead by a chief skank named Albo Time to get the hell out of this state... It will be California east soon enough
157 agree | 131 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
hey david albo what if i forgot to put my liscence in my pocket? oh yeah a heavy heavy unfair fine compliments to a bill you authored, and was passed. you shiesty lawyers keep draining the blood out of all virginians until the point of extinction. screw your bill. just another tactic to swell your bank accounts and those of your greedy lawyer friends!
172 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think of all the states, VA tends to go a little overboard with the punishments as far as driving privileges...I lived in VA for 2 yrs, I also work for an attorney in VA...the ways VA has found to screw over the "little guy" is unbelievable to me...but I do agree that illegal immigrants cannot continue to get away with driving around with no license, they can't read street signs, cause accidents, etc...I've seen WAY too much of that too, just drive the Beltway...
165 agree | 113 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
With this kind of LAW only the LEGALS will survive, fair enough.
149 agree | 140 disagree
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