Bob Hull's Richmond Report
Uprising in the House
The General Assembly has already made history this year – although not in a positive way – after adjourning a regular session for the first time without adopting a two-year budget.
More history was made on Tuesday when 17 Republican House members joined me and all but one other House Democrat in approving the first general tax increase since 1986.
The Senate still needs to act on the bill, but it is a major step forward in the process of finalizing a budget.
The bill would produce the new revenue needed to balance the next two-year budget and those in the future.
Taxes Restructured
As with Governor Warner’s proposal, this bill does not just raise taxes. It restructures the tax system with some increases and some decreases.
The bill would raise the state sales tax by ˝-cent starting September 1 and increase the cigarette tax to 30-cents over two years.
It also raises revenues by removing an existing sales tax exemption for capital purchases by public utilities and closing some corporate tax loopholes.
The bill reduces taxes by cutting the food tax to 3-cents by 2006, ending the estate tax, and making income tax changes.
Income taxes would be restructured by increasing the personal exemption from $800 to $1,000 and eliminating the income tax marriage penalty.
Coalition of the Willing
Until now, the Republican mavericks have not been willing to buck the anti-tax conservatives who control their caucus or the conservative groups who support them.
It is an interesting group. Among them are five of the 14 committee chairs, three of whom are from Northern Virginia.
Also among this group are three other senior members, seven third-year members, and two freshmen.
I understand that their fellow Republican caucus members have threatened them with all manner of bad things, including the loss of committee chairmanships.
Anti-tax activists have also threatened to run primary opponents against them or any Republican who votes for a tax increase.
Withstanding this barrage, these maverick Republicans helped produce the 52 to 46 majority for the bill before the House adjourned until next Tuesday.
Hopefully, this coalition of the willing will hold fast next week as we deal with changes that the Senate will make to the bill.
Again, let me know how you feel about these budget and tax issues by calling me at (703) 573-4855.
Stuart and Margaret Finley
I want to honor the dynamic duo of Stuart and Margaret Finley. After moving here following World War II, they bought a house along Lake Barcroft.
He worked for WRC television as one of the staff announcers. His melodious voice could also be heard doing voice-overs for public interest programs.
Many of these programs included specials on ecology and the environmental, giving Stuart a greater appreciation for Lake Barcroft.
After hurricane damage destroyed the dam in 1970, he was instrumental in the creation of the special tax district that funded its repair.
Stuart became the Executive Director of this Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District and served in that capacity for over 30 years.
He passed away last summer. In order to honor his long time public service, I introduced a bill this year to name the new Potterton Drive bridge after him.
Approved overwhelmingly, Governor Warner was set to sign the bill when we found out that Mrs. Finley was very ill.
Upon my request, the Governor ordered the Virginia Department of Transportation to go ahead and print and install the signs to make this happen ahead of time.
So, in a hastily organized ceremony on April 3, the Stuart Finley Bridge was dedicated and the new bridge signs were unveiled.
Mrs. Finley was not well enough to attend, but I was able to give the family a small version of the new bridge sign for her.
I learned this week that Mrs. Finley passed away last Friday morning. May she rest in peace along with her beloved husband.
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