The Virginia House of Delegates cleared the way on Thursday for a final vote on Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to infuse the state’s transportation system with $4 billion over the next three years – after a heated floor debate among members on both sides of the aisle.
The 62-35 vote clears the way for a final vote on the matter in the House on Friday. The Senate’s version of the plan has also been reported to the floor.
Some Democrats criticized the plan for its heavy reliance on borrowing and the notion of using surplus money from the general fund, which pays for schools, police and other services, to pay for transportation.
“We’re [robbing] schools,” said House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry. “We’re taking money away from police officers.”
Meanwhile, others defended the plan.
“This is exactly the time that you want to be borrowing money to build roads,” said Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax.
Should the General Assembly sign off on the governor’s $4 billion funding plan, it would grant McDonnell, who identified transportation as one of his top priorities for the 2011 session, a major legislative victory early on in his second year in office.
