As General Assembly members prepare to convene in Richmond on Wednesday, many foresee a hurly-burly session in a year when all 140 legislative seats will be on the ballot in November’s election.
“It is going to be Armageddon down there,” predicted Delegate David Albo, R-Springfield.
The Republicans, who control both chambers, and Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine publicly profess faith that they can achieve bipartisan cooperation during the winter’s session even as they prepare for the fall’s partisan warfare.
Kaine, for example, expressed a desire to work with legislators to reach consensus on a statewide transportation funding plan when he delivered his annual budget address in December. But he is also raising money to spend in campaigns against Republican lawmakers who do not support his transportation proposals.
“That’s just how things work,” Kaine said. “I want to help people on my team and they are doing the same thing for their team. They understand that is part of the process.”
Transportation has emerged as the top issue facing lawmakers this session, which is scheduled to conclude Feb. 24.
“This year will be about transportation, transportation, transportation,” said Delegate Ken Plum, D-Fairfax.
Kaine prefers to raise transportation money by increasing the sales tax on motor vehicles — a fee now lower than the levy on other goods. Tax-hating Republicans in the House of Delegates leadership want to see a heavier reliance on borrowing to generate revenue.
Besides the disagreement over the statewide approach to generating money, Northern Virginia legislators are working on proposals that would increase regional taxes and fees to pay specificallyfor additional, regional projects.
But the delegation, which includes lawmakers from Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, is not of one mind. Legislators from the urban areas of Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax are supporting regional revenue plans while the more conservative, tax-adverse lawmakers from Loudoun and Prince William are skeptical, threatening the prospects for agreement.
“If nothing happens with transportation,” said Fairfax County Supervisor Dana Kaufmann, “it will be a disaster.”
