General Assembly Republicans fired back at Gov. Tim Kaine on Wednesday, accusinghim of distorting aspects of their transportation funding plan to score political points.
Kaine, a Democrat, has promised to significantly amend the measure because it would take about $200 million a year out of the state’s general fund. If legislators reject Kaine’s amendments, he has threatened to veto the bill.
“Disappointingly, in the days leading to its passage and in the days since, some around Capitol Square and beyond have chosen to mischaracterize the effects of this legislation, downplaying its many potential benefits for the commonwealth and our citizens,” House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, said during a news conference in Richmond. “We cannot allow politically convenient rhetoric to squander this opportunity for public policy progress on transportation, which is intertwined with every aspect of our lives.”
Kaine had made frequent media appearances to sell Virginians on his concerns about the bill, starting with Tuesday’s appearance on WTOP radio and a news conference outside its studios. In response, the Republican Party of Virginia has aired television ads in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads asking the public to urge Kaine to sign the measure into law.
The ads have drawn Democratic ire. In legislative debate on the bill Saturday, several Republican senators said they did not like the bill in its current form, but were voting for it with the expectation Kaine would make improvements.
“Instead of listening to the calls of Republican and Democratic legislators asking the governor to find a compromise solution, the Republican Party launched into attack mode, furthering the partisan divide instead of seeking solutions to our transportation crisis,” Virginia Democratic Party Executive Director Amy Reger said.
Kaine insists he is focused on coming up with the best transportation bill possible, not scoring points with voters he hopes will elect more of his fellow Democrats to the General Assembly.
“That’s what’s so liberating about only being able to serve one term as governor,” he said Tuesday. “You are free to do whatever you think is the right thing.”
