As the 140 Virginia General Assembly members prepare to head to Richmond for the start of this year’s session on Jan. 10, they do so knowing all of their jobs are on the line.
Every seat is up for election in the fall, putting pressure on lawmakers to perform. Advocates for a new source for transportation dollars in Northern Virginia hope the prospect of facing fed-up voters will spur legislators to reach an agreement, something they didn’t do last year despite a special session devoted to transportation funding.
“If they don’t do something, there will be retribution at the polls,” said Gerald Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “I think the issue will be at the front of most voters’ minds.”
In case any lawmakers thought voters might forget about what happens in Richmond during the two-month session by the time November rolls around, Gov. Tim Kaine has already begun raising money to use in fall campaigns against Republican legislators who oppose him on transportation funding.
Republicans have seen their Statehouse majorities shrink in recent elections, and with Democrat Jim Webb’s win in the U.S. Senate race, they want to enhance their appeal in Northern Virginia.
“I am starting to believe folks are going to demand we do something, and we will pass something because of that,” said Sen. Martin Williams, R-Norfolk, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “People are going to hold all of us accountable.”
If this is the year that Kaine and lawmakers agree on a giant transportation funding plan, some lawmakers may have to give up their anti-tax stances to allow for an increase in the sales tax or another levy. The pressure from voters tired of traffic might be enough to make that happen.
“The public is looking to their legislators to do our job and come up with a transportation solution,” said Sen. Mark Herring, D-Loudoun. “No one wants to raise taxes, but people understand this is a big issue and it will take money to solve it.”
