Last year, the House of Delegates Finance Committee killed several bills that sought to provide much-needed transportation money for Northern Virginia and the rest of the commonwealth.
This year, the panel will not have a chance to weigh in on the funding agreement Republicans unveiled last week because House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, has assigned the measure to his chamber’s Appropriations Committee.
“The Appropriations Committee seems to be more friendly than another committee would be,” said Bob Chase, director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance.
Traditionally, the Finance Committee considers bills that affect taxes and fees and the Appropriations Committee handles spending measures.
The Republican agreement combines revenue-raising provisions with spending items.
“This is a big bill,” Howell said. “It’s got land use in it, it’s got VDOT reform in it, it’s got a lot of things in it, and I think appropriations has a broad range of experience since they deal with each of those issues.”
A committee vote on the bill has not been scheduled.
