This just in from an Examiner reader:
“I attended the specially called Nothern Virginia Transportation Authority meeting this morning. NVTA
members are in shock. In the closed session, they voted to NOT ask the Supreme Court for a rehearing.
“During the regular meeting, Gerry Connolly attempted to throw a grenade into the mix by claiming this outcome put every authority and board, such as the water board and the sewer authority, at risk because none of them are elected either. I suddenly felt like Gerry is not playing with a full deck, because I think all these other boards do is recommend or submit a budget and the elected impose the taxes.
“One more thing: the state advanced the NVTA $1 million for operations. The agreement was that it had to be paid back by April 30, 2008. One of the presenters told the NVTA members the state was giving them a month or two extension.
“With no way to pay, these people are in deep doo-doo.”
Deep doo-doo indeed. They also have to refund all those illegal taxes they collected based on the arrogant assumption that the court would rule in their favor.
Want to know who to blame for this mess? By a vote of 10 to 3, NVTA adopted Resolution 01-08A – Imposing the Regional Congestion Relief Fee on July 12, 2007. Here’s the roll call take from the minutes of that meeting:
Chairman Christopher Zimmerman (Arlington) – Aye
Vice Chairman Martin Nohe (Prince William) – Aye
Gerry Connolly (Fairfax County) – Aye
William D. Euille (Alexandria) – Aye
Robert F. Lederer (Fairfax City) – Aye
David F. Snyder (Falls Church) – Aye
(Now deceased) Sen. Harry J. Parrish (Manassas)- Aye
(Former) Del. Vince Callahan (McLean) – Aye
(Former) Sen. Jeanne-Marie Devolites-Davis – Aye
Governor’s appointee Julia A. Connally – Aye
Former governor’s appointee, now Del. Margaret Vanderhye (McLean) – Aye
And the three who didn’t:
Scott York (Loudoun County) – Nay
Bryan Polk (Manassas Park) – Nay
Del. Jeff Frederick (Woodbridge) – Nay
