It looks as though Democrats in Virginia’s Senate will finally stand their ground over the issue of transportation and the costs associated with it as the third fiscal biennial budget was tossed in the Senate after both party’s failed to reach a compromise over how much Northern Virginians will have to fork over to drive the Dulles Toll Road.[1]
All is not lost, however, as both political groups have until the beginning of July 1st to reach a compromise over the transportation quandary.
Of course, Bob McDonnell did little to alleviate the political fires that have been burning in the Senate when he commented, “And I have to say, this is the most fiscally irresponsible act that I’ve seen during my career.” The governor’s comment was clearly aimed at Democrats in the Senate, and just as clearly not well thought out.
Democrats in the Senate had legitimate concerns about the budget, however. The primary concern was the budget’s absence of $300 million to blanket the financial hardships that drivers would have endured on the Dulles Toll Road. The tolls for the Dulles Toll Road were implemented in order to help pay for an extension of the Metro rail system to Dulles International Airport.
But according to Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R-James City County), “they [Senate Democrats] are trying to embarrass and bring down Gov. McDonnell.” McDonnell does a fine job of that on his own, however.
This time around, Senate Democrats are standing up for the policies that their constituents voted them into office to uphold and promote. I know it will be difficult for the Republican Party of Virginia to do, but this time they’ll actually have to give a little bit more than they’re taking.
No comments:
Post a Comment