Could it be that members of Virginia’s Republican Party are
concerning themselves with the disadvantaged of the commonwealth? Rep. J Randy
Forbes (R-4th) appeared to buck the VA GOP trend when he recently
asked Gov. Bob McDonnell to scrap a proposal to locate a toll along I-95, south
of Richmond. Forbes said that he is worried that the tolls “will
disproportionately burden the citizens of a region unable to shoulder
additional economic challenges.”[1]
More of this crazy thinking and he might turn into a Democrat!
Forbes sent letters to Gov. McDonnell and the Federal
Highway Administration this week, noting that Virginia identifies several of
the communities around the toll location proposed for Sussex County as
“economically stressed.”[2]
The National Association of Truck Stop Operators, the
Virginia Trucking Association, and the American Trucking Association have
already put into play a grassroots campaign to stop the proposal to place a
toll plaza north of Emporia, a toll that would obviously hurt truckers that
travel through this part of Virginia. Large trucks would have to pay a whopping
$12 at the plaza north of Emporia!
According to a spokeswoman for Gov. McDonnell, Taylor
Thornley, “Governor McDonnell believes this is a commonsense way to generate
more revenue for transportation projects without raising taxes – revenue that
would be generated, in large part, by drivers from other states.”
Thus, not only does Gov. McDonnell want to issue a new tax
(that isn’t called a tax, but it is!), for driving along certain roads, he
apparently wants to discourage travelers from outside of Virginia to travel
along Virginia’s highways. Isn’t the old GOP mantra that taxes are
“disincentives?”[3]
Randy Forbes did what a political leader should do, fight
for his constituency, rich or poor. Unfortunately, many members of the Virginia
GOP seem more interested in fighting for the wealthy among their constituents.[4]
I won’t be holding my breath for repeat instances of compassion on the part of
members of Virginia’s Republican Party.
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