Local Democrats & Republicans Stand Firm to Give Transportation/Land Use Reform a Chance

Those of us of all political stripes who want to see meaningful reforms in transportation (including the institution of cost controls for VDOT and the reform or elimination of the CTB's funding expensive transportation projects based on lobbying) and land use (at least some steps toward adequate public facilities laws) should cheer three local Democratic members of the House of Delegates (along with some area Republicans) who refused to raise taxes in the special session of the General Assembly. Democratic Delegates Bob Hull, Steve Shannon and Chuck Caputo joined their GOP counterparts, Jeff Frederick, Tim Hugo, Bob Marshall and Scott Lingamfelter to vote in committee against several transportation tax increases. Their collective act of sensibility and political courage could enable those many elected officials of both parties who want reforms to try again next session. (The Washington Post will be after their individual hides for not raising taxes. )

I'm not arguing that Virginia could not use any more money for transportation or that the tax and fee proposals from GOP Delegates David Albo and Tom Rust were necessarily unreasonable. But we need reforms first before we dedicate more of our incomes to transportation. Had these good Delegates caved to pressure from the tax-happy crowd and those who are subsidized, the chances of seeing any reform next year would be lessened.

How badly do we need reform? This is state where a prominent developer went to a meeting in Richmond where he arrogantly informed a crowd of public officials and ordinary citizens that he built things and it was the job of taxpayers to pay whatever it takes to fund the infrastructure necessary to support new development. Those comments strike me as repugnant and symptomatic of what is wrong with Virginia.

I like real estate people. I've generally found them to be good business operators and citizens. Most will accept reasonable regulations (just as the rest of us do in our businesses) and will pay fair fees to support public facilities (as is done throughout most of the rest of the nation). I don't think that development should be demonized per se or should pay all government infrastructure costs in Virginia. But some, especially in Fairfax County, seem to think that we still live in feudal days. They are the lords of the realm and we are the vassals and serfs intended to serve their needs.

Flash, King John signed the Magna Carta ages ago. The founders of this country gave us the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights many years ago. We owe no duty to a few who want the unlimited right to build what they want, where they want it and when they want it. We are not mere "commoners" who owe obligations to our "betters" to pay more and more so that a few can operate their businesses as they see fit and without paying reasonable fees to support public facilities.

We need reforms now. Fix the system. Make it fair. Measure VDOT's performance. Reign in the CTB and the lobbyists who work before it. Adopt APFO statutes. Make sure that these reforms work. Then, let's discuss funds. Because of the sensibility of Delegates Hull, Shannon, Caputo, Frederick, Hugo, Marshall and Lingamfelter, we might have another chance with the next session of the General Assembly. Thank you all, Democrats and Republicans alike.