Why doesn’t it surprise me that Jody Wagner will support Creigh Deeds’ proposed gas tax increase, especially when she believes that even more financial hardships are needed? At a recent campaign appearance at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Fairfax County, The Washington Post reports that Wagner, along with Delegate Vivian Watts, spoke to the Democratic Club gathering to emphasize that they are ready to raise taxes to fund for transportation.
Wagner even signaled that more tax increases might be on the horizon.
But the thrust of her remarks suggested that she believes not only that higher gas taxes must be part of a long-term solution, but that other new revenues might also be necessary.
“Whatever we do, we’ve got to make sure it’s tied to usage in some fashion,” Wagner said. “It needs to fall on people that are use the transportation system. Second, it needs to be broad-based in its application. And, third, it has to be sustainable.”
Citing her own switch from a vehicle that got 20 miles per gallon to one that now gets nearly 50, Wagner said the nation’s motorists are shifting toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, thereby reducing the amount raised by gas taxes.
“It is not the ultimate panacea we would like to think it is,” Wagner said. “So, ultimately, that is not the ultimate solution. It may be a bridge. But, ultimately, we’re going to have to be more diverse in the way we handle it because people are going to start moving away from gasoline.”
Watts, meanwhile, said she thought Deeds “was extremely responsible” when he pledged to find new revenue for transportation.
Sometimes, I wonder if Wagner and Watts realize that there is a financial crisis affecting working families and that an increased tax burden will continue to put the pinch on budgets. However, if Jody’s record as Secretary of Finance is a signal, she continues to love tax increases as a way to boost revenues.
Jody’s Tax Record (Love Affair with Taxes)
- 2004 – Sales and Use Tax (HB 5018)
- 2004 – Cigarette Tax (HB 5018)
- 2004 – Elimination of Tax deductions for seniors (HB 5018)
- 2004 – Recordation Tax (HB 5018)
- 2004 – 20-percent increase in the sales tax (HB30)
- 2004 – Car Tax Cap (HB 5018)
- 2006 – Car Titling Tax (HB 1611)
- 2006 – Vehicle Insurance Tax (HB 1613)
- 2006 – Registration Fee Increase (HB 1614)
- 2007 – Car Titling Tax (HB 2071)
- 2007 – Registration and Heavy Truck Fees (HB 3152)
- 2008 – (Special Session) – 1% increase on car titling tax, $10 increase on car registration, 1% increase in Sales Tax in Northern Virginia & Hampton Roads, 25 cent increase in Grantor Tax (HB 6026)
It leads me to ponder if both Jody and the Democratic party haven’t met a tax increase that they didn’t like, and if they did meet a tax increase they weren’t crazy about, then how would they proceed to find a solution to that increase.
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