Girlymen Don’t Raise Taxes
By Dave Phillips
 Governor “Aaa-noldâ€? of California once called the state legislature “girlymenâ€? because they did not have the, ah, um, correct body parts to do what needed to get done. The Virginia Governor and members of the General Assembly also lack this same piece of anatomy. (Note: it is easier to apologize than be politically correct, so to anyone who is offended by the term “girlymen,â€? I apologize.)Yesterday the Virginia Governor and some high ranking members of the Assembly pretended to have a backbone when they stood up and supported the very unpopular new traffic fines – excuse me, “feesâ€? – that were concocted as part of the spineless transportation bill that was passed earlier this year. I was shocked that they seemingly showed courage by defending such an unpopular policy, but then I realized they were simply choosing the lesser of two fears. They are so afraid to raise taxes to pay for our transportation needs, that they would rather face the music on excessive traffic fines than consider a more honest and legitimate funding source – taxes.None of us like to pay taxes. In fact, I think it is un-American to pay one nickel more than you are supposed to pay. I also think it is un-American to expect to get something for nothing. Unfortunately, there are no politicians willing to tell their constituents that new roads and other services cost real money. Instead of just telling us, they hide tax increases by raising fees, taxing dead people, or finding sneaky taxes that voters don’t think will affect them (e.g., grantor’s tax that only applies when you move to a new home). Can you imagine going to a grocery store that advertises free food, but then discovering that they charge you to park, a bagging fee, and entrance fee, and exit fee. Do you really think the groceries are free? I do not think the people of Virginia are dumb enough to think roads are free. Tell us the cost, tell us how you are going to tax us to pay for them, and then ensure the money collected gets spent on roads.Â
For those of you who think they already have enough of our money to pay for roads, I agree, but do you really think our girlymen will have what it takes to cut out less important services and programs? The chances of that are even less than them telling us they are going to raise taxes.
Â