| People
Speak Out at Reston Political Forum |
| Sales
Tax Increase Wrong Idea for N. Va. Taxpayers |
| It was cold and blustery the night of Jan. 3, yet they cameâtwo
by two or by themselves. There was a mix of races and ages:
survivors of the Greatest Generation, as well as the future
Greatest Generation members made up of Baby Boomers and Thirty-Somethings.
The meeting room at the Reston Regional Library was packed. |
| What brought this diverse group out on a wintry night? The
occasion was a semi-annual public hearing called by Virginia
Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Kenneth Plum, who had invited constituents
to share their thoughts on issues facing the forthcoming General
Assembly. |
| In a mail-out prior to the hearing, Plum explained that
Virginia was going to have difficulty paying for needed programs
and services because revenues had fallen, and the state faces
a serious backlog of unfunded programs from previous years. |
| What impressed me most was that these people weren't professional
lobbyists wearing tasseled loafers seeking special legislative
treatment for themselves or their clients. Despite their diverse
backgrounds and opinions, graying Reston pioneers of the 1970s
were united with chic dot.comers in their efforts to initiate
or expand state programs to help others least able to help
themselves: the mentally ill, the homeless, abused women,
disadvantaged children and the faltering state-wide educational
system. |
| Their priorities varied but not one person spoke in favor
of raising the sales tax to pay for transportation and roads.
On the contrary, there was scorn voiced at corporate welfare
and baseball mogul wannabes seeking public handouts to build
a stadium and pay outrageous salaries to the players. |
| But all wasn't sweet harmony with political leanings from
liberal to conservative. One man made a pitch for school vouchers
while another spoke against diverting funds badly needed to
improve the public school system. |
| A community leader reminded everybody of the pain of discrimination
that had prevented him as a youth and others from entering
state universities. He passionately urged continuing the battle
for equal opportunity so everyone could get a quality education.
|
| Another spoke of the need for more religion and an old-timer
ruminated about freedom of choice and women's rights. One
speaker, with an impressive handlebar mustache, was dressed
like a Hell's Angels biker, complete with bandanna, T-shirt
and leather chaps, to make the case against mandatory helmets.
He cited data to prove it was safer not to wear a helmet,
but secretly, I hoped he would obey the law when he rode home. |
| And then it was my turn to speak in my dual role as a constituent
and as an advocate for seniors. I was there to voice my opposition
to a plan to raise the sales tax to pay for needed roads and
transit. You may recall from last month's Senior Focus that
area chambers of commerce had formed a compact "to advance
self-help solutions to our region's transportation gridlock"
by raising the sales tax to pay for needed roads and transit. |
| I agreed with the need to improve transportation and roads
but criticized their plan to finance it by raising the sales
tax, for the following reasons: |
| It's unfair. The sales tax adds to the costs of necessities
of life, such as food and clothing, which certainly aren't
avoidable luxuries. Thus, the sales tax falls hardest on those
least able to afford it: mainly, the elderly on fixed incomes
and the poorest of the poor, the unemployed, the homeless
and persons working at or below the poverty level. Ironically,
this meeting was taking place right next door to the Embry
Rucker Community Shelter. I can just imagine what old Embry
would have said about the Compact's "self-help" proposal which
in truth really means "helping themselves." |
| It's untimely. The nation is involved in fighting a war
on two fronts: terrorism and economic recession. Unemployment
is at a six-year high and government revenues are way down.
This is no time to add to the people's misery. Nor is it good
for business to increase taxes during a recession. |
| It would throw good money after bad. The compact would add
another costly bureaucratic layer on top of the existing hodgepodge
of federal, state and local regulatory agencies. To make matters
worse, the Virginia Department of Transportation, which has
been criticized for mismanagement, would be put in charge
of administering these increased funds. |
| It would establish a dangerous precedent. For years, Northern
Virginia has gotten the short end of the stick when it came
time for the General Assembly to divvy up tax revenues. If
we offer to pick up the tab for services and programs that
are normally state responsibilities, I can assure you that
they'll say "thank you" and send the money we said we didn't
need to other areas of the state. |
| It doesn't solve the problem. The compact's plan is seriously
flawed and poorly timed. Worst of all, it doesn't attack the
basic cause of the problem: urban sprawl largely brought on
by the very developers who are calling for state financial
assistance to build more roads, which in turn encourages more
urban sprawl and results in traffic gridlock. Then, to add
insult to injury, these very same developers who are causing
the problem balk at paying fees to cover increased costs for
providing needed police and fire protection and schools. |
| Sen. Howell and Del. Plum told the group they were optimistic
because a new governor, who is more understanding of our area's
problems, will take office on Jan. 12. They were also mindful
of the huge budget deficit that the new administration will
inherit. |
| Both are veterans of political infighting and cited their
record of backing social causes and programs. Among other
things, they plan to sponsor a comprehensive study of Virginia's
finance and tax structures in order to develop other means
of financing essential programs and services. |
| Unfortunately, current news reports indicate a continuing
legislative desire to push for a sales tax referendum for
transportation and roads. The sales tax may be the most politically
viable, but it hurts those who can least afford it and won't
help improve the current situation. If the cause of the problem
isn't eliminated, it would be a waste of scarce revenue resources. |
| The legislative session is just starting. Now is the time
for all readers to write to state legislators. Tell them we
need smart growth, with more public transportation, to stop
increasing urban sprawl and that they should develop more
creative ways to pay for it, such as a luxury tax on big ticket
items and a progressive income tax rate. |
| They're in Richmond for the General Assembly, but their
local office phone will switch you over at no cost. Sen. Howell
can be reached at 703-709-8283, and Del. Plum is at 703-758-9733. |
| |
| Senior Moments |
| Jan. 23. Senior movie day in Reston, "Thirteen Days," free,
with refreshments. 703-437-9580. |
| Feb. 13. Cholesterol and diabetes testing. Free, 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Reston Hospital, Plaza Atrium. 703-689-9240. |
