Kaine Set for a Tour to Promote Higher Taxes for Transportation

Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), for example, said he suggested to a civic association in a politically conservative part of his Springfield district that taxes could go up just in Northern Virginia to pay for new roads and transit. The new taxes would not be used in other parts of the state.

He said he was surprised by the reaction. "I told them my solution is a regional approach under one nonnegotiable rule: that Richmond never touches our money," Albo said. "I literally got a standing ovation."

The assembly's budget negotiators have been talking about the idea of concentrating transportation spending in the most congested regions.

"We're discussing a regional approach, which is something we favor," said House Appropriations Chairman Vincent F. Callahan Jr. (R-Fairfax) before leaving Thursday for a week-long trip to England, where he is scheduled to present a resolution honoring Winston Churchill. "We're just in the discussion stage."

Howell and other House leaders have said they want to direct the most money toward Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. But senators have said they do not want to help those regions without also helping other areas.

"We've always agreed there is some self-help need in those two areas," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester (R-Northumberland). "That we would do that to the exclusion of the rest of the state is problematic. There is a rest of the state."

Despite pledges to work round-the-clock, budget negotiators spent less than seven hours in discussions last week. Lawmakers adjourned the regular General Assembly session without a budget and without a deal on transportation funding.

The House and Senate negotiators met behind closed doors Wednesday for almost five hours but emerged saying that little progress had been made.

"One would have to deduce from today's conference that the House is not interested in a long-term transportation solution for the state," Chichester said after the meeting.

"Nothing really accomplished," Callahan said later. The Senate "wants to use taxes and we want to use some debt," he said.

The group met again Thursday morning for about two hours. Afterward, they decided to abandon their efforts until Tuesday. They said Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News) had agreed to discuss the idea of taxes in Hampton Roads with other members who represent those communities.

Howell said he was hopeful that the negotiators would make steady progress. But he declined to predict how long it could take to reach a deal on the budget and transportation issues.

"I think at some point, the pressure will become such that both sides will realize they need to compromise and come up with something," Howell said. "We're certainly not at that point. We think our package is good. We think our package addresses the needs of Virginians without raising taxes."