Opposition Promised For Road Tax Hikes

Conservatives Vow To Fight Any Plan Calling for Increases

RICHMOND, Jan. 11 -- Conservative legislators and activists highlighted the widening rift among Virginia Republicans on Thursday by vowing to oppose any plan that calls for higher taxes and fees to pay for transportation projects.

Their pledge to fight tax increases came as a group of GOP lawmakers continued meeting privately to forge a deal to raise new revenue to finance road and transit improvements. Those talks are aimed at breaking a year-long impasse over transportation funding between Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

But the Tuesday Morning Group, a collection of fiscal conservatives who meet monthly, said at a news conference that it will push for new tax cuts instead of tax increases while announcing its priorities for the General Assembly session that began Wednesday.

The division could have huge implications for the primary and general election this year. Kaine and Democratic leaders have warned that they will try to unseat Republican lawmakers in traffic-clogged Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads who oppose tax increases for transportation.

Republicans are trying to figure out the best strategy for keeping those seats and their majorities in the Senate and House. The legislative leaders are attempting to come up with a compromise that Republicans can run on while the conservatives are arguing that caving in on tax increases would cause many candidates to lose votes among the party's most faithful supporters.

"If Republicans raise taxes, we will put ourselves at greatest peril of losing our majorities. That is the worst we can do." said Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax).

Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, is trying to mediate the dispute. In a speech Thursday, Gillespie urged Republicans not to cave to Kaine. "His plan is not the definition of insanity, but it is the definition of failed leadership," he said.

In past sessions, the conservative group's agenda would hold significant sway with the General Assembly, especially in an election year.

But the conservatives -- some of whom are from Northern Virginia -- are less certain about their clout this year because of the internal Republican effort to reconcile differences and strike a deal to raise revenue for transportation. Sources said the GOP deal could include a combination of regional taxes, statewide fee increases and borrowing.

To head off that effort, several conservative activists said Thursday that they are organizing to oppose any plan that includes higher taxes and fees, warning their colleagues that loyal, fiscally conservative Virginia Republicans will not show up at the polls.

"It will depress the base and they will lose the Republican base, just like the Republicans in Congress did," said John Taylor, founder of the coalition.

The conservatives say they are demoralized by the secret GOP talks because they never imagined that House Republicans would support tax increases in an election year.

"It is extremely frustrating when they held the line [against taxes] last year," said James Parmalee, an anti-tax activist from Centreville. "You are probably going to lose more Republican core voters for raising taxes than you would gain of other voters by raising taxes."

But Kaine's threat to field candidates to run against incumbents who oppose tax increases for transportation has resulted in a more conciliatory tone from some Republicans this year, especially those in Northern Virginia.

"I think people are looking for compromise, and people are hopeful some sort of compromise will bear fruit," said Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax). "I don't think Northern Virginia can wait any longer."

Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) said many Republicans are conflicted. He said many of his constituents in eastern Prince William and Fauquier counties understand the need to better fund transportation, but aren't sure they should be asked to pay more.

"These are the folks who are trying to save for their kids' college and trying to fix their leaky roof," Lingamfelter said.

But Lingamfelter, who has opposed higher taxes in the past, left an opening for a solution this year. "I do believe conservatives are rightfully frustrated, but with that said, I have a job to do and my job is to get us some relief on transportation," he said.

Even before talk of a deal, conservatives were gearing up to challenge several Republican moderates, particularly in the Senate, in this year's primaries or caucuses. The Virginia Conservative Action political action committee recently sent out a statement to put "liberal Republicans on notice" by making sure Virginians "have a fiscally conservative choice in every district," said Robin DeJarnette, founder and executive director of the group.

But as traffic congestion worsens, some Republicans believe the political environment has changed, particularly in Northern Virginia, which not long ago was fertile ground for the no-new-tax movement.

"The debate has shifted," said Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-Fairfax), who is pushing a plan to allow Northern Virginia governments to raise their own taxes to fund transit projects in the region.

"Northern Virginia is absolutely crying out almost with one voice for additional revenue for transportation."

Staff writer Amy Gardner contributed to this report.