Governor Wants Car Tax Hike Weighed

Many Northern Virginia Democrats campaigned heavily in the fall on a platform that included ending the abusive-driving fees and finding more ways to fund transportation. Democrats picked up four Senate and four House seats. A Washington Post poll before the election showed that voters opposed the abusive-driving fees and thought the transportation plan did not go far enough.

Kaine's call to end the driver fees comes with risks. Many local government officials fear that the transportation deal, which is being challenged before Virginia's Supreme Court, could unravel.

Even if the court upholds the regional authorities, Senate Democrats say, last year's transportation plan doesn't do enough to address the shortfall in the maintenance budget. Last week, all 21 Democrats in the Senate held a news conference to say they are considering a variety of options for raising money to address transportation.

"We can't begin to solve our transportation problem unless you consider some kind of taxes," said Sen. John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke). "You can't solve the problem the way Republicans tried to solve it. Last year's debacle of a transportation bill proves it can't be done on fees alone."

House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) defended the GOP approach, saying Kaine wants "to raise taxes on average citizens while lowering taxes on drunk drivers."

Underscoring the challenge facing Senate Democrats, one top House Democrat quickly distanced himself from the idea of raising the sales tax on cars.

"The car industry is suffering right now in difficult economic conditions, so it is very likely we would oppose any additional taxes on that industry," said Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), chairman of the House Democratic caucus and a likely candidate for governor next year. "Last year, we had a comprehensive package. I am in favor of letting the dust settle for a period of time."

Some Democratic proposals call for an increase in the state's 17.5 cent-a-gallon gas tax, which hasn't been raised since 1986. Kaine said he's open to increasing it but called the sales tax on cars "straightforward and rational."

"There are a lot of different people talking about a lot of different proposals. Let's see if they reach consensus on them," Kaine said.