Enough, Already!   Abuser fees are getting all the attention during this year's election cycle, crowding out discussion of more important issues such as impending budget deficits and out-of-control state spending.   In August of this election year there is an unsettled feeling among the electorate that hasn’t jelled yet, but you know it’s there.   Even as the housing bubble was bursting last fall and winter, the legislature added some $700 million to the two-year budget earlier this year. Now, there are projections of a deficit of $300 million in the current budget and up to $1.2 billion over the next two years. But candidates aren’t talking about these deficits. No one seems to be talking about reducing the size of government spending to solve the deficit problem. No one is reminding voters that our state budget grew from $48 billion to $74 billion in a short, six-year period.   Instead of focusing on the deficit, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is promoting a major new entitlement program called “Universal Pre-K,” which is a highly expensive and unproven program for all but “at-risk” students. And some liberal groups say this new program will cost over $800 million a year! Budget reality seems to have taken an unhealthy holiday.   As our legislators were bragging about the new transportation bill that would bring hundreds of millions of dollars to confront traffic congestion in our Interstate highways and larger metro areas, “abuser fees” blew up in their faces. The issue has consumed the headlines and the political energy of our candidates.   Like the proverbial deer in the headlights, our legislative leaders have taken weeks to respond in a serious way. Meanwhile, almost 180,000 folks have signed an on-line petition to abolish these new abuser fees – that’s 1,800 angry voters per state House district! Some legislators mumble about repealing abuser fees while others talk about making major changes to the bill. But, at this writing, there has been no credible move to convince voters that this piece of the transportation bill will be substantially changed or abolished.   We should remember that these abuser fees were passed for good reasons – to raise $60 million in revenue to solve our transportation problems. But they were passed instead of an additional two- or three-cent gas tax increase because the legislators did not want to "raise taxes." That is the crux of this entire situation.   When Gov. Kaine removed out-of-state drivers from the abuser fees, the General Assembly approved. In retrospect that was a huge mistake. Courts are saying it is unconstitutional if out-of-state drivers are not required to pay these charges. Then, when it was discovered that additional abuser fees would be imposed even on those not properly using turn signals, the outcry grew only louder.   We’re told abuser fees will be fixed but the voters aren’t convinced. It might be time to just scrap the whole abuser fee and design a credible alternative for replacing the $60 million contribution to the state’s traffic congestion relief. The Governor could call for a moratorium on enforcing the current abuser fees as we wait for the General Assembly to act in January.   Heftier fines on reckless drivers are a good idea but it should be done in the right way. Instead of jerry-rigging the current system to put an additional $60 million into congestion relief, a new legislative bill should simply follow the current system for speeding tickets. Additional reckless driving fines should be put into the Literary Fund as speeding fines are today, as spelled out in state constitution, to help build schools. And, of course, out-of-state drivers should not be immune.   Our elected leaders need to credibly confront the abuser fee issue so that it is no longer a topic in this election year. There are far more significant issues facing the voters that should be discussed and debated.   The pending budget deficit and how to handle it is a huge problem that is not being seriously discussed right now. The Governor’s proposed new entitlement program of “Universal pre-K” could become, if passed, a billion- dollar government program in a few short years.   Size of government, the growth rate of state budgets, a new expensive entitlement program -- these are huge issues that need to be the major issues of this year’s election – not abuser fees. Hopefully, candidates for office will take strong and appropriate action to put the focus of this year’s election where it belongs. Time is running out.   -- August 13, 2007