The editorial page of today’s Wall Street Journal singles out Virginia’s state Senate for well-deserved criticism. “If you think Republicans are Capitol Hill have trouble, take a look at Virginia,” the WSJ writes. The Senate rammed through $1.5 billion (biennial) tax increase in 2004, the state is running a $2 billion (biennial) surplus, property tax bills for median-priced homes in Northern Virginia have risen by $2,000 in six years, and now the Senate wants another $1 billion (per year)?
Last week the senators floated another tax plan that is so bizarre and complicated that it has made them a laughing stock. This scheme would raise the gas tax by 5%, but the sponsors insist that “no one would have to pay the tax if they didn’t want to,” because motorists could get a rebate at the end of the year if they keep shoeboxes full of tiny scraps of service station receipts. This would add immeasurably to the joys of April 15.
Good editorial in most respects. But it would have been better if the writer had gotten the details right. The WSJ referred to “state property tax bills.” The property tax is, of course, a local tax.
The WSJ also said: “Only 18 months ago this same senate gang rammed through a $1.5 billion sales tax incrase, even after 55% of the voters had defeated the same tax scheme when it was a ballot initative a year before.” Incorrect. Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads citizens voted in regional referenda against a sales tax hike to fund transportation. The sales tax rammed through by the Senate went into Virginia’s General Fund, mainly for education. The two tax schemes, though equally ill conceived, were very different.
There’s plenty to criticize with the real facts. No need to misconstrue facts to bolster the case.
