Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Transportation Funding Formula Challenge

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by

James A. Bacon
in

In “Funding Formula Irks Steward,” the Potomac News reports that Corey Steward, the Chairman of the Prince William Board of Supervisors, plans to challenge in Federal Court the state’s transportation funding formula. Steward contents that the arbitrary formula used by the state violates the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment.

He said for years the county’s board of supervisors has tried to convince the governor’s office and the leaders of the General Assembly to change the transportation funding formula. The lawsuit is a last ditch effort to bring some attention to the basic inequities behind the state’s funding approach, which results having the areas generating the highest tax revenues for the state turn into choke-points because of gridlocked roads.

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7 responses to “Transportation Funding Formula Challenge”

  1. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    Rodger has touched on the issue here in a round about way.

    He feels that Virginia needs to establish a BRAC-type commission to make the hard decisions that our legislators refuse to do…

    .. starting with the fundamental concept problems that we have that have been identified in JLARC reports..

    JLARC did better than identify the problems. It put recommendations on the table.. and asked for responses – from VDOT and the CTB and, in fact from the legislators.

    If you didn’t like JLARCs approach, put your own on the table.

    The only premise was that the process be fact-based and focused on changes that would correct the flaws and produce effective changes.

    Kaine.. McDonnel… Chichester, Howell instead… prefer postering and rhetoric… schooly yard tactics rather than actually make even the most feeble attempt to get to the core of what is causing the fault lines.

    If JLARC is correct (and I believe they are).. then why not incorporate their recommendations as proposed legislation – and put ALL the legislators on record with regard to truly addressing transportation policy in Virginia?

    If you are a Conservative R – why not support such legislation and go out and make an honest case for it as opposed to spending time producing a video that at best – misreprsents the issues and at worse borders on downright lies?

    Neither side – apparently – is willing to take on the things that are causing the major cracks in transportation in Va.

  2. James Atticus Bowden Avatar
    James Atticus Bowden

    If you don’t like what the legistlature is doing, don’t trash almost 400 years of representative democracy. Get yourself a bunch of new legislators for the legislature.

  3. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    Jim: I hate to say this. But weren’t we on our way to trying what you suggested? Yet every member of the RSVP Caucus in the State Senate voted for the Transportation Compromise, so I’m not sure replacing the legislators is going to work.

    It’s hard enough getting rid of incumbents. But if all it takes is two to three years before the challengers (i.e., new incumbents) become part of the problem, how are we ever going to turn this baby around?

  4. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    I suppose the concept of the R’s going around the state to make the case for comprehensive transportation reform… would be a non-starter?

    How about Kaine…??

    Better – how about a bi-partisan group … telling the truth about the situation and telling the public they are committed to:

    1. – Propose to the public a comprehensive package that includes JLARC reform

    2. – hold town meetings and listen to the public but hold everyone’s feet to the fire – including the public as to necessary changes.

    3. – don’t lie and don’t “spin”

  5. Toomanytaxes Avatar
    Toomanytaxes

    Re Tim Kaine. Tim Kaine is not interested in solving problems. He’s interested in politics only. Kaine appears to have run for Governor for the sole purpose of being Governor. He’s not much different from Tom DeLay — power for the sake of power.

  6. Phil Rodokanakis Avatar
    Phil Rodokanakis

    Toomanytaxes said: “power for the sake of power.”

    Isn’t this the primary factor motivating most politicians?

  7. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    In light of all the litigation around the US on school funding formulas, an interesting notion — although I think the education precedents tend toward the haves being forced to fund the have-nots and might end up supporting a transportation formula that had the same effect.

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