Virginia: Rep. Tom Davis Pledges Campaign Support to GOP delegates who push budget deal

Washington Post ^ | 04/06/2004 | Michael Shear, Jo Becker

[cogitator]

Excerpt:

"A group of House Republicans plans to offer a compromise tax package Tuesday that would raise close to $1 billion by increasing the sales tax rate, the cigarette tax and other fees. The delegates' willingness to consider broad-based tax increases sparked threats by anti-tax organizations to seek their ouster in next year's General Assembly elections." . . .

" Davis, who once headed the fundraising arm for Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, has privately told several Republican delegates that he will lend the prowess of his political machine to anyone who helps resolve the budget impasse, even if that means backing a tax increase.

"He said, in general terms, there would be support from him and his organization for those of us who are willing to step forward and resolve this in a responsible way," said Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-Fairfax), who said he spoke with Davis over the weekend." . . .

"If House Republicans lose in their primaries to more conservative candidates, it could clear the way for moderate Democrats to win in those districts. Davis, who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping Republicans gain majorities in the statehouse, does not want to see that happen." . . .

"One GOP delegate, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, suggested election-time support from the Foundation for Virginia, a bipartisan organization the governor helped create to advocate more education spending."

there's more of interest in the article: Hamilton of Newport News proposes an income-tax hike for those making more than $150k/year, and authority to localities to increase sales taxes

[cogitator]

And the rockets' red glare/ The bombs bursting in air...

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[GraniteStateConservative]

The Dem argument is that there's no such things as the Bush tax cut-- that states are raising them as fast as he cuts them because the programs need to be funded regardless of whether it is from state or federal taxes that are then sent back to states. I guess Davis is just agreeing with Kerry and Dean.

[familyofman]

The budget impass has gone on long enough. The bond rating may still be downgraded, but to insist on a 'no win' strategy is a loser. The voters want a deal - time to 'sh*t or get off the pot'.

[cogitator]

The Dem argument is that there's no such things as the Bush tax cut

Well, I've read that part of the problem that the states are facing is that the states that have income tax index that rate to the federal rate; so that when tax cuts were passed at the federal level states took a hit. But the main problem in Virginia and Maryland and many other states is that they cut taxes and raised spending in the '90s when they have a lot of revenue from business growth, and now they don't, but they've still got programs to spend on, and growth in mandatory expenditures is exceeding both population growth and the minimal inflation rate. =CRUNCH!

[cogitator]

The bond rating may still be downgraded,

The article says that they're talking about something very similar to Warner's plan now (~$1 billion); if that passes (and if the House proposes it, Warner will push Chichester and Co. to take it), he (Warner) was reasonably confident that it would preserve the AAA rating. It'd be a real kick in the arse if Wall Street downgraded the rating after they passed a budget with tax increases.

The color of the smoke tomorrow will be very informative.

[cogitator]

Davis is a RINO anyways.

That's pretty mean, considering how much work he's done to convert legislatures which had been in Democratic control to Republican control. We could use a few more RINOs with his acumen.

[familyofman]

"It'd be a real kick in the arse if Wall Street downgraded the rating after they passed a budget with tax increases."

That would truly add insult to injury. But, the rating agencies don't like uncertainty and, in their view, 'half measures'. What they have been looking for is a sense that the gravity of the budget shortfalls has been understood & structuarl changes, large enough, have been made to keep the 'smoke & mirrors' out of future budgets. Any more delays & attempts to dodge the responsibilty for a balanced budget will almost for sure get a downgrade. Political 'gamesmanship' is a guaranteed downgrade.

[cogitator]

Check his voting record, pro-choice, anti-gun.

A fairly typical (though increasingly rare) moderate Republican.

[Gopher Broke]

We need less of RINO's like Davis. Why is he butting into a state matter with his federal dollars to reward Republicans who harm Virginia Families with higher taxes.

Davis is the reason this long-time supporter of the NRCC and RNC will quit giving money for now....and I am sure his antics will encourage others to do the same.

It makes more sense to directly support Conservative candidates rather than help liberal RINOs like Davis....

[steve-b]

The voters want a deal

The House of Delegates has already offered a deal -- a budget based on the 11% revenue increase available to the state at existing tax rates. Warbucks and Chachingster are too greedy to accept it.

[steve-b]

We could use a few more RINOs with his acumen.

We already have more than enough politicians who know how to bleed the taxpayers white, thank you very much.

[familyofman]

"Warbucks and Chachingster are too greedy to accept it."

Referring to officials with snide plays on their names is not only insulting - it's childish. By doing so - no one will ever take you seriously because you refuse to take others seriously - grow up.

[steve-b]

I take people seriously when they earn it. Warbucks and Chachingster have not (and, indeed, have earned contempt instead).

[cogitator]

The House of Delegates has already offered a deal -- a budget based on the 11% revenue increase available to the state at existing tax rates.

The Senate and the Governor both indicated that the structure of this 'deal' would probably not allow Wall Street to maintain the state's AAA bond rating, which is based on long-term revenue and expenditure projections. "Greed" had very little to do with it.

[steve-b]

Nonsense. All they have to do is restrain their appetite for taxpayers' money until it fits within the 11% increase in revenue under the existing tax rates. Refusal to do so is, as I said, greed.

[cogitator]

All they have to do is restrain their appetite for taxpayers' money until it fits within the 11% increase in revenue under the existing tax rates.

Well, this is a moot point, because there's a new deal on the table (and pretty soon on the House floor) to be considered. I'll have the post prepared in a few minutes.