McDonnell Roads Plan Privatizes ABC StoresThis coming from the Democrat-controlled Washington Post, there follows a lot of "but ... but ... but ...," but this proposal has promise.
By James Hohmann, Washington Post Staff Writer
Robert F. McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, proposed Tuesday handing over about 330 state-run liquor stores to private operators to pay for road improvements -- a novel way to fund fixes but one that confronts many of the same obstacles that have stalled previous efforts.
Standing on a parking deck in Arlington County overlooking Interstate 66, McDonnell announced a lengthy plan to pay for Virginia's growing list of traffic woes without raising taxes, including adding tolls on Interstates 85 and 95 and setting aside a portion of sales tax collections in Northern Virginia to pay for regional road projects. McDonnell said his proposal would generate about $1.5 billion a year over 10 years.
"The current administration has been too slow and made too many excuses for why we can't get things done," McDonnell said. [link]
I say we elect Bob McDonnell and give it a chance.
7 comments:
Aren't tolls a tax? I do not believe that NOVA will like sending their $$$ south to help with our roads.
I look for tolls on the rest areas...call it Pay to Pee...
...Al...
Wow... you are actually endorsing Bob McDonnell... that is a SHOCKER!
Drew
Having lived in several states with and without State Liquor Stores, I vote for private enterprise. Better service, wider selection, lower prices (it's called competition folks) and likely more money for the state coffers. I note with interest that this article points out the present system here is run by political appointees and that law enforcement costs will grow if private enterprise takes over. Am I to understand that our state-run stores are not policed? Speaking of which, there is an absolutely hilarious story in today's Post (not the liberal WaPo but the real New Yawk newspaper,) about two public "servants" establishing a "man cave" in the Albany Capitol Garage where they smoked dope, watched TV, played darts and zoned out. One bloke was the supervisor and the other "worked" for him and delivered dope from their "break room" to local users. The real giggle is that they racked up close to $30,000 in overtime pay. Indeed, we certainly need to "grow" government.
Maybe with McDonnell we'll get "drill here; drill now". That would certainly aid the "road crisis" and likely solve the state budget shortfall. Obviously, the "shortfall" could best be solved by cutting spending.
WD,
You could have saved us some time reading your comment by just saying,
"Having been a wingnut my entire life, I vote for private enterprise."
Is there ever a time that you vote for governmental control?
Drew
McDonnell's ideas have merit, but the dollars produced, and debt incurred, will not be enough to address the existing 6-Year transportation plan major repair and maintenance projects.
Getting gubmint out of the liquor business is obvious.
Sure, Drew when I was young and foolish which is before I discovered the magic of the free market and what marvelous things can be accomplished by free men minimally taxed and minimally interfered with by government. I was such a naif, I even believed what I read in the newspapers. On the other hand, while this country is still relatively free, you are welcome to believe in your racist Fuhrer messiah and his band of White House Commissars. For a real laugh, follow that story in the Post I mentioned above. Pretend for a moment that you are not a Liberal and that you have a sensayuma. C'mon, you can do it.
Post a Comment