At least there appears to be bipartisan agreement on mental health issues.

I’m interested in what happens with the rainy day fund.  As I understand it, the General Assembly established very specific conditions that must be in place for money in the rainy day fund to be accessed, and those conditions exist currently.  If that’s the case, then what appears to be a very ample fund should be used; otherwise, why establish the fund and the conditions to begin with?

I would like to see more working together, not so much posturing for the media or to gain an edge in the next election. An emphasis on bread and butter (transportation, budget, meaningful debate on mental health, social spending and heck campaign reform) issues may be too much to ask but it would be nice.

Virgiia government on Jan 3, 2008 could cancel that dumb VDOT highway penalties fee and vote in a 10 cent gasoline tax for VDOT needs.

The general Assembly could vote for a 50 cent per pack cigarette tax to rid the shame of Virginia having the lowest tobacco tax [around 3cents] in the nation.

Bonnie is on the right track and I hope the Assembly and Governor heed her suggestions.

While I would not give a specific amount for a gas tax, I agree that the consumption tax would be the best, and most transparent solution to transportation funding. We all benefit from roads, so we should all contribute. I would seek targeted cuts in other programs as a first measure, and only after that avenue was exhausted, then use a gas tax increase.

Based on research that I did earlier this year, the typical citizen uses less than 500 gallons of fuel per year, so a nickel increase would be only impact Virginians with a direct cost of $25.00 annually. Many others have indicated that only a two or three cent increase is more than enough revenue, however, so the impact would more likely be about $15.00 annually.

This form of taxation is far more predictable and does not use our law enforcement as revenue agents, like the nutty “abuser fees” scheme.

I would also like to see the RTAs repealed. They are an unnecessary layer of government and the gas tax would negate their reason for existing.

One area rarely discussed is the establishment of the Naval Militia. The Code of Virginia provides for a Naval Militia, but Virginia hasn’t taken advantage of this ready force of manpower.

We should stand-up a Naval Militia that will have its own command structure that reports to the Secretary of Public Safety. The Virginia Naval Guard could use the Reserve and retired veterans from all service branches here in Virginia to provide a potent force to respond to regional emergencies, including the augmentation of our Virginia military base security teams.

Currently the “planning” for the Naval Militia is buried by the National Guard and relegated to the Virginia Defense Force; the disarmed, all volunteer team used as parking lot attendants for events such as the Apple Blossom festival.

The Virginia Naval Guard must be established in a manner that will allow the organization to receive funding from DoD and to provide the organization of Reserve and Retired military personnel into a quasi-volunteer team that can be quickly deployed here in Virginia at the command of the Governor.