Why Not Use Israel And Turkey's
Death Squad $$$???
11/30/99
Hard to believe the Wash. Post 'report' below failed
to mention if Gilmore said anything about mass transit
and high-rise buildings to combat urban sprawl.
As he is a Republican, I would have to assume he didn't.
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Gilmore Opposes Local Taxes for Easing Gridlock
By R.H. Melton Washington
Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 30, 1999; 1:00 PM
Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) said today he opposes giving regional authorities new taxing powers to pay for transportation improvements, but called on his special transportation task force to "consider any options" when recommending ways to ease gridlock.
Gilmore, appearing on his monthly WTOP radio talk show this morning, reacted to news accounts of a task force session Monday, during which some of the panel's 21 members said localities should have the right to raise taxes or build toll roads if those ideas are first approved in a popular referendum.
"I'm not a tax raiser," said Gilmore, who swept into office in 1997 on a promise to abolish Virginia's annual tax on cars and trucks.
"We ought to work a little harder to deal with transportation issues than simply resorting immediately to tax increases," Gilmore added. "Frankly, I don't think that this is a good approach at all.
"I don't think utilizing . . . local taxing organizations and throwing, basically, the working men and women of Northern Virginia to the wolves of tax increases, either by income tax or gas tax increases, I just don't think it's the right policy," Gilmore said.
Gilmore also criticized a call for possible new transportation taxes
that was issued Monday by a new statewide coalition of business groups,
with several from the Washington suburbs leading the way.
"The business guys and gals have got to remember that, you know, they don't have a lot of credibility if they offer tax increases on people who are not them," Gilmore said. "The people who are in automobiles, who are going to and from jobs, who are trying to make ends meet, are not going to be amused by that."
Higher taxes in Northern Virginia's high-technology centers
"reduces jobs and makes us uncompetitive," he said.
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