Tell Bob McDonell to Veto Virginia's Largest Tax Increase In History, so called TRANSPORTATION BILL

CALL BOB MCDONELL AND TELL HIM TO VETO THE TAX HIKE (SO CALLED TRANSPORTATION) BILL: Office: (804) 786-2211

The largest tax increase in the history of Virginia was just passed by our Virginia legislators. Republican Speaker Bill Howell and Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R) engineered a six billion tax increase on Virginians, in very tough economic times. The taxes were so outrageous, that the Republican Leadership needed the support of Democrats to pass it, even though Republicans have an overwhelming majority in the House and tied representation in the Senate.

You will see new taxes or increase in taxes on all of the following: sales tax, gas tax, diesel fuel tax, vending machine tax, personal property tax, hotel tax, internet tax, car tax, tangible property sale tax, and more!

Governor Bob McDonnell aggressively pushed and expressed support for this $6 billion tax increase plan. Bob wanted the tax increase so bad that he even made a deal with the Democrats to get the votes he needed by pledging to pave the way to implement Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, which will add an additional 400,000+ people to the Medicaid roles in Virginia.

But it is not too late! The bill is sitting on Governor Bob McDonnell's desk. Join here and tell Bob that you stand with other Virginians who oppose implementing the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia on the hardworking poor and middle class, especially during this bruising recession. Tell Governor Bob McDonnell to veto the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia - HB2313.

VA REPUBLICANS JOINTLY PASS LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN STATE HISTORY

In what may be his George H.W. Bush moment, and much to the chagrin of Virginia's conservatives, Republican Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, along with Republican VA House Speaker William Howell, endorsed the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia on Saturday.

On paper, the General Assembly passed a bill to raise taxes to fund transportation projects that is slated to bring in $880 million more a year in taxes, but the true cost to taxpayers is estimated to be "$1.13 billion per year in tax increases."


Regardless, it is by far the greatest tax increase in the history of the Commonwealth, surpassing the $442 million per year increase in 1986 and $680 million per year increase in 2004.

“This is a historic day in Virginia. We have worked together across party lines to find common ground and pass the first sustainable long-term transportation funding plan in 27 years," McDonnell, who also may have plans to run for president in 2016, said in a statement on Saturday. "There is a ‘Virginia Way’ of cooperation and problem solving, and we saw it work again today in Richmond."

Many conservatives in Virginia saw it as a "historic day" for other reasons. ( read the entire story here )

Please urge Governor McDonnell to keep his promise and reject any legislation that seeks to accommodate “Obamanocare.”

Message From Bob Marshall To You For Governor Bob McDonnell

Dear Fellow Virginians,

Please urge Governor McDonnell to keep his promise and reject any legislation that seeks to accommodate “Obamanocare.”  The “Affordable Care Act” does not require States to run their own Health Care Exchanges.  At least 26 states have refused to set up exchanges which are website marketplaces of health insurance plans meeting federal criteria. (Google: “Virginia Health Care Exchange.” Several private marketplaces already operate).

If states refuse to set up their own exchanges, it will probably take longer for the federal government to deform healthcare and perhaps postpone enforcement of mandates requiring abortion pills and “medical” inquiries regarding which homes have guns.

In 2010, Governor McDonnell’s Secretary of Health set up a Commission to study health care “reform” with a $1 Million grant.  I asked Secretary Hazel why Virginia was proceeding with government-run health care while we were challenging the law in federal court.  I was told Virginia must be “prepared.”

Governor McDonnell has publicly stated he would not set up a Virginia exchange. Now he appears willing to sign bills which authorize state involvement while purporting to provide state “oversight” of a federal exchange. In reality the bills commit Virginia resources, including personnel from several state agencies, claiming (without guaranty) that Virginia will be reimbursed by the federal government (still our tax money).  If this is not a state insurance exchange then what is it?

Instead of Virginia exercising its right to refuse to set up a state exchange as other states are doing, Virginia will use its authority, resources and personnel to grease the Obamanocare skids and objectionable mandates.

Several bills have already passed the General Assembly. Senate Bill 922, introduced February 11, 2013, passed the House of Delegates.  It states in part:

Section 32.1-16 (b): “The Department shall be compensated for expenses incurred in providing such services. “   Does this mean compensation by state agencies or Washington?  In either case, it involves additional tax money.

Section 38.2-326 (A)(i) states in part: “full funding is available.”  Funding from where?

Section 38.2-326 (A) (ii) states in part:  “technology infrastructure, including integration with federal, state, and other necessary entities, is made available to the commission by or through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources…”  Will funding come from the feds or the state? What are the costs? Understand that “made available,” does not mean “provided free of charge.”  If the feds “provide,” what will they charge Virginia taxpayers?

Section 38.2-326 (B) states in part:  “the Commission may contract with and enter into a memoranda of understanding to carry out its plan management functions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or any other state or federal agency…”   A MOU with another state agency simply would obligate more Virginia tax money and resources from the other state agency to pay for costs associated with the plan.
 
Section 38.2-326 (C) states in part: “the Commission’s obligation to perform plan management functions described in subsection A is contingent upon receiving federal funding sufficient to pay the operating expenses necessary to carry out the plan management of functions.  The Commission shall seek full reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for such expenses.  “Seeking full reimbursement does not mean obtaining full reimbursement.   Without wording which states, “The SCC shall not perform plan management functions unless all Virginia expenses are paid in full by the Federal government” this section does not assure plan management functions will be paid for by the feds (still our money).   Even if the Commission has no obligation to perform plan management functions, there is no prohibition on their performing plan functions.

Section 32.2-326 (E) states in part that “Technology resources provided by the Commission in carrying out the plan management functions shall be limited to existing commission technology support functions…” How much will this cost Virginia taxpayers?

Section 32.2-326 (F) states in part that “The Commission shall make available to the public on its website a written report on the implementation and performance of its plan management functions during the preceding  fiscal year, including, at a minimum, the manner in which all funds utilized for its plan management functions were expended.”   How much will this cost the State to carry out this function? How many state employees will be needed? Will others need to be hired?

If you do not want Virginia to speed up compliance with “Obamanocare” please call (804) 786-2211 or email the Governor here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/aboutthegovernor/contactgovernor.cfm

Ask him to veto any legislation that accommodates “Obamanocare.”

Thank you for your help!



P.S. I thank Dr. Mark Berg for his help and insights on this bill.

Will Virginia's anti-NDAA (indefinate detention) law really protect us?

The main question in many minds of those who hold individual liberty dear is:

Will Virginia's anti-NDAA/Indefinate Detention Law actually protect us from out of control Feds on a witch hunt?

Or will our State Leaders like Bob McDonnell, who originally opposed the anti-NDAA bill, because he claimed it hurt the war on terror ignore implementation of the bill when the time comes to protect Virginia citizens?

To read more on this subject click here