Road Dollars

Much has been made of the lack of transportation funding in Virginia and how it is the top priority of Virginia businesses. But I wonder if the business community will allow lawmakers like Dick Black get away with this.

As the last legislative session closed, Del. Richard H. "Dick" Black (R-Loudoun) told legislators that he had informed residents that transportation was a priority but that the new budget contained no significant funding for roads and transit.

"The public can take a cynical view and ask, 'Can we really believe these guys ever?' I think it's a betrayal of the people of the state of Virginia," he said.

In the upcoming session, Black said, he was optimistic about transportation funding in part because of the pressures lawmakers are feeling. He said he would introduce a bill to protect money designated for transportation.

Everyone knows that “protecting” the Highway Trust fund won’t do much to address the underlying problem. But Black runs on his record of opposing any and all new taxes. Will the Va. business community allow Black and others to get away with their fraudulent stand?