[From the class of 09]

Gov McDonnell proposes eliminating the gas tax (17.5c) in VA and replacing it with a sales tax increase of 0.8%.

JLFJR is in favor...

“I have reviewed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2013 Transportation Funding Package and have discussed the proposal with the governor. As president of Virginia’s largest university with perhaps the state’s most geographically diverse student body, I am concerned about the condition of Virginia’s transportation infrastructure. Students travel to and from Liberty University from all 50 states and more than 90 foreign countries. I strongly support Governor McDonnell’s 2013 Transportation Funding Package because it more fairly imposes the burden of transportation funding on all who benefit from Virginia’s transportation system and it places a higher priority on transportation funding in the state budget. Liberty University has prospered in part because of Virginia’s business-friendly environment. Unless more is invested in Virginia’s transportation infrastructure, Virginia’s business-friendly rankings will continue to slip and economic development will suffer. Governor McDonnell’s proposed elimination and replacement of the archaic and now obsolete gas tax as Virginia's primary transportation funding source is fiscally sensible and is the right move for Virginia's future at this time.”

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2013/jan/08/l ... r-2455215/
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2013/jan/08/3 ... r-2454648/

[LUconn]

Saves me $6.50 on every fill up of my truck. Not that I can afford to ever fill it up.

As opposed to that same amount of money on every $812 spent. Sounds good to me.

[4everfsu]

State probably gets more money going sales tax, not everyone drives, but everyone has to buy food, eat meals, cloths etc. Just my thinking for what it is worth.

[Purple Haize]

What about all the tourists who DRIVE their cars from out of state? Pretty big chunk of change right there. It's like Las Vegas giving up their hotel tax!

[jbock13]

Either it's a zero sum game, or it benefits the states coffers. Not sure i buy it. Like most plans it sounds great at first, but then takes away more from you than you would have had before.

Having said that, I don't know. Haven't reviewed it enough.

I also see Haizes point. We're one of the cheapest states for gas already. So out of state people do buy gas here while trekking through.

Seems to me, this is all about revenue enhancement, rather than accountability with current money we have. Maybe instead of handing out cell phones for vunnables, instead we can fix potholes with that money.

[From the class of 09]

learn something new everyday...

vunnable

Derogatory and racist blanket term for low-income, poorly educated, socially ignorant African-Americans generally used by Houston radio talk show host Michael Berry and his fans.

Derived from Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who spoke about the vulnerable demographic groups, and a caller into the Michael Berry show who mispronounced it as "vunnable." The rest is history, resulting in a modern "safe" alternative to the N-word.

It's a given that the vunnables will vote for Obama in 2012...if they even registered to vote.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vunnable

[adam42381]

learn something new everyday...

vunnable

Derogatory and racist blanket term for low-income, poorly educated, socially ignorant African-Americans generally used by Houston radio talk show host Michael Berry and his fans.

Derived from Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who spoke about the vulnerable demographic groups, and a caller into the Michael Berry show who mispronounced it as "vunnable." The rest is history, resulting in a modern "safe" alternative to the N-word.

It's a given that the vunnables will vote for Obama in 2012...if they even registered to vote.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vunnable

I was about to post the same thing. There are definitely some racist undertones coming from some of our posters of late.

[rogers3]

learn something new everyday...

vunnable

Derogatory and racist blanket term for low-income, poorly educated, socially ignorant African-Americans generally used by Houston radio talk show host Michael Berry and his fans.

Derived from Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who spoke about the vulnerable demographic groups, and a caller into the Michael Berry show who mispronounced it as "vunnable." The rest is history, resulting in a modern "safe" alternative to the N-word.

It's a given that the vunnables will vote for Obama in 2012...if they even registered to vote.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vunnable

Vunnables- Blanket term for low-income, poorly educated, socially ignorant Americans.
Probably a more appropriate definition- there are vunnables within most ethnic groups, and all you have to do is check out a mobile home park or two in Campbell County and you will see. You can also check the ER after about 10:00 pm.

There is no doubt that a decline in fuel sales will continue as more economical vehicles continue to grow in number. Nice of the governor to continue to pillage at the Diesel pump, the hidden tax revenue that every grocery store shopper pays! Doesn't anyone get the connection between high diesel prices (a cheaper fuel than gasoline) and increasing grocery prices? In regards to out of town travelers, it is hit or miss whether or not a traveler fills the tank in VA- more likely though that they might grab a bite. There are plenty of vehicles that can go 400-500 miles on a tank, but not many stomachs that will. Add to that the people that will opt to fill up in VA because gas is cheaper, in turn making impulse purchases at the register. Meanwhile, I will turn to bartering.

[jbock13]

haha you people are hilarious. I mean if one person says it's racist, surely it must be! After all, it's on the internet, so it must be true. Five Iron Frenzy told us so. FYI, I don't care what anyone thinks about me. I speak what I believe.

Vunnables

A Non-Racist and non-derogatory term describing ignorant people of all colors and creeds who refuse to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get a job. Usually reliant upon the government to collect their welfare check to pay for their new fake Fendi purse and Escalade lease payment.
See those vunnables over there gettin' their nails did with that welfare money? What a drain on society!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... =Vunnables

[rogers3]

haha you people are hilarious. I mean if one person says it's racist, surely it must be! After all, it's on the internet, so it must be true. Five Iron Frenzy told us so. FYI, I don't care what anyone thinks about me. I speak what I believe.

Vunnables

A Non-Racist and non-derogatory term describing ignorant people of all colors and creeds who refuse to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get a job. Usually reliant upon the government to collect their welfare check to pay for their new fake Fendi purse and Escalade lease payment.
See those vunnables over there gettin' their nails did with that welfare money? What a drain on society!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... =Vunnables

[jbock13]

For the record, the writer is incorrect, Jackson Lee said it herself, calling them "vunnables". The proof can be found here.

http://michaelberry.iheart.com/pages/Sh ... onLee.html

Anyways, sorry, back to the gas tax. But I will defend myself. After all, as Congressman Jackson-Lee says, "the absurd becomes more absurd the more you hear it, and that's absolutely absurd."

[alabama24]

haha you people are hilarious.

Who are you calling "you people!" <ala Ross Perot> … Sounds a little racist to me.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, I use FlameFans as an escape from my everyday life in Houston. When you start dragging the Michael Berrys and Sheila Jackson Lees of the world into FlameFans it gives me indigestion.

[ATrain]

What about all the tourists who DRIVE their cars from out of state? Pretty big chunk of change right there. It's like Las Vegas giving up their hotel tax!

They'll still be subject to our sales tax. 5.8% on that soda and snack at the gas station, on meals in restaurants, on their hotel rooms. Plus, we're really not that cheaper than NC and NOVA's gas prices are insane.

The only other option are tolls everywhere. See: Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia. Soon Lynchburg and Southwest Virginia may also be subject to them for road construction projects.