Va. Gov. Kaine Calls Special Session to Address Transportation Funding

With the House and Senate at a stalemate over transportation funding, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned its regular 60-day session on Saturday March 11 without finishing work on a budget.

That prompted Governor Timothy M. Kaine to order a special session of the General Assembly to begin on Monday, March 27, 2006. Kaine urged legislators to use the upcoming two-week break to continue efforts to produce a long-term transportation program.

Setting the budget has become contingent upon settling differences over how to handle transportation funding.

The Senate favors a transportation package that would address a backlog of transportation projects and jump-start new traffic initiatives, a package that requires $1.2 billion in new taxes. But the House has steadfastly opposed raising taxes.

Meanwhile Kaine, whose own transportation package that included a hike in insurance premium taxes was rejected, has urged lawmakers to keep working until they come to an agreement.

Kaine said that he would continue to travel the state, talking to Virginians about transportation, and he urged lawmakers to use the two-week break to return to their districts to discuss the issue with local policymaker and citizens.

“I have traveled to every corner of the Commonwealth since my election last November, talking to Virginians about transportation. Our people sent us here with a very clear message: to step-up and face our statewide transportation challenges by guaranteeing better accountability with their money, to create a better connection between land use planning and transportation, and to find a source of long-term, reliable and dedicated funding for transportation,” Kaine said.