The conservative/libertarian anti-tax wing of the Virgina Republican Party is threatening to sit out the November 2007 elections unless Republican leaders in Richmond renounce the abuser fees:
RICHMOND, Aug. 14 — Anti-tax conservatives launched a revolt against the Republican leaders of the General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for GOP legislators to replace House Speaker William J. Howell and warning that the party risks steep losses in the November election unless the “abusive driver” fees are repealed.
At a news conference to discuss a lawsuit aimed at abolishing the transportation bill approved in April, several anti-tax activists said they and other conservatives might sit out the Nov. 6 election because Howell (R-Stafford) and other GOP leaders are defending the fees and other aspects of the legislation.
“This bill is a dramatic policy failure,” said John Taylor, president of the Virginia Institute for Public Policy, a conservative think tank. “We believe it is unconstitutional and demonstrated a political ineptness that is stunning in an election year. The Republican grass roots needs to ask their leadership, ‘What were you thinking?’ “
What were they thinking indeed.
