Below The Beltway

The Washington Post takes a look at the political fallout that is likely to ensue from the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision declaring the state’s regional transportation authorities unconstitutional:
RICHMOND — The Virginia Supreme Court’s decision Friday to strike down parts of the state’s transportation funding plan threatens to undermine the legacies of the state’s top [...]

The Washington Post reports that some political leaders in Northern Virginia are blaming a bad plan by the General Assembly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision declaring the NVTA unconstitutional:
RICHMOND, Feb. 29 — Northern Virginia officials reacted to the state Supreme Court’s decision Friday by condemning lawmakers for approving what they said was [...]

In an opinion issued today, the Supreme Court of Virginia has declared the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority unconstitutional:
The Virginia Supreme Court today overturned a landmark measure designed to relieve traffic congestion in Northern Virginia, declaring that the creation of a regional transportation authority to levy taxes was unconstitutional.
The decision by the state’s highest court prevents [...]

Today’s Washington Post reports that Northern Virginia political leaders are worried that last year’s transportation plan may unravel when the General Assembly reconvenes in January:
Lawmakers and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who helped push through the legislation, have agreed to at least adjust and possibly repeal the abusive-driving fees, which apply across Virginia and were [...]

In this morning’s Washington Post, Anita Kumar and Tim Craig have more about the study released yesterday on the effectiveness of Virginia’s abusive driver fees:
The report, prepared by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, paints a picture of a fee system that is almost out of control, with descriptions of some police officers unwilling [...]

Jonathan Mark has taken a look at the new taxes being proposed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority:

Motor Vehicle Rental Fee: The NVTA approved a two-percent increase in the motor vehicle rental fee within Northern Virginia.
Sales Tax on Auto Repairs: The NVTA approved a five-percent sales and use tax on the labor associated [...]

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but a Circuit Court Judge in Arlington has upheld the constitutionality of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority:
An Arlington County Circuit Court judge this morning upheld the constitutionality of a state law enacted this year enabling the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to raise taxes and issue bonds to [...]

Today, Republican leaders in Richmond announced their plans to reform the abusive driver fees law when the legislature convenes in January:
RICHMOND, Aug 23 — The top Republicans in the General Assembly tried to salvage Virginia’s abusive-driver fees Thursday by pledging to overhaul them when the legislature convenes in January, but the nation’s leading motorist [...]

A group of anti-tax activists have filed a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court challenging pretty much every aspect of the state’s transportation plan, from the abuser fees to the Transportation Authorities that were established in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads:
A group of prominent conservatives and anti-tax activists, including a Northern Virginia legislator and a former [...]

That’s certainly what Delegate Bob Marshall thinks:
As Del. Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, points out, the Virginia Constitution requires approval of any such regional entities “by a majority vote of the qualified voters thereon in each county and city which is to participate in the regional government. …” And as Marshall noted in a July 2 letter [...]