|
|
AGC Representatives Meet With Congressman Wittman
May 2008
Steve Massie (Jack L. Massie Contractor), Ralph Johnson (Mason-Johnson) and AGC CEO Steve Vermillion met with Congressman Rob Wittman
on May 12th in Yorktown.
Topics addressed with the Congressman included immigration reform, the federal law requiring practically all governmental entities to
withhold 3% from all payments, starting in 2011 and transportation funding.
A contribution from AGC of America’s Political Action Committee was also presented to the Congressman during the meeting.
Transportation Update
May 2008
As you have no doubt read, the Governor and others are pushing for a special session to address the Commonwealth’s transportation needs.
AGC has worked with a coalition of more than 20 other organizations to support this session and to push for transportation funding in the Commonwealth.
We believe that, unless these needs are addressed in a meaningful fashion, Virginia will experience negative economic consequences.
The following letter was sent to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly this week.
May 6, 2008
The Honorable Timothy Kaine
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dear Governor Kaine:
Representatives of a wide range of state and regional business organizations have met to discuss the upcoming General Assembly special session on transportation.
Subsequently other advocacy organizations have been drawn into the discussions. From those considerations emerged the following statement:
“We believe the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure is a critical component of its economic success and the quality of life of all Virginians.
Additional investments of at least $1 billion annually must be made to sustain maintenance and construction costs. The most appropriate solution is a package
of revenue generators that are simple, sustainable, and sufficient and accrue from broad-based revenue options.
Options that meet these criteria include:
A cents-per-gallon increase in the motor vehicle fuels tax at the pump
An increase in the general sales & use tax of up to 1% with revenues accruing from this additional amount dedicated exclusively to transportation funding.
These revenues should be used first to fund properly basic maintenance of Virginia’s existing roads and bridges in order to stop the loss of highway construction and
transit revenues to maintenance. The remaining funds should then be dedicated exclusively to transportation infrastructure and transit improvements, so as to not compete
with other General Fund priorities.
These statewide increases would be in addition to legislative corrections to existing regional plans, not in lieu of them.
Analysis of Virginia’s severe transportation funding needs has been ongoing for over a decade. All of the arguments have been made. The needs are great, and the time
for action is at hand. The under-signed fervently hope that a broad based, sustainable and long term statewide funding program of at least $1 billion annually will be enacted
by the General Assembly and approved by the Governor in the next 60 days.”
Sincerely,
Associated General Contractors of Virginia
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Hampton Roads Utility and Heavy Contractors Association
Heavy Construction Contractors Association
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties— Northern Virginia Chapter
Old Dominion Highway Contractors Association
Richmond Area Municipal Contractors Association
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Association of Realtors
Virginia Business Council
Virginians for Better Transportation
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Education Association
Virginia Fire Chiefs Association
Virginia Hospital and Health Care Association
Virginia Municipal League
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Ready-Mixed Concrete Association
Virginia Transit Association
Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance
|
|