Whereas, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned this year without final action on a state budget, due in large part to disagreement over plans for phasing out the car tax; and

Whereas, Governor Gilmore’s budget followed through on the commitment, previously approved by the legislature, to reduce the car tax by 70 percent for the upcoming fiscal year; and

Whereas, Republicans in the House of Delegates supported the Governor’s position, but many members of the Senate did not; and

Whereas, the Arlington County Republican Committee voted overwhelmingly in January to support the Governor’s position on retaining the phase-out schedule for the car tax; and

Whereas, Arlington’s all-Democrat legislative delegation, including Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, voted to back off on the car-tax commitment, which would have meant less tax relief for Arlington residents; and

Whereas, the Governor exercised his constitutional authority to complete action on the budget, by trimming expenditures and retaining the 70 percent phase-out of the car tax; and

Whereas, the General Assembly could be called into special session for final action on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, if the Senate would agree to preserve the car-tax cut as promised;

Now, therefore, the Arlington County Republican Committee resolves:

We urge members of the Virginia Senate from both parties to work cooperatively with the Governor on a final budget that preserves the full car-tax phase-out, as promised to the citizens of Virginia.

Considered and adopted by the Arlington County Republican Committee at its monthly meeting on March 22, 2001, in Arlington, Virginia.

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