Dem Senator Edd Houck Rains on Deeds' Tax Hike Parade
- No. 2 on Finance Committee, Budget Conferee: Tax Increase "Unneeded" in Bad Economy -
RICHMOND - Senior Democratic state Senator Edd Houck (17th District) threw up a red flag on tax increases in an e-mail to constituents this week, balking at increasing the economic burden on Virginians during a difficult economic period. Houck, a member of the Virginia Senate since 1984, is the second-ranking member on the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee. He is also one of five senators to serve as a conferee on the Budget Conference Committee, a small group of legislators from each chamber who meet to hammer out taxing and spending proposals for consideration by the entire General Assembly and approval by the governor.
"Fortunately, Governor Kaine's proposals contain no tax increases," Houck wrote in an e-mail that largely dealt with efforts to balance Virginia's budget. "With salaries remaining stagnant or worse individuals losing their jobs, a tax increase is unneeded."
In conflict with Houck's clearly stated view, Deeds has now formally embraced what has been suspected by most all along - that he will raise taxes as the first order of business if he becomes governor - even while many Virginians are concerned about employment and the economy. While he had previously attempted to conceal his plans to raise taxes behind confusing and often conflicting public statements, Deeds has now openly claimed the mantle of the "Higher Taxes Candidate."
"R.CREIGH DEEDS, the Democrat running for governor in Virginia, has now unequivocally committed himself to support higher taxes ...," declared the Washington Post (September 24, 2009).
Deeds clarified his position on tax increases in the opinion pages of the Post this week, proclaiming in a column: "As a legislator, I have voted for a number of mechanisms to fund transportation, including a gas tax. And I'll sign a bipartisan bill with a dedicated funding mechanism for transportation -- even if it includes new taxes."
Deeds clearly felt he needed to make clear his belief in higher taxes following his embarrassing performance in the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce debate last week. Immediately following the debate, Deeds held forth with the press corps in a disastrous exchange that resulted in a YouTube video that is rapidly approaching 50,000 views in one week's time. Earlier this week, the Fairfax Chamber endorsed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor.
"This has not been a good stretch for Creigh Deeds," said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins. "I am a constituent of Senator Houck's and I know him pretty well. His stated position against tax increases right now has to feel like a gut shot to Creigh."
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