On the issues: Transportation

After countless calls to his legislative office in 2002, Delegate John Welch announced he was voting “no” on the sales tax referendum, which the people rejected by nearly a 2 to 1 margin.  As a member of the House Transportation Committee, Welch knew it was his responsibility to address citizen concerns about that proposal. 

Key to that was the need to reform VDOT.  Del. Welch worked closely with Commissioner Phil Shucet in turning VDOT around.  In 2001, VDOT’s on time construction project completion was 20%.  By 2005, it was up to 74%.  In 2001, VDOT’s on budget success was 54%.  By 2005, it was 80%.  On time and on budget numbers for maintenance projects rose even higher.

Also needed was land use reform, in the understanding that localities create the need for transportation improvements by approving excessive development.  Legislation implementing impact fees or optional commercial taxes to pay for local roads addressed this need, as well as other reforms.

In 2006, Delegate Welch worked the November election day polls and met citizen after citizen who spoke of the need to move forward on transportation funding.  Welch proposed a true user fee, a fuels tax, to move forward with new roads.  Two conditions had to be met.  One, there must be statewide bonding of at least 2 billion dollars, and all new revenues had to be protected in a lock box to be used only for transportation. 

Although the resulting transportation compromise was not all things to everyone, it included 2.5 billion dollars of statewide bonds, a fuels tax, and if the revenues are diverted to other purposes, the revenue ceases – a true Lock Box.

Should localities, which have been clamoring for these highways and tunnels for the better part of a decade, approve the regional funding plan, needed congestion relief and safety routes like the Southeastern Parkway and an improved Rte. 460 will soon be underway.

On the issues: Taxes

As the fourth-highest ranking member of the House Finance Committee and subcommittee Chairman, Del. Welch has a powerful impact on proposed statewide tax increases.  Each year dozens of tax increases are proposed, and each year the Finance Committee stops those tax increases dead in their tracks.

Republicans have long believed and trusted in economic growth, job creation and a thriving private sector to provide the needed revenue growth for core government services.  Delegate John Welch is a strong advocate for streamlining government costs and fighting the ever-growing reach of government taxation.

Meals taxes in Virginia Beach are among the highest in the nation, and those taxes are paid overwhelmingly by local citizens, not tourists.  Del. Welch has repeatedly patroned a bill that would block any further increases in meals taxes without holding a referendum first.  Despite some local government opposition to this taxpayer protection, Welch’s legislation passed the House this year and was only stopped in the Senate.

In 2005, Welch was Chief Co-Patron of HB 1638 which phased out the state grocery tax, providing every Virginian of every income level substantial tax savings.  Welch’s stewardship on the House Finance Committee made possible Virginia’s “sales tax holiday” for school supplies.  This holiday exempts sales taxes for these back-to-school items during an August weekend.  Welch also supported sales tax holidays for energy-saving appliances and hurricane preparedness equipment which will go into effect during the next fiscal year.

Welch also supported a constitutional amendment that would allow a 20% real estate tax exemption to all Virginia homeowners.  This offers real tax relief against rising assessments and protects families from being taxed from their homes.

Delegate Welch is committed to protecting your families’ income from repeated efforts to take it through taxation.  Please contact his office with further ideas and suggestions on making government live within its means.

Delegate John Welch – Working for You

Citizens of the 21st District have long known they have something special:  A true representative.  Few legislators can even come close to matching the bond citizens have with their delegate.  Such a bond was not given easily, however.  It has been earned.

Voters elect John Welch because they know he will be their voice in Richmond.  Town meetings, civic league talks, public events and a full-time office in the district are just a few of the ways John Welch connects with citizens all year long.  When John Welch casts a vote in Richmond, voters know that he’s asked them first.

As John Welch has gained seniority, he’s also become a leader on several key issues.  He authored the nationally-recognized Abraham’s Law, a landmark reform protecting parental rights which Gov. Kaine called a “significant legislation for health freedom in Virginia, and could serve as a model law for other states.”  He led the calls to reform VDOT and to rely on user fees to pay for new roads.  He chaired the subcommittee that brought a constitutionally-sound photo red system back to Virginia Beach.  And when few legislators were willing to speak publicly about illegal immigration, John Welch led an effort to bring local and federal officials together, and was commended by FOX NEWS’s Bill O’Reilly for his efforts.

It is this strong citizens-based commitment to representation that makes Delegate John Welch special.  He enjoys support among business leaders, civic leaders, taxpayer organizations, local government officials, and has even enjoyed recent kudos by no less than the Virginian-Pilot editorial board.

Not bad for a Republican.

Please feel free to contact Delegate Welch at your convenience and thank you for your interest in good government.