Thursday, April 25, 2013
"Virginia's got to have the ability to collect all sales tax revenue," says Sen. Mark Warner, who is co-sponsor of a bill that would allow local government to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases.
Consumers across the country increasingly are making purchases online, in some cases doing so to avoid paying sales tax. When that happens, local governments like Fairfax County miss out on much-needed revenue to help pay for roads, schools and police. One group estimates Virginia is missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars each year — $422 million in FY2012 — according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The group says in all, states will lose $23 billion in 2012. That could change soon. Virginia's two Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine voted in the majority (70-24) this week to proceed with a vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. The legislation will allow state and local governments to require …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Social media will help him stay in touch with constituents.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine launched his official Senate office Twitter and Facebook accounts Monday. The accounts will provide constituents with updates on Kaine’s daily activities in the Senate, travels across Virginia, information on agency assistance and constituent service updates, according to a news release from his office. “I’m excited to reach out to Virginians through Facebook and Twitter to show them what I’m working on in Washington and across the Commonwealth,” said Kaine. “I hope they don’t hesitate to communicate with my office through social media to share their opinions on issues, seek assistance with federal agencies, and give any advice they have for me in the Senate.” The Senate office Twitter account is @SenKaineOffice and …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sequestration could affect every traveler at airports nationwide, say U.S. Reps. Jim Moran, Gerry Connolly and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine speaking from Reagan National Airport Monday.
Federal sequestration could mean fewer flights and increased wait times at airports, Virginia lawmakers said Monday. Further, it threatens to close small- to mid-sized airports across the country. The massive, indiscriminate spending cuts Congress put in motion to force a budget compromise would cut $600 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if they go into effect Friday. Jobs on the Line Under sequestration, the FAA would have to furlough employees for 11 days — with as much as 10 percent of its workforce furloughed on any given day — and the agency would be unable to hire replacements for the 30 percent of its workers eligible to retire. Up to 2,200 air traffic controllers would be furloughed, forcing airports to reduce …
Senator announces additions to offices in D.C. and Virginia.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine announced Monday that he has added new members to his Virginia and Washington, D.C.-based Senate staff. “I’m proud to announce such a talented and diverse set of individuals have joined my Senate team,” Kaine said in a news release. “John Knapp and his team bring years of experience as well as a deep understanding of the Commonwealth to our operation that will serve Virginia well. And in Washington, this team of policy experts is already hard at work helping me navigate a wide array of important issues affecting Virginians. This entire team is driven by a strong commitment to public service and I’m so pleased to have them on board.” The new statewide and Northern Virginia-based additions to Kaine's staff include: John …
Oh Yeah?
9:42 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Sequestration has happened. The sun still came up. My coffee still brewed. Maybe the world isn't really going to end after all? more ›