Raise the Virginia Gas and Diesel Tax

Virginia Governor McDonnell proposed in early January that the General Assembly eliminate the state tax of 17.5 cents per gallon on gasoline, and raise the retail sales tax of 5 percent to 5.8 percent (see the Washington Post, "VA governor proposes replacing gas tax with sales tax increase as part of $3.1B roads plan," Jan. 8, 2013 ).

FEC Approves GPVA as a State Political Party Committee

Feb 6, 2013

Dear Greens,
I am happy to report that I attended the FEC meeting this morning in which the full commission unanimously approved draft Advisory Opinion 2012-39 designating GPVA as a state political party committee. The practical effect of this ruling is that GPVA's contribution limit to federal candidates has been doubled from $2,500 to $5,000 for both the primary and the general election phase of every federal election cycle.