Anti-Taxers to Chichester: Stand Up Or Get Out

Wow. . . not one, but two high-octane letters against Sen. Chichester’s tax plan. Here is the one that caught my eye first, from Mr. Joe Catalano:

State Sen. John Chichester’s proposal to raise taxes in Virginia [“Chichester: Bond rating at risk,” Aug. 23] is just as dumb as former Del. Jack Rollison’s proposal to raise taxes in Northern Virginia.

Jack is now out of a job; he was not re-elected. Chichester, R-Stafford, better rethink his thinking or join the Democratic Party.

Now it is my thinking that the recent alliance between Democrats and moderate Republicans in the 28th District spells the beginning of something big in Virginia politics, namely that the old “fiscally responsible” moderate wing of the GOP no long finds itself welcome in a resurgent conservative Republican Party. GOP moderates may feel as if they had a victory in June, but the fact of the matter is that the Democrats really saved the day.

So what’s the big deal? When you see Sen. Edd Houck joining hands with Sen. Chichester in support of the latter’s candidacy, plus when you see collusion with the Democratic governor on tax reform issues, that’s a problem.

In short, don’t be surprised if moderate Republicans just up and leave the party within five-years. It would be entirely consistent with the re-definition of the national Democratic party along more moderate lines, and fit perfectly with the current trend within a state GOP that is becoming increasingly conservative over time.