Tax bill clears House panel

Now let’s be very honest about this one. This could have died in committee again, and it did not.

A House committee reversed itself today and approved a bill backed by moderate Republicans to raise almost $1 billion in taxes.

But whether that bill can survive a vote from the full House next week remains to be seen.

With no debate, the House Finance Committee voted 10-8 to report out a bill from committee Chairman Del. Harry Parrish, R-Manassas. The bill would raise the state sales tax a half-cent, raise the cigarette tax, lower the food tax, increase standard deductions on the income tax, and make a few other tax changes.

A BILLION DOLLARS FOLKS! This should have died a painful, excrutiating death in committee.

Now it’s off to the floor of the House, where we get to do a gut check on who’s with the working families and who is not. Thankfully, both Del. Orrock and Del. Cole are voting against this tax plan, but feel free to contact your delegates and remind them to vote NO on the tax hikes!