Editors’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on a candidates’ forum held Wednesday in Lake Ridge.
Lake Ridge, Va. –Taxes and transportation dominated the conversation between two candidates running to represent the Potomac Communities in the Virginia Senate.
Democratic incumbent Toddy Puller (D-36, Mount Vernon, Woodbridge, North Stafford) and Jeff Frederick debated face to face Wednesday night, both sharing their disdain for the state Business and Professional Licensing tax – a tax on businesses gross receipts before profit.
“What I am about to say is not a joke, but the BPOL tax was established to fund The War of 1812. I thought that war was over long ago but businesses still pay the tax. If we are able to get rid of the tax it is one way to attract business to Virginia and grow the economy,” said Frederick.
While Stafford County has abolished their BPOL tax, the tax remains in Prince William and Fairfax counties. Puller said previous attempts to abolish the tax at a statewide level have failed because the state tired to pay back local governments the money lost after the tax was no longer collected.
“I don’t know of anyone who likes the BPOL tax. We reformed it in Fairfax County so you don’t hear much about it anymore, but when George Allen was elected governor, one of the things that the state was going to do was to pay back the localities the money they were losing and that didn’t go far. The BPOL tax is still a local tax and we’ve tried giving state money back to localities,” said Puller.
More local authority over how transportation dollars are spent was also a hot topic during the debate.
Puller supports funding transportation projects from the state’s dedicated transportation fund with monies collected from the state’s 17 and a half cent gas tax, while Frederick would rather change the gas tax rate to a percentage of the fuel cost. He also supports funding transportation improvements from the state’s general fund, and says during his time in the Virginia House of Delegates tried to pass a transportation funding reform only to have it fail in the Senate.
Puller, who has served in state government since 1994, says bill must have support of both the State Senate and House in order to pass.
“Jeff talks about the bills they pass in the house out of the house of delegates that come into the senate, that’s the way legislation works in a two house legislation, you have to get the support of the other house, and I’ve managed to do that time and time again and I’m not about to hang it up after 20 [years], I’m just getting really good about what I’m doing,” said Puller.
Frederick served three terms in the House of Delegates and also led the Republican Party of Virginia.
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OmniRide has announced its service schedule for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with both the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Riders are encouraged to plan ahead as some services will not be operating.
Service Schedule for January 20, 2025
OmniRide Express: No Service
OmniRide Metro Express: Regular schedules to both Franconia-Springfield and Tysons. Rides will be free.
OmniRide Local & East-West Express: Regular Service
OmniRide Access Paratransit & OmniRide Connect Microtransit: Regular Service
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced significant highway changes and closures to support the Virginia State Police during the upcoming Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump. Drivers traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, are urged to plan ahead and use alternate routes as multiple bridges and ramps will be closed. Portable and overhead message signs will provide reminders of the closures.
The closures will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, January 20, and remain in effect until the conclusion of inaugural events. Here’s what drivers need to know:
Prince William Times – For Heather Payne and her family, paying their annual car tax bill has been difficult. Together, she and her husband owe about $600 a year on two older cars, one of which is a 2014 model.
The Paynes have five children, and they’ve struggled since the pandemic. Payne said her husband was laid off from his job in sales, and she has juggled up to four jobs at a time to pay the bills.
Now, Payne has two jobs but she and her husband are still behind on their car tax payments. In June, she was surprised when her wages were garnished to pay the bill.
The Center Square — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted a press conference Tuesday with other state leaders and advocacy groups supporting legislation that would only allow biological females to compete on women’s sports teams in Virginia.
“Virginia will never roll back Title IX under the guise of false equity,” Miyares said. “Let us stand firmly with every girl and woman in Virginia to protect fairness, ensure safety, and uphold the opportunities they have earned.”
Women from the Roanoke College women’s swim team were also in attendance, as a transgender student temporarily joined their team in 2023. So was Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer who became a voice for the Save Women’s Sport movement after competing against transgender athlete Leah Thomas.
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Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
