"The Rockingham-Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce presented a legislative preview Tuesday evening with the area representatives of the Virginia General Assembly front and center.

The preview was hosted by Loyalton - a business member of the chamber - located in the back of Valley Mall.

The chamber also had gathered to honor retiring state Sen. Kevin Miller, R-Harrisonburg, for his years of service to the Shenandoah Valley community.

In attendance were Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, Sen.-elect Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, along with Del. Allen Louderback, R-Luray, Del. Glenn Weatherholtz, R-Harrisonburg, and Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton.

Miller was praised for his years of public service.

He jokingly promised not to speak long. First commenting about winning and losing elections, "you don't lose something you don't have," he said.

Miller started addressing the chamber about the upcoming tax issues, and the possibility of a deadlock. "There is a difference in the Senate and House with the GOP." He explained that compromise in necessary.

Miller said, "Doing nothing can cause a tax increase."

He then added, "Legislatures need to stop sitting on their butts, and do something."

Miller explained that there had been no change in the standard deduction, like the federal deductions, and that the state has missed tax opportunities with the 1987 gas tax that should have been based on inflation rates.

Hanger said Miller had influenced his life, but commented the ex-senator should refrain from using the word "butt" in public, or he might harm his reputation - a record of Virginia public service spanning 25 years.

Hanger was on the same schedule as the governor yesterday, starting with a discussion on taxes with the Virginia Press Association and then the leading Virginia business organization, Virginia Free. He said, "Virginia Free supports a change in the tax code."

Hanger later commented, "We discuss objectives about tax reform, about tax structure." He said for the most part the Warner plan embodied the Hanger-Parrish tax plan. But Hanger added, "The Warner plan is not going nowhere. It needs a Republican imprint. A Republican name on it."

He said, "We will work cooperatively with the governor to ensure a tax plan that works," as the other General Assembly members buried hands in their faces.

Louderback said, "I've got my own plan. A tax plan ought to be a vehicle first and then build consensus."

Louderback said he would like to make the tax code less complex and reduce the filing pages from 11 to one and a half pages. And he said he would like the state to collect the $1 billion in unpaid taxes that are out there.

Louderback commented he is against "a backdoor tax increase using tax reform."

Weatherholtz said he would leave the tax issues to Hanger and Louderback, but did comment on a recent article from The Roanoke Times written by former Democratic state chairman Paul Goldman.

Weatherholtz quoted Goldman saying that Warner's tax plan was unfair to rural Virginia. Weatherholtz said to Hanger, "You know Paul Goldman?"

Hanger said, "Yes. He's an idiot."

Saxman talked about budget reform and the complexities of the budget process. He complained about Warner's gag order concerning department budgets last year. Saxman has introduced legislation to simplify the budget process.

"A March 13th approved budget would be nice this year," Saxman added, raising his eyebrows, "I doubt it."

Obenshain was the only elected official to address unfunded mandates. "We need to prioritize are spending in order to fund the Standards of Quality," he said.

Hanger finished the evening, commenting on the need to increase the gas tax by a 5 cent as suggested by fellow tax commission co-chair, Del. Harry Parrish, R-Richmond. He commented that a tax on gas is considered a user fee.

Hanger said, "Gas usage causes the gas tax, not to be a tax."

Say what, Willis?" (Steve Sisson, The Augusta Free Press, December 10, 2003)

Steven Sisson's Valley Blue Dog column will appear on Wednesdays in The Augusta Free Press.