Herring, Barker Laud Transportation Package

Alexandria Democrats state Sen. George Barker and state Del. Charniele Herring on Thursday praised the passage of a statewide transportation funding package that is expected to raise $6 billion over five years.

The transportation package is expected to raise more than $1 billion annually in taxes and sets up transportation funds for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Herring, speaking to the Holmes Run Park Committee at Beatley Central Library Thursday evening, called the bill the “right thing to do.”

“There’s a dispute about how much revenue it will raise, but I do think it’s a step in the right direction,” she said.

Barker told the group the bill marked the first real investment in Virginia transportation in 27 years.

“All in all, I’m thrilled with what we did on this transportation package this year,” he said. “It will provide a long-term stream of money that will help us tremendously over a long period of time.”

Herring also weighed in on new restrictions on abortion coverage in federally mandated exchanges in Virginia under the Affordable Care Act. Gov. Bob McDonnell succeeded in adding an amendment that would forbid insurers on the exchanges from covering abortions except cases of the life of mother, incest and rape. Herring said the amendment was likely good grounds for a court review under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“I would not be surprised if we see a challenge to that,” she said.

Barker called the amendment “unfortunate.”

Herring and Barker also discussed Medicaid expansion. Barker said the expansion should actually save the state money in the long run due to the current need to support community health services and hospitals who treat the uninsured.