By Julian Walker
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 9, 2012

RICHMOND

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s aides have dangled millions in toll-reducing road funds in front of a local Democrat in hopes of avoiding a Senate stalemate over his proposed two-year state budget.

During informal discussions, officials in the Republican administration have offered $300 million in transportation dollars to Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth. That money could lessen the financial impact of coming tolls on the Midtown and Downtown tunnels.

An impending $1.84 peak-hour fee on those tubes has elicited anger among local residents, including about 40 people who traveled to the capital Wednesday to lobby for state funds to bring down the toll rates.

The tolls are part of a deal Virginia reached with a private group to build a new Midtown tube, rehab the existing tunnels and extend the Martin Luther King Freeway to connect with Interstate 264.

Lucas has proposed a budget amendment calling for $500 million in state bond proceeds to be used for lowering by 50 cents the tolls motorists will face.

She’s also one of the Democratic senators who was approached this winter by administration officials asking what it would take to get their votes for the budget.

Obtaining money to drive down tolls probably would earn Lucas plaudits from her constituents.

It also would require political sacrifice.

The threat of a budget showdown is one of the few trump cards Democrats hold over Republicans in the evenly split Senate because Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling’s tiebreaking vote can’t settle divisions on such financial legislation.

Democrats have been seething since the GOP seized power in the 20-20 Senate and then muscled through legislation to restrict abortion and expand gun rights.

They need a unified caucus to halt the budget and possibly win future concessions on power-sharing.

Yet the conditions attached to transportation money discussed with Lucas – or offers to other Democrats – are almost certain to require a pledge for some cooperation

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/x9-d_WetrME/deal-offered-portsmouth-lawmaker-could-ease-tolls