Oct. 18--TRANSPORTATION

R. Criegh Deeds proposes to:

- convene a bipartisan panel of political and business leaders and transportation experts to provide recommendations and build support for financing. If the transportation commission recommends increasing a non-general fund tax, and the General Assembly agrees to the plan, Deeds says he would sign the measure into law. Deeds' idea was inspired by a similar bipartisan commission convened by then-Gov. Gerald Baliles in 1986. Baliles' commission was the last time Virginia successfully tackled transportation financing in a comprehensive manner.

- reduce congestion in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads;

- expand high-speed passenger rail;

- increase telecommuting and flex-time tax credits;

- fix deteriorating bridges and infrastructure across Virginia; and

- promote smarter land use planning.

Bob McDonnell has laid out a long list of proposals to generate new money for transportation, but does not support raising taxes to do so. McDonnell would:

- dedicate a percentage of any new state revenue growth to transportation;

- dedicate 75 percent of any budget surplus to transportation needs, after constitutionally mandated obligations;

- sell off Virginia's 300 ABC retail stores;

- earmark a percentage of revenue from offshore drilling for oil and gas;

- add toll booths along the North Carolina border; and

- support high-occupancy toll lane projects.

McDonnell's plan lays out several priority projects in Northern Virginia, such as widening Interstate 66, and Hampton Roads. He also supports expanding high-speed passenger rail from Washington to Richmond and Hampton Roads; improve Interstate 81; and complete the Coalfields Expressway in Southwest Virginia.

ECONOMY

Deeds' plan proposes to:

- provide a tax credit to employers for every job created;

- double the Governor's Opportunity Fund, a discretionary economic development incentive fund;

- create a rural business fund for small companies in rural parts of Virginia;

- finish a push to expand broadband Internet access to all corners of the state;

- expand investments in Virginia's tourism industry;

- establish an energy-based research consortium to coordinate clean energy research and create green jobs; and

- fund weatherization projects to help low-income families save money on utility bills.

McDonnell's plan proposes to:

- expand the Governor's Opportunity Fund by doubling its size and broadening the rules to allow more companies to qualify;

- appoint Lt. Gov.