Here’s a couple of gems from our friends at the General Assembly:

HJR 539 (Cole) requires that any bill or ordinance passed by the General Assembly or any local governing body creating, imposing or increasing any tax, license or fee require a three-fifths vote of the elected members of the body. HJR 540 (Cole) places the same requirement on total appropriations, limiting the state’s or any locality’s total appropriation to the preceding year’s, as adjusted by population and inflation factors. 

A House Privileges and Elections Subcommittee recommended reporting these amendments on Jan.24. Voting to report were Del. Janis, Robert Bell, Jackson Miller and Cole. Please thank the delegates who voted against reporting: Del. Putney, Phillips and Spruill.

539 isn’t too bad but it does limit options.  It’s almost as though these guys don’t trust themselves (or localities) to control spending.  As for 450, these guys don’t even attempt to see over the next hill…..sigh.