Woodbridge, Virginia -- In an effort to confirm support for holding the line on tax increases, the Office of Delegate Jeff Frederick (R-52nd District) in cooperation with Dominion Leadership Trust, commissioned a telephone survey to households in Frederick’s legislative district.

After reaching over six thousand households, more than 75% of those queried described themselves as “upset” over the Virginia Senate’s tax hike plan, while over two-thirds said they planned to call the Governor to protest his proposal.

After hearing the breakdown of the numbers, Delegate Frederick commented: “When a Governor campaigned and promised so often in the past that he would not raise taxes, it’s understandable that voters are angry with him now. Adopting either the Governor’s ill-conceived plan or the Senate’s beyond-the-pale no amount is too much approach to spending is the absolute worst thing the Commonwealth could do.”

At the end of the regular session of the General Assembly on March 16th, the House of Delegates had submitted a workable budget to the Senate and executive branch that would close the so-called $1 billion “gap” in funding without further taxing Virginia families. Since then, the Governor has re-convened a special session in order to try to force the House to accept either his or the nearly 3 times as large Senate version of a budget bill. Conferees from both chambers are actively meeting to try to reach a workable compromise, but Senate holdouts are unwilling to accept less than the almost $3 billion version they favor for “tax restructuring”.

Delegate Frederick was instrumental in stopping the proposed sales tax hike of 2002, and campaigned on a “no new taxes” pledge during 2003. He urges the Commonwealth to “work within its budget, just as the taxpayers do around their kitchen tables.” Frederick added: “I made a promise when I ran for this seat -- and I intend to keep it. The voters trusted me to go to Richmond and be a voice for fiscal accountability, and this survey only confirms the will of the people who elected me.”

Delegate Frederick represents the 52nd District in The House of Delegates. The district encompasses the eastern part of Prince William County.