McDonnell on Transportation and Taxes

Here is Attorney General Bob McDonnell's statement on the impending tax battle and transportation:

“There is broad agreement that improving transportation is the most pressing issue facing our Commonwealth. I believe there is common ground in some of the solutions that have been unveiled by state leaders today. Specifically, I am heartened to find broad support for locking up the Transportation Trust Fund, which I championed over the last three years in the House of Delegates. Further there is common ground on increasing the use of public-private partnerships, increasing sanctions on abusive drivers, toll-funded roads, and using limited debt to jumpstart needed transportation projects.
“However, I can not support plans that include new tax increases when there is a large, and sustained, budget surplus which can be dedicated to transportation. The focus must be on spending the people’s money more wisely, and reducing low priority spending, not taking more money from the people’s pockets.”
“The biennial budget today is over $74 billion, up 16.7% over the past budget, and growing faster than anyone projected. A 67% tax increase on car sales, which have helped fuel the economic recovery, is not prudent. As the transportation infrastructure discussion continues, I look forward to ensuring that my office plays a positive, leading role in reducing regulatory and legal impediments to starting badly needed road, rail, and port construction projects, and to doing all this office can to expedite transportation system development.”

For those of you out there who think Bob McDonnell isn't running for Governor, why is the AG talking about transportation and taxes? I do like the last paragraph where he explains his reasoning for this; which is that he is ensuring low regulations in future dealings related to this subject. Either way, I think its a good move on his part.