As the Virginia State Senate attempts to pass a budget with hundreds of millions in new taxes and fees, Americans for Prosperity will launch today a grassroots effort warning taxpayers of the potential expense and urging them to contact their legislators.

We are urging people who care about keeping taxes low and their government honest to contact their Delegates and Senators and let them know that eliminating hidden taxes in the state budget is important to them. Playing shell games with taxpayers’ money is not acceptable. We know the budget is tight and tough decisions remain, but we hope our leaders will not run short on integrity.

The public education effort will include radio, direct mail, and internet ads running statewide. Airing in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Roanoke, the radio ad drives listeners to www.NoVirginiaTaxIncrease.com, an AFP-sponsored website that serves as the foundation of an aggressive grassroots effort against any state budget proposal with significant tax increases. By visiting the website, online activists can write and send a letter to Governor McDonnell and their elected representatives.

The ad states, “Among the millions in new taxes and fees in the Senate budget is a 24% tax hike on every home, business and cell phone. Some claim this higher tax is critical to funding our E-911 system. But, really, it’s already fully funded. Don’t be fooled.”

There will also be events in Fredericksburg and Roanoke this Saturday, March 6th and a culminating rally at the State Capitol on Monday March 8th -- the day before budget conferees’ deadline for finishing the compromise budget package.

The full audio of the radio ad is available online at www.NoVirginiaTaxIncrease.com

AFP-VA has argued that Virginia has a spending problem, not a revenue problem and unveiled its own budget recommendations last month. They can be viewed at http://www.americansforprosperity.org/020210-americans-prosperity-unveil...