The coalition of groups advocating higher taxes to pay for transportation includes the Virginia Education Association. That isn't surprising in itself; the VEA has long agitated for bigger government and higher taxes. But it is worth noting that the coalition suggested hiking the sales tax to pay for road projects.

Revenue from the sales tax goes into the state's general fund. When Republicans in the General Assembly have suggested using general-fund money for transportation, they have been roundly denounced by Gov. Tim Kaine, Democratic legislators -- and the VEA -- for trying to "raid" the general fund. Orthodox opinion from that side of the aisle has insisted every additional dollar that enters the general fund should be used only for traditional general-fund purposes -- and emphatically not transportation.

As the teachers' union put it in a 2006 message to members: "Urge your delegate to resist raiding the General Fund to fund transportation projects. We need to build roads, rails and provide mass transit; but we do not need to do so at the expense of public education, public safety and public health. If we go to the General Fund to build roads in these good times, what will happen in a recession?"

Now we know: The VEA will change its tune without missing a beat.