I don't believe we've had a single contribution from big business or industry PACs. What this says about our two campaigns is where our loyalties lie. I know we need to keep business healthy and growing (and universal broadband buildout would be an excellent way to advance that goal in rural Virginia), but people know that I am standing up for the priorities of real people, people who worry about their health insurance premiums, or about their children's education, or about where their next paycheck will come from.

That's the kind of campaign I'm running, and that's the kind of delegate I'll be.

The district is fairly even in partisan voting, but in many ways it is very conservative -- the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" goes a long way. Governor Kaine capitalized on this here because everyone knew that Democratic Governance was working, and they voted to keep it going. Jim Webb competed well in the district because when it came to the economy and the war, everyone knew that "stay the course" was broken and they voted for change.

We're finding that people in the district do know that business as usual isn't working for rural Virginia. They want a Delegate who will focus on people, and focus on personal issues. Progress is personal when it comes to better healthcare, or jobs, or schools, and that's why we're finding such a great response to our message.

Or it could be because we've out-raised a 22-year incumbent, and made over 20,000 phone calls through the district. That'd make just about anyone nervous.

I met Connie in Richmond, before Kaine's big fundraiser, getting introduced by Jim Turpin.  She is a quality person, and deserves all the support people can give.  Wish I weren't broke, and had more time.

Peace.

we lost our first game, out of county, but we are undefeated within county, and may win the rest of our games, which might be nice since this is probably my final year coaching.

peace.

But when I saw the pain and heard the outrage of my constituents -- who drive that road every day, often with kids in tow -- I thought about my family, and how I would feel. My policy views haven't changed, but after this recent experience, and the feedback from so many (including a new blog, Project151.org, from Nelson) I did decide to speak out forcefully.

Seriously, name the to three issues you intend to work on WHEN you are elcted to the General Assembly?  Where does Virginia need to go and how will you help us get there?

Virginia is a great place for many people to live and work, but it should be a great place for all people. The middle class is getting squeezed and much of rural Virginia is being left behind. These issues are not the same in rural Virginia as they are in urban and suburban Virginia, and we need a delegate in the General Assembly who has a rural perspective, and actually wants to see advances in these areas.

First, thank you for making yourself available to live blog.

Second, please make sure everyone up here knows about your Northern Virginia roots.

Third, campaigning in Nelson County and your four other rural counties must be different than up here.  I thought I heard that your district has more square miles in it than any other delegate district.  Given that you can't exactly knock tons of doors, what kinds of methods is your campaign using to contact voters?

We also have a great mail program, and we've been making thousands of phone calls -- I think we're up to 24,000 now!

After being snubbed on this question by our last live blogger (no hard feelings Janet :-) ), I figured I'd ask it again...

The abuser fee portion of the recent transportation bill, while widely disliked, does attempt to cover two important aspects of our transportation system: funding for projects and safety.

Do you support the abuser fees as is, with some modification, or not at all?  If you'd like to see modifications, what are they?  And if you don't support the abuser fees at all, how would you seek to address the funding and safety aspects?

Needless to say, this is not good policy.

I am trying to help at our yard sale, so I will be back in a while to check out the answers.

I want to congratulate you on a great race run; I know you will be our delegate when it is all said and done!

Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran have also been very helpful to us, both on the campaign trail and over the phone. Speaking of Creigh Deeds, he's on my list of favorite moments too:

Ironically enough, one of my best moments was when Watkins sent out his recent negative attack. Since then, I've had people just sending me money -- $10,000 in just a few days -- volunteers are signing up, people are writing letters to their local papers, we're getting calls from Republicans who say they're sick of this kind of politics.

I had been dreading the start of the "negative campaign season" but now I feel more confident than ever.

From when Governor Warner came:

And from the last time Governor Kaine came to Nelson. This picture is with a group of our high school volunteers -- at the next phone bank we had, 12 high-school kids showed up and made over 1,500 phone calls!!

I'm so flattered to have all this help from all over the place. Thank you so much!

House Democratic Leaders, education leaders call on Speaker Bill Howell not to cut education

Richmond, VA--- House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran were joined by Virginia Education Association Vice President Jeff Cobb to call on Speaker Bill Howell not to cut primary and secondary education in next year's budget. A letter (attached) was delivered to Speaker Howell's office this morning

Earlier in the week, Governor Tim Kaine announced over $300 million in budget savings to help close the gap of a $600 million budget shortfall. The Governor also announced that he planned to utilize the revenue stabilization fund to help further close the budget gap.

Speaker Howell and House Republican leaders criticized the Governor for using the rainy fund and would therefore force additional cuts to cover the difference. House Republican leaders have not said where their additional cuts would come from.

Earlier in the fall, Republican budget negotiator Delegate Leo Wardrup said that he was opposed to the re-benchmarking of the Standards of Quality to fully fund Virginia's schools. (AP, 8/20/07). Delegate Bob Tata followed up on that comment saying there is growing resistance to fully funding our schools in the legislature. (Virginia Pilot, 9/21/07)

"While we face difficult budget decisions next session, fully funding schools and protecting our children's future is not a tough decision," House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. "We are calling on Speaker Howell to join us in a pledge not to cut K-12 education in next year's budget."

"Republican leaders have indicated that they are opposed to using our reserve funds and that we may not fully fund our schools," House Democratic Caucus Chairman said. "Our teachers, our schools, and our children's future should be Virginia's top priority. The House Republicans have not made it theirs and it's why we need to change the General Assembly this November."

"We implore the Governor and the General Assembly to spare education from additional budget cuts, to fund a full and honest re-benchmarking and to take the necessary steps to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers to Virginia's classrooms," Virginia Education Association Vice President Jeff Cobb said.

Speaker Howell refuses to pledge not to cut K-12 education

Richmond, VA--- In response to a letter sent to Speaker Howell's office by House Democratic leader Ward Armstrong, Speaker Bill Howell refused to pledge not to cut primary and secondary education funding in next year's budget

Instead, the Speaker re-visited past legislative battles rather than providing details on how he would make up the difference for his opposition to using the revenue stabilization fund.

"It's not surprising that the House Republican Caucus would not pledge to protect primary and secondary education in next year's budget," Mark Bergman, spokesman for House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. "This is the same House Republican Caucus that opposed the largest investment in public education in Virginia history, and it's yet another reason why we need change in the General Assembly."

Speaker Howell and House Republican leaders criticized the Governor for using the rainy day fund and would therefore force additional cuts to cover the difference. House Republican leaders have not said where their additional cuts would come from.

Earlier in the fall, Republican budget negotiator Delegate Leo Wardrup said that he was opposed to the re-benchmarking of the Standards of Quality to fully fund Virginia's schools. (AP, 8/20/07). Delegate Bob Tata followed up on that comment saying there is growing resistance to fully funding our schools in the legislature. (Virginia Pilot, 9/21/07)

State accreditation is based upon "overall" pass rates for students in the four core subjects of English, math, science, and social studies. In contrast, the federal AYP ratings measure subgroup performance and participation in reading and math, and in one other area involving science, attendance, or graduation.

This was the first year that federal expectations for Virginia's students exceeded the Standards of Learning benchmarks set by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bar was set high; the Virginia; Department of Education stated, "Virginia's AYP benchmarks for 2006-2007 were among the highest in the nation. For a Virginia school or division to have made AYP during 2006-2007, at least 73 percent of students overall and students in subgroups must have demonstrated proficiency in reading, and 71 percent of students overall and in all subgroups must have demonstrated proficiency in mathematics." Federal standards will increase four points each year until the year 2014 when 100 percent of all children will be expected to pass the Standards of Learning assessments.

Showing a 5 percent increase over last year's results, mathematics took a leap upward this year in division pass rates with the middle and high school taking the lead by gaining 30 or more percentage points in Algebra I and grade 7 math. The other core subjects remained fairly steady with a slight variance of plus or minus one to three points.

Within Virginia, 72 percent of the schools and 44 percent of the divisions made AYP based upon the results from the 2006-2007 school year. However, each year the federal benchmarks will continue to climb. For the current school term, reading pass rates are set at 77 percent, and math pass rates are 75 percent for all subgroups. The stakes are high, yet the goal is for all Nelson County students to reach their potential as educated, responsible, and productive citizens.