Last Saturday's Washington Post had the first bit of news on the upcoming SCC commissioner since an early February article in the Times Dispatch. All signs are pointing to the Democratic Senate majority dumping their SCC candidate, former Democratic Delegate from Patrick County, Barnie K. Day, and essentially caving to the House-control Republicans, giving them the next SCC commissioner appointment. In exchange for the Democrats' generosity, House Republicans have offered the horse-trading Senate Democrats a mule, dropping their top conservative pick for the SCC appointment, for another conservative pick.
"You're gutless...I refuse to be a part of it, I withdraw and I resign from the Democratic Party of Virginia", wrote Barnie Day in an email to Saslaw and to 19 other Democratic senators.
House Republicans appear ready to stand behind Catherine Hammond, a Circuit-court judge in Henrico County appointed by former Governor Gilmore in 1999. In exchange, the Senate Democrats have worked out a fair trade to have a greater say as to who the next circuit court judge in Henrico County might be.
"After telling me 50 times over six weeks that my name would be sent to the House, the Senate never did it," Day said in the statement. "If a deal has been made, just tell me. I'm a big boy. I can live with that."
Apparently, Democratic trust of Republican future doing's is greater than their concerns of our state's energy and environmental matters.
Although the deal has not been finalized, as a half-dozen candidates are still to be interviewed by House and Senate committees yesterday and today, the WaPo reports Delegate Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott), chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, has implied a great deal of support for Judge Hammond by Republican House members. Senate Democratic leader Saslaw's explanation is this:
"Senate Democrats are just trying to reach a compromise with the House.""Horse-trading always occurs in the legislative process."
If the Senate Democrats trust the future of Virginia's energy policy to a partisan litmus test which favor House Republicans, then Senate Democrats should consider a new horse-trader.
At a time when Virginia is facing some big-time energy and environmental issues, Democrats haven't gain anything on this front in exchange. What Virginia is likely to face is more pro-Dominion decisions from the SCC, and a proven laggard in Dominion to remain leading Virginia slowly out of the jurassic period.
Governor Kaine needs to give an explanation behind his rationale to defer the SCC appointment right into the hands of pro-Dominion House Republicans. Advocates of responsible-energy policy in Virginia should really be feeling betrayed. Its not too late to let your legislators know how you feel. Contact your state reps NOW
How worried is Day about global warming, a key justification for energy conservation and renewable fuels? What is the proper balance between consumer concerns and environmental concerns? How aggressive should the Commonwealth be adopting a new regulatory philosophy?Answer: Global warming, frankly, does not keep me up at night, though I do think about it. I'm not sure we need a new regulatory philosophy--if we have one now, I'm not sure what it is. I do think that we have a regulatory culture that is adversarial, maybe even antagonistic, and conflict is expensive--an expense that flows to the end use consumer. Barnie Day
With the latest moves away from coal by major state utilities in North & South Carolina, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, New Mexico, New Jersey, Nevada, maybe Maryland, and now Kansas, plus the latest comments from the FERC commissioner last week, definitely demonstrates Day is behind the curve when it comes to the viability of alternatives to C02 producing generation and their decreased justification due to escalating costs.