First of all, thank you so much for all you did to help us take back the Senate.

Gaining the majority in the Senate couldn't have come at a better time because we will now have that Democratic majority when the time comes for redistricting in 2011.

Un our first session in the majority we had a lot of success: reformed Virginia's mental health sysem, repealed the abusive driver fees, made new investments in Pre-K, reformed election and campaign procedures, and add new protections for women who are victims of abuse.

Maybe most importantly, our caucus had a seat at the table during the budget negotiations.  Because we fought hard, we were able to fend off House Republican efforts to cut hundreds of million of dollars from our schools and pass a fiscally responsible budget in an extremely difficult fiscal environment.

Again, it's great to be with you and now on to the questions.

It is clear that we need to prepare for this event.  The oil companies and the Bush administration push for more exploration but what we really need to do is CONSERVE and encourage the development of alternative and renewable forms of energy. The one thing that can really help is that we are currently so wasteful that there is a lot of room to reduce use of fossil fuels.

If you are interested in learning more about peak oil see the website for the Association for the Study of Peak Oil - USA at www.aspo-usa.com. (For full disclosure I should add that my husband, Tom Whipple, is the editor of the weekly Peak Oil Review published electronically by ASPO-USA.  He also produces a daily Peak Oil News and writes a weekly column on the subject in the Falls Church News Press.)

There is nor authority, in our Dillon Rule state, for localities to ban smoking without enabling legislation.

Nevertheless, this is an issue that really resonates with the voters with very high percentages in favor of smoking bans in public places.  The dangers of secondhand smoke are well-known and I believe we will ultimately prevail.  

My question is regarding transportation funding - or the lack thereof after the Va Supreme court decision and the repeal of the abusive fees.  What would be your ideal course of action and, given that the flat earth Republicans control the House, what is the most realistic solution we can hope for (if any)?

According to VDOT, this year $388 million of highway construction funds will be diverted to maintenance and it only gets worse in the future. By 2015 the transfer out of construction will exceed $600 million

This diversion means that NoVa and Hampton Roads are losing over $200 million in construction funds this year alone and other regions of the Commonwealth are losing about $200 million as well.

By FY2016 we wouldn't even be able to provide the state match for Federal funding.

Republicans in he House of Delegates have proposed to address the portions of last year's HB3202 that were deemed to be unconstitutional by pushing off voting for taxes and fees to the localities, again failing to acknowledge that transportation is a state responsibility.  And they had no proposal for dealing with the maintenance shortfall.

Last year was an election year so a vote to reduce homeowner taxes was a popular one.  This year the business community came out strongly against it and some Senators complained about the wording (maybe they didn't read it last year?).

I'm not sure what the prospects are for next year.

It's surprising to me that the Republicans don't support this approach.  I think it would be in their interests as the state becomes increasingly "blue".

That said, we are fortunate to have such able candidates on our side and I'm feeling very good about the Democrats winning the statewide races next year.

However, the House sent over several bills that we found to be too extreme and were able to defeat.  These bills were fiercely opposed by the legal immigrant community in Virginia, and rightly so.

We are committed to doing what's right and working to pass sensible and effective immigration reform.

What is the one bill you wish would have been passed

The real question

As Kaine famously repeatedly stated during his campaign for governor Trying to tax and pave our way out of traffic won't work. In your view what is the long-term solution for transportation.  (I am looking for more than the standard mass transit boiler plate talking point response)

Thanks in advance  

Bill I wish had passed:  my bill to ban smoking in most public places.

Long-term solution for transportation -- changes in our driving habits!  And I'm disappointed you think transit amounts to a "boiler plate talking point response"  As former chair of the Metro Board, I really believe in transit and ride-sharing in all forms (e.g., carpools, vanpools, etc.).

And as former chair and member of the Arlington County Board, I have seen smart growth work in my own community.

Do you find it offensive that richer people should be able to get home earlier to spend time with their families than folks who can't afford $30 a day or more to be able to drive on our roads?

I'm a resident of your district and I would like to know why:

1.) You voted to pass SB 436 (Senator Vogal's locked container bill) yet when it came around for a VETO overide you voted no.  If it was good enough for your support the first time around, why wasn't it good enough the second?

2.) You voted for Senate Bill 776, which allows assistant Commonwealth's attorneys to carry concealed weapons without a permit, and without firearms training(40-Y 0-N), and voted against Senate Bill 476, which would allow concealed weapons to be carried into restaurants that may serve alcohol (24-Y 15-N) by CHP holders.

Why do you believe that assistant Commonwealths Attorneys (lawyers who work for the State) are more qualified to carry a concealed handgun (with NO training) into a Restaurant (VA does not have Bars) that may serve alcohol, than CHP holders who are required to have firearms training before they receive their permits?

I'd like to know your thinking on this.

Thank you.

For example - 18.2-308 (B) says that anyone listed under the "B" section is completely exempt from the concealed carry law, EXCEPT for J1, which just says you can't carry concealed while DRUNK.   The Commonwealth Attorneys were added as a new entry "(B) 9" and are thus allowed to  
carry a concealed handgun in restaurants and drink, amongst other things.

Can't be right on both.

Hi - Cue is now Dog Paw and Cat Claw University Doggie day care.

BTW - I guess it bears repeating so that the above questions are in context:

It is LEGAL to Open Carry a Firearm into a Reastaurant/Bar so long as you do not consume alcohol.  That is the law and it is State wide.

to which LE agency do you refer?

I was under the impression the Republicans drew Leslie in with you, and she stepped aside since a large majority of the district had been yours before redistricting.

Would you like to clarify this?

I've said nothing of the sort.  I'm not sure where you heard this.

Frankly, I'm not sure people in PW care what happened to Mrs. Byrne's seat in '03 and wouldn't spend time discussing it.

And under Gerry's "coattails" for Chairman the open seat went Republican.

THANKS AGAIN for inviting me to participate in this live blog.  My schedule precludes me from staying on any longer.

MMW

And, if you are against it, will you personally lobby Governor Kaine to change his pro-coal position?

Perhaps she'll be good enough to come back and answer during some free time in her schedule the next few days.

The campaign has five core policies to create the clean energy future:

   *20% renewable electricity by 2020

   *"Vastly improve energy efficiency measures in ... offices and facilities" of "businesses, manufacturers, and the auto industry" both via incentives and requirements

   *Education campaigns to "encourage the public to improve energy efficiency"; incentives for home renewable energy and energy efficiency;  and incentives for reduced driving or hybrid vehicles

   *Remove subsidies from the oil industry to use the funds for renewable energy

   *Green jobs: "Train a clean energy workforce: construction workers who know how to retrofit an older building, electricians who know to install energy efficient heating and cooling systems and solar panels, plant workers who know how to make wind turbine components and hybrid cars - and many more."

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and keep up the good work!