RK ARCHIVE - Stuck in Traffic? Blame the Roadblock Republicans.

Imagine if House Speaker William J. Howell parked his car in the middle of Route 1 during rush hour and left it there, backing up traffic for miles. Picture Del. Dave Albo cutting the wires on an Orange Line car, leaving you stranded at East Falls Church.

Seem like a stretch? It's not. The special session hasn't even started yet, but already House Republicans are pledging to block any transportation improvements. And there's a direct, cause-and-effect connection between what happens in Richmond and your ride to work. Roadblock Republican politics add minutes to your commute.

We're not even talking about major new projects like Beltway HOT Lanes and the Silver Line. We're talking about simple repairs that don't get made - a pothole that doesn't get filled, causing a flat tire, triggering a traffic jam. Metro rail cars that aren't quickly repaired, meaning the 8-car train you could've boarded is now a 6-car train you can't squeeze on.

So the next time you're stuck in traffic on Route 7, don't take your anger out on the drivers around you - blame the Roadblock Republicans. If your Metro train breaks down, leaving you stuck on a platform with a thousand of your closest friends, don't blame the train operator - blame the Roadblock Republicans.

Have your friends, neighbors, and coworkers made the connecton? How we can get more of them to see the big picture?

Comments

Great diary. (phriendlyjaime - 5/13/2008 6:40:13 PM)

2 years ago I was tossing around the idea of creating a website and bumper stickers that say JUST THAT: Stuck in traffic? Blame Virginia Republicans! with a website address to go to for a list of facts and evidence that it is THEY whom are the problem.

With the help of the rest of the Virginia progressive blogosphere, I feel we could really get the word (and the stickers) out to the public.

Now, now (tx2vadem - 5/13/2008 7:05:59 PM)

It is not as if Governor Kaine has come up with the best legislative proposal here. He doesn't have unity with all Democrats on this. And who was a part of the original transportation legislation that was the disaster that brought us where we are today? I believe Governor Kaine was counting that among his accomplishments as someone who can reach across the aisle and get things done.

We have all seen the attitude of House Republicans in this past legislative session. Why on earth would Kaine call a special session, propose something less than an awesome solution, include statewide tax increases in the mix and expect this to be successful? Considering how masterful he was at crafting the last piece of transportation legislation, this seems like a political spectacle at the expense of taxpayers.

And let's not lay this all on the door of state government, I forget the awesome smart growth policies of the NoVA counties. I mean that is why our transportation infrastructure is working so well now, right? Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudon have done such great jobs in planning; it is a shock that we even have a problem.

And be honest, you don't want more roads. More roads, means more cars which doesn't add up to a net positive for the environment. And more paved spaces, means less places for skunks. =(

Also, the HOT lanes get their funding regardless of this bill. It is a Public-Private Partnership, the public component is mostly debt financing. In fact, we could sell all our public roads off and fix our transportation problem that way.

Funny post (tx2vadem - 5/13/2008 9:21:24 PM)

but not a response to my post. I am not saying that Republicans do not share blame and responsibility here. And I am not defending Republican leadership in the House. I'm pointing out that your contention that they are completely to blame is not fair.

I would be shocked if Governor Kaine did not know that Republicans would balk at this plan. I would think he would have brought in leadership from both houses to discuss this prior to calling a special session and proposing this. But here we are.

If we are interested in getting a transportation package through the GA, then it will have to include Republican support. Else it would have been best to have just waited until next November and let voters decide this. And if we aren't truly interested in passing transportation legislation in this special session, then it will be a waste of taxpayer money.

Also, HB3202 is not dead. The only statewide revenue that is gone is the $65 million from abusive driver fees. The rest of the $439 to $499 million a year statewide total is still intact as far as I know (unless they didn't appropriate the recordation tax revenue as expected in their original projection, can't say that I have paid that close attention). The other portion that is gone are the RTAs' taxing authority, and that was the part intended for new construction as well as funding Metro, VRE and the Phase 2 Dulles Rail expansion.

That Bob McDonnell statement was interesting too. If Republicans are really willing to go down the road of tolls and congestion pricing, that sounds like a good compromise to me. And wouldn't you love that? It would encourage people to carpool, to take mass transit, to not drive, and to not use roads. It's an all around win for saving the planet, right?

AM 1140 in Richmond (Alter of Freedom - 5/13/2008 9:14:46 PM)

Interesting discussion this afternoon on 1140. Listeners were reminded today that the republicans are not endorsing any increases in taxes (my guess is this is what is meant in the post by "roadblock" Republicans) I live in Chesterfield and am not sure just how far this radio carries out of Richmond by 90% of callers were not to supportive of Kaine idea of raising fees and taxes. In fact three addressed the fact he "promised" not to have what he said was a high increase in taxes in 2004 under Mark Warner.
Of course the following pro-Kaine call which backed Warner's tax increase a result of Gilmores car tax policy, and yet the caller was reminded that Gilmore was the last Governor to reduce taxes in Va and it was "spending during the Warner term" not the tax rate that created the neccessity for an increase. Ouch! Not feeling the love for Warner today either on the radio.
One key point I though was interesting a few wanted to know why kaine feels giving Dominion a pass on its Wise plant at the same time he favors increasing fees on titles for autos and such.
I rather thought that the Senate election this Fall was going to rather uneventful but it appears folks are digging in for a fight. Gilmore certainly has Warner on the foriegn policy/terrorism issue in terms of experience (resume anyway) but this tax policy comparisons as Govs. could get down right interesting.

I wonder why that jam on Rt 7 can't seem to get any relief (Alter of Freedom - 5/14/2008 7:00:13 PM)

If you ask Green Miles it is obviously only Rrepublicans (both in Washington and in Virginia)who are blocking any progress with the Tysons area metro Rail project and yet isn't that area a predominantly Democrat area. It reminds me of the idea and agruement that all Republicans are bad on the environment as well, last time I checked Kaine was a Democrat and it seems to me his support for coal power plants seems very telling that some issues tend to swing both ways.

Levar Stoney's statement (Lowell - 5/13/2008 9:46:17 PM)

Republicans in Richmond are so committed to partisan rhetoric, they can't even see their way to admitting we have a real transportation problem in this state," said Democratic Party of Virginia Executive Director, Levar Stoney. "Meanwhile every day we have Virginians sitting in traffic jams, trying to get to and from work. Republican partisans are responsible for roadblocks in Richmond and, increasingly, roadblocks on our highways.

Funny thing (Alter of Freedom - 5/13/2008 11:19:33 PM)

Mitt Romney had to deal with the same such situation in MA and yet found a way through the partisanship to make it happen. It begs the question why our State Democrats cannot do the same given they have control on the Executive Mansion.
I think a direct comparison b/t the sityations of Romney and Kaine would be a great post if one of the more esteemed diarist would take it up?

Back to the same tact (trolling) (Alter of Freedom - 5/14/2008 5:35:14 PM)

Come on Green Miles what no defense for this lack of leadership. Blame it on "obstructionist" politicians but the rating with a lack of response either proves the point or you have none. Kaine failed you on Wise County coal plant did he not? How is it we are only in day three of the transportation review and folks are already throwing the towel in. It takes real leadership to work with the other side, as Kaine demonstrated last year but folks got upset with him with the last package. Is Romney not to be commended for being able to work with a Democrat majority on taxes, healthcare and roads? Is this not what we all seak in leadership or is it simply someone who stays in our camp and pushes what we want to have happen 100% of the time. Compromise often is not such a bad thing Green Miles- in moderation of course.