From the Virginia League of Conservation Voters Education Fund:
Thanks to all those who took the time to contact their legislators to ask them to oppose HB 6006! Del. Saxman's bill passed the House of Delegates (56-Y, 39-N, 5-NV) but was ultimately defeated in the Senate before both houses adjourned to end the special transportation session.HB 6006 would have dedicated revenue from the leasing of offshore areas for oil and natural gas drilling to transportation projects. Aside from the danger this proposal posed to our economy, environment and national security, this bill marginalizes real solutions to our energy and transportation needs.
Del. Joe Bouchard spoke eloquently in opposition to the bill by detailing how offshore drilling would threaten naval training off our coast. "Virginia's offshore oil and gas drilling area cuts through the heart of the Virginia Capes Operating Area... The Navy has stated clearly and unequivocally that drilling for oil and gas in the Virginia Capes Operating Area is incompatible with the combat training conducted there... We do not need to endanger US combat forces to solve our transportation problems. I ask all of my esteemed colleagues to stand by our men and women in uniform and vote against this bill."
Del. Brian Moran also spoke in opposition to the measure. He has noted in the past that "We are not going to find funding for transportation at the bottom of the ocean."
Besides Delegates Bouchard and Moran, the others who voted against drilling off Virginia's coast are listed on the "flip." Next time you see them, tell them "thanks for protecting our environment."
Del. Ken Alexander
Del. Kristen Amundson
Del. Ward Armstrong
Del. Clay Athey
Del. Mamye BaCote
Del. William Barlow
Del. Bob Brink
Del. David Bulova
Del. Rosalyn Dance
Del. Adam Ebbin
Del. David Englin
Del. Algie Howell
Del. Bob Hull
Del. Dwight Jones
Del. Lynwood Lewis
Del. Dave Marsden
Del. Bobby Mathieson
Del. Jennifer McClellan
Del. Ken Melvin
Del. Paula Miller
Del. Harvey Morgan
Del. Joe Morrissey
Del. Ken Plum
Del. Dave Poisson
Del. Albert Pollard
Del. Jim Scott
Del. Steve Shannon
Del. Jim Shuler
Del. Mark Sickles
Del. Lionell Spruill
Del. David Toscano
Del. Roslyn Tyler
Del. Shannon Valentine
Del. Margi Vanderhye
Del. Jeion Ward
Del. Onzlee Ware
Del. Vivian Watts
NAYS--Barker, Deeds, Herring, Houck, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Northam, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Reynolds, Saslaw, Ticer, Whipple--18.
NOT VOTING--Edwards, Martin, Miller, Y.B., Newman, Quayle, Wagner--6.
I hope so, because if it isn't Caputo is going straight to the top of Democrats who need to lose in the next primary. He's got too many un-Democratic and un-Progressive positions (pro Abuser Fees, pro Smoking, pro Dominion and now pro offshore drilling to name but a few) to allow him to go without a real Democrat challenging him.
Aside from the fact that he looked really cool wearing those blue shades in the July 4th parade, is there any reason why progressives should want this guy in the House?
If you want to primary Democrats out based on this bill your targets are:
Paul Nichols - which is probably not a good idea, a liberal Democrat (and yes, Nichols is a conservative Democrat, way more conservative than his fellow caucus members from further south).
and
Dan Bowling - DINO if ever you see one. He actively promotes the Republican party in the House of Delegates. Fortunately we're working on getting him out, and by we I mean Micky McGlothlin - if you're reading this Mr. McGlothlin - PLEASE RUN AGAIN - we can totally replace that turncoat Bowling. Democrats should be open to conservative legislators, but that doesn't mean they need to be against everything the DPVA stands for.
"a liberal Democrat (and yes, Nichols is a conservative Democrat, way more conservative than his fellow caucus members from further south)" would likely lose that district.
But as I'd noted in my comment he's caught my eye by being on the wrong side of a number of key votes. So even if he's not on the "need to primary" list, he's certainly on the "watch closely" list.
Seriously - it's amazing to see Nutter and Crockett-Stark there when a) they claim to be "conservationists" and b) oil is just taking precious precious profits away from coal.