Yes, "drop dead" is pretty much the message that Northern Virginia is getting from Virginia House Republicans. Today, the Washington Post blasts "the Republican majority in the House of Delegates and in particular its leader, Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford)" for for the gridlock over transportation. Here's the Post:...Mr. Howell and his caucus have decided that no statewide taxes will be raised for transportation improvements. Never mind that Virginia has not raised a new dime for transportation in 20 years (while population and traffic have boomed), or that within five years every dollar the state collects for transportation will be sponged up by maintenance, leaving nothing to build new roads, widen existing ones or extend mass transit.[...]
...to all appearances, Mr. Howell cares not a whit for Northern Virginia's transportation nightmare.
In addition to opposing regional "self-help" initiatives, he has thumbed his nose at the $1.5 billion in federal funding for Metro proposed by Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) in return for a reciprocal source of dedicated Metro funding from the state. Most recently, he has attacked a proposal by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that offers the most realistic way to finance and build an extension of Metrorail to Dulles Airport and beyond. In short, when Northern Virginia commuters, lawmakers and business leaders speak of a transportation crisis, their pleas fall on Mr. Howell's deaf ears.
All so sad. All so true. And, if there were any justice in the world, William Howell would be the one paying the price, politically. But, instead, what's likely going to happen is that: a) nothing will get done on transportation; b) Northern Virginia voters will get angrier and angrier; and c) those voters will take out their "road rage" on Republicans in 2007 and beyond. And, when Republicans lose their majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, they'll have "Mr. Howell and, in some cases, their own pigheadedness to thank."
If I lived in Stafford and worked in DC or Arlington, I'd be waiting at this guy's local office with torches, pitchforks, and hired goons.
"If I lived in Stafford and worked in DC or Arlington, I'd be waiting at this guy's local office with torches, pitchforks, and hired goons."
No you wouldn't -- You'd be sitting in girdlock on 95 trying to get home to spend a little time with your kids before they go to bed.
I don't understand why these people don't get angrier at people like Howell and vote them out of office. But for some reason they don't. Maybe things are finally beginning to change with the victories in the special elections and last November. I certainly hope so.
Republicans can't understand the needs of regular Virginians.
Republicans can't see beyond their ignorant ideology for the common good.
Republicans can't stand up for women, gays, minorities or anyone else who doesn't look just like them.
Republicans can't understand that right makes might.
Republicans can't value families but continue to rob the middle class while spouting "family values".
Republicans can't learn from mistakes.
Republicans can't admit when they're wrong.
Republicans can't find a vision of the future that includes everyone.
Republicans can't hear you if you make under $100,000 a year or don't claim to speak directly for the lord God almighty.
in short,
Republicans can't govern.
and we should throw the bums out!
For some things, there's politics, for everything else, there's just an asskicking.
I know Charlottesville's traffic is nothing compared to Nothern VA but people around here are just as angry about the stalling on transportation as you all are up there. The population in our area is booming. In fact we only fall behind NOVA when it comes to growth. Every year thousands of people pour into Charlottesville-Albemarle and surrounding counties due to our high quality of living. But our standard of living is rapidly deteriorating because of traffic. During evening rush hours route 29 is jammed from Charlottesville to Ruckersville, route 250 is a constant stop and go from Park Street in Charlottesville to Zion Crossroads in Fluvanna County, Interstate 64 is becoming more heavily traveled by commuters, our side streets can't handle the new workers, and traffic around UVA is a 24 hour traffic jam. The Republicans in the House are stalling while we sit in traffic. My prediction: Republicans get hammered in Nothern VA come next years election.
Anyone have any statistics on how much more each individual worker will have to pay with the proposed tax increase? I just don't get what Tim Kaine or any other Democrat has to gain from raising taxes unless we need it. We tried it their way (and trying it their way in Washington) and it has gotten us nothing but debt.
(http://www.thomasjeffersoninst.org/pdf/articles/STAMP_comparisons_3.doc)
It shows that the average Virginian's per capita real income INCREASES by just under $180! Pretty amazing what a good investment infrastructure is for a state, isn't it? If only the House Republicans would listen to their own think tanks!
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, when taken at the flood, leads on to forture." (Or something like that)
Let's use this opportunity to bring more progressives into government. You can bet the DINOs will be moving in to do their dirty business. Let's make sure they can't take over.