The Roanoke Times has become one of my favorite newspapers for following Virginia political news. The #1 reason for that is Laurence Hammack, the best Virginia political reporter in the state (note: I'm also a big fan of Chris Graham at the Augusta Free Press). The #2 reason is that the paper is owned by a company, Landmark Communications, based in Virginia (Norfolk) and specializing in community and special-interest newspapers. The #3 reason is that the Times' editorial page is smart, fair and balanced. It's also willing to take stands on principle.For instance, take today's editorial, entitled "Senators must not cave in budget fight." As far as I'm concerned, this hits the nail right on the head with regard to the Virginia Senate looking for a way out of Virginia's budget stalemate:
Republicans in the Virginia Senate have blinked first in their budget standoff with the House. They might forgo a long-term transportation fix in favor of political expediency.[...]
House Republicans refuse to consider the budget solutions favored by everyone else. They would rather see a shutdown, it seems, than entertain new revenue streams.
[...]
But Senate unity is cracking. Some Republican senators hope to avoid the political fallout of a shutdown, and they are publicly saying so. They are ready to concede to the House's plan of passing a budget without transportation funding in place and dealing with that sticking point later.
If that happens, the Senate's only leverage over anti-tax ideologues in the House will evaporate, along with almost all hope of an intelligent transportation plan. The commonwealth's drivers would have to hope that the House's fantastical visions of eternal surpluses are real; otherwise, in a few short years, the department of transportation will barely have enough money for maintenance let alone new construction.
Senators should stand by what they know is right. A government shutdown would almost certainly be unpleasant, but it may be the only way to prompt a genuine transportation solution that ensures adequate funding into the future. Virginians can bear brief pain, if it means preventing harsher pain on the highways for years to come.
Exactly right. The Senate needs to stick to its guns and not cave into the bully tactics of House Speaker Howell and the rest of the "anti-tax ideologues" in that body. If they do so, the chances of a serious deal on transportation solutions for Virginia likely will go up in smoke. In my view, and the view of the Roanoke Times editorial board, continued political gridlock is better than never-ending traffic gridlock.
My rationale: the House Republicans, when passing the last Warner budget, deliberately left out transportation when asking Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to increase their taxes to overcome the state deficit, preserve our AAA bond rating, and assist other parts of the state in solving some of their urgent problems. In exchange they PROMISED Northern Virginia that next time would be our turn, and they said in exchange we would get a full transportation program fully funded.
They lied.
Specifically, Speaker Howell lied. He is not honoring that promise. Therefore, he should be excoriated for dishonoring his given word as a Virginia gentleman. The House Democrats should make it crystal clear any failure to achieve a budget is completely and totally the fault of the House Republican caucus. Any shutdown of the government can be laid at the door of the Republicans, especially that of Speaker Howell. The Republicans are treating Northern Virginia like a colony--- a juicy source of revenue for their downstate pet projects, but never ever attending to our needs, even if it means strangling that very Northern Virginia economy which they so blithely loot of tax money every chance they get.
I also suggest that we arrange a career adjustment for Speaker Howell which would allow him to spend more time with his family after the next election cycle.