What do you think of the compromise agreement reached today on menahden harvesting in the Chesapeake Bay?  In general, how do you feel Virginia's doing on protecting the Bay?

From news reports it sounds like Governor Kaine reached an agreement that addresses the real concerns of the Federal government and environmentalists about overfishing of menhaden.  The deal should give some breathing room to the fishery (though I don’t think that, strictly speaking, fish breathe) and enable additional scientific research on how to preserve it.

This is just a small part of the work we need to do to preserve Chesapeake Bay and to protect it from effects of the region’s growing population.  We took some steps in that direction during the last session – including allocation of $200 million and additional deposits into the Water Quality Improvement Fund – but a lot more needs to be done to keep pollutants out of the Bay. 

As a side note, in one of its final acts, the Republican majority in the House rejected the Governor’s proposal to help upgrade the City of Lynchburg’s antiquated sewer system to keep raw sewage from flowing into the James River (and thus into the Chesapeake) during heavy rains.  This action was petty and shortsighted.

Maybe appropriate for right-wing Republicans, I dunno, but is that unbelievable or what?!?

I presume you saw the Virginian-Pilot editorial that slammed Allen for backing Craney, but not any "roads for getting trucks in and the cargo out."

Senator Allen’s “Craney Ployâ€Â� at the debate shows his interest in showboating instead of addressing the real issues we face.  The Virginian-Pilot editorial points out that in Hampton Roads and across the Commonwealth, an adequate transportation network is vital to our continued economic growth.  Hampton Roads has the singular challenge of being bounded and bisected by waterways that commuters and commerce have to traverse.  Both the state and Federal governments need to pitch in. I hope that the representatives of the region in the General Assembly will get behind a comprehensive transportation plan that addresses the needs of their region as well as the Commonwealth as a whole.

and knowledgeable you are than George Allen?  Just sayin' :)

I don't need a specific plan, I don't need a blueprint, I just want to know whether or not you feel every American deserves this "right to life" as I have taken to calling it.

One of the most important issues Jim Webb and the Congress will face is assuring adequate, affordable health care for all Americans.  And Jim can look to Virginia leadership to see how it’s done.  Governor Warner showed dedication and commitment to expanding health care opportunity in reinvigorating the children’s health insurance program (FAMIS) that had been shamefully neglected under his Republican predecessor.  By the time he left office, 98% of eligible kids were signed up.  Now, the Republican Congress is threatening to cut back on this Federal-state partnership.  Jim Webb needs to make sure that doesn’t happen.

For his part, Governor Kaine is working hard to encourage small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees.  This is one important way to reach the goal of a reliable medical home for all.

important for the country as a whole?

Think of the message a Democratic win in Virginia will send! Jim Webb’s campaign is important because his victory will show that Virginians, like the nation as a whole, are concerned about the course the country is on and want a new direction.  His opponent has been a cheerleader for the incompetence, arrogance, and shortsightedness that have gotten us into the fix we’re in at home and abroad.  The choice is either Change or More of the Same, and Jim Webb represents Change.

Hi Bob, thanks for coming on to chat with RK!

This is my favorite pet issue with the VA goverment right now. 

Those red light cameras, the little buggers that everyone loves to hate but are good for safety, are currently banned at the state level.  So my questions are:

1. Do you have any info on exactly where things stand in terms of changing the laws so that local jurisdictions can govern themselves in the way they see fit with regard to the cameras?

2. Why do you think the allowance of red light cameras was not extended?

3. What is your position?

Thanks in advance.

Ah, photo red. . . .

As you probably know, Arlington and a number of other communities around the Commonwealth were given limited permission a few years ago to install these valuable accident-prevention devices.  When time came to renew this permission, it was rejected on the basis that photo-red constituted an infringement on personal liberties (this concern being voiced by many of the same folks who have been so enthusiastic about intruding on citizens’ medical decisions and personal lives).  I’m thoroughly convinced of the need for these devices in congested areas such as Northern Virginia, and of their worth in preventing dangerous side-impact collisions.

I should add that the leader in the fight to preserve photo red was Republican Delegate Michelle McQuigg of Prince William.  She was tenacious in her efforts, and deserves a lot of credit.  If we're able to reinstate photo red in the future, it'll be due to her.

Bob:

I realize that this is a weighty issue, and not always easy to address: What is your opinion about foreign guest workers and non-immigrant visa programs and its effects on the Commonwealth and on Arlington County in particular?

Thanks for liveblogging!

Hi, Ingrid.

This is one of the most important domestic issues we face.  Immigration reform needs to recognize what we in Northern Virginia know – that the overwhelming number of people who come into the US from other countries do so for economic opportunities – jobs and a better life for themselves and their families – they can’t find at home.  In many cases, over time they’ve become part of our communities – its workforce, its schools, its social and cultural life – paying taxes and accepting other responsibilities of community participation.  Immigration reform should provide a path to citizenship for them.

What are your ideas for bringing back the importance of the middle class?  And do you have any ideas on how to raise awareness and financial status re: lower class?

A few years ago, the Bush Administration’s slogan-of-the-week was what it called the “Ownership Society.â€Â�  We soon learned what they meant by that: “Sorry, buddy, you’re on your ownâ€Â� – with plans to privatize Social Security, cutbacks on economic opportunity, and fiscal mismanagement that mortgages our children’s future.

I think the key to preserving the vital middle class and helping people achieve that status is education – a strong K-12 public school system and access to higher education as well.  We face this challenge in Virginia – population growth is increasing the number of kids in elementary and secondary schools, and we’ll have thousands more college-bound students in the coming years.  We need to be sure we’re ready for them – and both state and Federal governments have a role in meeting that challenge.

the "haves" and the "have mores."

Ugh, what are people THINKING when they vote?

Thanks for your insight and your time today, sir.  :)

Jaime

What is your take on how supportive members of the Democratic Caucus are for Webb? Almost all of them endorsed Miller, but do you think they're enthusiastic about Webb now? Thanks for coming on here and taking questions, and keep up your good work in the House.

Along with all my Democratic colleagues in Richmond, I’ll do whatever I can to help Jim Webb get elected.  Look over some of my comments above: in so many areas – education, health care, immigration, transportation, to name a few – both the Federal and state governments have a role to play in finding common-sense solutions to the challenges we face.  With Jim Webb in the Senate, we’ll have a thoughtful, responsive, committed partner.

I like your Clinton quotation.  Nice to have a President who can put subject, verb, and object together in the proper order.

I'm kind of technologically challenged, but I'm going to try to drop my responses to the first 8 questions in under "Reply" --

And while I have you -- I hope you'll check out Kris Amundson's and my General Assembly-oriented blog: "7 West" -- www.7-west.org.

RB

any thoughts on the ongoing transportation debate?

Back in March, I wrote a post on our "Extra Innings" blog

http://www.vaextrain...

that outlined the five things we need in a comprehensive transportation package:

  * A package big enough to make a real dent in the Commonwealth’s multi-billion dollar transportation needs.
  * A plan based on funding sources that are reliable, sustainable, and long-term.
  * A plan that addresses the needs of all regions of the Commonwealth.
  * A plan that doesn’t fund transportation by shortchanging education, health care, public safety, and other vital government services.
  * A plan that is fiscally responsible and doesn’t rely too heavily on borrowing.

The need is even more urgent now. We failed to address transportation in the spring and summer; I hope we'll face up to our long-range responsibilities in the fall.  And we need to come up with more than a fig leaf that just provides political cover and pushes the problem off to another day.

"I've got mine, so f*** you" party?  Seems like it in every action they take.

See my response above to phriendlyjaime's earlier post: being the genteel guy I am, I'd prefer to characterize them as the "You're on your own" party.  Bottom line is the same, though. Just talking about economic opportunity isn't enough.

arlington has a strong local chapter of Democrats - how can this group get involved with not only local activities but with shoring up other local Democratic chapters throughout the Commonwealth?

Going back at least as far as when Larry Roberts was Arlington Democratic chair, we've done a tremendous job in reaching out to Democratic committees across the state, telling them how we do what we do up here, and learning a lot from them in the process.  Give Peter Rousselot at ACDC a call if you want to pitch in.

I really appreciate the time you took and the thoughtfulness of your answers.  You are a blogger in the best sense of the word! :)