I just received this from Del. Brian Moran (D-46):
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran rose on the floor of the House of Delegates today to speak about his significant concerns regarding the 11-member panel chosen to work out a final transportation plan. The panel includes 11 senior lawmakers who will work to find consensus on a transportation plan that can ease traffic congestion. The group is chosen by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and by the Chairman of the Senate Transportation committee, Marty Williams (R-Newport News). Unfortunately, only 1 of the 11 members is from Northern Virginia.Delegate Moran made the following statements on panel's lack of Northern Virginia representation:
"Northern Virginia generates 40% of the state's economy, represents 30% of our population, over 60% of our major traffic and congestion needs, yet Republican leaders chose to only have 9% of those solving our transportation crisis represent Northern Virginia's interests. Our region already pays a greater share in state taxes, yet again Republican leaders shortchanged us in decision making. The Northern Virginia region deserves more than 1 out of 11 members of a final panel to negotiate a solution to our transportation crisis. I'm greatly concerned that any final plan will not represent a solution to Northern Virginia's traffic crisis.
Compromise requires us to work across chambers, across parties, and across regions to do what's best for Virginia. It's hard to develop compromise when everyone is not at the table."
Compromise? Do the Flat Earth Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly understand that word?
Once again, please don't jump at me because I agree with Moran on this.
I do not propose that this represents the sentiments of The Rest of Virginia--- but I suspect it is shared to some degree by far too many. They believe THEY are the victims, and we are the bullies. The fact is, we have leaned over backwards in most cases to avoid being chastized as bullies, and remarks like those quoted above do not help in negotiating. "They" feel we up here--- in what Philpott used to refer to as Upper Tidewater, thus avoiding that dreaded appellation Northern--- have fared very well in the funds we receive, and have no reason to complain.
Our lifestyle and culture is foreign to them, and they resent us as not being, ahem, the "real Virginia." (Where have we heard that before?) Personally, when I deal with some diehard good old boys, not all of whom are male by the way, I wonder: What would happen if we sequestered our tax money, the way disgruntled tenants do with rental payments? Put it in an interest bearing account in a non-Virginia bank, for example, and then REALLY acted like bullies in bargaining. Be a nice lawsuit, but think what it would do to their cash flow. Heh.
My comment above was just a shot at how NOVA has it pretty good. Your economy and higher scale living conditions are something that most in southern VA do not get to see much of. The reason I'm a Democrat in the first place is because of where I'm from. I've seen bad policy and failed representation in action first hand.
You got into your rant and found it funny apparently to talk about what you could do to our cash flow, but I understand how things work statewide, which is why I go to battle with republicans from outside of NOVA all the time on this transportation issue. Rural VA gets a little more for the tax dollar in education than NOVA, for example, which is one of my bold examples as to why the rest of VA shouldn't be so hasty to oppose any avenue of new funding for transportation that won't effect us. I didn't say you don't have a reason to complain, with the current Republican GA, everyone has a reason to complain somewhere. My statement was a reminder that myself, and Democrats as a whole, tend to measure society from its bottom up, and in current comparison, I'd say NOVA has it pretty well. I stand to benefit from that now that I live and work here.
As for good ol' boys and your comments: not all good ol' boys are big, bad, hillbilly republicans. In fact, this good ol' boy is a glaring example. And the real Virginia, perhaps historically doesn't lie in upstate culture, but like I said, I accept and appreciate diversity and change. Just because one California-yuppie-turned-faux-cowboy brought the cultural divide to negative light doesn't mean you have the right to lump us all in that category. We can all be one Virginia, do you disagree?
Now if I took your comments the wrong way, I apologize, but I'm not quite sure where to take you from that.
About Mr. Philpott's comment I, too, thought it was funny, but what he said to me personally at the time was "You'd all do better in Richmond if you stopped calling yourselves Northern Virginia and called yourselves Upper Tidewater"--- it was, I felt, good advice.
As for the good ol' boys, they surely do exist, sir, and my dealings with them through the years extended far far beyond politics and into real estate, church, and family matters. I stand on what I said. I also said that the sentiments of the blogger mentioned above did not by any means represent all down state Virginians, but there's no denying my personal experience tells me that a goodly percentage agree with him in some measure. I'm not sure they're not right, when I think about it--- but there are others, like you, who show considerably more maturity and have changed with the times.
As for my comment about escrowing our tax money, it was my intention to be funny, exactly like Mr. Philpott, but apparently it struck a nerve with you, and I do wonder why. And if the members of the Assembly, like Speaker Howell, continue to treat Northern Virginia so shabbily, then they might not like the treatment Northern Virginia delivers back to them. The burden to be courteous, mature, and understanding does not fall solely on our shoulders.
In my words about good old boys, I wasn't questioning their existence, hence I am one to a degree, but in a more positive light than most of those who are mainstream.
As for Speaker Howell and members of the Assembly, they should get every amount of disrespect thrown back at them that they have given Northern VA for all the years. Bill Howell has almost single handedly split the GA gop, and turned out GA as a whole into a pissing contest....
Know where this is?
More pics at http://ddot.dc.gov/d...
Oh, yeah, that's Rosslyn and Key Bridge
I do not propose that this represents the sentiments of The Rest of Virginia--- but I suspect it is shared to some degree by far too many. They believe THEY are the victims, and we are the bullies. The fact is, we have leaned over backwards in most cases to avoid being chastized as bullies, and remarks like those quoted above do not help in negotiating. "They" feel we up here--- in what Philpott used to refer to as Upper Tidewater, thus avoiding that dreaded appellation Northern--- have fared very well in the funds we receive, and have no reason to complain.
Our lifestyle and culture is foreign to them, and they resent us as not being, ahem, the "real Virginia." (Where have we heard that before?) Personally, when I deal with some diehard good old boys, not all of whom are male by the way, I wonder: What would happen if we sequestered our tax money, the way disgruntled tenants do with rental payments? Put it in an interest bearing account in a non-Virginia bank, for example, and then REALLY acted like bullies in bargaining. Be a nice lawsuit, but think what it would do to their cash flow. Heh.
For the actual stats here are some from Delegate Watts
Northern Virginia taxpayers pay over 43% of General Fund
Northern Virginians will only get about 55 cents back for every tax dollar they've paid
Northern Virginia only gets about 11% of the maintenance dollar and 18% of road construction dollars.
We'd prefer a more equitable distribution of the money. But we'll support higher taxes if it's the only way we can get better transportation.
I was not sure what the import was of the mileage table page; the writer didn't really explain clearly what he attempted to prove with the reference. You can't measure transportation problems or needs by comparing miles of roads in one district versus another. It all depends on traffic density, a function of available roads vis a vis population, among other things. In most rural areas of Virginia you can stand on a road and have a game of "catch" that will only occasionally be interrupted.
Is anyone arguing there is not a traffic problem in NOVA and a few other densely populated areas of the state?
What is your political affliation (I am a R) you sound like more of an independentish
"But we'll support higher taxes if it's the only way we can get better transportation"
There are two "better" ways IMHO. One is the regional authorities which keeps the money in a certain area. The other is to opt out like Arlington does and maintain our own roads
P.S. I am I guess you could say a "compassionate conservative" I think the more well to do areas should be helping those areas less well off. Its all about compromise
However again, legislators from the areas mentioned who keep voting to increase monies to the state are truly ripping off their constituents. The majority of these legislators are Ds.
Secondly, you can no more say that members from other areas of the Commonwealth will not have at heart what is best for NOVA any more than I can say NOVA members cannot have my interests at heart. This is a ONE Virginia issue.
Finally, If you want to break it out into a regional issue we can do that.
Virginia is broken into nine transportation districts.
Click here to see all of the facts...
You will note that NOVA ranks dead last in Primary Road miles and seventh in Secondary Road miles. Heck when it comes to Urban Systems, NOVA still ranks only sixth.
When you look at total road miles in each district, NOVA ranks seventh.
This about math.
I would leave out the rhetoric comparing cultures. It isn't germain to the discussion. This isn't about culture-a battle between pro wrestling and tapas bars. This is simple math. It is clear to me, from the members of the conference committee that this package is a focus on Virginia's urban centers-all of them.
Secondly, you can no more say that members from other areas of the Commonwealth will not have at heart what is best for NOVA any more than I can say NOVA members cannot have my interests at heart. This is a ONE Virginia issue.
Finally, If you want to break it out into a regional issue we can do that.
Virginia is broken into nine transportation districts.
Click here to see all of the facts...
You will note that NOVA ranks dead last in Primary Road miles and seventh in Secondary Road miles. Heck when it comes to Urban Systems, NOVA still ranks only sixth.
When you look at total road miles in each district, NOVA ranks seventh.
This about math.
I would leave out the rhetoric comparing cultures. It isn't germain to the discussion. This isn't about culture-a battle between pro wrestling and tapas bars. This is simple math. It is clear to me, from the members of the conference committee that this package is a focus on Virginia's urban centers-all of them.
If you want to go the route of supporting strong, statewide candidates in every downstate district, there exists no better than ERIC FERGUSON '07!
- remembers a time when the rest of the state subsidized NOVA
- is a redneck, born and bred, but who appreciates the diversity NOVA brings to the state
- generally agrees with socially-progressive principles, and
- thinks it's just crap for those of you who support higher taxes to cry about the fact that, as a result, some people/regions get more than the dollars they invested
That's the nature of a Commonwealth.
You do have transportation challenges bigger than the rest of us, but then the House bill recognizes that and gives you a dedicated revenue stream that you control.
Please continue your applause for things like more open space, but for Heaven's sake, please recognize that those of us downstate with open space will not have the tax base from development needed to pay, dollar for dollar, for the services we need, such as educating kids.