Yesterday morning, Gov. Kaine was on WTOP radio's "Ask the Governor" show. What did we learn?*Kaine "camped with the family" and performed a wedding over Memorial Day weekend. According to Kaine, the wedding ceremony was for two of his campaign staffers who are working on Sen. Clinton's Presidential campaign.
*On "tall grass in the medians", Gov. Kaine says that "safety is the first priority." Kaine says he's never really heard of this issue before but it "has to be taken seriously." Mowing has been cut back because of a "tight budget."
*Parents upset about Army recruiting survey in Loudoun County public schools. Gov. Kaine says he doesn't have a problem with the armed services doing a survey, and that "kids ought to have options" about what's available - college, military service, etc. "I don't really see a problem with this."
*Would Gov. Kaine support legislation that would mandate shared custody for fathers? According to Kaine, "it probably wouldn't be a good idea to mandate that in every case there be joint custody." Normally, you'd want to have joint custody, but Kaine doesn't support a mandate regardless of any other circumstances.
*Question about enforcing gun laws. Kaine talked about putting together the Virginia Tech panel which will report back "around the beginning of the school year." Also, Kaine pointed out that Virginia has made "one change already" with regard to adjudicated mentally ill (and dangerous to themselves or others) people not being able to purchase a weapon.
*Question about the privacy of Cho's medical records. Kaine has told the panel to get all the information it needs to come up with best analysis and best recommendations. If the panel can't get the information, Kaine has told them to come back to him to see what (if anything) can be done - e.g., a supboena. Still, there may be some cases where we can't get information.
*On the issue of public access to the Virginia Tech panel, Kaine has said he wants it "to the greatest degree possible," but the #1 goal is to come up with the best recommendations, not public access per se. There's already been a good amount of public access, and there will be at least two more public meetings (NOVA on June 11, Charlottesville on June 18). There's a website (www.vtreviewpanel.org) as well. "The #1 goal is a solid set of recommendations."
*There was a question about Metro to Dulles through Tysons. The caller said that citizens are overwhelmingly for the tunnel and that Kaine is ignoring them. Kaine said he would prefer a tunnel, but the FTA said it can't be done at this point without risking the $900 million to make this project work, and Kaine replied, "I was not willing to risk this project." Interestingly, Kaine added that "the Fairfax Board of Supervisors has NOT taken a position against the aboveground." According to Kaine, the design that's on the table was approved by Fairfax and "they've never retracted that approval." Kaine says he is "passionate" about getting rail to Dulles, and he hasn't heard people saying there shouldn't be rail to Dulles if there's no tunnel (ahem, Governor, do you read the blogs?)
*On the $300 million budget deficit, Kaine said it's "Living Within Your Means 101." "There are flush years and there are lean years." "It's not a huge emergency," still a small percentage of state budget. If the situation doesn't worsen, we'll be able to do it without compromising services. According to the Governor, there are not going to see DMV shutdowns.
*Kaine says he has a "near uniform policy about not getting involved in primaries" and that "I'm not going to take a part" in the Lambert-McEachin primary.
*Kaine says he doesn't know if Sen. John Warner will run for re-election. Kaine said he would encourage Mark Warner "to run for what he wants to run for" - Governor, Senator, whatever it is.
*On the November General Assembly elections, Kaine predicts that Democrats will gain seats, how many he's not sure.
*Possible rail extension to Gainesville or Haymarket? Kaine says we be "better investors in public transportation going forward" for environmental and other reasons (e.g., gas prices). "VRE has got to be a big part of the solution going forward." Regional package as part of transportation bill will provide funding for Metro and other public transit priorities in Prince William and elsewhere.
*"It's a tumultuous time in Loudoun." Not sure about the regional transportation package in Loudoun.
*Generally, people have expressed more interest in user fees (tolls) compared to tax increases. Hence, the appeal of toll lanes.
*Fairfax officials are right to be very concerned about BRAC and Ft. Belvoir...moving a "Pentagon's worth of employees" into that corridor. Will need large infrastructure which will require help from Federal government.
It is so ridiculous that Metro has not been part of this process. It is beyond me. The decision making process has been the opposite of sound practice in the development of public policy.
Make it a campaign issue. Stand with the public, all you politicians. Don't stand with the big boys. This is as black and white as an issue gets in politics.
Sorry pal.
Richmond thinks it's ok to award Bechtel Corp. a contract without competitive bidding. Bechtel's price tag went from $1.5 billion in December, 2004 to $2.7 billion in March, 2007-a 76% jump. If the state builds above ground, something else is guaranteed to go up as well-our stress level.
Sounds to me like the Sierra Club opposes Metro to Dulles with an aerial option in Tysons.