Yesterday, Tom Davis was on the Washington Post for a chat with readers. I encourage you to read the entire transcript, and to enjoy finding all of Davis' self-serving distortions (e.g., how he's supposedly against the Iraq War because it takes money from education and adds to a "burgeoning deficit" - ha!!!). For now, here are a few of Davis' answers I believe are worth highlighting. Bolding is added by me for emphasis.
1. TYSONS TUNNEL
Reston, Va.: Were changes made to the SAFETEA-LU act -- passed by the House on July 31 -- intended to give the Tysons tunnel effort on the Dulles rail project an extra push?Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: Yes, it was provided to give the county board and the governor additional options.
This is VERY interesting. Translation: the Tysons tunnel is now an option again, at least in the House version of the SAFETEA-LU act. Cool!
2. ABUSER FEES
Falls Church, Va.: This isn't your fight, but the abusive driver fee issue has supplanted immigration as the key local issue in our state leading into the November state elections. Given that there are now nearly 170,000 online signatures (including many from your district) to a petition urging that the measure be immediately rescinded, are you prepared to weigh in on the matter and get on the record?Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: The abusive driver fee originated in the State House and voted down by the State Senate. The governor limited it to Virginia residents only, and it came back for an up-or-down vote as part of a $450 million transportation package. Without this, we'd have no money for transportation. State senators, such as my wife, opposed this fee in the Senate but voted for the package and are now seeking to fix it with a special session. It's a very small piece. The court decision in Henrico overturning these penalties should be allowed to stand, and the General Assembly should focus on fixing it as quickly as possible. It is great for candidates to attack people for voting for this, but in so doing, they are saying they would've blown up the whole transportation package -- which means billions of dollars for Northern Virginia alone. Ain't politics wonderful?
Wow, where do you even start with THIS answer? So many distortions and exaggerations, so little time. True, the abuser fees were pushed by the Republican-dominated House of Delegates, as part of the larger transportation monstrosity package, but to imply that the Senate "voted them down" is an exaggeration. Sure, the Senate had a completely different approach to raising revenues for transportation, and that was called a T-A-X. In contrast, the House raised money through something they called a "fee," which last time I checked was synonymous with "tax." In the end, the Senate voted FOR the package with "fees," and it went to the Governor for his amendments.
Next, to say that without this particular transportation bill, we'd have "no money for transportation," is simply false. There were many other ways to approach Virginia's transportation needs. For instance, a 1.5-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax would have raised as much money every year as the abuser fees. The abuser fees were NOT the only option, nor were the regional authorities (which also have been challenged in court, by the way).
Third, Davis' explanation of his wife's role in all this is bizarre. In reality, as Albo Must Go points out, Devolites Davis has sent out at least 7 mail pieces touting her "leadership" pushing this "Transportation Plan." On May 15, Devolites Davis bragged to Fairfax voters that "She Did It!" in passing the Virginia Transportation Plan - with abuser fees and exemptions for out-of-state drivers. Then, on July 17, around 120,000 petition signatures later, Devolites Davis flip-flopped and asked Governor Kaine for a special session to repeal the new law. In other words, JMDD was for abuser fees before she was against them. Or, if you believe Tom Davis' version, she was against them before she was for them before she was against them again. Wonderful.
3. JOHN WARNER'S SENATE SEAT
Palm Springs, Calif.: If John Warner retires, will you run for his seat? Will your wife then run for yours?Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: Definitely my wife won't run for mine. As for me, it's an option we're looking at. But I have urged Sen. Warner to run again. He's a senator's senator, and if he does leave, he will leave huge shoes to fill.
His comment on the fiasco the other night in congress was typical. Although the news has been really making Reid and Pelosi look like weak leaders. With public opinion polls of congress, both side GOP and Dems being so low...I would think Reid and Pelosi better start getting their poop together!!! Or get a better PR office.