House Republican leaders laughed, joked and patted themselves on the back for their grand success Wednesday. Majority Leader Morgan Griffith bounced up and down in his seat and bragged about his clever parliamentary maneuvers that drove into the ditch every effort to pass a viable transportation plan this year.
He and his colleagues acted like boys in a locker room, snapping their towels, while Virginia's economy strangled on traffic congestion.
Instead of committing themselves to solving the most serious crisis facing the commonwealth, House Republicans played games. They declared themselves victors because they scored the most political points against Gov. Tim Kaine and Democratic lawmakers.
The behavior was not cute or funny, especially not to the commuters and businesses who have to live with a transportation system ruined by years of neglect in Richmond.
By any real-world standard, this week's special legislative session was a stunning failure in an unbroken string of failures. Lawmakers have tried to pass a meaningful funding plan for road and bridge needs in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, twice in 2006, 2007 and twice more this year. Their record is 0 for 9. So, why the victory lap on Wednesday?
In this most recent breakdown, legislators failed to pass a transportation plan or appoint judges, leaving three vacancies in Norfolk Circuit Court alone. They lingered at the state Capitol past 1:30 a.m., calling each other names and killing bills. They stoked partisan animosity to a white heat that makes consensus unlikely for the foreseeable future.
Every leader in Virginia bears a portion of the blame for this debacle, but House Speaker Bill Howell and his lieutenants are the principal architects of the political stalemate that leaves Virginia with little hope for progress.
When the giddiness subsides, House Republican leaders might want to check the scoreboard. Democrats have occupied the governor's mansion for seven years now, are odds-on favorites to hold both U.S. Senate seats after November, won control of the state Senate last fall, and have even cut the Republicans' lead in the House.
A small group of GOP lawmakers from Hampton Roads braved the inevitable backlash from their leaders this spring when they proposed a regional sales tax. But they were beaten down, one by one, and that plan fell apart. Its advocates sat stone-faced Wednesday while their colleagues cut capers and celebrated.
Throughout the embarrassing display, there was little thought given to the commuters stumbling to their cars each morning to sit in miles-long traffic backups. Not once did legislators pause to consider the business owners whose customers and suppliers can't reach them. Or the crippling effect all that has on the economies of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Instead, they were too busy slapping themselves on the back to think about anyone beyond their Capitol playground. Now, after another transportation failure, we're all stuck in another legislative timeout Virginia can scarcely afford.
Perhaps House Republicans should use this breather to examine whether playing parliamentary games instead of solving problems is a winning strategy, either for their future, or for Virginia's.
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Mr. Barrett & twomiler2
Well Gentlemen,
I would suggest that for the "commonwealth" or the common good, therein lies your opportunity to elect those who you believe best supports your views as to what's for the "common good" or "in the best interest" of the commonwealth of Virginia (spelled with a little "c"). If you are dissatisfied with the HOD, then it is within your power to change the leadership and boot out all of the Grover Norquist cronies. Twomiler2, regardless of whether Virginia is a commonwealth or a state, it is still governed by representatives elected by the people. What is in the best interest for some, may not be for others.
Answer
The word conservative, in political nuance, means to pre judge change or difference as never needed, as the same old ways that have been around are just fine, no need for anything to evolve. As to your question as to whom is to decide what is good for Society, Virginia, is a Commonwealth, which, in & of itself answers your question.
Well Keith, I certainly get
Well Keith, I certainly get your point, that is, we all have an agenda and have a duty to express our view to our elected officials. My point, of course, is that the majority in the House of Delegates goes far beyond that to deny not only their responsibility to the Commonwealth but also to the majority of voters and citizens who want safe and efficient highway systems. My point is that by signing on to the Grover Norquist No New Tax pledge, they have repudiated their oath of office to act in our interest, and instead, have signed a loyalty oath to Grover Norquist. As far as I am concerned, they should resign for failing to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. Knowing full well that will never occur, we need to dispatch them to civilian life as soon as possible where they can continue to serve the interests of Grover Norquist to their heart's content.
Well sir, you seem to have
Well sir, you seem to have the inclination that republicans and conservatives are prejudicial. Anyway, you didn't answer my question.
Facts versus Predjudice
One has to pre judge to have prejudice. My posts are based on experience, reality & the History of this area, nothing else.
Mr. Barrett and twomiler2
Oh I think it is the case Mr. Barrett. Who are the masses? Couldn't the masses be voters and lobbyists? You and I are considered part of the masses as we write or call our representatives to express our views. It is irrelevant as to which party is in power. Democrats and republicans also proselytize when they champion their own cause. I don't believe that the majority of the HOD are Grover Norquist loyalists. I consider my views as mostly Libertarian, but I don't much at all about that guy. I think for myself I believe that government that governs least governs best. Republicans or democrats in my view, are two wings on the same bird. I don't think either party if fit to govern, especially on the federal side. As you said, the voters will decide who gets the boot in the next election.
Twomiler2, who gets to decide what benefits society as a whole? With respect sir, I also detect a tinge of prejudice in some of your posts.
Well actually Keith, I don't
Well actually Keith, I don't think that is the case. The majority in the House of Delegates are not listening, they are proselytizing to the masses to convert them from republicans and democrats to libertarians. This majority has taken the Grover Norquist No Tax pledge, and believe fervently that it is their role to cut off the arms and legs of government so it can fit in a bathtub to be drowned. And frankly, since they took over a decade or so ago, they have lived up to their own condemnation of government; that is, by their shenigans and absurd intervention in the legitimate role of the executive, they have earned an F for governance. Of course, it will be up to the voters to correct this drift into anti government radical lebertarianism, but the performance of the majortiy in the House has made even those who believe in the legitimate role of government to think twice. They are really that bad.
Gung Ho
Too many Rep. pols are against tax increases that may benefit Society as a whole, unless it benefits Big Business even more. Then they are Gung Ho!
Well, Mr. Barrett and
Well, Mr. Barrett and company still don't get it. They didn't get the tax increases that Gov. Kaine wanted and continue to refer to The HOD as a bunch of killjoys. Fact is, that they (The HOD) are listening to their constituents who elected them to office. Apparently the same ones in the majority are still being re-elected. If the electorate want tax increases, then their constituency will elect those who will increase taxes and fees on everything under the sun. It's that simple.
Mike Barrett is
Mike Barrett is absolutely correct. I do hope those who elected Moran and Howell will take a serious look at their do nothing politics. We Virginians cannot affored elected officals who want to play games, find it funny, and get no where in soving our problems. It's hard enough for a Governor to get much accomplished in 4 years, much less have to deal with childish mentality.
No, in all due respect, both
No, in all due respect, both sides are not to blame. The Governor's plan met the basic requirements, and so did Saslaw's plan. So please, don't think that in the interest of fairness, you have to parcel it out equally. Fact is, we can have a republican majority in the House of Delegates, or we can have an effective transportation system; we can't have both. Even editorial writers in the western portions of the Commonwealth are saying that as well. Morgan Griffith may find out that he has overplayed his hand. As long as the House remains in its current hands with Griffith as the majority leader and Bill Howell as the Speaker, there will be no statewide, comprehensive action on transportation. The truth is these and other House members are not republican, they are radically libertarian. They would just as soon dismantle the Commonwealth than pass a tax increase. Replace them, transportation will get done. It really is that simple.
Both sides are to blame
If you look at the nonsensical partisan politics and grandstanding by both sides, both sides are equally to blame. We NEED to start using exploring and utilizing our country's natural resources. There is no question about it. There are proven safe and sound technologies and there is no sound reason why we shouldn't start now. Alternative technologies are not ready for primetime yet. We also need to fund infrastructure improvements to our roads that have been left to deteriorate for too many years. Those who think we can make up for the years of neglect simply by cutting spending in government and diverting resources to transportation are just kidding theirselves. Past mistakes by both sides led to this situation and it is absolutely necessary to vote out ALL these state senators and representatives who are unwilling to take the necessary steps and make the hard decisions.
the republican record
"By any real-world standard, this week's special legislative session was a stunning failure in an unbroken string of failures. Lawmakers have tried to pass a meaningful funding plan for road and bridge needs in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, twice in 2006, 2007 and twice more this year. Their record is 0 for 9. So, why the victory lap on Wednesday?"
The Republican record speaks for itself. Who do we blame? Every one of you that voted for them.
So what else is new?
Those towel snapping Republicans in the House of Delegates have a deeply held faith in Santa, egg laying rabbits, and tooth fairies. "Keep the faith," they urge, "and all sorts of largess will follow."
It's really amazing that if
It's really amazing that if the republicans block legislation they don't want, it's referred to in The Pilot as partisan politics as usual, and parliamentary fillabusting . If the democrats block legislation they don't want, it's called leadership or taking a stand in the commonwealth's best interest. Hogwash! The Pilot is all for this thing called "democracy" as long as the results end in their favor.
If I was a fortune 500 Co.
If I was a Fortune 500 Co. do you honestly think I would move my business here?? Absolutely NOT!
Brian, in all due respect,
Brian, in all due respect, that is pure baloney. The republican bill provided no new revenue; it simply stole revenue from the General Fund. To suggest that stealing from the General Fund money which would need to be replaced by additional taxes is absurd. Of course, that is exactly the kind of tricks and obfuscation that characterized Governor Gilmore and we know what trouble that got us into. The simple conclusion is that the republicans in the House would not vote for tax and fee increases for tranpsortation even if the the Hampton Roads Bridge tunnel collapsed or the Coleman bridge fell into the water. They have made it quite clear that the public interest be damned; they will follow Grover Norquist over the cliff before they will vote for tax increases. That got most of them elected, and that is how they will run again, so if we want more of the same, return them to office.
It amazes me how any person
It amazes me how any person who actually works for a living, can vote for any super conservative, of any party. If conservatives had always won, Women, Blacks, poor Whites, could still not vote or own property. The list of improvements in the USA would be non-existent.
Republicans acting like children
"He and his colleagues acted like boys in a locker room, snapping their towels, while Virginia's economy strangled on traffic congestion."
Every one of them should be voted out of office. Their behavior is totally unacceptable! They are paid to do a job, they are elected to do a job and what they did was make fools of themselves.
be a little bit fair
The Republican plan passed the House and was killed by Democrats in the Senate, and it would've funded the regional plans in excess of the revenues of HB3202, which the Pilot endorsed.
The least you could've done is mentioned the Republican plan that the Democrats killed. You don't have to be unbiased, but fairness would be novel.
Look at the facts,place the blame correctly.
The writer points out that democrats have held the governor's job for nearly 2 terms.In that time,a phony 'crisis' was 'averted' by the largest tax increase in Virginia history,none of which was used for the new road projects now sidelined.If Kaine had gotten his new fees,registration and inspection fees would have doubled since Mark(tax)Warner's term began,without transportation relief.Judges weren't seated?I thought that the new democrat legislators from the last election would have solved that one too.A new senator seated with the help of a disgraced political commentator and the press that changes a mild tease of an Indian-descended spy camera dweeb into an insult of the black race spends his time holding four defense department nominees hostage to a demand of taxpayer-paid air fare for his 18-month old child to communist Vietnam,but the press isn't interested.What we have is a failure of the press to communicate truth,and a failure of the democrat party to honestly serve the public before themselves.
Not a Partisan Issue
The General Assembly is blocked, if not controlled, by our rural and small town constituencies. If you live in Virginia Beach or Norfolk, then the street in front of your house is paid for by Virginia Beach or Norfolk. Police and school teachers are locally paid. School construction is locally paid for. So are social workers and mental health workers.
Go visit "Mayberry" Virginia and you will find out that the state pays for their city and county roads, and schools, and teacher's salaries, and for the state police and sheriff's offices for law enforcement. And the state pays for those big, wide, traffic-free super highways that intercommect the counties and small towns, where even during rush hour you have the road all to yourself. Meanwhile, those counties charge next to nothing for real estate taxes or car taxes. Why should they? The state pays for everything.
And as of 1:30 a.m. on the mo
LiberalBias
Warner got his huge tax increase but didn't address transportation now democrats want more. Why blame republicans? Typical Op Ed liberal bias.
Lazy and typical
So typical for the Pilot to take potshots at Republicans. You'll ridcule republicans for not giving in to democrats, but you'd never suggest that democrats should give in to republicans, now would you? Nobody is doing their jobs. If neither side is willing to compromise nobody wins. Dems in Richmond know by now what the Republican position is on this matter, and vice-versa. Our defeat is not caused by one side or another, it's caused by both. They should be locked in a room and not released until they grow up and do their jobs. All of them, regardless of affiliation.
It'd be nice to see some unbiased op-eds written by you journalistic professionals.
jmo
Boo-hoo
The Pilot Op-ed board has never seen a tax increase it didn't like. Guess what? If new roads need to be built, they can just find money in the existing budget. God knows there is PLENTY of pork to cut. THANK YOU REPUBLICANS for finally acting like real Republicans (not counting stalwart RINOs like Sal Iaquinto & Ken Stolle, of course.)
Well put!
It's a shame that these lawmakers don't care enough to read people's opinions. I just hope that the people of Virginia remember these locker room antics come next election.
Thank goodness the Pilot had
Thank goodness the Pilot had the guts to tell it exactly as it is. Regretfully, many business leaders are blaming both parties, and I am ashamed that the democrats left their own Governor out on a limb, but in the end, it made no difference; Bill Howell and the Grover Norquist inspired Republicans in the House would have none of it. They would have dispatched any bill to the trash heap, they are so enamored of the No Tax Increase pledge required by Norquist and his minions that they would sell out the Commonwealth in a heartbeat if it resulted in a bit of embarrassment for the Governor. But in the end, at least we Virginians have a clear vision of the future. That is, return republican zealots to the House and face gridlock for the foreseeable future, or elect democrats who will raise taxes and fees but start to reverse the decade of decline, decay, and deterioration of our transportation system. It