By the time Virginia's new governor takes his oath of office, the state's long-term road and transit budget will be $4.6 billion poorer than it was last spring. Virginia is dismembering not just its transportation future, but its economic future at a pace few voters will comprehend until the damage is irreversible.
In braver days, the crisis might have transformed the 2009 election into a season of renewal and resolve. Instead, the two gubernatorial candidates have twisted it into a season of equivocation and insipidity.
An effusive endorsement would ring false in the final hours of what has been a profoundly frustrating contest of banalities. Neither candidate has made a convincing case on the merits of his ideas or the strength of his leadership. The choice instead rests on which one will do the least violence to the cause each claims to embrace.
By this measure, Creigh Deeds ekes out a modest advantage over his opponent. He offers a political strategy rather than a substantive plan for solving the state's most overwhelming challenge. While that strategy does not provide transportation advocates the leadership they crave, the Democrat at least allows them a fighting chance to press forward.
In contrast, Bob McDonnell's plan is a chain-link fence of stall tactics designed to distract voters into believing that progress is being made while not providing the money to actually make it. Under a Gov. McDonnell, transportation advocates would waste four years clawing their way over, under and around barriers erected by the state's top elected official.
While Deeds has not been an A-team power broker in the legislature, the state senator understands the inside-baseball maneuvers, the partisan pecking orders and the personality quirks that comprise the culture at the state Capitol. He also understands that his success depends upon the proper balance of benevolence and brawn.
He describes himself as a "guy that works hard to get along with people," but he also acknowledges that the state's last transportation plan passed in part because of Gov. Gerald Baliles' willingness to use threats and retribution.
"It's hardball politics, but it's the way you get things done," Deeds said.
His mantra that "all options are on the table" has become tiresome, but the senator's voting record confirms he's not afraid to back unpopular yet necessary measures, including a gas tax increase.
A native of western Virginia, his is a compelling voice able to articulate to rural regions the shared wealth that will extend from investment in urban infrastructure.
Deeds has a commendable record of moderate progressivism that the state needs to break loose from the turmoil of the recession. He has supported the prudent budgetary management of Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and promises to continue their sound policies. Well before they arrived in Richmond, Deeds recognized the value of strong economic development programs and passed legislation modernizing the Governor's Opportunity Fund. His plan for college scholarships tied to public service deserves consideration, although funding will be a challenge. He approaches offshore drilling proposals with proper caution and practicality. If Deeds has failed to win the hearts of most business groups, it is primarily because he refuses to play on their fears over union and environmental legislation pending in Congress, where he has no vote.
There is no denying Deeds' sincerity and his will to move Virginia forward. But if his chaotic campaign is a measure of his executive skills, a Deeds administration is likely to yield trying moments.
McDonnell, who represented Virginia Beach in the General Assembly, possesses superior management and negotiating abilities, but the Republican has too often flinched in the face of push-back from absolutists within his party. He helped win passage of legislation permitting a 2002 regional referendum on a sales tax for transportation but refused to publicly support the initiative once it was on the ballot. He brokered a 2007 transportation package, but then blamed Gov. Tim Kaine for the plan's collapse under legal challenge while ignoring flaws that can't be easily ascribed to others.
In his boldest hour, McDonnell was willing to accept new taxes for roads only if he could hand off the decision to voters or to local governments. This year, he has retreated even from that feeble stand.
The most redeeming quality of his transportation plan is its utter inability to win passage in the legislature. He proposes to funnel revenues now earmarked for schools, health care and law enforcement to road construction. He remains convinced the federal government will give Virginia royalties for offshore drilling, even though he seems breathlessly eager to give those rights away for free. He equates higher debt with new revenues.
His plan to privatize state liquor stores has merit, but he admits his estimate of $500 million in revenues "in the near term" may be optimistic. Even if correct, that amount alone won't build even one of Hampton Roads' priority projects, much less address statewide needs.
On other matters, McDonnell's inability to resist divisive social issues could result in real harm to law-abiding Virginians with whom he should have no quarrel. He has promised to end an executive order prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation within the state work force. That's not just an insult to gay Virginians, but a threat to the careers of men and women who have depended on those legal protections for eight years and two administrations.
His actions as attorney general suggest a troubling eagerness to water down gun control measures and interfere in private church matters.
McDonnell may be a more persuasive leader, but he is asking Virginia to follow him down a dead-end road. If he is governor, he will spend four years churning out spreadsheets with fantasy forecasts and writing stern letters to the president, Congress, state legislators and city councils demanding that they do something to save him from his own inertia.
If Deeds is elected and breaks his promise to pass an adequately funded transportation plan, that failure will fall directly on his shoulders. He's not asking that accountability be passed to future governors or postponed for more prosperous times. He's willing to take on that responsibility here and now.
In return for that commitment, we give him our support.
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Creigh Deeds for Governor
To the Editor:
RE: “Creigh Deeds for Governor,” October 25
McDonnell’s small-minded, intolerant viewpoint on social issues, in particular the issue of gay discrimination in the workplace, proves that he is living in the past and unable to accept the progress that has been made in the past 8 years.
On the issue of employment discrimination, McDonnell is clearly mistaken. If McDonnell were to end the executive order prohibiting employment discrimination, it would turn back the clock on all the advancements that have been made in the past 8 years in the area of gay rights. The work done by Tim Kaine and Mark Warner would be completely undone and annulled. This would allow events like the 2007 case when a homosexual was harassed and mocked at work because of his sexual orientation, and then turned away by the people at Human Resources, to continue in more workplaces around Virginia. This reopened avenue for discrimination would be supremely unfair to the homosexuals in Virginia whose jobs and livelihood would be threatened by the repeal of this executive order.
jkmlee
Chesapeake, Virginia
Deeds Endorsement
Precisely - I was hoping there would be at least one professor in the audience who would provide a civics lesson to the folks that might be tempted to drink the Pilot's Kool-Aid.
Your point is that the Pilot's endorsement of Deeds was phony because the governor can't deliver what they want any more than he can plan a Mars mission. Their last two endorsements couldn't do it either - more data to support our civics lesson.
That was a very good lecture.
Civics Lesson
Those herein who chide Governors for failing to deliver on transportation either don't know their civics, or could care less. In Virginia, the power to appropriate funds rests with the Legislature; in this case, attempts to correct the deterioration of our roads and bridges has always died in the House of Delegates. Why? Because a large majority of the republican Delegates have signed the no tax pledge, and those that have not have simply demurred to their majority. Therefore, the result is roads and bridges that are crumbling, and which recently earned a grade of D- from the Virginia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. By signing the pledge, sponsored by Grover Norquist, Jack Abramoff's friend, these Delegates are responding to an infamous Washington lobbyist, not to the citizens and voters of Virginia. If we return them to the House, we deserve what we get.
Civics Lesson
Fact is that most of those who support Bob McDonnell and Republicans in the House of Delegates over Creigh Deeds and and Democrats is because the Democrats signed the pledge of the George Soros Hollywood pinko tax and spend and the Virginia Section of the Barrett Society of Developer Taj Mahals. If Deeds and Democrats are elected we will surely be bankrupt. We elected Democrat Kandy Kaine and we deserved what we got. Time for NEW leadership. YES WE CAN!
Then why....
Then why are you bashing McDonnell's transportation plan if ultimately he cannot bring anything to fruition in terms of funding. Your double standard shows through again.
The Pilot's Endorsement of Deeds
If the Pilot were successful in their endorsement Deeds would be the third straight Democrat Party Governor endorsed by the Pilot.
And what exactly did the last two governors the Pilot endorsed deliver to this area's transportation needs? Perhaps the Pilot could enumerate all the major transportation accomplishments delivered by their choices for governor that benefited this area in a proportional way? Or if that's too hard, perhaps the Pilot could tell us if this area just broke even when it came to taxes and transportation funds returned to this are under the administrations the Pilot endorsed? Is there a trend and has it changed?
I do credit the Pilot for this, the Pilot's endorsement made me smile. The notion the Pilot might not endorse a fourth Democrat Party gubernatorial candidate if Deeds fails to deliver transportation taxes is hilarious.
Governor
The last Democratic Governor of Virginia did such a great job, let's let another one replace him. The Federal Dems are doing just as well, I can't wait to vote for them too.
The Pilot Endorsement is Already Working!
According to the new Washington Post poll, Bob McDonnell has opened up an
11 point lead over Deeds. We McDonnell supporters thank The Pilot for the
finish-line boost.
The right choice
This editorial is a big AMEN to my rants. I’m not saying Deeds is a political stud, but he’ll obviously play ball with the DEMS & not stall Virginia's needs. At one point there were dedicated funds for VDOT something organized PRE-Governors Allen and Gilmore. But, once in power the republicans managed to “let go” vetted VDOT workers who already knew the ins and outs of the system. Also, dedicated money for VDOT, rainy day endowment, etc. was put into the general fund, giving it an appearance of surplus. Don’t forget Gilmore does away with the car tax. So, what’s left for transportation improvement? Voters wanted a change and obviously want someone to take charge with our dire transportation issues; to do that you need the right leadership and money. History has shown Virginians that all the Republicans will do for us ‘mainstreeters’ is provide empty promises, take the money and literally leave our streets in shambles. So, now after the mess they’ve made, no real solution is offered and their answer is to put another one in as governor?
Genius at Obfuscation
Wow, I have to simply stand back and admire McDonnell's incredible ability to obfuscate with the best of them. For example, on today's Cathy Lewis show HearSay, she finally got him to single out his highest priority for Hampton Roads, and he said it was the improvement of SR 460 with a PPEA. Now just a month or so ago, the Commonwealth Transportation Board cancelled this project, because the Commonwealth did not have the meager amount for the public investment required for the private sector to seriously consider this project. He was so proud of himself for pulling the wool over Cathy's eyes on that one that he said most of our projects could be funded that way, ignoring the fact that the money is just not there for maintenance, much less public private partnerships. Of course, he says the money will come from off shore drilling, and sale of the ABC stores, but we already know that is just part of the fairytale. He is a genius at storytelling.
Hometown Views
The Pilot's comments about Virginia Beach's "hometown" candidate's lackluster role in the legislature and how he would fail to lead on transportation are most telling and convincing.
Missing Something
"This ad paid for by the friends of Creigh Deeds"
There we go that's better
There you went...nowhere...
Your off-topic comment is simply asinine. The Pilot Editorial Board and its publisher spent a considerable amount of time and effort in interviewing both candidates before reaching its decision to endorse Creigh Deeds, and its editorial reflects that lengthy deliberation, as well as the difficulty it had in a reaching a decision at all. It is one thing to disagree with a thing and doing so by supporting your position with the facts. It is quite another to stoop to theatrics such as yours and such claptrap did nothing to further the cause of your candidate, which, I can only assume is Mr. McDonnell.
There simply is not enough money
Well actually Keith, there is a simple and rational explanation. The percentage you quote from the HRTPO is for interstate funds which are distributed based upon need, not the funding formula that the CTB uses to fund the VDOT districts for urban and rural allocations and maintenance. So while you are correct on the percentages for interstate funding, I am correct for the urban allocation that comes to Hampton Roads for local road building and maintenance. Of course, the overall conclusion of the ODU State of the Region Report, that is, there simply is not enough money, is true; had there been, the I-264/64 project, the next one in line for interstate funding for $250,000,000 or so, would have come to Hampton Roads and our percentage would have been restored for interstate funding as well. Regretfully, because Virginia simply does not have the funds, that project was recently cancelled and removed from the CTB's six year plan. Further bifurcation within HR.
What difference does it make
What difference does it make Mike? The funding comes from the same source which is us.
57.6% vice 16.6% a myth?
How is that a myth Mike? HRTPO analysis released June 4, 2009 shows over a 12 year period that Tidewaters share was 16.6% vice Northern Virginia at 57.6%. Gee wizz Mikey. Now I know that you think the posters here that disagree with you have the brains of an ice cube, but I thought that any analysis that came out of the all knowing, room full of experts, Transportation Planning Organization was the gospel. If it came from them it has been said and NO further discussion. So they are no longer experts? Please Mikey, have a glass of kool-aid.
Myth number 5
Another one of the myths perpetuated by the anti tax, anti government zealots is that we don't get our fair share of revenue from the state, claiming that our share goes too much to NoVa and the rural sections of the Commonwealth. It is interesting to note that anti tax republicans from those areas always run on the same plank, this is, they too are donor regions, but that is just politics. What do the experts say? In the last state of the region report, the basic conclusion was..."It does not appear that Hampton Roads has a strong basis for arguing that it is being underfunded relative to other VDOT transportatyion districts. The problem, bluntly, is that there isn't enough money to go around." And in regard to that, it is clear that the anti tax republicans in the House of Delegates are fine if we vote to tax ourselves, but they will not do it for us. Stand by for more abandoned bridges, potholes, closed rest stops, and no new construction unless Deeds is elected. You get what you pay for.
nice cut and paste
Nice cut and paste from other article.
Once again the Pilot kisses Democrat backsides
Who'd a guessed? The Editorial Staff of the Pilot once again bowed low to their DNC Masters and endorsed Democrats for every major office in Virginia. Obama says jump, and they jump. I've long since come to the conclusion that the LAST person who should get my vote would be someone endorsed by the Pilot Editors, who spend far too much time in their pseudo-intellectual koffee-klatches impressing each other and too little time in the real world.
Well, in another week the DNC will let loose on your leash boys. Then you can whine about how the paper is swirling 'round the drain.
Circulation down?
The Virginian-Pilot keeps endorsing Democrats and yet they wonder why circulation keeps falling. Maybe fair and balanced reporting would attract the citizens of Virginia to purchase your paper again!