CvilleDems.Org

     I attended a public meeting recently with Del. David Toscano for an update on the General Assembly session. There were about a dozen people there.
So, before going further, I would like to thank David for taking the time to keep his constituents informed and for asking our opinions.
    As David explained, he gives each of his updating sessions a title that he hopes captures the overarching theme of the General Assembly session. This year it was, “Show Us The Money,” a reference to the challenges the General Assembly faced in connection with education and transportation.
    David went through some of the General Assembly’s successes this year, especially in the area of mental health. He also pointed out that the General Assembly was able to come with a reasonable increase in education dollars for teacher raises and pre-K. Had the Republicans had their way, David pointed out, state spending on education actually would have dropped in real terms because of how they would have changed arcane formulas that calculated per student expenditures statewide. 

    I want to touch on two areas that I found particularly interesting.
    First, many folks seemed interested in environmental issues. That may have simply been a reflection of the attendees, but my sense was that it is also an issue that is gaining traction with voters at the local level.
While government at all levels grapples with the complex competing economic, social and political interests inherent in all environmental questions, individuals have taken matters into their hands. We recycle more, or use a rain barrel, or purchase more energy-efficient appliances or automobiles – things large and small. It is not even a “think globally, act locally” approach, but rather a “think globally, act personally” one.
    Still, it is frustrating for people to take these steps only to see their neighbor refusing to do so. You may save gasoline by buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, or changing your driving habits, but it all seems for naught when you observe a school bus idling in a parking lot for 20 minutes.
Grass-roots movements to address issues like these are great, but what I heard expressed at this meeting was a desire for government to be more involved as an organizing force in environmental issues.
    The second issue concerned, naturally enough, the economy as it manifested itself in the conflict over the transportation bill. Gov. Kaine has called the General Assembly back to Richmond next month to discuss transportation funding. He has proposed several new taxes (a sales-tax increase in NoVa and Hampton Roads, and a real estate grantor tax increase) to pay for it. The Republicans called those proposals non-starters.
    Quite apart from any rational discussion of the merits of various approaches to solving the Commonwealth’s transportation problems is the political game being played here related to the 2009 elections. Republicans do not want this session to accomplish anything on transportation. For one thing, a Democratic governor who actually uses government to accomplish something for people undercuts the entire Republican Party message.
    More basely, it doesn’t take a genius to see they are hoping to manipulate Gov. Kaine and the Democrats into proposing new taxes or other transportation funding solutions that the GOP can then demagogue in the next two election cycles, especially 2009.
    Kaine, on the other hand, has vowed that if nothing gets done, he will let people know who to blame, although it remains to be seen whether he will succeed at this.
    If no agreement is reached, then the problem is simply deferred to the 2010 General Assembly session when the next budget is written. Meanwhile, by law the money in the budget for transportation will be used first for maintenance and, if any remains, only then for new construction.
Over the long run, this will slow down economic growth in the state, first in the regions most directly affected – NoVa and Hampton Roads – but eventually throughout the entire state, since NoVa and Hampton Roads are so important to the state’s tax base. In time, Southside and Central Virginia will suffer the worst as a result of the Republican’s childish and irresponsible behavior.
    The Republican Party is unlikely to change its ways in the near future, if only because they are ideologically and paradoxically wed to a principle of government that eschews actual progressive solutions to problems if those solutions involve government. After listening to David discuss the issue, I am convinced the only answer to solving Virginia’s transportation crisis and continuing economic growth in all regions of the state is to elect more Democrats so the General Assembly can enact the programs we need.
    The difference between Democratic and Republican governance in the Commonwealth has not been of high taxes vs. low taxes, or big government vs. limited government. That is empty rhetoric robotically repeated by Gilmore, Frederick, Howell, et al., designed to fool voters, not inform them.
    The real difference between Democrats and Republicans is between good governance vs. incompetence; action vs. passivity; concern for all citizens vs. concern for the rich or the privileged few; maturity vs. childish game-playing.
    Once again, many thanks to David Toscano, both for the briefing and for the work he has done representing us in Richmond.