“A Novel Idea”
Jim Nolan
April 29, 2008 11:24 AM
Doing a call-in radio show is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get. Take today’s “Ask the Governor” hour on Northern Virginia’s WTOP (103.5 FM, 820 AM) with Virginia Commander In Chief Tim Kaine.
One caller complained about people driving with animals in their laps. Kaine humored the man and said the person should be ticketed for reckless driving. But the next caller put forward a different spin on a controversial proposal to solve the state’s yawning gap in transportation funding:
Increase the tax on gasoline—but only on weekends.
Kaine, noting that roughly 20 percent of the existing revenues generated by the state’s 16.5 % tax per gallon are paid by out-of-staters, called the proposal “a novel idea.”
“We’re doing a lot of listening,” the governor told the caller, seeming at least a little bit interested in the idea. He noted that the regional transportation funding plans enacted last year—but struck down as unconstitutional by the Virginia Supreme Court in February—included regional gas tax increases for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
Kaine said he would be coming out with a plan “in 10 days or so” to address the funding gap, estimated to be roughly $1 billion—including $450 million for annual highway maintenance.
He added that the plan needs to consist of more than one revenue generator to be successful.
“The way to solve our needs is not to do just one thing—you’ve got to spread the pain,” he said.
Options at his disposal could include increases int he gas tax, sales tax and what the governor calls an “equalization” of the state’s sales tax on automobiles, currently 3 percent, to the state sales tax rate of 5 percent.
Kaine reiterated his call that the fix be a statewide fix—not a fix that only addresses the transportation trouble zones.
But trouble is never far around the corner. House Republicans have signaled that they will not support tax increases of any kind. But maybe nobody’s thought of the “weekend” gas tax.
Stay tuned.
GMU, that’s who
Andrew Cain
April 24, 2008 2:17 PM
Olympia Meola reports that this year’s Voice of a Generation Award goes to ... drum roll please ... George Mason University.
George Mason students accepted the accolade given annually by Virginia 21, a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy group promoting the agenda of young voters. The award is given to the organization’s chapter that best shows commitment to the cause.
Virginia Reps. Tom Davis R-11th and Jim Moran D-8th were on hand for Tuesday night’s celebration at the school’s Fairfax campus and discussed a wide range of issues including the cost of higher education, the importance of youth political engagement and the 2008 elections, according to Virginia21.
Kelly Porell, executive director of Virginia21, said the George Mason chapter’s “outstanding grassroots outreach and dedication to political advocacy has had a huge impact on college students, not just at George Mason but also across the commonwealth.”
Virginia21 has 45 chapters and more than 45,000 members.
Kaine on the problem with political reporters
Andrew Cain
April 23, 2008 9:01 PM
Tyler Whitley reports that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine generally had praise for the journalistic profession Tuesday night when he addressed the Virginia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
But Kaine, speaking at Richmond’s Willow Oaks Country Club, said political reporters have become too fixated on internal politics rather than policy and government.
He cited, as an example, the recent televised debate in Pennsylvania between Democratic presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in which moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanapolous of ABC drew criticism for asking personal questions rather than policy questions.
It was an hour and 10 minutes into the debate before a question was asked about the economy, Kaine said.
Some Obama supporters thought their candidate was treated unfairly, but Kaine, a national co-chairman of Obama’s campaign, said he did not think so. More substantive questions should have been asked of each candidate, he said.
Kaine, who said he has been treated “maybe more fairly than I should” by the press, also criticized the scrutiny candidates are subjected to. This has discouraged good candidates from running and depressed voter turnout, he said.
The Virginia chapter of SPJ, founded 50 years ago by 11 Richmonders, has presented $70,000 in scholarships to 70 college students. Two, Jaedda Armstrong of Norfolk State University and Melissa Caron of Washington and Lee University, received scholarships Wednesday night.
A mayor in the House?
Andrew Cain
April 23, 2008 8:30 PM
Olympia Meola reports that while Del. Dwight Clinton Jones, D-Richmond, only recently threw his hat in the ring to be Richmond’s next mayor, his legislative colleagues are already trying the title on for size.
Several colleagues welcomed Jones back to the Capitol today for the annual reconvened session with “hey, mayor” greetings. He acknowledged the good-natured ribbing with a brief nod and slight smile.
One delegate mentioned to Jones on the House floor that he’d “already knocked one out,” apparently referring to former Richmond Councilwoman J.M. “Jackie” Jackson, who on Monday bowed out of the race.
As of now, Jones’ only declared opponent is Paul Goldman, a former aide to Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. Wilder has not announced whether he will run for re-election. The filing deadline is June 10.
If Jones’ bid for mayor is unsuccessful, he can keep his House of Delegates seat.
Kaine to stump for Obama in Pennsylvania
Andrew Cain
April 17, 2008 5:56 PM
Olympia Meola reports that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is heading back on the campaign trail for Sen. Barack Obama.
Kaine, a national co-chairman of the Illinois senator’s campaign, will travel to Pennsylvania Saturday, ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary there. The latest polls show Obama trailing his primary opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton, by an average of six percentage points in Pennsylvania.
Kaine previously stumped for Obama before contests in in Iowa, South Carolina, Virginia and Texas.
Kaine to Run Again
Jim Nolan
April 04, 2008 4:11 PM
Who said Gov. Tim Kaine isn’t going to run again?
The Commonwealth’s Commander-In-Chief will take to the streets of Richmond on Saturday, April 5 to run in the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K with thousands of his fellow bi-peds.
Kaine, 50, has actually gotten more fit since he’s been in office, exercising four to five days a week. He told me he hopes to complete the 6.2 mile run in 60 to 65 minutes.
A somber shad planking
Andrew Cain
March 09, 2008 6:00 PM
Tyler Whitley reports that the 60th annual Shad Planking, the usually festive spring rite of Virginia politics, is scheduled for April 16, the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre.
The event in the woods near Wakefield will fall on that date because it coincides with the General Assembly’s reconvened session. That is the day that lawmakers return to Richmond to consider the governor’s amendments to and vetoes of bills the legislature passed in the current session.
Virginia’s three candidates for the U. S. Senate have been invited to address the Shad Planking. One candidate, Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, might not make it if the reconvened session runs long.
The Shad Planking, which mixes shad, cooked over open fires, and politicking, will get under way at 2 p.m. It is sponsored by the Wakefield Sportsman’s Club. Also invited to speak are former Gov. Mark R. Warner, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, and former Gov. Jim Gilmore, who is seeking the Republican nomination against Marshall.
Your tax dollars at work
Andrew Cain
March 08, 2008 10:56 PM
Today Virginia lawmakers finally reached an agreement—that it should be a crime for an adult to French kiss a child under the age of 13. An adult convicted of such a misdemeanor also would be required to register as a sex offender.
Now that that pressing issue is settled, legislators will move on to unfinished business, such as how to fund mental-health treatment, teacher pay raises, construction at state colleges and universities, and how to fix the state’s roads.
Hail to the freshmen
Andrew Cain
March 08, 2008 9:20 PM
Olympia Meola reports that this year’s freshman delegates got kudos and good-natured ribbing from House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville, Saturday on what was supposed to be the last day of the General Assembly session. Armstrong said on the House floor that this year’s freshman class is one of the best he’s seen in awhile.
The Richmond area sent three new delegates to the Capitol this year: G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, Jimmie Massie, R-Henrico, and Joseph Morrissey, D-Henrico.
Massie’s kept a pretty low profile. Loupassi has more than once drawn attention for his, shall we say, informal style when making floor speeches. He either doesn’t pull the microphone close enough to his mouth or he chooses less-formal lingo over the traditional phrasing when making motions. He scored major points today though for bringing in Greek treats that delegates jumped to consume.
Morrissey has the proper language down, but rarely holds back a speech on something important to him.
Armstrong joked about Loupassi’s raspy voice and Morrissey’s tendency to engage often in debate.
“From the gravelly voice of the gentleman from Richmond city to the frequently heard voice of the gentleman from Henrico—they have distinguished themselves with hard work and with grace and poise and I will commend them for their service in this General Assembly,” he said.
He suggested Morrissey and another delegate who stands to speak often could share a seat “since one of them is always out of it.”
New Kent County sees steady turnout
Staff Reports
February 12, 2008 7:32 PM
At Kentwood Heights Baptist Church in New Kent County, Shen Mei Reese and her husband, Paul, both requested Republican ballots, but they voted for different candidates.
Shen Mei Reese said her husband had more political reasons for his choice while hers was based on the person’s ethics and integrity.
Despite their difference in opinion, the Quinton couple agreed to participate in the primary.
“If everybody comes out to vote, we have a voice speaking about what we want,” she said.
New Kent County registrar Gwendolyn Ellyson said turnout appeared to be higher, with 12 percent of registered voters in the county voting just before noon. That is compared with 7 percent in the 2004 Democratic primary.
The phone rang with a call from a poll worker checking on a resident’s registration status.
“It’s just been steady like this all day,” Ellyson said.
Among absentee voters, 37 requested Democratic ballots while 20 requested Republican ballots, Ellyson said
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