1) Renewable portfolio standard of 20% by 2020 with provisions for green jobs training here in VA
2) No new coal, including a cancellation of the proposed Wise County plant
3) Cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050 (OK, it's not going to happen in '08, but this is my wish list, right?)

Bonus issue - Banning smoking in bars/restaurants (or at least allowing communities to make their own decisions on the matter)

The bottom-line of many many problems lies in the way Virginia manages businesses. I think we need to reform the SCC, Marty Martinez had a plan for this, but of course he lost to Joe May.

I also think we need to have some environmental incentive reforms. Development Purchase Rights, permeable concrete, that kind of thing.

Reform the state income tax steps and percentages to be more progressive.

Ban smoking in all commercial space indoors in Virginia.  Rationale: we do not permit any other business to create unsafe working conditions for their employees.  (And note -- I say create -- this is not like logging or commercial fishing, which is inherently dangerous).  As for freedom of choice -- does OSHA allow firms to waive safety regs the firms don't feel like following?

I would also like the officeholders of the Democratic Party in Virginia to pledge not to accept contributions from the tobacco industry.

Didn't we just go through an entire election focused on the disaster that Transportation had become in Virginia!

We've got to address that and get something sustainable through the legislature.

Also, I've reconsidered my position on non-partisan re-districting.  As much as I'd like to gerrymander the RPV out of existence, Democrats need to win based on our ideas, and pragmatic solutions to the real problems facing Virginia.

Let the other side be the Gerrymandered Old Party.  Progressives stand for fairness, that means every vote counts.

Privatization of our roads to the highest bidder - a large construction company has bought most of our elected officials (see VPAP) and the roads will be managed by a foreign company.  We bought and paid for these roads and now it will cost drivers $36 a day just to get to work and not to be stuck in the "poor lanes."

I agree with The Green Miles' focus on climate change -- we are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind and need to catch up on renewables and reining in dirty coal use.  I'd also like to see Virginia join the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  I would add more on the side of prevention through sustainable, efficient practices -- strong green building standards to start.  

I also agree on banning smoking in bars and restaurants.  It is a pleasure to walk into a DC establishment and know that I don't have to walk out smelling like an ashtray.

Amen to non-partisan redistricting -- and I would add campaign finance reform, another issue on which Virginia is kind of a dinosaur.  

Another issue that I think is essential to political reform in Virginia -- raise the pay for General Assembly members!  Delegates currently get $17,640 per year, while Senators get a whopping $18,000.  This system means that we get a General Assembly full of lawyers and businessmen who do a little (sometimes very little) governing on the side -- and have too many temptations to mix their business with their legislating.  

No one can live on this salary and I'll also point out that this strongly discourages Federal government workers -- of which Virginia has a large and growing percentage -- fron running.  I think we've grown up enough as a state to merit a full-time legislature that is properly compensated for its services.

1) Cut Virginia's carbon emissions by...  A LOT!

2) Fix Transportation - levy a series of taxes that actually raise money - including providing funding (even though it's less expensive) to build a metro tunnel under Tysons.

3) Introduce non-partisan redistricting.

4) Re-fund (and increase funding) for all schools that got budget cuts from the shortfall of money in Richmond this year.  Keep higher education cheap!

I particularly agree with #1.

I would like to add what is now being known as the "Connie Brennan Proposal".

It is a 2000  study and then a 2003 study of how to fund the proposal that if Richmond paid for all the programs mandated through legislation, we at the local level could see as much as a 15 percent reduction in our Real Estate taxes.

Some localities would be able to keep those taxes and build the schools and courthouses and other needed projects in their home districts.

I have always been a believer that it is easier to raise money at the state level, without hurting the local tax structure, then the plan presented by the Republicans.

What laws need to be passed is that the money is for specific projects and cannot go into the General Fund and slush fund spending.

Would the real estate taxes really be cut by 15 percent or would the money be spent elsewhere.  

That issues is one of the main reasons why I will not become a democrat.

Excellent point on the last item.  Along the same lines We need to lock up the transportation trust and actually spend the money raised for transportation on transportation.