If You Want to Be a Leader... BE A LEADER!!!

By: The Grey Havens
Published On: 2/1/2008 6:57:52 PM

Chap Petersen's courageous "Clean Energy Future Act" (SB446) is heading for committee, and while this bill is clearly smart, pragmatic, well-defined, and desperately needed, there are key Virginia Democrats notably absent from the list of co-sponsors:

Among the many who are taking a principled stand for Virginia's future are the following:

Senate Patrons
   * J. Chapman Petersen (chief patron)
   * John S. Edwards
   * W. Roscoe Reynolds
   * Patricia S. Ticer
   * Mary Margaret Whipple

House Patrons
   * Joseph F. Bouchard
   * Robert H. Brink
   * Adam P. Ebbin
   * Albert C. Eisenberg
   * David L. Englin
   * Dave W. Marsden
   * Kenneth R. Plum
   * David E. Poisson
   * James M. Scott
   * David J. Toscano
   * Margaret G. Vanderhye

Good on all of these great Democrats, but where are the supposed leaders of the Party?
Where is Creigh Deeds?  Where is Brian Moran?  These guys both want to be the next Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Do they believe they can lead without leading?

How about Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and and House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong?

These men claim roles of leadership, but what message does it send the rank and file when they won't stand up for a critical principle like renewable energy and progressive growth?

This is really embarrassing.  There's little time to spare before this bill comes up in committee.  Will the supposed Democratic leadership stand up for principle or let this critical legislation fall for lack of stewardship?

The time is now.  Our message to these Senators and Delegates:  If you want positions of Leadership, then please, be leaders.  That's why we work so hard fighting for you, because we expect you to work hard and fight for us.  

More MIAs: these members of the Northern Virginia Delegation haven't signed on, and they really should.

Missing in the Senate
Saslaw
Howell
Barker
Puller

Missing in the House
Shannon
Bulova
Hull
Watts
Sickles
Amundson
Moran
Caputo

Comments



Wasn't the deadline today? (elevandoski - 2/1/2008 8:21:26 PM)
to sign up as a patron?  Could the legislative site be behind in its updating?  I'm surprised to not see Mark Herring and  Ralph Northam on the list.  


Get Real (not glenn croshaw - 2/1/2008 10:59:38 PM)
Being a co-patron means nothing.  Sometimes a co-patron will vote AGAINST a bill. You cannot argue that these Delegates and Senators are against the bill until you see a vote on the measure.


Yeah but... (legacyofmarshall - 2/2/2008 2:14:18 AM)
You can't argue the fact that having Reynolds and Edwards is a HUGE deal - the reason environmental legislation doesn't pass the Democrat-controlled Senate is because of Southwest Democrats.  If these Senators are willing to attach their name for the bill it means they know it's not bad for their district, and they will probably support it.

I'm feeling more optimistic about this bill.



Exactly (TheGreenMiles - 2/2/2008 12:36:19 PM)
We'll need Democrats from all over the state to get behind clean energy if we ever want to get Virginia's economy off its addiction to dirty fuels.