I think that you have done a great job representing us, and I thank you for that. 

As your humble constituent, what, in your opinion, are the two (or three) most important challenges that face us in the 49th District?  And how will you tackle those challenges?

Like most of Northern Virginia, I would say that transportation and affordable housing are among the biggest challenges and that also the treatment of immigrants is important especially in our district.

Regarding transportation, we have to begin to address it much more seriously at the state level. It costs money to improve and maintain transit and our roadways. We need to increase the dedicated funds that we can count on for transit. Congressman Davis has given us a huge incentive for that with a federal match of $1.5 billion over ten years if VA, MD and DC each guarantee $500 million in dedicated funds.

Affordable housing is a tough one. One thing that would help would be for the state not to keep passing the burden of school funding and other areas that the state should handle (like funding its share of transit) to localities and denying them ways to raise revenue other than the property tax.

How we treat and value immigrants reaches across many other areas, educational access, building trust so that immigrants will report crimes to police etc. I have had a few bills pass to increase penalties for failure to pay a worker or for intentional bouncing of a check to a worker. Those issues inordinately impact immigrants. On other bills I have sponsored like having the state cover its share of ESL testing costs, driver's licenses and human trafficking, we have a ways to go.

Hi Adam:
  We in Alexandria are very fortunate to have progressives like you and Dave Englin representing us in the House of Delegates.  I have pressed you on many occasions and through it all I consider you a first-class public servant.  Given that you and Dave are in relatively safe seats, what (if any) responsibility do you have to actively steer less “progressive” Democratic in Richmond towards our enlightened views in order to improve the living conditions for all Virginians?
-Matt Harris

I think all of us have a responsibility to advocate for our districts and for the issues that we believe are important. The question is what is the most effective way to do that. If I stood up and gave a speech each time the other side advocated something that progressives think is crazy, we would still be in session!

Delegate Mark Sickles has a background in lobbying and I heard him once say that being successful in this business is about building relationships. I agree.

Sometimes we "educate", but we don't often "steer" people. People need to be comfortable with the positions they vote for. Giving them information to share with their constituents is helpful. Giving them personal, real-life examples is also helpful.

So usually we keep it civil. There is only one time that I have used very harsh terms to tell a colleague what I thought of his vote.

But I wouldn't be making any progress if I just sat in my seat and voted either.

We are making progress. Not as fast as we would like though, but that's what election season can always change.

Do you think the so-called gay marriage amendment (please give us a better name to call it in public) will pass? How much influence will it have on the outcome of the upcoming election? How can we defeat it?

drive up right-wing Republican turnout, in your opinion?  Will it energize opponents as much or more than supporters?  In general, do you see these types of amendments as a growing trend or as a last gasp of a dying conservative movement?

Webb, are FOR this stupid amendment.  Is that because Jim is appealing to the middle of the road and the right in the Dem party?  Is that a good thing?  Is he attracting Republicans and thus the high percentage?

It depends how you think of it. If you turn that the other way around, by asking if it is a good thing that even 35% of those who support the amendment so far support Webb, that is great. It shows that the amendment is not leading their other decisions.

If you say is it bad that 35% of Webb supporters are for the amendment, it doesn't sound as good.

You are right in that Webb needs more than progressives alone to win.

We just need to change more Republican minds to the conservative position that government should stay out of private adult relationships.

Great question. It helped Karl Rove's surruptituous (spelling is not my strong suit) campaign for Bush in Ohio. But people have heard that the sky is falling on this for too long. The amendment will help increase PROGRESSIVE turnout in Northern VA. I am not sure about the rest of the state. I think that most of the people who are strongly believe that we need to amend the bill of rights to stop something already forbidden three times under Virginia law will be voting anyway, but I could be wrong. National polling shows that Democrats are much more intent than Republicans to vote this November.

Teddy,

How about "Ban on ALL Legal Recognition for Unmarried Couples" as a name?

We can beat it.

If most voters think they are voting to "forbid gay marriage" we will probably lose. If most voters think they are voting on "outlawing ALL legal recognition for ALL unmarried couples--including straight couples" we will win.

The Commonwealth Coalition has done a good job of getting regional field organizers and offices in place. The message is starting to get out. See these articles:

Virginian Pilot on the amendment confusion over title etc.:
http://home.hamptonr...

Mike Schewel on The Economics of Discrimination
http://home.hamptonr...

Hands Off Constitutions
This Isn't the Way to Ban Same-Sex Marriage
By J. Harvie Wilkinson III
Judge on the US Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit
http://www.washingto...

My friend Sam wrote me that "This is major.  Long a member of one of the nation's most "conservative" Federal courts, and sometimes on the "long list" as a possible GOP appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Wilkinson for decades has been a darling of those who urge "judicial restraint" and deference to legislative prerogatives. Very encouraging."

http://votenova.org/...
Virginia is against Loving--Again
by Julian Bond, Virginia Pilot

Great news also in that 100 Virginia Lawyers, including some former Attorneys General released a legal opinion about the unintended consequences.

If the Commonwealth Coalition raises enough money to run enough ads like the ones in Wisconsin, I think that we will win. You can view the ads on Fair Wisconsin's website:

http://fairwisconsin...

And you can donate to the Commonwealth Coalition at: votenova.org

is a powerful title.  A lot in that one. Good thought. kc.

I also like to call it the:

"Marriage Prohibition Amendment"

It is a bit more in your face, but it also recalls the last time we tried amending our constitution to outlaw a "perceived" social ill, how quixotic that was, and where it left us.

If the voters think this is only about "marriage" we will lose. The messaging needs to appeal to those most likely to change their position or who are undecided.

will you ask him to seek to abolish Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Not right now. I agree with Webb on most issues and disagree on a few. That issue is not a centerpiece of his campaign. I will continue to advocate that ALL of our elected officials of all parties consider overturning that policy.

the Exec.Director of SLDN has the data to present to Jim in the future that the policy is just not working as it was billed.

The data is clear and SLDN does a great job of advocating on this. I went to their dinner this spring.

As a gay man, working in the legislature, where I'm sure you here gay men and women maligned on a variety of issues.  How do you not go insane and want to yell at the top of your lungs?  You must be the most patient man in the legislature!!!!

It is not pleasant to hear bias against any group and falsehoods. It is much more pleasant to hear that sort of thing in subcommittee, committee or the floor knowing that I have the right to ask a question or speak in reply. When ex-Delegate Dick Black told vicious lies claiming that gay people are more likely to molest children, Delegate Bob Brink took him to task, rebutting him with facts. Even his side of the aisle thought Black was nuts. One of his Republican colleagues asked me if we could please target and defeat Black. We did.

I'd much rather be in the GA, able to respond, than have to listen on the outside.

I'm not gay and I'm not in military. But, sure... I'd ask, because I think it's a disgraceful rule. OTOH.. I don't think I'd have to ask; the answer (vote NO) is to be had at any Dem office... When was the last time you visited one of those, You Publius?

what crazy notion got into your little head to make you think I was addressing you.

I wasn't.

Delegate Ebbin,
We have been hearing that the General Assembly might do something about Transportation all year and now you all are meeting at the end of the month. Do you think more funds will actually be dedicated to solving Northern Virginia's transportation problem? If not, will congestion get much worse or will things state pretty much as they are now? As a member of the Transportation Committee, do you think legislation will get through your committee.
Thanks.

-Anthonyinarlington

'Will more dedicated funds be available--at least in Northern Virginia?' is the $64,000 question.

I am not sure that people will vote much differently than they have in the last seven or eight months, but we can hope. There will be a Northern Virginia "self-help" bill introduced with funds raised in Northern Virginia staying up here. It could pass the Transportation Committee, but it really needs to pass the Finance Committee. Finance is stacked with many "no new taxes, no new fees...EVER" people, which makes it harder.

If we don't do anything, things will get even worse.

-Doing nothing means Virginia’s Six-Year road plan released in 2010 will be limited to maintenance and matching federal dollars on specific projects.

-It means Virginia will begin losing federal transit funds in the 2010 plan, because we won’t have the necessary matching funds.

-Doing nothing means Virginia will begin losing federal highway funds in just five years, again because of no matching funds.

-Localities already feel that.  In the new Six Year Road Plan, local governments are already see substantial cuts in local road funding

-And doing nothing means that Virginia will be unable to move Virginia’s public transportation system forward.
These reductions are neither hypothetical nor imaginary.  They are real.  They are impacting us now and will continue to.  The longer we wait, the more challenging – and more expensive – the solution will be.

Adam, what exactly is a Senior Whip anyway?  And will your appointment as Senior Whip be helpful to the 49th District?

Delegate Ward Armstrong and I are both Senior Whips in the House Democratic Caucus. Working with other whips, we count votes and communicate with our members. We try and make sure we know how many votes we have on key issues and for our colleagues on their key bills.

Seniority and playing a role that helps me build relationships and trust with colleagues can't hurt, but I am not sure that there have been direct benefits to the 49th.

Adam:

I know you have a large Latino population in your district. What is your plan/strategy for reaching out to this and other minority communities?

Thanks,

Jason

I have tried to talk to as many folks as possible in my diverse district. I attend events sponsored by groups like Tenant and Workers United, the Coalition of Asian Pacific Islanders of VA, Hispanic Committee of Virginia, Salvadoran American Chamber, VA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and many others. I am appearing at the Vietnamese American National Congress Anniversary Gala on 9/15. I spoke to a Pakistani Independence Day Celebration a few weeks ago. I have attended a dinner saluting those who fight against Human Trafficking of Vietnamese held the last two years in the 49th District.

Delegate Eisenberg and I have been working to get the State of Virginia to recommend the Ethiopian Community Development Council to the US State Department to resettle regugees in VA.

I have travelled to El Salvador and Nicaragua on a two week exchange with the American Council of Young Political Leaders and welcomed young leaders from those nations to the 49th District as well. I got to meet with many government officials including the presidents of both countries.

I try to keep up with the Latino Papers and am exploring hiring an intern or employee dedicated just to that community.

I guess the best plan is just to integrate all your constituents into your schedule and seek out those who may not know me--or who I need to keep up to date with.

Which House of Delegate and Senate seats do you see as prime targets for Democratic pickups?  Any that you see as particularly crucial?

We have lots of seats that John Kerry and Tim Kaine carried that are in GOP hands. In the Senate alone, in Northern Virginia, I believe that GOP Sens Devolites-Davis, Cuccinelli, and O'Brien are all in seats that have grown more Democratic. In the House, we have some top-notch new candidates that I do not believe have been made public yet and I'd rather not tip anyone off. Rerras' seat in Norfolk may also be a pickup for us. We need to win most of those four if we are to win the Senate.

The results in the Webb-Allen race will be another set of data to see where the Democratic trend is growing. We will pick up House seats in '07, on our march to 51... which won't be reached until at least 2009.

I am sure that Greg Werkheiser will be considering a rematch. If not, I would think the trends in Dave's district should attract a good challenger.

Specifically, what did you think the decision to build above-ground through Tysons rather than underground?  Do you believe that Tom Davis and Frank Wolf used their seniority and majority Republican status to do the best they could for funding an underground route? 

It is disappointing that we can not tunnel to allow for smarter growth and better land use.

I don't really know if Congressmen Davis or Wolf really wanted to have a tunnel. I don't understand why the feds should care about a tunnel if Virginia (or the local special taxing district) pays for it.

Adam,

As a gay man, I am sometimes dismayed that people sometimes mistake you as the "gay delegate" and ignore the large body of work that you, work that often has little to do with the fact that you happen to be gay.  In my job, my work is rarely, if ever, judged as "gay work" despite the fact that it is known that I happen to be.

Could you please summarize some of your best accomplishments over the last two years that were made on behalf of ALL the people in the 49th, and the Commonwealth of Virginia?  How effective have you been at being an "everybody" delegate?

Thanks!

My accomplishments are not really related at all to my orientation. I think people get to know me based on different issues so as time goes on and then think of me less as "the gay guy." Based on notlarrysabato.com's wise-ass comment's on his blog last night, he thinks that is the best way to describe me.

  Not to brag, but since you asked:

I have passed legislation on:
-Adult Protective Services
-increasing penalties for failure to pay a worker for wages due
-increasing penalties for bouncing paycheck to a worker
-require background check for sales managers and finance and insurance employees at car dealers to combat identity theft
-require designated employee to review all agency poliicies for impact on seniors and disabled
-to allow for increased funds for the Independent Living Council for people with multiple disabilities
-allow guardians to make funeral arrangements for people without families
-allow parents to apply for guardianship early

I have helped secure funding for:
-gotten a much needed Public Defender office funded for Arlington/Falls Church
-$200,000 to help build the new Signature Theatre in Arlington
-$120,000 for Doorways Shelter for battered women and children in Arlington (Senator Whipple played a key role in this and helped increase the amount appropriated by getting the Senate to raise the House's original amount.

I contributed campaign and PAC funds to many other Dems helping to fund some key wins.

Thanks for asking.

Wow!  That's some great work for two terms Adam.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything you do to represent GLBT Virginians, but I wanted people to appreciate that this does not define your work as a delegate---and obviously that wasn't off-base!

Delegate Ebbin,

There are a lot of Freshman delegates.  Who do you feel will make a long-lasting impression and why? 

Thank you for all your hard work! 

We have a lot of new talent in the House:

-David Bulova of Fairfax is great. He is extremely knowledgable on the environment and land use policy. He is also far from a grandstander. He was willing to get up very early to help with Sen. Whipple's and my Green Building Bill. He had a human trafficking bill that he was willing to roll his into my bill that was more comprehensive. He is smart and personable.

-Republican Rob Wittman is very sharp on environmental stuff too. He's kind of Republican David Bulova.

-Jennifer McClellan of Richmond is a super smart lawyer and has a great committee seat on Commerce and Labor.

-Shannon Valentine of Lynchburg is already a star. Poised and a great speaker. She derailed a bill to deal with payday lending on the floor just by asking Delegate Kilgore a great question.

-Chuck Caputo has mastered the rules.

-My seatmate David Englin has a great mind for public policy.

...vanquisher of Dick Black!!!

David Poisson is a great guy. He is also doing a fantastic job.

My first blog. It was fun. Thanks for the questions. And don't forget to give Jim Webb a donation!

Thanks.

Adam

...it is much appreciated.

You done good! :)