What do you think about our petition to Gov. Kaine on the GOP transportation "compromise?"  We all feel strongly here at Raising Kaine that this bill is awful, that it raids the General Fund, that it does NOT provide a steady, dedicated stream of new revenues for transportation investments, that it shifts state responsibilities to localities, that it is unfair to NOVA, etc., etc.  Any thoughts?  Thanks.

Lowell:
  Just signed your petition.
  We are in the second act of a three act play with regard to this bill.  This "compromise" bill is anything but--it's a truce (perhaps temporary) between the two warring factions of the Republicans in Richmond.  Governor Kaine will now get his chance to weigh in, and we'll have to see whether a real compromise--one that actually addresses the issue without smoke and mirrors-- can be reached.  There is no question in my mind that the bill as it now reads is irresponsible, and risks funding for important state services.

Much appreciated... :)

Hello Rip, thanks so much for coming on RK! :) I asked Margi about Immigration so I was also wondering your view as well:

1. What is your view on the current Immigration situation  at hand?

2. What is your opinion of the actions taken by the General Assembly with bills such as denying funding to charities that aid undocumented workers?

3. What kind of solutions would you offer as Delegate for the immigration issue and is a Day Labor Center a viable route for our district?

1.  The federal government has left state and local government in a difficult position.  They've made a mess of the legal immigration system by merging it with the Department of Homeland Security. The idea of throwing all undocumented workers out of the country is ludicrous, and their unwillingness to fund the solutions they have come up with has lead states like Virginia to consider diverting our public safety officers from their primary duties to enforce federal laws instead.  It also allows the extreme right wing in the House of Delegates to come up with any number of shockingly mean spirited bills and call it "progress."

2.  That particular bill, which Vince Callahan voted for, was directly contradictory to the mission any good charity has.  I've done that kind of work, and the it would be a huge impediment to providing services for all the people who need them.  The vast majority of what I've seen come out of the House of Delegates has been at best panicked, and at worst mean spirited.

3.  I haven't seen much of a need for such a center within the borders of the district.  I am glad to see that Herndon has finally come to a solution for their day laborer controversy, though it is a shame that local government is being forced to deal with something our federal government has not.

I think we need to target the people who are happy to take advantage of all poor immigrants first, the bad employers, the landlords "stacking" their properties to hold more people than is safe, and the pay day lenders.  The problems these people cause are quality of life issues for all of us.

I hate Republicans who pretend to support Demcratic ideas when it serves their interests, like Tom Davis and Vince Callahan! Davis in particular voted for the non-binding resolution while at the same time was the architect of several previous increases in the number of elected Republicans in the Congress. Aren't Tom Davis and Vince Callahan both those typical types of politicians who talks out of both sides of their mouth?

Dowd-
  You're right.  As I said at the beginning of my first entry, Vince Callahan--when he knows he's going to be quoted in a paper his constituents will read--casts himself as a moderate, and tries to distance himself from his colleagues in the leadership of the House by claiming that "the Republicans are taking right-wing stances and it is really hurting them..."  "Them," as if he is not one of "them."  But if the voters look at his record--and I'll be helping them do that during the course of this campaign
--they'll find he votes with the leadership of his party--he IS part of the leadership of his party--consistently. 
  Thanks for the question. 

Thank you so much! Too often we see  candidates who do not speak their minds, I sincerely hope you can win it out :)

Hi Rip,

Thanks for coming on...I like what I hear so far.

That said, as you have indicated, this pick-up is CRITICAL to Dems this year, and so we need to make sure that the right Democrat is nominated to face off the Republicans in November.

I like what you've said, but my only concern is that I noticed on VPAP that you were outraised by Margi Vanderhye.  Are you going to be able to compete toe-to-toe with Delegate Callahan in November?  Thanks!

At the time of that filing, I had been fundraising for only a little over a month.  I have more than doubled that number since then and am very pleased overall with how that side of my campaign is going.  Getting my friends and neighbors involved in all aspects of this has been a joy.

With one kid in college and three more in the pipeline, I am not in a position to self fund. You'll notice on that filing the donation she gave herself was more than the money she raised from other people combined. Frankly I am confident that I will have the resources to run a strong primary campaign.  Your question and the real issue goes to the general election.  As you said, beating Vince Callahan is critical to people all over Virginia.  I have no reason to believe that funding for Margi or myself wouldn't be comparable as the Democratic nominee against him.

I am a gay man! It bothers me greatly that your opponent Margi Vanderhye supports civil unions. Don't I and others like me DESERVE the right to be in a happy marriage and have the same time adapt children with my partner

I was very disgusted with the General Assembly and would like to hope at least one of our two Democratic primary candidates will fight for our rights as citizens. I know that Margi has already lost my and many our communties votes. Please tell me that your campaign will be the one to stand up for our rights of equal marriage and an eventual repeal of the dreadful amendment passed last year

I worked hard to defeat that amendment and was pleased to see the majority of my neighbors in the 34th District join me in voting against it.  I have many friends raising families without the rights and legal protections my family enjoys, and that is unconscionable.

That said, the next logical step after doing away with that amendment is civil unions.  I understand why you object to that term, but the most important thing to me is putting all families on an equal legal footing, regardless of what we call it.

Thanks for responding!