Virginia is a big state, but I'm afraid there's no more room in it for small talk. We have way too much to do and at least one politician in Richmond who long ago lost interest in doing it.That's why I'm running for the House of Delegates in the 79th District - because the citizens of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk deserve someone representing them who wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
And that's why I ask for the endorsement of Raising Kaine so that we can continue to move the Warner-Kaine vision for progress forward.
We all know what our needs are: more jobs, less traffic, and better opportunities to improve our schools, expand affordable health care, and make our neighborhoods safe.
My opponent doesn't share that vision. He apparently thinks he can campaign as a Democrat but vote like a Republican. Enabling the other party's "Just Say No" agenda has done nothing to get traffic moving in the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels or pay our public school teachers like the professionals they are. Yesterday, my opponent yet again voted no. He was one of just 15 who voted against Tim Kaine's comprehensive transportation funding amendments. (You can check out some of his failed record at the Johnny Roadblock blog.)
Last year's victories by Jim Webb and others proved that when voters want government to work, they turn to Democrats. "Mission Accomplished" isn't good enough. We need to get the job done - on our roads, in our schools, and in our neighborhoods.
I was raised in a working class family in Fairfax County, the son of a bank teller and a registered nurse. They didn't have a lot of money, but they made up for it by instilling the values of fairness, equality, hard work and concern for those less fortunate in all of their children. From my service in the Navy to my career as an attorney, those values have been my guiding light.
Again, I ask for your endorsement and support to move our Warner-Kaine vision for progress forward. No small talk. Just positive change. I'll be back this afternoon to answer your questions and comments.
1. If elected, will you support a referendum on public funding for stem cell research in Virginia.
2. If elected, will you support strong measures to slash Virginia's greenhouse gas emissions, including a revenue-neutral carbon tax (e.g, cut taxes elsewhere so that the net result is no increase in taxes)?
3. If elected, will you support a ban on smoking in restaurants to protect worker health?
4. If elected, will you push for a dedicated, long-term, adequate source of revenues to fund essential transportation investments in Virginia? Would this include raising our gas tax, currently one of the lowest in the nation?
5. If elected, would you support reinstating the estate tax for the truly wealthy, with exceptions for family farms and small businesses?
That's all for now, I'm sure I'll think of more. Thanks again.
1) I am in favor of any and all initiatives that will move us forward on stem cell research.
2) We need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. I will use my position as a delegate to bring people to the table to reach a meaningful consensus that significantly reduces greenhouse emissions. I believe that global warming is a real and imminent threat, so I will push for legislation that makes the most immediate progress.
3) Yes. I would have voted to support Governor Kaine's amendment during yesterday's session.
4) Yes, I support a dedicated, long-term, adequate source of revenue to fund transportation.
I am opposed to utilizing general fund revenue to support future transportation needs and would support changes in the bill passed yesterday that would remove general fund dollars from transportation funding. We should preserve general fund dollars for public schools, law enforcement, health care, and other core services.
What I am hearing from citizens in the district is that a gas tax increase would place a harsh burden on lower income individuals. So I would seek a solution that more fairly distributes the cost.
My opponent also voted to eliminate all taxes on millionaires' estates.
By contrast, I would have supported Mark Warner's tax fairness plan and I would have opposed eliminating taxes on millionaires' estates.
Our priority should be ensuring that lower income and middle class families not bear a disproportionate tax burden and that the wealthiest individuals pay their fair share.
I am proud to say that the amendment failed in that precinct.
You can count on me to continue to oppose any and all efforts to infringe on the civil rights of any Virginian.
School systems are excited about participation in the plan and feel that it provides an outside perspective. That is a good thing. In fact, school systems in our region are eager to participate.
However, we must take great care to ensure that urban school districts are not unfairly penalized because they serve a greater number of at risk students.
To answer the second part of your question, my opponent voted against Governor Warner's 2004 budget plan that has substantially helped urban localities like Portsmouth and Norfolk in their teacher retention efforts.
On the other hand, I will be a strong supporter of direct aid that will improve these programs.
2. What is the single biggest failure on your opponent's record?
3. If elected, will you work to strengthen ethics laws in the General Assembly?
2)There are so many failures it is hard to pick just one. For example on transportation, he has actively opposed every single plan, initiative and proposal advanced over the last ten years. This includes Governor Warner's transportation referendum, Governor Kaine's transportation initiative and at least two efforts to add a tube to the midtown tunnel. For further information on my opponent's failed leadership please see our Johnny Roadblock blog.
3)Yes, by all means. I'd love to hear my opponent's answer to that question.
This could be at the government level (i.e. Some NOVA governments are pushing green plans), at the business level (either carrots or sticks to motivate businesses to take significant steps to address problems) or at the individual level (ideas such as big tax credits for hybrids, energy efficient appliances, solar panels, insulation/window upgrades, etc).
And if you do have ideas, how would you look to pay for them?
Oh, and thanks for coming on to talk to us. From what I understand your opponent has a thing against computers - so I doubt we'll be hearing from him.
Some states are very aggressively pursuing building energy efficient buildings and homes. I think the General Assembly should take a lead role in advancing Virginia to the forefront of states that are driving environmental progress.
If the programs are done right, the savings in energy should more than cover the costs. It's just a matter of priming the pump with incentives.
In this past legislative session Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis introduced a bill that would close this gun show loophole. If elected would you support this bill in the 2008 General Assembly.
By contrast, my opponent has a 100% rating from the NRA so his views on this matter should be obvious.
And I look forward to continuing our dialog here on RaisingKaine and other progressive blogs as the campaign continues to the Democratic primary on June 12th.