How do you see the role of government, specifically at the state level in Virginia where you hope to be elected, with respect to encouraging citizens to act with greater environmental responsibility?  Should the government be doing anything at all (offering carrots or sticks) or should it just allow "natural market forces" to guide behavior?

If you feel the government should get involved, what specific ideas/legislation would you introduce? 

Thanks for inviting me again to Raising Kaine.

To encourage greater individual responsibility for the environment, I generally favor government educating, encouraging, and facilitating good behaviors rather than mandating and regulating behaviors.  For instance, educating and encouraging people to recycle is a preferred approach.  To the extent that market forces can be established for incentives or penalties, people will make rational choices and respond in a favorable manner.

I have proposed that car emission standards be tightened and auto emission tests which are currently conducted in Northern Virginia be extended to other regions in the state.  I also think Virginia state government should set a good example with its own energy consumption.  For example, we could adopt a Cool Commonwealth plan to renovate state buildings to higher energy efficiency standards, ensure new construction of state facilities is "green," and migrate to a hybrid based state auto fleet, where possible.  I have also called for tax incentives for purchasing clean fuel burning autos, such as hybrids.  In addition, fostering a biofuels industry in Virginia would benefit both the environment and our economy.

Rex Simmons

If you are successfully elected to the House of Delegates this November, what would be the first bill you introduce and why?

As a freshman Delegate, my first bills must have the support of senior legislators.  I have had discussions with some in the Democratic caucus and individuals who I know in the government accountability community about additional ways we can make Virginia state government operate more effectively and efficiently.  A state Office of Inspector General and performance-based budgeting are two proven methods that are worthy of consideration.  As a former Assistant Inspector General in the federal government, I can bring my experience to Richmond to make these ideas successful with our state government.

How do you propose funding the initiatives you are suggesting/proposing/supporting. 

If you feel the initatives pay for themselves or result in cost savings thats a logical answer but go ahead and elaborate from there.

One of the issues that I have been talking about is transportation funding to help fix the traffic mess that we experience in Northern Virginia.  Sustainable funding for transportation remains one of Virginia's biggest challenges.  I propose user fees.  For example, the motor fuel tax has not been raised in over 20 years, and thus the purchasing power has eroded with inflation and the introduction of more fuel efficient vehicles.  Our fuel tax is one of the lowest in the Mid-Atlantic region and draws over 20 percent of its revenue from out-of-state travelers. 

Another idea with merit, in my view, is tolls that vary according to the level of congestion (called congestion or value pricing).  With such tolls, we can maintain a predetermined level of service, create incentives for drivers to avoid driving alone in congested conditions, and encourage drivers to use public transportation or travel at less congested times.  The state of Oregon is studying the feasibility of replacing its motor fuel tax with a per-mile user fee, and I believe that idea deserves scrutiny also.

Leslie Byrne or Gerry Connolly?

Leslie and I were both early supporters of Jim Webb.  She has been a kind supporter and has made an early endorsement of our campaign and she would be a strong progressive voice for Virginia in Congress.

I feel government should chart a clear vision of how every citizen of the Commonwealth has a responsibility for the environment.  Our fuel, our footprint and our future are interwined, and I believe that we need to bring a sustainable eye towards our energy policy.

I believe we should have a view in the House of Delegates towards environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and energy independence.

The first bill I would introduce would be the Virginia Farms to Fuel Act, an investment in Virginia institutions to educate the chemists, bioresearchers and technicians for cellulosic ethanol biorefineries from native Commonwealth crops.

An investment in Virginia institutions has a future return from state income tax earnings from biorefinery workers.  Investing in our schools will help nuture a new industry with downstream revenue from state taxes on biofuels.

for oil and/or gas off the Virginia coast? 

I am concerned about the risk to the environment of offshore drilling.  I am a native of the North Carolina coast, which is similar to Virginia's coast with barrier islands and richness in sea life.  A drilling accident could be disastrous to these fragile coastal areas and to Virginia's tourism in Virginia Beach.  Risks can be mitigated and I am willing to consider reasonable environmental risk mitigation plans.  There are many benefits to energy independence, including less dependence on petroleum coming from areas of the world that are hostile to U.S. interests and threaten our national security.  Long-term, we must find energy sources that are more environmentally compatible than fossil fuels.

drilling for oil and/or gas off Virginia's coastlines?

I support drilling if an acceptable environmental risk mitigation plan is in place.

This is one we're definitely going to have to "agree to disagree" on...

Production of our increasingly limited resources in an environmentally sensitive region must be tied to demand reduction through efficiency.  Drilling in ANWR or off the Virginia coast should only be considered in tandem with raising the fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet or mandating tankless natural gas water heaters in green building codes.

I'm specifically talking about the lack of "sunshine" on this project, the no-bid deal to Bechtel, the argument that we HAVE to do it now - even if it's suboptimal - or we'll lose the federal money, and the entire concept of spending billions to build a Metro line to Dulles Airport (e.g., as opposed to alternative mass transit projects).

I have spent my career making government work better in two Offices of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office.  Transparency in government operations is critical for maintaining the trust in our government decision-making.

Our region made a significant investment in Metro over 30 years ago and it has proven itself to have been a wise choice.  No other form of mass transit is as reliable or has the capacity for moving large numbers of people quickly and safely.  Public support for Metro remains extremely high.  For these reasons, Metro is the transit system of choice in transportation corridors with high volume, such as the Dulles corridor.

I am concerned that the contracting process has exposed our state and region to unacceptable risks and cost overruns.  Now would be a good time for an independent oversight organization, like the Government Accountability Office, to review the planning process to determine if all prudent measures have been taken to ensure the cost of the project will be controlled.  The issue of losing federal money has been brought up because building a tunnel could delay the project.  It would seem to me that the federal money should be available in any event.  Clearly, a tunnel is the popular choice.  To make an informed decision, we need an accurate cost estimate for building and maintaining a tunnel compared with building and maintaining an above ground system.

if that's what it took to get this right?

I favor getting the needed information, making the decision on a course of action, and acting sooner rather than later.  Our region is being choked by traffic.  It affects our economic vitality, quality of life, and safety.  It is time for leaders to lead!

a) Metro to Dulles with an aerial option in Tysons;
b) Metro to Dulles with a tunnel option in Tysons, even if we have to wait a few more years; or
c) Nothing - if it's not done right, don't do it at all (and spend the money on other mass transit projects...there are tons of them!)

We should not wait years for a decision on a tunnel.  The aerial option is vastly better than nothing at all.

I would propose starting the Metro expansion from Wiehle toward Tysons Corner and treating the Tysons section as a latter part of the Phase 1 Dulles expansion.

Would you be willing to wait a few years on this project if that's what it took to get this thing right (e.g., a TUNNEL)?

I would support splitting the Phase 1 expansion into two parts:  Tysons - and Wiehle Avenue through Tysons.  I believe work should commence on the latter section as negotiations continue on the proper option for Tysons..

If you are in the Fairfax area and would like a chance to meet Morris in person, ask him some questions, and hear about his campaign then come by the Meyer House tonight at 7pm for our Meet and Greet, snacks and drinks will be served.

Where: Meyer house, 6111 Queens Brigade Ct, Fairfax, VA 22030

When: Tonight, Wednesday, May 2nd starting at 7pm

Click here for directions

Please provide us with some concrete solutions (aside form funding more construction projects) for solving our transportation crisis.

Our traffic mess was not created overnight and will not be quickly resolved.  We must attempt to keep it from getting worse.  It threatens our quality of life and economic vitality.  The underlying cause has been our population growth as people move to our area for the good paying jobs that are here.  As the region grows, people move further away from the area to find affordable housing and commute to their jobs.

Aside from construction, we need to have a change in our regional development.  That is, change from expanding further and further out to having more urban-like growth along established transportation corridors (transit oriented development).  This will require more region wide planning and different government controls than local governments currently have. 

There are also other measures we can take.  For example, we can give businesses more incentives for adopting flexible work schedules and for employing telework options.  I know from my own experience that the federal government could do more to widen the windows during which employees can work.  Instead of starting between 7am and 9am, start times could be widened further to stretch out the time when drivers share the road.  Also, we can adopt congestion pricing for tolls that create incentives for drivers to avoid driving alone in congested conditions and encourage drivers to use public transportation or travel at less congested times. 

We can also add trains to the Virginia Rail Express and run them more frequently throughout the day to encourage greater use.  VRE also needs to go further west.  Our bus service in the 40th district is practically nonexistent and that is a relatively low cost method for expanding public transit options.

Still, we must have some construction.  For the 40th District in particular, plans need to begin for expanding Metro to Centreville.  We also need work to lengthen turn lanes and build intersections that can handle a greater volume of traffic than they currently can.

the Beltway?

I definitely support widening the westbound side of I-66.  This is needed for security reasons in the event of a terrorist attack on Washington that would require the city to be evacuated.  From briefings I have had, a westbound widening can be done within the exisitng road right of way.

One way to increase the density of our roads would be to promote connecting neighbors to their commute destination through the Web.

Better synchronization of lights (Fairfax County Parkway for instance) coupled with extended turn lanes could help with throughput.

As a once and future telecommuter, I believe we can provide secure network tax incentives to Virginia businesses to reduce our montly commute loads.

...do you support widening I-66 insisde the Beltway.  Hint to my position:  I live in Arlington, a few blocks from I-66... :)

I want to thank Raising Kaine for hosting this "debate."  You have given us the opportunity to talk about the issues and our qualifications to be the next Delegate from the 40th district.

I believe my government experience and years living in the district make me the better candidate for the Democratic nomination.  I have spent 32 years making government work better in my career as an Assistant Inspector General at two bank regulatory agencies and an auditor with the Government Accountability Office.  This extensive experience allows me to hit the ground in the General Assembly without having a period to break in.

Living in Fairfax County and Virginia for 30 years also gives me a better perspective of the issues and values of our community.  For instance, my wife and I know first hand the frustrations experienced by other residents in dealing with the traffic mess.  We have contended with the traffic for 30 years when we commute downtown to work and try to get our children to their activities after work.  I have also learned so much more by talking with voters and personally going to thousands of homes in the 40th District over the past 2 months.

When elected, I will be a Delegate who will achieve results, work with Governor Kaine to do what is right for Virginia, and be a part of the Fairfax County government team.  These qualifications and emphasis on achieving results will give voters sufficient reason in November to replace the Republican incumbent, who has spent three terms dilly dallying with his partisan game playing and not smart legislating.

Rex Simmons
Democratic Candidate for the House of Delegates, 40th District

Please give us your "elevator speech" about exactly why Raising Kaine should endorse you and not your opponent.  Thanks very much!

I gave you the reasons in my comment above.  Thanks very much to you!

Rex

I am a progressive and I believe that the time has come for progressive public policy towards transportation, energy, health care and the environment to counter the radical Republicans in Richmond.

I was the first candidate in the race to call for a progressive energy policy to counter global warming.

I am the first candidate in the region to call for Same-Day Registration, non-partisan redistricting, recorded committee and subcommittee votes in Richmond and a verified paper trail on every voting machine in Virginia.

As an engineer with a career history of working with complex systems, I have the passion for creating solutions for transportation and our other pressing issues of the day. I will craft a big-picture vision lensed from our Democratic values.

I do not believe we need to position progressive values to the back burner in order to appear "Republican-lite".  You will not have to wonder where I stand on the issues, as you'll hear me fighting for that which we hold dear down in Richmond.

In the last 40 years we have gone from "ask not" to "what's in it for me" - and I believe that the time has come to move Virginia forward again - by fighting for the dignity of working Virginians, by expanding health care until everyone in the Commonwealth is covered, by creating transportation infrastructure that sustains our growth and by developing sustainable green energy technology to fuel our future.

I have a passion for policy and years of experience with Democratic political action.  I would be honored to earn the Democratic nomination and our campaign has the experience, tools and supporters to defeat Hugo and send a passionate progressive voice to Richmond.

--morris meyer

Democratic Candidate
House of Delegates - 40th District
morris@morrismeyer.com