Saturday, February 24, 2007
Why Transportation's Going Nowhere
Well, I suppose there's a plan. So why will it not go anywhere? Because it's not a compromise.
"Sen. Phillip Puckett, D-Russell County, was the only transportation negotiator who said he will not support the compromise. Puckett said he opposes the use of general fund money to retire debt and charged that Republicans have failed to include him in discussions of the plan since Tuesday." Roanoke Times
I've heard Puckett was not even invited to the final transportation negotiations, and was seeing the plan for the first time at the press conference touting how great it was. That's why the Gov. says it's a plan drafted "in secret".
"I can only speak for the Democratic caucus, but I don't think this will be received very favorably," Puckett said.
Second of all, it's simply another bad plan. I'm glad to see that the House Repubs will allow some sort of new funding, even if it's just in NOVA and Tidewater.
Have any of these guys driven in the mountains lately? Have they white-knucked down Interstate 81 in the last few years?
That's my problem with the plan. There's almost NOTHING for the rest of Virginia in the plan, yet drivers across the state will be paying higher registration fees, higher license fees, and will be impacted if they travel... but they won't get a dime of that back.
This sure is one crooked road they're trying to take us down.
PS - In elections, the Republicans have counted on votes from the Shenandoah Valley for years. These voters drive on 81, and know it's a disaster. Perhaps, just perhaps, when they see their fair legislators have passed them by,
"Sen. Phillip Puckett, D-Russell County, was the only transportation negotiator who said he will not support the compromise. Puckett said he opposes the use of general fund money to retire debt and charged that Republicans have failed to include him in discussions of the plan since Tuesday." Roanoke Times
I've heard Puckett was not even invited to the final transportation negotiations, and was seeing the plan for the first time at the press conference touting how great it was. That's why the Gov. says it's a plan drafted "in secret".
"I can only speak for the Democratic caucus, but I don't think this will be received very favorably," Puckett said.
Second of all, it's simply another bad plan. I'm glad to see that the House Repubs will allow some sort of new funding, even if it's just in NOVA and Tidewater.
Have any of these guys driven in the mountains lately? Have they white-knucked down Interstate 81 in the last few years?
That's my problem with the plan. There's almost NOTHING for the rest of Virginia in the plan, yet drivers across the state will be paying higher registration fees, higher license fees, and will be impacted if they travel... but they won't get a dime of that back.
This sure is one crooked road they're trying to take us down.
PS - In elections, the Republicans have counted on votes from the Shenandoah Valley for years. These voters drive on 81, and know it's a disaster. Perhaps, just perhaps, when they see their fair legislators have passed them by,
