President Obama's Weekly Radio Address: Game On

President Obama used his weekly address to briefly discuss the budget that he announced earlier and the week. What I really liked was that he essentially told us that the budget outlines the priorities that he was elected to promote and that he was willing to stand up and fight for those ideas.

"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this:

"So am I."

2/28/09: Your Weekly Address from White House on Vimeo.

McDonnell Says C'mon Dems, Drill Baby, Drill

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell showed his loyalty to the GOP's tag line of "Drill baby, drill" when he asked the three Democratic gubernatorial candidates to join him in disagreeing with Tim Kaine's request for the Department of the Interior to delay oil drilling off Virginia's coast. He tried to act as though he was the one trying to spur job creation, but the Democratic candidates saw right through the move as a political stunt. Meme Riley from Brian Moran's campaign, for instance, pointed out that he's already come out against drilling off our coastline due to its negative impact on both Virginia's environment and economy.

“Brian is the only candidate for Governor to stand squarely against drilling off our coast because he believes 21st century energy solutions aren’t found in 19th century fossil fuels. He has put forward a comprehensive Green Virginia plan that will create tens of thousands of new jobs right here in Virginia. Drilling off our coast will hurt our tourism industry, limit our Navy’s ability to operate and exacerbate global warming. Brian’s plan will not only protect our environment, it will also strengthen our economy. It’s the right plan for our environment and for our economy, and it is the right plan for Virginia.”

Terry McAuliffe also recognized that McDonnell was trying to score some political points with the Sarah Palin wing of the Republican Party and claimed that "we must focus more on bipartisanship and less on ideology." He's correct, but I'm still not holding my breath for McDonnell or other members of the GOP's leadership to come to this realiziation anytime soon.

Gerry Connolly Receives Livable Communities Leadership Award from the Coalition for Smarter Growth

Last night at a special reception in the headquarters of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Coalition for Smarter Growth recognized Congressman Gerry Connolly with its sixth annual Livable Communities Leadership Award during a presentation in front of over 120 people. The award was presented by Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman who spoke about Congressman Connolly’s leadership as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and on Northern Virginia and DC regional organizations.

“Gerry Connolly boldly changed the course of Fairfax County toward a more sustainable future,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “He earned our recognition for championing Fairfax County’s substantial contributions to the critical priorities of our region: transit-oriented development, conservation, affordable housing and fighting climate change.”

“I am honored to receive this award from the Coalition. As a Northern Virginia Congressman, I intend to continue to work collaboratively with my congressional colleagues, local and regional government officials, and forward-thinking organizations like the Coalition to promote a green agenda, enhance the quality of life for our citizens, and sustain our vibrant economy,” said Congressman Connolly.

In an announcement about the award, Gerry's office pointed out that the Coalition recognized the following accomplishments:

Transit-Oriented Development: Mr. Connolly prepared the county for sustainable growth by making transit-oriented development a core principle and focus for future growth, approving the MetroWest mixed-use community at Vienna Metro, initiating the Tysons Land Use Task Force, and supporting the resulting bold, green vision for Tysons Corner.

Conservation: Under his leadership, the County Board added hundreds of acres of parkland and trails, pledging 10 percent of the County’s land as permanent open space. The County increased protection of streams and the Chesapeake Bay by dedicating one penny of the real estate tax rate to stormwater projects.

Housing: Mr. Connolly championed affordable and workforce housing to offer more people convenient access to jobs and housing, and to reduce long-distance commuting traffic. The county dedicated one penny on the tax rate to preserve affordable housing and promoted the extension of bonus-density-based inclusionary zoning to mid-rise and high-rise buildings. Mr. Connolly led approval of 270 units of workforce housing on the county’s government center property.

Energy and Climate Change: Gerry Connolly made Fairfax County a leader in fighting climate change by championing the “Cool Counties” initiative, committing to energy efficient practices not only within the county government, but also within local neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Fairfax County created the nationwide Cool Counties program along with King County, WA and the Sierra Club.

Virginia Leaders Highlight Need for Action Before Partisan Gridlock

As Lowell pointed out in a recent post, Mike Turner will be running for the House of Delegates against Republican incumbent Joe May in the 33rd District. In an email that Turner sent out to potential supporters, he mentioned the need to get beyond partisan gridlock in order for the House to properly address some of the major concerns that are currently facing Virginians.

For the last several years I've watched the Virginia House of Delegates closely, hoping the party in power would find a way to rise above partisan infighting and address the critical issues of transportation gridlock, the need for truly smart, strategic growth planning, and now, the economy. Sadly, the most recent session has demonstrated that many in the House of Delegates are more focused on making excuses than solving problems.

My opponent is a good man, but for many years he has placed the interests of his party above those of his constituents. He has Chaired the Transportation Committee for years now, and yet the House of Delegates has not passed any substantive transportation legislation -- legislation desperately needed to improve the quality of our daily lives. As someone who votes for the House Republican Leadership, he has supported the type of shameless partisanship that is more concerned with winning political battles than crafting meaningful, bipartisan solutions.

While part of the reasoning behind Turner's statement is to suggest that we need a Democratic majority in the House so that we can promote a commonsense agenda, I think it's also important to note that Turner is suggesting that we need individuals who are willing to stand up against their party leadership when the leadership is working against the best interests of the general public. During a recent interview I had with Rep. Gerry Connolly, he seemed to suggest this was a move moderate Republicans in the US House of Representatives should also consider when their leadership is insisting that the GOP become a roadblock for the productive ideas put forward by the Obama Administration. What this truly comes down to is the fact that we need leaders who not only claim they support productive legislation, but also have the moral courage to stand up for what's right when it matters -- even if it means bucking their own party's leadership.

Tim Kaine Says Democrats Have 40 Percent Chance of Gaining Control of the House of Delegates

According to an article Tim Craig wrote for the Washington Post, Gov. Tim Kaine has said that there is about a 40% chance that the Democrats will gain control of the House of Delegates. He continued, however, by pointing out that at this point in time in the 2007 elections most people didn't think that they could gain control of the state senate -- something that was accomplished when George Barker earned the nickname "21" by narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Jay O'Brien. Kaine also told Craig and other reporters from the Post that he believed that the contested gubernatorial contest could end up strengthening the Democratic Party as long as the candidates avoided setting an extremely negative tone.

While pundits will take on added interest in Kaine's predictions when you consider that he is also the chairman of the DNC, the message that activists should take away from these predictions is that we must work extremely to support Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates. This is an important task because even though there are a few moderate Republicans in the House, the GOP's leadership has made it clear that they won't allow any legislation get through the chamber unless it has approval of the extreme right wing.

A 40% chance of gaining control might not be as high as we'd like, but it does mean that there is a decent shot of the House being lead by a political party that promotes commonsense ideas instead of extreme partisanship. The relatively low chances of Democrats gaining control featured in Kaine's prediction also serve as a reminder that we cannot take recent electoral trends for granted and we must make sure the general public understands what's at stake.

Brian Moran Wants to Represent ALL of Virginia

Brian Moran and his wife, Karyn, have been continuing to illustrate their ability to build grassroots support throughout the Commonwealth by touring the Southwest portion of Virginia in recent days. While the Moran campaign obviously needs to continue listening to voters from all across the Commonwealth, I think this trip helps to illustrate how Democratic candidates realize that we cannot simply rely upon voters in Northern Virginia if they want to win statewide office. We need to follow the concepts promoted by Howard Dean and President Obama which illustrated the importance of organizing support in all communities and not just those which fall heavily in our column.

What is perhaps more telling about the trip, however, is that Brian has been working with leaders from Southwest long before he even considered running for governor. Radford's Commonwealth's Attorney, Chris Rehak, for instance, endorsed Moran's campaign and pointed out that Moran has spent years working on behalf of residents throughout Virginia and not just in his home base of Alexandria.

“Brian Moran started out fighting for victims and to uphold the law in our court rooms, then moved on to fight along-side Mark Warner and Tim Kaine in Richmond. He’s worked to strengthen law enforcement, improve public education and make sure opportunity exists in every region of Virginia. He’s has the vision for where to take Virginia and the ability to get it done.”

Throughout the years that he served as chair of the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates, Brian has also developed strong relationships with leaders from Southwest. This is an important aspect of his campaign because if he's elected governor he will already have an established relationship with community leaders who help to keep him pass legislation that helps Virginians no matter what region of the Commonwealth they live in. Brian has a proven ability of looking out for all of Virginia and the manner in which he has run his campaign suggests he's prepared to do this on a larger level if elected governor.

Rachel Maddow on Bobby Jindal's Speech

After President Barack Obama delivered a speech that focused on how "we will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," Gov. Bobby Jindal delivered a divisive speech that did nothing but score some points with the extreme right wing. The ineffectiveness of Jindal's speech has been a frequent topic of discussion, but I wanted to highlight Rachel Maddow's reaction because I think it accurately reflects the sentiment that so many Americans hold.

Interview With Gerry Connolly Regarding Obama's Speech

As I mentioned in a post earlier today, I think the reaction that Members of Congress had to President Obama’s speech last night is extremely important because they are the ones the Administration will have to work with to pass productive legislation. With that in mind, I interviewed Rep. Gerry Connolly who represents Virginia’s 11th district in the House of Representatives to get his reaction to last night’s speech.

Many viewers at home were able to see how eager Members of Congress were to hear Obama’s address and Gerry agreed that there was a sense of excitement in the air. This primarily came from the fact there “measure of good will that he’s earned that you saw last night” and while there might have been a few areas of disagreement, there were many times when both sides of the aisle gave standing ovations. He continued by saying that the Administration will have to get support from both sides of the aisle and used the fact that very few republicans stood and applauded when he spoke about SCHIP as an example of the work that needed to be done.

With that being said, Gerry believes that much of the reaction to the speech and the policies Obama put forward would break along party lines. He did point out that he has had conversations with many moderate Republicans who appear to want to support the president on certain issues, but the Republican leadership has run a tight ship in their party. The moderates are therefore hesitant to break with their party because the leadership makes important decisions on things such as committee assignments. A prime example of this concept in action is the vote on the stimulus bill where no Republicans in the House voted “Aye” even though there were some Republicans who might have supported the package. I personally believe this is something that is definitely worth noting because it means that people represented by moderate Republicans should let their Representatives know that they value solutions over partisanship.

One of the criticisms that the media has been putting forward is that Obama didn’t lay out enough details during the speech. Gerry, however, said this criticism “is a little disingenuous” on the media's part as they probably would have been attacking Obama for giving a boring speech if he had gone into analyzing bills that are sometimes extremely complex. He also emphasized that he thought Obama delivered many powerful messages during the speech. The portion about how dropping out of high school wouldn’t just be letting both the individual and the entire country down, for instance, was one of the lines that Gerry felt delivered an important example of how the individual can take pride in working for the common good. He pointed out that this call for shared sacrifice and personal action was exactly what was missing during the last eight years.

Gerry also said that he was “particularly struck with how bold the sweep of [Obama’s] vision truly is.” There were many issues on both the domestic (education, energy, health care) and the foreign (wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security) that the president spoke about during the speech and emphasized how these were items were something that needed to be acted upon. Following up on this, he pointed out that many of the great presidents in history put forward progressive action when the country was in crisis. He drew attention to the fact that Obama mentioned the fact that railroads were built during the Civil War that connected the coasts -- an investment that greatly benefited the country. Highlighting his knowledge of history, Gerry also pointed out how Abraham Lincoln insisted that the dome on the Capitol Building be completed even though there was some opposition to the construction since it would cost so much money while the country was at war. The completion of the dome was necessary in Lincoln’s mind because it was a symbol of a united country and the greatness the United States of America.

For a lighthearted conclusion to our interview, I asked Gerry where he sat during the speech. He pointed out that he arrived a little after 8pm and the chamber was already filled and he ended up sitting next to a Democratic member of Congress from Ohio. Many thanks go to Rep. Connolly for taking the time to speak with me this afternoon. As there are more developments in Congress I will continue to check in with Gerry and his office.

Obama's Speech Well Received By Public And Members of Congress

I thought President Barack Obama's non State of the Union address last night went extremely well last night. As he pointed out in the opening lines of the speech, he spoke "frankly and directly to the men and women" who elected both him and the Members of Congress in the hall. In other words, he wanted to talk to the American public and not just to his base or to the bankers on Wall Street who might be looking to the speech as a way to decide which stocks to buy. I think this is important to remember because just like FDR's fireside chats during the Great Depression, this was a speech designed to inspire confidence in our country's ability to get through tough times.

Based upon the reaction of those who watched the speech, the polls are suggesting that the message was received loud and clear. According to CNN, for instance, 82% of viewers had a positive reaction and the same number of people supported the economic plan that he discussed. 85% said they felt more inspired about the country's future. At a time when consumer confidence is one of the things that needs to be addressed in order to help our country get out of this financial crisis, it is a very good that Obama is inspiring confidence in our ability to move forward.

While the speech might have been designed to speak directly to the American people, Members of Congress also appear to have been inspired by the plans that Obama presented during his speech. Sen. Jeff Merkley, for instance, said in an email statement that he was very encouraged by Obama's speech.

I’m very encouraged by President Obama’s commitments to reforming our health care system and developing an economy built on green jobs. The way out of these tough economic times begins with the transition to a renewable energy economy.

We’ve been hit with bad economic news for months now, but I’m confident that if we work together with President Obama to attack the problems in our mortgage and financial systems that got us into this mess, and make smart investments in the future, we will not only recover but come out of this period stronger than ever.

I think this tone is important to note because it is Members of Congress who will have to work with the president to pass meaningful legislation. If they understand that Obama wants to work together to help move our country forward, then there is a good chance that we will be able recover from this financial crisis at a faster rate. So while some of his opponents will claim that Obama should have gone into greater detail, I believe he made the right decision by placing emphasis on setting a tone that will restore the public (and Congress's for that matter) faith in our government.

UPDATE: I also interviewed Gerry Connolly to get his reaction to the speech. You can see my write up here.

Steve Shannon Endorsed By Prosecutors

Since a significant amount of the duties held by the Attorney General's office has to do with law enforcement, it is noteworthy when prosecutors endorse a candidate for AG. Along those lines, Steve Shannon announced today that current and former Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorneys Ray Morrogh and Robert Horan, Jr., as well as Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney Paul Ebert, have endorsed his campaign for AG.

“As a former Virginia prosecutor, I know how hard the men and women who serve as Commonwealth Attorneys work every day to keep Virginia families safe,” Delegate Steve Shannon said. “I’m proud to have their support,” Shannon continued.

“I know that Steve will fight to protect kids from predators, because I saw him do it firsthand as a colleague,” Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Ray Morrogh said. “As a prosecutor, Steve had the responsibility of handling the most difficult cases of crimes against children. As a legislator, he has continued this fight every day to protect Virginia families. Steve will be an Attorney General who produces results,” Morrogh continued.

“Steve will stand with us and protect Virginia Families,” Ray Morrogh said. “I know Steve will work with prosecutors all over Virginia to make sure that criminals are locked up, and kids are kept safe,” Morrogh concluded.

It should also be noted that Ken Cuccinelli, who is one of the Republicans running for AG, is also from Northern Virginia. This is important to remember because these Commonwealth Attorney's are very familiar with the work that both Steve and Ken have done during their years representing constituencies in NoVA. Nonetheless, they both wholeheartedly support Steve's candidacy.

Dustin Lance Black's Acceptance Speech

A few days ago I posted a video of the speech Sean Penn gave when he won best actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk. This video is the speech that Dustin Lance Black gave when he won best screenplay for Milk at the Academy Awards. I briefly met Dustin at a private screening of Milk a few months ago and he is extremely passionate about working for GLBT rights. I look forward to seeing more of his movies in the future and give a heartfelt congrats to him on his oscar.

Tim Kaine On Obama's Speech

Gov. Tim Kaine had the following to say about President Obama's speech to the joint session of Congress.

“As President Obama made clear tonight, there is still a lot of work to do to get our country back on track. But better days do lie ahead. In his short time in office, President Obama has already offered a comprehensive approach to get our economy moving again now and in the future. With the help of the Democratic Congress, he implemented a responsible economic recovery package that will help millions of Americans get back to work and provides meaningful tax relief for 95 percent of working families. He has proposed common-sense solutions to tackling the housing, banking, and financial crises.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we face many more difficult choices. We must reform the health care system, put our country on the path to energy independence, modernize our education system, and cut our deficit spending. And we must commit to a government that is honest, transparent and accountable to the American people.

“These goals are interrelated, and all must be accomplished to transform our country for the long-term. This is what the American people elected President Obama to do, and I have full confidence that he will make the investments and choices necessary to put us on the path to fiscal responsibility and keep the American Dream alive.”

Bowerbank Calls Out Bolling For Lack of Bipartisanship Regarding Transportation

Earlier today Jon Bowerbank spoke about how he believed that there was too much “partisan bickering” in Richmond and that it had gotten in the way of producing productive transportation reform. criticized the partisan bickering that has stalled transportation reform in Richmond. His criticism comes in the way of last week's announced budget reductions by the Virginia Department of Transportation which includes calls to layoff 1,000 full-time employees and 450 hourly workers over the next 18 months and cutting spending by up to half for the safety service patrols .

"VDOT's cuts are the inevitable result of partisan obstructionists in Richmond led by Bill Bolling. Their failure to cooperate on finding common sense transportation solutions has led to the regretful cuts VDOT was forced to make. Bolling has had numerous opportunities to support bipartisan transportation reform. Now Virginians will pay the price for his obstruction as we remain gridlocked. As a member of the VACo Transportation Committee I am working with people on both sides of the aisle to get the resources we need to fix this problem, and I will continue this work as Lieutenant Governor," Bowerbank said.

[…] Bolling has a long history of opposing transportation initiatives. After 2007's failed transportation reform effort Republican Senator Russ Potts told the Winchester Star that Bolling was an obstructionist who "killed all the hard work by Republicans and Democrats who had worked hard to bring it out on the floor." This past summer Bolling flippantly dismissed the seriousness of Virginia's transportation crisis, telling the Richmond Times Dispatch that the transportation special session was "a colossal waste of time and money."

During a time when cuts are being made to various programs all across the Commonwealth there is no doubt that our leaders need to come together in a bipartisan manner in order to create the best possible solution to our economic difficulties. That is why I wrote a wrote a piece yesterday that criticized Supervisor Pat Herrity for promoting bitter partisanship instead of illustrating a readiness to engage in bipartisan discussion. At the same time, however, not all of the blame for a $2.6 billion budgetary shortfall can be laid at the feet at Bill Bolling. The failed economic policies of the Bush Administration are largely responsible for the financial crisis that our country is facing and, therefore, is also responsible for many of the cuts that are now being forced upon VDOT.

Considering how bipartisanship can help Virginia overcome the failures of the Bush Administration and that not all the blame can be placed on one person, it is important to note that Bowerbank’s criticism is directed towards Bolling’s failure to act in a bipartisan manner to institute reform. While Bolling might not have be solely responsible for the financial crisis VDOT is facing, his refusal to act in a bipartisan manner to help produce the necessary reforms has contributed to the severity of the cuts that will need to be made. Bowerbank was therefore absolutely correct in calling attention to this fact and it’s something that the voters should remember as they are listening to the various candidates for Lt. Governor.

Del. Ken Melvin Announces Retirement

Earlier today Del. Ken Melvin announced that he would be retiring after serving in the House of Delegates for 24 years. More important than the length of his service was the high quality of his leadership as he was a member of the House Courts of Justice Committee and was a staunch defender of civil rights and did his part to ensure that the disadvantaged had their voices heard by elected officials. This was not lost on his colleagues as he announced his retirement.

"Ken Melvin has one of the sharpest legal minds of anyone I've ever had the privilege to work with," said House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong. "He has devoted his career to the equal and fair distribution of the law, and this House will not be the same without him. I thank him for his service, and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

"I have had the joy of working with Ken for over two decades," added Caucus Chairman Ken Plum. "He has served this body with honor and distinction, and we will dearly miss his perspective and innumerable contributions. The Commonwealth is a better place thanks to his work."

I only had the pleasure of meeting Del. Melvin once when one of his fellow delegates introduced me to him while I was down in Richmond earlier this year, but I have the utmost respect for his service and the work that he has done while in the House. The voters of the 80th district were well represented and I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.

UPDATE:Brian Moran released the following statement about Del. Melvin's retirement.

“When I was a new member of the General Assembly and the Courts of Justice Committee, Kenny Melvin became a friend and a mentor. He has been a fighter for those who didn’t have anyone else fighting for them. His advice and counsel were invaluable to me, and he will be deeply missed. There was no stronger champion for civil rights or more strident defender of those less fortunate. For nearly 25 years, Kenny Melvin has served the people of Virginia, and our Commonwealth is a better place for his service.”

DNC Hires Brad Woodhouse As Communications Director

The DNC announced yesterday that Brad Woodhouse will be its new Communications Director and will be in charge of both the communications and research departments. Before coming to the DNC to help with the presidential campaign in 2008, Woodhouse had served as the president of Americans United for Change which is an organization that has advocated for issues such as protecting Social Security, increasing the minimum wage, expanding SCHIP, and making it easier for workers to form unions. During a time when our country is facing a tough economic challenge and needs strong advocates for working class families, Woodhouse will bring an excellent background to the DNC.

The following is statements that officials at the DNC, and Woodhouse, had to say about the appointment.

"I'm excited to welcome Brad Woodhouse back to the DNC. Brad is already one of the most highly-respected communications professionals in politics today and will be an indispensable part of our team as we work to promote President Obama's agenda for change," said DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillon. "I also want to thank Karen Finney for her outstanding service to the Democratic Party. Not only was Karen an integral part of Gov. Dean's efforts to rebuild our Party, but she's been extremely helpful to us here during the transition and we wish her the best of luck as she takes on new challenges."

"Im so proud of the work we've done over the past four years at the DNC and so grateful to have been a part of getting our party and country back on the right track," said outgoing DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "I'm also thrilled to turn the reigns over to my friend Brad Woodhouse. Having worked closely with Brad over the years, I know he will be a strong advocate for President Obama's agenda and a fantastic leader for our Party. He is the consummate professional and a creative and strong voice in Democratic politics. I wish him the best and know he will be a tremendous asset to Chairman Kaine and the DNC."

"I'm honored to be joining Governor Kaine, Jen O'Malley Dillon and the tremendous team they are putting together at the DNC to help promote President Obama's agenda for change," said incoming DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. "Being part of an organization that will not only concern itself with politics and elections - but with promoting the change Americans voted for in November was enough to convince me to leave a job I love for this tremendous opportunity. Of course, in Karen Finney's, I'll have tremendous shoes to fill and I am grateful to her for the trail she has blazed for me as I start this new chapter in my life."

Video of Brian Moran Speaking In Mt Vernon

As I mentioned in earlier posts, all of the statewide candidates expect Terry McAuliffe spoke at the Mt Vernon Democratic Committee's Mardi Gras party. Lowell Feld from Blue Virginia took this video of Brian Moran speaking at the event.

Pat Herrity Still In Campaign Mode While Discussing the County Budget

This morning's meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors was an important session in regards to the discussion regarding the County's budget. Not only did the Board vote to halt discussion regarding the acquisition of Gatehouse II, but the County executive, Tony Griffin, also presented his budget proposal to the Board.

The budget that he put forward is preliminary and there will be several public hearings and board meetings before it's finalized by the Board of Supervisors, but it is significant because it highlights how the financial crisis created by the Bush Administration's failed policies is now impacting local governments as well. For instance, Griffin suggested that 524 full-time county positions would have to be cut -- roughly one third of which perform duties in the area of public safety. If there was any good news to take away from the meeting, it was the fact that most members of the board appear to be ready to dive into the discussion and work together to come up with the best budget possible. Chairman Sharon Bulova even gave a brief statement saying that she looks forward to working with every member of the board on the budget because the members come from diverse backgrounds and each bring a unique perspective to the table.

In sharp contrast to the other board members, however, Supervisor Pat Herrity appears to still be in campaign mode. When it was his turn to ask Griffin questions about his budget proposal he immediately jumped into a speech about how he believes the Democrats would do nothing but increase taxes and spending if we weren't facing a financial crisis. He then proceeded to say that he was pleased that the financial crisis had made people realize that we must stabilize our spending but that he wasn't hearing enough proposals to drastically change the County's spending habbits. Even those I spoke to at the meeting who thought Herrity had a valid pointed felt as though he came across as almost grateful that the financial crisis allowed him "to take a few cheap shots for the sake of winning some political points." When he finally did get around to asking questions, it was only to complain about an increase in the tax rate on real estate. (It should be noted that even though there's an increase in the rate, taxpayers won't see too much of a difference in what they're paying since home values are so much lower. Fortunately, this will allow the County to keep funding programs that are vital to our community.)

Now I don't have a problem with the fact that Herrity has different views on many issues than I do because a civil debate about legitimate issues is something that is needed in a democracy. Ever since it became apparent that he was going to run for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, however, he has gone out of his way to attack Democrats and the ideas that they put forward. This is a shame because, as I mentioned in a post I wrote a few months ago, part of the reason many people voted for him in 2007 was that he appeared to at least be willing to hear what people on the other side had to say.

Every now and then that Pat Herrity appears to make a comeback, but the bitter partisan games that he has been playing in recent months greatly overshadow those few positive moments. As the board moves forward in promoting discussion about the budget, I sincerely hope that we hear more from the Pat Herrity who values productive debate and less from the one who puts partisanship before the concerns of his constituents.

Sean Penn's Acceptance Speech

Sean Penn won best actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in the movie MILK. This is his acceptance speech.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Discontinues Discussion on Purchase of Gatehouse 2

At it's meeting this morning, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion that would discontinue discussion on the acquisition of Gatehouse II, a building that was going to cost $100 million and would house many administrators for the Fairfax County School System. While putting forward the motion, Chairman Sharon Bulova argued that the savings proposed from moving personnel to the building were going to be extremely minimal and the county shouldn't be spending so much money on the project while the county -- and the country in general -- is facing a financial crisis.

Supervisor Jeff McKay also pointed out that one of the major concerns he had with the project was that the public did not receive enough opportunities to weigh in on it as the discussion regarding the project was primarily conducted in closed door sessions. He said that if the project were to be considered again in the future, there must be more opportunity for the public to take part in the discussion during public hearings.

What is really at the heart of the public opposition to the purchase of Gatehouse II was the fact that it was potentially taking away from money that the county could be spending on other very important projects. Supervisor John Foust, for instance, pointed out that there are many schools that are overcrowded while many others also need renovation. The fact that he mentioned overcrowded schools is very timely since I spent several hours last week at a school board meeting where they were primarily discussing how to redistrict schools that were extremely overcrowded. In other words, there is a definite need to build more schools in Fairfax County which is something that should be done before constructing an administrative building that isn't absolutely necessary.

Brian Moran and Jody Wagner Win Straw Poll in Mt Vernon

I attended the Mt Vernon Democratic Committee's annual Mardi Gras party tonight. All of the Democratic statewide candidates were in attendance except for Terry McAuliffe who was at another event. Unfortunately Terry didn't even send a surrogate over to the event, which is a shame because there were plenty of people in attendance who would have liked to hear from his campaign. In addition to all the speeches, the highlight was a straw poll for the Gubernatorial and LG candidates. The results were as follows:

Governor
Brian Moran: 83 votes
Creigh Deeds: 43 votes
Terry McAuliffe: 33 votes

Lieutenant Governor
Jody Wagner: 62 votes
Jon Bowerbank: 44 votes
Pat Edmonson: 18 votes
Mike Signer: 15 votes
Rich Savage: 10 votes

I will be posting more analysis of the event tomorrow. In the meantime, here was the announcement of the results which gives you a little flavor of the crowd's reaction.

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama discusses how even though the economic recovery package will do a lot to help stimulate the economy it is still only the first step needed to address the situation that the previous administration got us into. Perhaps the most important aspect of his speech is that he emphasized how we cannot simply address one aspect of our failing economy if we want the situation to improve, but must address them all.

Clyde Williams to Become DNC Political Director

As the DNC continues to prepare for working with President Obama to continue building Democratic majorities and promoting policies in the best interests of the American public, they are bringing on leaders to help lead the discussion. In a statement released earlier today, the DNC announced that Clyde Williams will be serving as the new political director. Williams served in the Department of Agriculture during the Clinton Administration and was also a senior policy advisor at the Clinton Foundation. While at the Clinton Foundation he advised Clinton on how to develop programs that reached out to communities in need within the United States. Based upon the tone of the DNC's statement, this is something that they plan on utilizing.

“We’re thrilled that someone with Clyde’s immense skill and unique combination of experience with domestic policy issues and grassroots political organizing will be joining the DNC’s leadership team,” said DNC Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillon. “Governor Kaine has stated his goals of helping advance the President’s agenda and promoting broader participation in the civic dialogue. Having Clyde serve as our political director is an important part of our effort to engage more Americans in our effort to implement practical solutions to the challenges facing our country.”

“I look forward to a great opportunity to work with Governor Kaine, Jen O’Malley Dillon, and of course the White House to advance the President’s agenda and continue to strengthen our Party,” said Williams. “These challenging times demand real leadership from Washington and a renewed commitment to truly engaging the American people in the effort to move our country forward. I am honored by the opportunity to help Governor Kaine with this historic effort.”

I believe the hiring of a political director who has a history of focusing on domestic issues is a good thing since there is likely to be some battles over domestic policy issues such as health care, housing, and the implementation of the stimulus bill in the near future. The fact that he also has a history dealing with community organizing suggests that he realizes the importance of local organizing and drawing attention to the concerns of underserved communities. In the long run, this will help to ensure that the DNC helps working class families throughout the country.

Moran Addresses Housing Issues While In Loudoun

During a press conference in front of a home under foreclosure in Loudoun County, Brian Moran announced his “Homeowners’ Bill of Rights” which would help homeowners stay in their homes, stop deceptive loan practices, and help protect neighborhood home values. This announcement comes as President Barack Obama has announced an initiative to address housing issues and the number of foreclosures in Virginia has been greatly accelerating in recent months.

To give a brief glimpse into the growing problem, Brian pointed out that Virginia jumped from 25th in the country in foreclosures in 2007 to 11th in 2008; there were 5,000 foreclosure fillings in Virginia in January 2009 alone; and the second biggest surge of foreclosures nationally was in Woodbridge which spiked 414%. Norfolk has also seen a large increase as its number of foreclosures has spiked 155%. What is also very disturbing is how foreclosures in towns where members of our armed forces live are increasing at a rate 4 times faster than the national average. At a time when our soldiers are risking their lives in service of our country, it is simply unacceptable that so many of their families are at risk of losing their home.

These statistics are just part of the reason that we need to have some concrete action taken to address the housing issues here in Virginia. Brian appears to understand the need for urgent action and spoke about the need for immediate action during the press conference this morning.

Virginia’s families are getting squeezed. Our next Governor needs to keep fighting for the family dinner table, not the corporate board room. The Bush Administration and politicians like them have spent all their time focused on Wall Street. I’m extending a lifeline to Main Street. This Homeowners’ Bill of Rights will help more Virginians live their American dream.

We can’t wait and expect the crisis homeowners are facing to go away. Urgent action is needed now because the family dinner table is in jeopardy, literally. I’m going to fight hard to enact this Bill of Rights on day one as Governor.

The Homeowners’ Bill of Rights that he was proposing would:

1. Ban the worst practices of deceptive lenders. The proposal bans predatory mortgage lending, where lenders trick homeowners into refinancing; stops deceptive mortgages, which strip people of home equity; prevents mortgage brokers and lenders from taking advantage of homebuyers; and prohibits pushing families into bad mortgages when the borrower qualifies for one that is less expensive. Virginia will join 25 states that have banned negative amortizing mortgages.
2. 90-day foreclosure delays. The plan expands default protection for delinquent homeowners to a 90-day period so people can catch up on payments. It will also freeze the foreclosure process for military families until 90 days after they return from deployment.
3. Expand education for borrowers. The HOBR will ensure that people know the dangers of subprime loans before agreeing to them, require mortgage servicers to send notice and information on alternatives, educate senior citizens about financial scams, and strengthen penalties for those that prey on our most vulnerable citizens. We will deploy a foreclosure prevention program with a hotline, website and other information sources to reduce foreclosures.
4. Protect neighbors and renters. Under this plan, Virginia would require that the owners of foreclosed homes (often banks) maintain properties to reduce blight and prevent other home values from declining unnecessarily. HOBR will also provide relief to renters by requiring 60-day notice upon the foreclosure of a rental building so renters can have adequate time to find new places to live.

After Brian made his announcement I asked him about the cost of the program, but he was very quick to point out that the costs would be extremely minimal. More importantly, there are steps in his proposal that would help to ensure that home values in neighborhoods surrounding foreclosed homes wouldn't be negatively impacted. Obviously this helps these homeowners, but it also means that local governments won't be losing income in tax revenues. In other words, it's a win win situation in regards to funds.

While I'd like to see more action taken in regards to people who are currently facing foreclosure, I'm pleased Brian has put forward a plan for how to prevent some of the practices that got us into the situation in the first place. In a time when so many families are struggling to simply pay the bills (if they can even do that), I am also pleased to see that this is just one of the many ways Moran has illustrated that he understands the need to stand up for the working class.

Brian Moran Highlights Local Action In Announcing Endorsements in Prince William

Earlier today Brian Moran held a press conference at a volunteer fire station in Prince William County where he announced that many of the County’s leaders had endorsed his campaign for governor. In addition to Brian, leaders such as Supervisors John Jenkins and Frank Principi; former Supervisors Hilda Barg and Kathleen Seefeldt; former County Attorney Sharon Pandak; former Delegate David Brickley; and Democratic Committee Chair Pete Frisbe all made statements that highlighted Brian’s commitment to serving Virginia and his desire to move forward an agenda that truly addresses the concerns of the public. Frank Principi, who was one of the first speakers, highlighted the general consensus of the group very well when he said:

Virginia needs a Governor who has a record of fighting for the people. A person who understands the needs of Prince William and is willing to fight for them in Richmond. We need leadership that is willing to fight for better development, better transportation, and better neighborhoods. Brian is the one that can move us forward and find solutions that work.

The fact that Brian has held very similar events with community leaders throughout the Commonwealth (such as the one in Petersburg) shows that he has taken the time to establish relationships with local community leaders. After the press conference I briefly spoke to Brian about this and he pointed out that his campaign isn’t just talking the talk about grassroots politics, but is walking the walk as he is working to build localized support in his candidacy. Talking to the various communities, after all, is one of the best ways to know what is on the mind of his potential constituents. He also pointed out how he will need the help of the local leaders in order to pass legislation that is truly in the best interest of the general public. He has a history of building good relationships with these leaders and will be able to use those as governor to ensure his office promotes the best policy agenda possible.

What’s also very interesting about this endorsement is that Prince William County has been a “bellwether” for who will win statewide elections. Pete Frisbe, the chair of the PWC Democratic Committee, claimed that the county votes “for winners time and time again” and that “whoever wins here in Prince William County will be the next governor of Virginia, no make doubt about that.” When you combine that with the fact that Brian has spent a significant amount of time in Prince William with the fact that some many local leaders suggest “knows what it takes to win” there, people are very optimistic about his chance of winning this “bellwether” county.

Now for those of you who are interested, here is a video I took of Brian’s speech.

Terry McAuliffe's Support from Fire Fighters Isn't As Strong As He'd Like

During Democratic primaries, an important endorsement to receive is from the Fire Fighters Union. One of the big reasons I see this as an important endorsement is the fact that the Fire Fighters are an organization that will actually engage in grassroots activities to support their candidate instead of simply being another organization to list on a website. For those of you who live in Fairfax County, for instance, you might remember the big yellow road signs that were put up all over the county that said "Fire Fighters for Bulova." A lot of members also took part in canvasses and phone banks.

With the gubernatorial campaign heating up, it appears as though the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters have decided to endorse Terry McAuliffe. In a press conference earlier today, both Terry and the president of VPFF stressed how they believed he could address our economic situation and ensure that the fire fighters can receive the support that they need to keep our communities safe.

"Terry McAuliffe has spent years fighting for working men and women like our fire fighters and first responders," said Mike Mohler, President of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters. "Like everyone else, we are feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Terry has the right experience to get our economy back on track, and he has made clear that like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as governor, he will ensure that EMS and fire fighting personnel have the resources they need to do their jobs."

"We owe it to you to make sure that you have the equipment and the support you need to do your jobs safely," McAuliffe said. "As governor, I will work to grow Virginia's economy, so that we can invest more in public safety and first responders."

It appears as though this won't just be a blanket endorsement for Terry, however, as some local fire fighter unions have already endorsed Brian Moran's candidacy. This is important because members of the union often do their volunteering in their local community and if their local is supporting Brian, there's a good chance that their volunteer hours will also go towards supporting his campaign instead of McAuliffe's. In other words, Terry might have received the endorsement of VPFF but it will be extremely interesting to see if the locals decide to follow their lead or support Brian Moran.

Jim Webb and Jon Bowerbank Celebrate Kickoff of PlugGED

There has been a significant amount of discussion recently about the importance of investing in education and how that can help to stimulate our economy. While most of this discussion surrounds supporting our children in grades K-12 and those seeking higher education, earlier this week there was also discussion about another important aspect of education. Leaders gathered in Lebanon, Virginia to celebrate the kick of PlugGED which is a six-month program where students have the opportunity to earn a GED certificate, develop specific skills necessary for jobs in the technology field, have an opportunity to earn Microsoft certifications, and have a guaranteed interview with Northrop Grumman.

The interview with Northrop Grumman is an interesting portion of program because the opportunity for the program’s graduates to work at its facility in Russell County is one way of ensuring that these workers are using their skills to improve the local economy. Jon Bowerbank, who is a member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors and is running for Lt. Governor, appears to understand the opportunity that PlugGED represents. In addition to being at the celebration to show his support, Jon how the following to say about the program and its impact on Southwest Virginia.

"The PlugGED In program is exactly the kind of innovative solution we need to turn our education system around, provide a better future for our children, and make our workforce - and in turn our economy - stronger. It is a great example of the public and private sectors coming together to solve a problem that affects them both, and the solution benefits us all.

As a resident of Southwest Virginia and an owner of a business headquartered here, I know firsthand the employment challenges facing our young adults in this region. People in Southwest Virginia who are searching for a job without a high school degree or a developed skill set face long odds in finding good paying employment. With this new program, not only will these students receive their GED, a must-have for those seeking employment, but they will also have specific skills that make them valuable in the ever expanding tech-sector job market.”

Sen. Jim Webb, who has family roots in Southwest Virginia, also was at the celebration to show his support. At the same time that he recognized the positive role that this program will play in the lives of many working class families in Virginia, he also realizes that the federal government should step up to the plate and do its part to help “non-traditional” students.

“Today’s kick-off showcases the innovative approach that Virginia is already taking to bolster the on-the-job and technical skills of our citizens,” said Webb. “But, we need a dedicated federal commitment to those workers willing to put in the hard work to enhance their skills.

“In the weeks ahead, I plan to introduce legislation in the Senate that will support non-traditional adult students who want to improve their skills, obtain a GED or go back to school to pursue a post-secondary education,” said Webb.

In a time when our country is facing a tough financial crisis, it is even more important for people to have the opportunity to receive an education that prepares them for the 21st Century job market. I am very pleased to see that some of our elected officials understand this concept and as we move forward, I strongly encourage all of our elected officials to take a hint from Sen. Jim Webb and Supervisor Jon Bowerbank and realize that investment in education will stimulate our economy as well as provide it with some long term stability.

Happy Birthday Del. Mark Sickles

Happy Birthday, Del. Mark Sickles. Mark represents the 43rd District in the House of Delegates, which covers "Springfield east of I-95, Franconia, Kingstowne, Hayfield, Newington, and northeast Lorton, from the mixing bowl to Pohick Road. Home of Ft. Belvoir's North Post and future U.S. Army museum." First elected in 2003, Mark serves on the Commerce and Labor Committee, the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, and the Privileges and Elections Committee.

Mark has provided a lot of good leadership in the House and, perhaps more importantly, based upon conversations I have had with him over the past several years it is extremely evident that he is passionate about promoting policies that are truly in the best interests of his constituents.

Steve Shannon Gets Support From Appropriations Committee Members

Del. Steve Shannon, who is running for Attorney General, has been picking up the endorsements of more and more elected officials. Today he announced that he is being supported by the majority of Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee. These committee members are important because they are the ones who have made considerable effort to make sure that Virginia's budget emphasizes programs that will truly make our Commonwealth a better place to live.

“Over the last several years, I have worked closely with this group of legislators to set the budget priorities of the state, and they are some of the folks in the House who know me best,” Shannon said. “These legislators work every day to make the Commonwealth a better place for our families, and that’s why I’m proud to have their support and their help in my campaign,” Shannon continued.

“Steve is a former prosecutor who will fight to keep our families safe, and he’ll fight to protect our jobs and our savings. I’ll be proud to call him Attorney General and I’m proud to call him my friend,” said Onzlee Ware (D–Roanoke).
Steve Shannon is a leader who will fight to protect our families, our businesses and our pocketbooks,” Delegate Bob Brink (D-Arlington) said. “Steve is a powerful advocate for Virginia's families. He'll keep fighting for the people as our Attorney General,” Brink continued.

Joining Delegates Ware and Brink were the following Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee, Delegates Bud Phillips (D-Castlewood), Jim Scott (D-Fairfax), Algie Howell (D-Norfolk), Mamye BaCote (D-Newport News), Rosalyn Dance (D-Petersburg), and Dan Bowling (D-Richlands).

While Steve has some great ideas and can be a very effective Attorney General, he will have to work to make sure any program he proposes can actually receive funding. The fact that he has built up a lot of respect among members of the Appropriations Committee will help him when he's trying to implement programs to make our Commonwealth an even better place to live.

Jon Bowerbank Strongly Opposes Plan for Drilling Off Virginia's Coast

Shortly after he had declared his candidacy for Lt. Governor, I had lunch with Jon Bowerbank to talk about his campaign priorities. One of the first things he brought up was the fact that he worked in the energy industry and was extremely passionate about providing energy to the public in a manner that was also environmentally friendly. I have to admit that I was originally a little skeptical about a person from the energy industry saying that he was going to look out for the environment, but it did appear as though he was making an effort to make his company a lot more environmentally friendly than other energy companies. As he has been on the campaign trail, Jon continues to discuss the need to balance creating energy and protecting the environment.

With that in mind, Jon recently came out against Lease Sale 220, which is a plan to lease land off Virginia’s coast for oil drilling. This comes at a time when Interior Secretary Ken Salazar wouldn’t stop offshore drilling along Virginia’s coast even though drilling in other parts of the country would be delayed for 180 days.

"Drilling off Virginia's coast is a backwards way of solving our energy problems. It will not produce enough oil to change our energy situation significantly; I do not believe there are commercial quantities of hydrocarbons off the Virginia coast; it will potentially irreparably damage an internationally recognized environmental habitat; it poses challenges to our national security training capabilities; it will garner no revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia unless a new law is passed by Congress, but rather it will threaten tourism income at a time when we can least afford to lose it.

"We need to invest in new energy solutions that can reduce our dependence on oil and create jobs in Virginia while helping our environment. In the meantime there are 68 million acres of leased land available for energy extraction that are not being used by oil companies. Rather than expand the area available, companies should be using these previously leased areas. I urge President Obama and Secretary Salazar to halt the Lease Sale 220 proposal and not hurt Virginia's economy and environment. We should be looking forward for solutions to our energy crisis," Bowerbank said.

"No one knows the path toward an environmentally sustainable energy policy better than Jon Bowerbank. Jon's company helped take the pollutant byproducts of coal mining and turn them into energy. Jon's combination of energy expertise and progressive values are sorely needed in Richmond," said Bowerbank campaign manager Jon Paul Lupo.

To further support his decision, Bowerbank’s released the following “fact check.”

Fact Check: Lease Sale 220

There is No Benefit for Virginia. Unless new legislation is enacted by Congress, Virginia stands to gain no revenue from this proposal, and yet Virginia will suffer most of the negative impacts -- loss in tourism, environmental and economic impacts to the water systems, etc.

There is Not Enough Oil and Natural Gas in the Area to Justify the Risks. MMS estimates that the amount of oil and natural gas available in Lease 220 would only be enough to satisfy less than seven days of the nation's oil demand, and only 17 days worth of natural gas.

It Violates Virginia's Energy Policy. The Commonwealth's Energy Policy allows and supports offshore leases, but for exploration only and for natural gas only -- not for oil. It also requires that any exploration and drilling commence 50 miles and greater offshore. MMS and the current federal policy states that "gas only leasing is not currently an option because the OCS Lands Act does not allow for leasing of and exploration for natural gas only...Additionally, there are technical and engineering challenges to gas-only leasing including maintaining appropriate reservoir development and determining what would happen if oil was found.

Dangerous for Virginia's Environment. The Virginia coast has been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, and a National Natural Landmark by the Interior Department. In addition, the area that is being considered for exploration and drilling is near the wildlife refuge on Assateague Island and in an area closely linked to the Chesapeake Bay areas that have gone largely unspoiled by development and industry. Drilling for oil and gas could potentially put these natural resources at risk. [Washington Post, 4.28.2007]

A National Security Risk. The Department of Defense has expressed "considerable concern" about opening the Mid-Atlantic Planning area off the coast of Virginia to offshore drilling. In fact, the proposed area lies within the Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Operation Area where significant Naval training and testing occurs. According to the Pentagon, oil or gas exploration in this area would restrict the military's ability to test specific weapons and would push the military further off coast, increasing the risk to flight crews. [Letter to MMS from Asst. Secretary of the Navy, 4.10.2006; Congressional letter to MMS, 11.18.2008]

Negative Impact on Virginia Tourism and Local Economies. Tourism is an incredibly valuable economic engine for the coastal areas of Virginia -- and much of that industry is dependent on clean beaches and oceans. Lease Sale 220 would put that economic engine at risk [Old Dominion University, Economic Forecasting Project]

Virginia Budget Shortfall Much Larger Than Expected

In case we needed yet another reminder that the stimulus is desperately needed, it appears as though Virginia's economy is worse off than was originally thought. According to the Washington Post, Gov. Tim Kaine has sent a letter to legislators that the budget shortfall has increased by $800 million and is now at $3.7 billion. The good news, if you want to even call it that, is that the economic recovery package should help to offset the increase.

Kaine (D) told legislative leaders in a letter that the federal stimulus bill, expected to become law this week with President Obama's signature, will help offset the additional $800 million shortfall for the two-year period that began in July 2008.

State officials estimate Virginia will receive $800 million in federal funding for the Medicaid program and another $200 million targeted to relieve the state shortfall. The state will receive billions of dollars more from the federal stimulus package for specific areas such as public education and transportation projects.

In addition to the negative nature of the news, this also creates some more problems for the General Assembly. In recent weeks, members of the GOP have already been playing partisan games by doing things such as proposing a budget that doesn't even meet basic requirements set forth by Virginia's Constitution. In a time when we need our leaders to work towards stabilizing our economy, these partisan games were very unproductive. The added complexity of having an additional $800 million in shortfall and the need to implement the stimulus funding have the potential to lead to more partisan bickering and will surely result in the General Assembly calling for a special session to address the budget -- something which had already been under serious consideration.

Jody Wagner Was On The Inside Scoop (With Video)

As I have mentioned before, I am in the studio almost every Sunday to watch the taping of The Inside Scoop Virginia (I have also been a guest on the show to talk about economic justice issues and blogging). This week's guest was Jody Wagner who is one of the Democratic Candidates for Lt. Governor.

The show's format allows for people to call in and ask questions, which usually leads to a caller or two during each hour long show. Last night, however, there were a large number of people who either left comments on the shows website, emailed in questions, and called into the studio to ask their question on the air. This is worth mentioning because I think it helps to illustrate how there is an interest in the race for LG even in the relatively early stages.

I had asked for a specific example of a policy Jody had promoted or work she had done during her time with the Warner and Kaine Administrations. My reasoning behind this question was that I have heard a lot about how she had experience, but wanted a specific example of what that work actually was and how it prepared her to be Lt. Governor. Towards the end of the show (at the 50 minute 40 second mark), Jody got asked my question and spoke about her role in some legislation surrounding higher education. I thought she picked a good example of her work and, as I told her last night, look forward to seeing her talk more about these specifics as she continues on the campaign trail.

Free video chat by Ustream

Numbers on How Stimulus Bill Impacts Virginia

I have had a large number of people get in touch to say that they'd like to see discussion about what the stimulus will do for the economy and how it will impact their local community. While the talking heads like to focus on how the bill will impact the political situation in Washington, they often forget that this bill could have a very large impact on the American public and local economies. That is at least partially why President Obama held town halls with the public to discuss the recovery package. With that in mind, here are some numbers that I received from Rep. Gerry Connolly's office about the impact that the stimulus will have on the 11th Congressional District and Virginia as a whole.

• Create or save an estimated 93,000 jobs in Virginia, including 9,000 jobs in the 11th CD
• Channel an estimated $55 million directly to Fairfax County and City Public Schools over the next two years to help reduce the school system’s budget shortfall that is expected to exceed $200 million in fiscal year 2010
• Provide an estimated $20 million directly to Prince William County Public Schools over the next two years to help that school system reduce an expected $57 million shortfall in fiscal year 2010
• Provide $1.7 billion in education funding to the Commonwealth of Virginia with significant additional funding directed to Fairfax and Prince William Public Schools through existing state funding formulas
• Provide Virginia with $694.4 million for roads and bridges and $890.6 million for total infrastructure
• Provide a tax cut of up to $800 for 3 million Virginians
• Increase Pell Grant assistance for 127,000 students attending college in Virginia and provide a higher education tax credit to 71,000 Virginians to help them stay in school during tough economic times
  

I like to see that there will be a significant amount of funding going towards education. Not only will this create jobs in the short term through funding school renovations, but those renovations and funding of other programs will have a long term impact by allowing students to receive an education that prepares them for the 21st century job market. This is a crucial development because it will allow students to have a much easier time finding a job that pays a living wage once they graduate from high school or college. Furthermore, investment in education will also allow businesses to have confidence in the American workforce while they're trying to compete in a global economy.

One of the interesting points of this bill is that despite what some of its opponents claim, it did combine tax cuts with investment. The tax cuts were also very strategically implemented because they would be directed towards middle and working class families who could use the extra money to pay for things like groceries, paying the electric bill, etc. In other words, giving these tax breaks would actually mean the tax savings would help to stimulate the economy since people would be using the money to buy goods.

Rep. Gerry Connolly seems to understand the importance of the balance that was struck in the stimulus bill and had the following to say:

"Congress is delivering on President Obama’s historic plan to start to get the American economy back on track. This economic recovery plan will create American jobs now, provide one of the largest tax cuts in American history for 95 percent of American workers, and lay the foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation, and education.”

It appears as though the recovery package will go a long ways towards helping Virgina's economy. As the funding begins to be implemented I will be providing updates on the situation to help inform readers about the bill's impact.

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Here is a video of President Obama's weekly radio address in which he talks about the stimulus bill and how it will help working families all across the United States.

Gerry Connolly Already At Work On Committees

With the House of Representatives having 435 members, the committee and subcommittee assignments that a Member of Congress receives are extremely important because they represent the best opportunity a Member has to impact legislation. It also means that Congressional leaders should make an effort to match members with committees that relate to their personal backgrounds and deal with issues important to their home districts. With that in mind, Rep. Gerry Connolly is serving on three House committees (Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Budget) and four subcommittees that deal with issues affecting Northern Virginia, the local and national economy, and world affairs.

Connolly was appointed to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which is pretty self explanatory as it is responsible primarily for issues dealing with foreign assistance, national security developments that would impact foreign policy, treaties, and other foreign policy issues. This appointment matches well with Gerry’s personal background as he spent 10 years as a staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and he therefore comes into the committee with a lot more experience than the typical freshman Congressman. His subcommittee appointments dealing with foreign affairs also match some of the key issues that he addressed during his time as a staffer and are:

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade
Jurisdiction includes oversight and legislative responsibilities over the United States’ efforts to manage and coordinate international programs to combat terrorism, including diplomatic, economic, and military assistance programs. Also, oversight of matters pertaining to nonproliferation; arms transfer policy; export control policy; and matters involving nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction also covers oversight of international economic and trade policy; commercial interaction with foreign countries; international investment policy; the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the United States Trade and Development Agency; commodity agreements; and special oversight of international financial and monetary institutions; the Export-Import Bank, and customs.

Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
Jurisdiction includes: matters affecting the political relations between the United States and other countries in the region; oversight of the regional activities of the United Nations, of its affiliated agencies, and of other multilateral institutions; identification and development of options for meeting future problems and issues relating to U.S. interests in the region; military base rights and other facilities access agreements and regional security pacts; oversight of matters relating to parliamentary conferences and exchanges involving the region; and oversight of all foreign assistance activities affecting the region. In addition to its regional jurisdiction, the subcommittee has responsibility for oversight of international health issues, including trans-boundary infectious diseases and programs related to global health issues.

It’s also worth noting that due to his prior experience, Gerry is the ranking Democrat behind the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee. This is a big position for a freshman and represents a big opportunity to have a positive impact on legislation in these fields.

Much like his predecessor who actually chaired the committee for some time, Gerry will also be serving on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which is the main investigative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is able to investigate any federal program and any matter with federal policy implications. While this Committee is important in general, it is his subcommittee appointments here that are extremely important for people living in Northern Virginia.

One of the subcommittees is the one on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia. This assignment is also relatively self explanatory as the committee deals with issues relating to the Federal Workforce, the Postal Service, and the municipal affairs of DC. With so many federal employees living in Northern Virginia, however, the work done by this subcommittee will have a large impact on Connolly’s constituents. The fact that he has already been representing the area and has had a large amount of interaction with Congress relating to these federal employees will allow him to become an influential voice on the subcommittee. Gerry is also serving on the Subcommittee on Government, Management, Organization and Procurement.

Gerry’s final committee assignment is the House Budget Committee, which has jurisdiction over the federal budget, the budget process, the budgets of House standing committees, and review of the Congressional Budget Office. With the country currently facing an economic crisis, this committee is extremely important and will have to make some tough, but necessary, decisions. Connolly has gotten to work extremely quickly in this committee has he is working with Congressman Barney Frank to write legislation that would have the federal government help guarantee local municipal bonds. This move would help local governments who are greatly suffering during this financial crisis and allow them to invest in capital projects which would stimulate the local economy and spur job creation.

Rep. Connolly has received committee assignments which not only match his personal skill set well, but also allow him to directly impact legislation that relates to issues of great importance to his constituents. The fact that he is already illustrating his ability to work with senior members of the House with these assignments suggests that he will be one of the movers and shakers in the freshman class. What is also impressive is the fact that he has taken steps to ensure his constituents have their voices heard on some of the key issues that he's been dealing with while serving on these committees.

Sen. Gregg Withdraws Name in Another Sign of Republicans Playing Political Games

Throughout the discussion surrounding the stimulus bill, President Barack Obama has made attempt after attempt to reach out to Republicans. The Republicans, however, still haven't caught onto the fact that the public is sick and tired of bitter partisanship and actually want meaningful legislation to be passed. The latest attempt of the Republicans playing games is with Sen. Judd Gregg all of a sudden removing his name from consideration as Commerce Secretary. Here's what White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, had to say about the situation.

"Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart".

If Gregg wasn't going to be willing to be a productive member of the team, then it's a good thing that he had his "change of heart" before he could actually have done long term damage to the Obama Administration. The timing of this announcement isn't necessarily a good thing either as it simply gives his opponents even more reason to claim that the executive branch is completely out of control.

The more appropriate explanation would be that the Republicans are simply doing whatever they can to attack Obama and his platform hoping that it will help them during the 2010 Congressional elections. Based on polls that have recently been released, it appears as though the general public understands that is still sick and tired of the bitter partisanship that is being promoted by leaders in the Republican Party.

Steve Shannon's Campaign Shows Some Key Priorities

Del. Steve Shannon, who is running for Attorney General, announced earlier this week that he has received the endorsement of House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong and the Democratic Caucus Chair Ken Plum. Generally speaking, it is a good thing to receive the endorsement of your party's leaders -- especially if you're like Steve and are also building up support at the grassroots level. At the same time, these endorsements shouldn't come as too much of a surprise since Steve is currently a Member of the House of Delegates. For that reason, it is more important to look at the message being promoted with the endorsements because it helps to illustrate the priorities of Steve's campaign.

In a statement about the endorsement, both Del. Shannon and Del. Armstrong highlighted how Steve would protect families if he were to be elected Attorney General.

“I’m proud that these great leaders have chosen to support me in my campaign to make Virginia a safer place for every family to call home," said Delegate Steve Shannon. “Having the support of people like Ward Armstrong and Ken Plum will be a tremendous asset as we take our campaign to the people of Virginia for the next nine months.”

“I’m proud to support Steve because, when it comes to protecting children, Steve has been a leader since before his election to the House of Delegates”, Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong said. “As a former prosecutor and as a dad, Steve knows what it takes to keep our kids safe” Armstrong continued.

This is not surprising at all to me because I have heard many of Steve's speeches where he discusses the work he did surrounding the AMBER alert in the Washington, DC area. For those of you who don't know, the AMBER alert system makes TV and radio announcements when there are children who have been abducted and has been credited with rescuing upwards of 200 children. Needless to say, Steve has a long history of working to keep Virginians families safe and it shouldn't surprise anyone that he would continue that work as Attorney General.

In addition to also highlighting Steve's work to protect families, Del. Ken Plum also pointed out that Steve would work to fight against fraud which extremely important when you consider the financial crisis that we are currently facing.

“Steve will be a terrific Attorney General because he has his priorities straight”, said Democratic Caucus Chairman Ken Plum. “I’ve known Steve a long time and I know that he will fight everyday to protect Virginia families. He’ll fight to protect children from gangs and predators, and he’ll also fight to protect our jobs and our savings from fraud”, Plum continued.

So while these endorsements might not have come as a big surprise, two of the campaign's priorities did become evident. The ability to protect families and fighting against fraud are most definitely two thinks that I would want from an Attorney General. If you want to know a little more about what's motivating Steve Shannon to run for AG, he's a brief highlight video I shot of his speech at an event back in December.

Brian Moran Emphasizes Community Organizing In Announcing New Endorsements

I have talked a lot here recently about how a successful statewide candidate in Virginia will understand the need to build a grassroots organization that has leadership in various communities all across the Commonwealth. I have also discussed how I believe Brian Moran understands this concept and it was a big part of his speech down at the JJ Dinner. In a statement he gave about the endorsements he received from leaders from Petersburg, Brian even further emphasized that portion of his campaign.

“I’m honored to have this leadership team in Petersburg behind my campaign for Governor,” Moran said. “This campaign will be about grassroots, community-by-community support from people who believe we need someone as Governor who will fight for them. I will wake up every day as Governor to fight for the people of this community.”

The endorsements that Brian received from Petersburg leaders are Mayor Annie Mickens, Vice Mayor Horace Webb, Council Member Brian Moore, Council Member Carl Mike Ross, Council Member David Ray Coleman, Delegate Rosalyn Dance, and Sheriff Vanessa Crawford.

During the presidential election, Barack Obama had a lot of success because he made sure that his campaign implemented a 50 state strategy and was active in a variety of different communities within each state. One of the primary reasons that he won in Virginia was that he put organizers all across the Commonwealth that worked to educate the local communities about his platform. Based upon the fact that Brian Moran has been traveling around the state for some time now and his emphasis on going "community-by-community" to get "support from people," it appears as though he understands that this concept is how a candidate can truly build a lot of support for the movement he/she's leading.

Ilryong Moon Wins Democratic Primary In Braddock

In a firehouse primary that saw 3.8% voter turnout, Ilryong Moon became the Democratic nominee to replace Sharon Bulova as the Braddock District Supervisor. Moon received 56% of the vote while his nearest competitor, Janyce Hedetniemi, came in at just under 40%. Beyond expressing their support for Moon in the general election, members of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee are stressing the importance of having a relatively high turnout for a firehouse primary.

“Braddock District Democrats turned out in force over the last two days to nominate School Board Member Moon to take on this fight,” said FCDC Chair, Scott A. Surovell. “I look forward to working with FCDC to continue Sharon Bulova’s effective leadership in Braddock District and Fairfax County,” said Moon.

The Braddock District Firehouse Primary turnout stands in contrast to the 234 votes cast or .5% voter turnout in the 46th District House of Delegates Firehouse Primary on December 17, 2008.

“Fairfax Democrats are fired up and ready to go,” said Surovell. “These results are a testament to a solid Democratic base in Braddock District, an active party apparatus, and the strong roots of our candidate in Braddock District created by years of service to the community. We look forward to earning every vote on March 10,” said Surovell.

When you consider that this was a firehouse primary for a special election for a County Supervisor that came about on short notice, it is good to see that there were thousands of people who made their way to the polls. The fact that 3.8% voter turnout can be celebrated, however, also shows how there needs to be a lot of work done to help educate the public about this special election. More importantly in my opinion, there needs to be an overall strategy by both parties and nonpartisan groups to help inform the public about the importance of local government. It's the local government, after all, that is closest to the people and its officials often times have a better understanding of the concerns facing the local community some of the colleagues at the federal level.

Creigh Deeds Announces Communications Team

Senator Creigh Deeds announced the key members of his communications team today. Brooke Borkenhagen, who served as press secretary for the Iowa Democratic Party during the 2008 general election, will serve as communications director. She was also an early supporter of President Barack Obama and served as the North Dakota spokesperson for his campaign leading up to ND's caucus.

Peter Jackson will also be working for the campaign the "senior advisor for communications." Peter has served as the executive director of the Future Deeds PAC and Creigh's spokesperson and has built up a reputation as someone who is extremely familiar with the dynamics of Virginia politics. Realizing that blogs are a great way to keep more people informed about what Senator Deeds is doing in the state senate or out on the campaign trail, Peter has also been a good friend to the blogosphere by keeping us updated on what Creigh's doing and even setting up some live blogs such as the one he did on my old blog.

Peter and Brooke have a big job ahead of them because a lot of the discussion in the media recently has been about Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe. When you combine that with the fact that recent polls have shown Creigh running several points behind his two opponents, it is extremely crucial that the campaign begins to have more success promoting its message if Creigh is going to have a shot at winning the nomination. It will be worthwhile watching to see if any big strategy changes come with these new appointments in order to accomplish that goal.