Bacon's Rebellion

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Beggars Can’t Be Choosers

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by

James A. Bacon
in

I’ve blasted the Richmond Times-Dispatch for ignoring the land-use dimension of the transportation debate, so it’s only fair that I acknowledge when it does touch upon the issue. Olympia Meolo and Julian Walker tackle the subject in today’s newspaper.

As always, I take issue with the coverage. The editors buried the two articles on page B-3, and the reporters focused on Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s approach to the problem while totally ignoring the proposals in the GOP compromise package. But I guess beggars can’t be choosers.

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10 responses to “Beggars Can’t Be Choosers”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Dear Jim Bacon:

    The so-called compromise GOP land-
    use, transportation package now
    before the GA is a compromise deal
    reached in a series of secret
    meetings between a few members of
    each house. The only compromise is
    the agreement between those parties
    arranged in private by the AG. I
    take issue with your comments. Our
    Governor, Democratic minority and
    others in the GA not a party to this
    backroom agreement have a right to
    be heard!!!!

  2. Jim Bacon Avatar
    Jim Bacon

    Rodger (Anonymous 11:43), The GOP transportation/land use package may have been brokered in a series of secret meetings, but it’s also a reality that can’t be ignored. Gov. Kaine’s proposal, however meritorious it may be, got tabled. The House proposal is the one up for discussion right now. It’s silly for the T-D to write about the land-use proposal that’s politically inert and ignore the one that’s being discussed — just as it’s silly for you to take issue with my comments that weren’t condoning the GOP back-room deal but were simply acknowledging political reality.

  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Dear Jim Bacon:

    I take issue of your describing
    the package as a compromise, given
    how it came about and the parties
    involved!!!

    Sincerely,

    Rodger Provo
    Fredericksburg

  4. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Rodger – With all due respect, your outrage is very selective. Both Kaine and Chichester developed their proposals behind closed doors as well. Why is the HD’s secrecy wrong, while the tax-happy elements’ secrecy acceptable or, at least, not mentioned in polite company?

    What disclosures have been made about the discussions that lead Governor Kaine to walk away from his campaign promises (restrictions on rezoning and lock the trust fund before taxes) last year? Zip. What disclosures have been made about Kaine’ decision to turn over the DTR and huge income stream to an unaccountable board at the MWAA and a majority of whose members have no direct ties to Virginia? Zp.

    What about the discussions between candidate Kaine and the big Tysons Corner landowners/campaign contributors about supporting the biggest boondoggle in Virginia history — the Silver Line? Zip.

    As my late mother used to say: “What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” The House GOP is simply fighting fire with fire.

  5. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Dear toomanytaxes:

    With all due respect, none of what you
    have cited will help us find solutions to
    our complex growth and transportation
    issues. Only when we have a process in
    public view involving all of our many
    stakerholders will Virginia be on the way
    to resolving these matters.

    Sincerely,

    Rodger Provo
    Fredericksburg

  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Rodger — I think we agree on the need to move all decision-making processes into the open. The GA needs a bath, as does the Governor’s office. Decisions need to be made in the open and on the basis of a record that the public can examine.

    TMT

  7. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Dear toomanytaxes:

    We do agree about the need to move the decision making process into the
    open. The state government does need a bath. Decisions do need to be
    made in the public and the public has a right to participate in the those
    decisions. I take strong exception with the AG arranging private meetings
    in a posh downtown Richmond hotel to broker the transportation package
    now before the GA. The Fredericksburg City Council would hung out to dry
    if it conducted their business that way. State FOI laws passed by the
    GA wouldn’t allow them to do that ….

    Rodger Provo
    Fredericksburg

  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Corrected Posting

    Dear toomanytaxes:

    We do agree about the need to move the
    decision making process into the open.

    The state government does need a bath.

    Decisions do need to made in the open
    and the public has aright to participate
    in those decisions.

    I take strong exception with the VA AG
    arranging private meetings in a posh
    downtown Richmond hotel to broker the
    transportation package now before the
    General Assembly.

    By golly, the Fredericksburg City Council
    would be hung out to dry if they conducted
    their business that way.

    State FOI laws passed by the GA wouldn’t
    allow them to do that ….

    Rodger Provo
    Fredericksburg

  9. Larry Gross Avatar
    Larry Gross

    I agree with TMT. Kaine an company are behind closed doors also.

    but there have been discussions about how much business has to be conducted in front of the public and Rodger is correct also in that there was an FOI lawsuit in Fredericksubrg over emails that were said to be “informal” and the ruling came down that any meeting with 3 or more officials was a public meeting whether is why in person, via email or on the phone – ANY communication.

    I think this is one of the evils of a two party system that controls the government apparatus.

    I undercuts debates on the merits and legislation from those not beholden to the Democratic or Republicans.

    This same method of doing business allows legislators to have initimate lunch/dinner meals with lobby folks and you know darn well that average citizens won’t get that kind of access.

    And if you like that .. bills can get killed in subcommittees without a recorded vote.

    And this is how much of the land-use legislation ends up… killed anonymously in a subcommittee…. that way.. voters don’t know who killed it.

    But .. if folks THINK this has to be fixed as part and parcel of the transportation/land-use issue… good luck.

    Or perhaps I’m a fool for thinking transporation/land-use reform can occur without major reforms of the legislative process itself.

    re: the CONTENT of the RTD article.

    More and more localities are realizing that if they approve new development that this is no way out.

    The developers are doing their usual best.. summarily executing legislation that they consider a threat to their business as usual…

    the State is threatening to turn over roads to localities… and so…

    from THEIR point of view… the overcrowded roads are going to only get worse…. and voters are going to toss out BOS that approve rezonings.

    Now, I have no sympathy for them because they don’t plan their roads to start with and that includes the financing… they just draw lines on maps in their Comp Plans… even lines that are not in the 6 year plan.. not in a long range plan and no CIP either.

    So many counties are feeling the heat… and in the last two election cycles, BOS have been voted out.. and I expect more of it to happen this year – separate from whatever happens to the GA guys.

  10. nova_middle_man Avatar
    nova_middle_man

    make sure you keep an eye on Loudoun Larry Too Conservative does a pretty good job of keeping tabs on everything

    Also, as you propably know, this Tuesday there is the Occoquan supervisor seat in Prince William with both candidates trying to label each other as pro-developement and them as more “smart growth”

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