My new state senator, John Miller (D-1SD), saw his bill to kill the HRTA die in committee. He had modified his own bill to end the unelected, unaccountable, unseparated powers Regional Government to exclude only The Peninsula. Still, it went down 10-4.
Now, the only chance to kill the HRTA this session is the bill my delegate, Tom Gear (R-91HD), submitted. HB 829 redlines, repeals, the HRTA and its projects which don’t solve the transportation congestion here from the monster HB3202. The rest of HB3202 stands for the rest of the Commonwealth to suffer.
The People of Tidewater still stand against this wrong plan, expansion of unnecessary government, and wrong taxes over 2:1.
Yet, the bill isn’t even on the docket in the House Transportation Committee. Here are the committee members:
* Del. Joe May (R-33) Chair
* Del. Glenn Oder (R-94) Chair
* Del. Mamye BaCote (D-95)
* Del. Bob Brink (D-48)
* Del. Bill Carrico (R-5)
* Del. John Cosgrove (R-78)
* Del. Adam Ebbin (D-49)
* Del. Bill Fralin (R-17)
* Del. Jeff Frederick (R-52)
* Del. Tom Gear (R-91)
* Del. Tim Hugo (R-40)
* Del. Dwight Jones (D-70)
* Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-68)
* Del. Dave Marsden (D-41)
* Del. Paul Nichols (D-51)
* Del. Tom Rust (R-86)
* Del. Chris Saxman (R-20)
* Del. Ed Scott (R-30)
* Del. Robert Tata (R-85)
* Del. David Toscano (D-57)
* Del. Shannon Valentine (D-23)
* Del. Jeion Ward (D-92)
So, why isn’t HB 829 up for a vote in committee? Who is afraid of what?
My mayor, Gordon Helsel (Poquoson), and my local Republican precinct captain, Dr. Charles Flynn, were in Richmond yesterday to speak at the Senate.
Perhaps more folks need to speak to both Republican and Democrats on the House Transportation Committee to get HB829 out for a vote. It’s just a vote for The People the need to see.