Not unexpected, and I appreciate that you guys stood up for what was clearly right in this situation–the only way to fix the problem is to generate a PERMANENT and STATEWIDE revenue stream of at LEAST $1B per year–preferrably $2B per year. I really believe that. However, we’d need at least half of that to come to Northern Virginia, in my estimation, especially for the first several years. It’s not easy to stand up and say you recognize that no one likes to pay more taxes and fees, but when the common good is so threatened by the failure of a state government to resolve a critical issue, like this state is, that’s what I call leadership.

Thanks to you both and Governor Kaine for standing up for it.

One thing though, I’d like to challenge the conventional wisdom that “nothing can be done” in an election year to resuscitate tranportation bills. As a citizen, taxpayer, and voter, I get tired of hearing that things cannot be accomplished in an eleciton year. In fact, I think House Democrats have a stellar issue on which to press in an election year, because I firmly believe pressing the House GOP on this will make previously unthinkable districts for Democrats (maybe even in Stafford and such places) competitive.

Democrats need to continue to press and lead the charge for a REAL solution–election year or not, if they expect to be able to lead the House with a majority of delegates.

Just my opinion.