Archive for March, 2006
On Monday, the House of Delegates convened to begin a special session to address the budget, but adjourned after just one day with no clear indication when it would reconvene. David used the opportunity to return to the 45th District and meet with constituents to update them on the budget impasse and listen to their thoughts and concerns about a variety of issues.
“I’ve enjoying chatting with constituents informally as I’ve been out and about the district this week, but it’s also been a great opportunity to meet with various community groups to hear what their members have to say,” said David.
On Wednesday evening, David was the keynote speaker at a dinner hosted by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club, where members asked about issues ranging from the budget to redistricting.
“Despite the budget impasse, we did make some progress in other areas,” David told the rotarians. “For example, we passed legislation to clean up emissions from dirty coal-fired power plants like the Mirant Plant.”
In response to a question about redistricting, David noted that House Democrats have been and will continue to push for non-partisan redistricting reform.
“We have to take the partisan politics out of redistricting,” said David. “Voters should choose their their elected officials, and not the other way around.”
On Thursday evening, David joined Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and members of the city’s small business community at the Salute to Small Business reception at the U.S. Patent and Trade Office Museum in Alexandria. The reception honored Alexandria’s Small Business Development Center.
“I enjoyed spending some time with the small business leaders who contribute so much to making Alexandria such a vibrant, dynamic community,” said David. “I enjoyed hearing their thoughts on a variety of local issues, and their message on the budget impasse was loud and clear: We need to protect core services, and we long-term, sustained funding for transportation.”
Later Thursday evening, David attended the semi-annual membership meeting of the Taylor Run Citizens Association to give them an update on their General Assembly. A key item of concern was skyrocketing real estate taxes and assessments.
“Transportation and education are two of the fastest growing costs for our local governments,” David noted. “If the General Assembly would fully fund transportation and education, our local governments would have more freedom to reduce real estate taxes.”
David also noted that several initiatives to reform real estate taxes require constitutional amendments, which by long-standing tradition are addressed in the second year of the two-year General Assembly cycle. One such reform is the Homestead Exemption, which David supports, which would give localities the power to exempt up to 20 percent of owner-occupied property from taxation.
The popular blog Raising Kaine interviews David in today’s weekly “Three for Thursday” feature, in which the bloggers ask “three questions of the candidates, office holders, activists and volunteers striving to put Responsible Government to work for all Virginians.” The bloggers asked about the budget impasse, David’s leadership on equal rights, and Team Englin’s plans for future activism. Click here for the complete interview.
At the call of Governor Tim Kaine, today a special session of the General Assembly convened to address the Commonwealth’s biennial budget, which the General Assembly failed to pass during the regular 60-day session. This year marks the third time in five years that Virginia’s Republican-controlled General Assembly has failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to deliver a budget on time.
“Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, the Governor, and we House Democrats all agree that Virginia needs about $1 billion a year in sustained, dedicated, long-term transportation funding to get people out of gridlock, keep our economy strong, and improve quality of life,” said David. “The House Republican Caucus continues to obstruct the process by pushing a plan that fails to meet our transportation needs and cuts funding for core services.”
After several procedural votes, House Democrats offered a series of budget amendments to reinstate funding for core services like veterans care, fire departments, gang prevention, and education.
“House Republicans again blocked our efforts to protect the core services that keep our communities strong, but we will keep working in good faith to find a solution,” said David. “Virginians want their government to work for them and to deliver results.”
The House of Delegates adjourned in the early evening, with no clear indication when it will again convene.
“As a freshman legislator, you learn very quickly that it’s a numbers game, and what the majority wants, the majority gets,” said David. “Since Republicans control both the House and the Senate, it’s time for them to get their act together and work this thing out. Much more of this, and people might start to think that the current majority party doesn’t know how to govern.”
As soon as the House adjourned, David drove back up to Alexandria for the Women’s Commission’s annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet.
“Congratulations to all of the the amazing women who were honored this year for their contributions to our community,” said David. “Each in her own way has enriched and strengthened Alexandria, making it a wonderful city we are proud to call home.”
David joined Governor Tim Kaine and other elected officials in Richmond today as Governor Kaine announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Commonwealth and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to complete the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, an extension of Metrorail through Tysons Corner, Dulles International Airport, and to Loudoun County.
“Today, we take another step toward completion of the extension of Metrorail to the entire Dulles Corridor,” Governor Kaine said. “Enhanced transit service is an essential part of Northern Virginia’s transportation future, and this extension is vital for the residents and businesses in the Dulles Corridor.”
“I’m confident that this agreement ultimately will deliver Metrorail to Dulles Airport and beyond more quickly and at lower cost,” said David. “Completing Metrorail along the Dulles Corridor is a long-overdue investment that will strengthen Northern Virginia’s economy, better connect communities throughout the region, and improve quality of life.”
In December, the Airports Authority submitted a proposal to assume responsibility for the Dulles Toll Road and both phases of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. The signed memorandum establishes the overall relationship between the partners and the parameters of more specific project agreements to be completed in the coming months..
“Today, we mark a very large step toward the fulfillment of a longstanding vision—not just linking the airport to the region via Metrorail, but to make that same rail service available to all the residents and businesses in the corridor,” said James E. Bennett, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
“As public sector partners, the Commonwealth and the Airports Authority share the common goals of improving transportation in this corridor and meeting the future needs of the entire region,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer. “Today’s agreement guarantees completion of the project all the way to the Airport and well into Loudoun County.”
The agreement guarantees that all revenues generated by the Dulles Toll Road will be used for transportation improvements within the corridor, including the Metrorail extension and roadway improvements. Under the agreement the Airports Authority will continue to consider private proposals for the operation of the toll road and pursue innovative congestion management strategies, including High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.
David joined fellow Virginia Young Democrats at their annual statewide convention in Richmond today, where he was invited to introduce the keynote speaker, State Sen. Creigh Deeds, at the convention banquet.
“It’s always terrific to see so many young people organizing to fight for progress,” said David. “It gives me great hope for the future.”
At age 31, David is the youngest Democrat currently serving in the General Assembly. During his introductory remarks, David urged his fellow Young Democrats to stand up and be heard, “Because when young people stand up we can change the course of history.”
“Two hundred years ago, a young Virginian named Thomas Jefferson stood up and got himself elected to the House of Burgesses at age 26,” said David. “When he was just 33 years old, that Young Democrat wrote the Declaration of Independence and changed our country forever. When Martin Luther King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he was just 26 years old, and when he stood at Lincoln’s feet and preached ‘I Have a Dream’ he was a young man of 33. If you have ideas and energy and passion, and are willing to work hard, never let anyone tell you you’re too young to make a difference.”
David introduced the keynote speaker, former Democratic candidate for attorney general State Sen. Creigh Deeds, noting his distinguished career in public service as an attorney, a member of the House of Delegates, and as a member of the Virginia Senate. David also congratulated Deeds on his donkey, Harry S. Truman (pictured above), being named earlier in the day as the official mascot of the Virginia Young Democrats.
Other business at the convention included the election of the Virginia Young Democrats’ statewide leadership team. Dominic Gabello was re-elected president, and Shayna was elected the executive vice president of the Virginia Young Democrats.
“I share Dominic and Shayna’s vision for building and organizing Young Democrats in Virginia as a political force to be reckoned with,” said David. “Congratulations to all of the newly elected leaders of the Virginia Young Democrats. I’m confident that together we can bring hope and progress to Virginia.”
