Comments on: Brief Notes on the HRCC Conference Call http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:47:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Barrett http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29197 Mike Barrett Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:52:07 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29197 Britt, as of course you know, the locus of the destruction of our once efficient transportation system is the House of Delegates. They have stubbornly and proudly refused to increase transportation related taxes and fees, and the result is conditions worse than found in many third world countries. Our roads and bridges are increasingly unsafe, and the Virginia chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave them a grade of D-, prompting Speaker Howell to demand a course of action to earn an F. Simply deplorable, and I challenge any thinking republican to explain how this helps us to be a competitor for economic development. No, there is no explanation, and it is increasingly a disqualifer. Britt, as of course you know, the locus of the destruction of our once efficient transportation system is the House of Delegates. They have stubbornly and proudly refused to increase transportation related taxes and fees, and the result is conditions worse than found in many third world countries. Our roads and bridges are increasingly unsafe, and the Virginia chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave them a grade of D-, prompting Speaker Howell to demand a course of action to earn an F. Simply deplorable, and I challenge any thinking republican to explain how this helps us to be a competitor for economic development. No, there is no explanation, and it is increasingly a disqualifer.

]]> By: Tim J http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29133 Tim J Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:27:37 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29133 Yeah, that's why we should all buy an off road 4 wheel drive from Freedom Ford tricked up with monster wheels to get through those $1,000 pot holes and float through the flooded tunnels. The McDonnell agenda is starting to shape up as the "Kaine Mutiny". Yeah, that’s why we should all buy an off road 4 wheel drive from Freedom Ford tricked up with monster wheels to get through those $1,000 pot holes and float through the flooded tunnels.

The McDonnell agenda is starting to shape up as the “Kaine Mutiny”.

]]> By: Britt Howard http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29116 Britt Howard Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:53:17 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29116 Wow, I didn't realize what damage Tim Kaine did to Virginia until Mike Barrett explained how horrible things are. I just hope Gov. McDonnell is able to fix the Kaine disaster before its too late. :p Wow, I didn’t realize what damage Tim Kaine did to Virginia until Mike Barrett explained how horrible things are.

I just hope Gov. McDonnell is able to fix the Kaine disaster before its too late. :p

]]> By: Mike Barrett http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29110 Mike Barrett Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:12:11 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29110 Well Shaun, yes. Closed rest stops, so much deferred maintenance that the civil engineers gave us a D-, abandoned bridges, no money for urban construction, grass so high you can't see the signs, more cancelled projects than funded ones, pot holes so wide and deep that most spend $1,000 in car repair and lost productivity, six mile back ups at choke points in Hampton Roads under normal conditions, tunnels that leak and are potentially dangerous, and a Legislature that has simply ignored this system and has no plans to do anything about it. Yes, fourth rate. What's your scale? MJB sends! Well Shaun, yes. Closed rest stops, so much deferred maintenance that the civil engineers gave us a D-, abandoned bridges, no money for urban construction, grass so high you can’t see the signs, more cancelled projects than funded ones, pot holes so wide and deep that most spend $1,000 in car repair and lost productivity, six mile back ups at choke points in Hampton Roads under normal conditions, tunnels that leak and are potentially dangerous, and a Legislature that has simply ignored this system and has no plans to do anything about it. Yes, fourth rate. What’s your scale? MJB sends!

]]> By: Shaun Kenney http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29078 Shaun Kenney Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:57:44 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29078 Fourth rate transportation system? ...and all this time, I thought Dems were telling us we had a 1st rate system that needed our utmost support! Guess Virginia really has everyone fooled with that "best place to do business in America" ranking, especially with that fourth rate transportation network we have working for us. Fourth rate transportation system?

…and all this time, I thought Dems were telling us we had a 1st rate system that needed our utmost support!

Guess Virginia really has everyone fooled with that “best place to do business in America” ranking, especially with that fourth rate transportation network we have working for us.

]]> By: Steve Vaughan http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29076 Steve Vaughan Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:45:50 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29076 The two budgets are close enough that there won't be a war over them. I'm not crazy about the bookkeeping trick of delaying the VRS payements, but I don't think it could be helped. Some parts of the House budget are better, notably the elimination of the furlough days for state employees. I prefer the Senate's emphasis on putting more of the K-12 cuts back rather than the House's option of restoring more of the cuts to constitutional officers. The two budgets are close enough that there won’t be a war over them.
I’m not crazy about the bookkeeping trick of delaying the VRS payements, but I don’t think it could be helped.
Some parts of the House budget are better, notably the elimination of the furlough days for state employees.
I prefer the Senate’s emphasis on putting more of the K-12 cuts back rather than the House’s option of restoring more of the cuts to constitutional officers.

]]> By: Mike Barrett http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29066 Mike Barrett Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:00:55 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29066 Yes, for those fow whom the Grover Norquist no tax pledge has replaced religion, this retrenchment is no big deal, and of course, when next year's tax receipts improve, and we are in surplus, the play book will call for more tax cuts since we have a surplus. And so it goes, which is exactly what the House has done to transportation. That is, essentially undermine this critical function, which makes the proposed economic development program all the more ridiculous. I guess when you have a fourth rate transportation system and a soon to be third rate education system, you have to pay incentives to companies to locate here. Is there a moderate, business oriented republican who understands investment left? Yes, for those fow whom the Grover Norquist no tax pledge has replaced religion, this retrenchment is no big deal, and of course, when next year’s tax receipts improve, and we are in surplus, the play book will call for more tax cuts since we have a surplus. And so it goes, which is exactly what the House has done to transportation. That is, essentially undermine this critical function, which makes the proposed economic development program all the more ridiculous. I guess when you have a fourth rate transportation system and a soon to be third rate education system, you have to pay incentives to companies to locate here. Is there a moderate, business oriented republican who understands investment left?

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29031 Brian Kirwin Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:29:05 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29031 In fact, when Jesus did walk on water, Mike complained that it only meant he couldn't swim. In fact, when Jesus did walk on water, Mike complained that it only meant he couldn’t swim.

]]> By: Agricola http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29029 Agricola Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:54:06 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29029 Mike, the House could have come out with Jesus on water. And you would oppose it. Mike, the House could have come out with Jesus on water. And you would oppose it.

]]> By: Mike Barrett http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29028 Mike Barrett Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:50:45 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29028 Translation for the rest of us: school divisions won't be required to meet one of the SOL's so the Commonwealth will be justified in cutting their contribution. Of course, why was this SOL required this year but not next?; education will be cut just as much, but each division will be allowed to apply for a grant which won't be funded because the funds are not there; by not funding VSRS as required, the unfunded liability will increase, but we will worry about that later; no cuts to personal care, but for those who take care of people, the cuts will be severe. Jibberish replaces responsibility. Translation for the rest of us: school divisions won’t be required to meet one of the SOL’s so the Commonwealth will be justified in cutting their contribution. Of course, why was this SOL required this year but not next?; education will be cut just as much, but each division will be allowed to apply for a grant which won’t be funded because the funds are not there; by not funding VSRS as required, the unfunded liability will increase, but we will worry about that later; no cuts to personal care, but for those who take care of people, the cuts will be severe. Jibberish replaces responsibility.

]]> By: Tim J http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29027 Tim J Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:43:49 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29027 Maybe we can retire the word "draconian" for a while.... Maybe we can retire the word “draconian” for a while….

]]> By: ShaunKenney.com » Brief Notes on the HRCC Conference Call http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/21/brief-notes-on-the-hrcc-conference-call-2/#comment-29025 ShaunKenney.com » Brief Notes on the HRCC Conference Call Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:35:19 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11582#comment-29025 [...] at BearingDrift.com) 2010 21 [...] [...] at BearingDrift.com) 2010 21 [...]

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