Miller elected to GOP whip position; Republicans need to stay focused on the economy
By JR Hoeft | Sunday, November 20th, 2011 | PolicyWilliam Howell (Speaker of the House) is from Stafford. Kirk Cox (Majority Leader) is from Colonial Heights. Tim Hugo (Caucus Chairman) is from Fairfax.
Instead of broadening the regional spectrum and ensuring someone from outside the I-95 corridor was elected to GOP leadership, the Republican Caucus chose Jackson Miller of Manassas as the Majority Whip today.
The caucus could have chosen Kathy Byron of Lynchburg (member since 1998) or John Cosgrove of Chesapeake (member since 2001) to give a little balance to state leadership. Yet they chose Miller, a late entry to the campaign.
“Jackson will be a tremendous asset to our team,” said Speaker Howell. “Since 2006, Jackson has ably served the citizens of Manassas and Prince William County and now we are eager to put his energy and ability to work for Virginia.”
Let’s hope his energy and ability though are put to work on building a commonwealth for all people and their economic freedom and liberty, vice moving the state towards divisive issues on illegal immigration.
“It’s a very humbling honor to be elected by my peers to this leadership position in the Republican Caucus. I look forward to working with our leadership team in moving a common sense agenda forward,” said Miller.
That sounds good, but it has to be a common sense agenda that is based on improving transportation, expanding Virginia’s economic base and port facilities, making Virginia a business-friendly state, and delivering a balanced budget during tough economic conditions – not an agenda where we find ourselves debating about Manassas being a “city in flames” because of illegal immigration.
Congratulations to Miller, I’m sure he’ll do great, but this vote will be viewed by some with skepticism, openly wondering whether the Republican Party has already lost focus on jobs and the economy and whether Hampton Roads even has a voice in the new majority?
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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3 Responses to "Miller elected to GOP whip position; Republicans need to stay focused on the economy"
Mr. Hoeft, you must know very little about Delegate Miller. You seem to only judge him based on his floor speech about a triple murdering illegal alien who had a lengthy local criminal record and had never been deported.
The Prince William Chamber of Commerce awarded Delegate Miller with the highest pro-business grade of any member of the Prince William delegation (senate or house) after last session. I dont think you need to worry about his pro-business agenda.
MI – I believe I wrote: “Congratulations to Miller, I’m sure he’ll do great…”
I also said others will be skeptical, based on his most recognized performance in the House of Delegates, not me.
But whether I know much or little about Delegate Miller is irrelevant. What matters is his future performance in GOP leadership and the causes he advocates.
Mr. Hoeft,
Economics is a great concern to all Virginians as it is to all Americans. Who does not want to be provident and responsible in supporting ourselves and our loved ones? And to enjoy those things that providence provides for us? And it is right that our legislature tends to these matters.
Do not be mistaken, though, that economy is the only or even the “main” issue of focus on “matters of importance” in our legislature. We can not ignore the morality of upholding our laws on immigration. By the way, so it is, that the effects of immigration also effects our economics.
If your “main” focus is the economy then you know that our BUDGETS and our ECONOMICS can be damaged GREATLY by prisons for illegals, welfare for illegals, schools for illegals, etc. These are issues that “burn” or “flame” just as earnestly as economics of infrastructures, poverty or potholes.
Also (on a side matter) I doubt that you are “conservative to the core” when you mainly seem to want to “focus” on “fiscal” issues over immigration. IMMIGRATION, prayer in schools, pro-life, pro-family (homosexual-hertesexual issues), etc. does not seem to be one of many “main” issues that you want to “FOCUS” on.
Whether the Republican Party STANDS or FALLS will be determined if they “focus” on these issues as well. Why are you establishment types (and you seem that to me) so afraid to stand up and be counted on all main issues? Sure, focus, on economics, but also “focus” on all matters of importance.
What does it profit this state or our country if money is our only “main” focus in Virginia’s legislature? Are we going to have business as usual by the Republicans or will they take up these “divisive” issues as well…and have credibility as to really looking at all the betterment of Virginia and country?
Pat Robertson
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