Dulles Rail Project in Jeopardy

The federal government has told Virginia officials that without major changes to the proposal, the Metro extension to Dulles International Airport will not be funded.

Without the 900 million in federal money the project is all but dead. In a meeting yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Federal Transit Administration chief James S. Simpson told VA officials that without changes there would be no money.

Simpson said the FTA would allow Kaine and the congressional delegation to have a chance to respond to his concerns before making a final decision on funding.

However, Simpson said that the project faces "an extraordinarily large set of challenges", and the likelihood that Virginia could overcome these challenges is not good.

Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer, who attended yesterday's meeting said, "Many of the issues that were raised today were heard for the first time by the congressional delegation, the governor and the project team, and that is disappointing."

The news came as a shock to many, for the last 40 years Virginia leaders have expressed the need for a rail connection between the nation's capital and its major international airport since the 1960s.

The Tyson’s corridor has been a strong engine for Virginia’s job growth and the metro extension is considered critical to the long term health of the old dominion’s economy.

While Virginia political leaders expressed disappointment about the possible collapse of the metro extension, some who are advocating an underground tunnel expressed hope that the tunnel idea can be revived.

"This is an opportunity for us to make the best of this and see if we can't get the project corrected," said Scott Monett of TysonsTunnel.org. "We can still move Dulles rail forward -- with a tunnel."

However, another group mostly led by landowners and developers, who hope to re- develop Tyson’s Corner, expressed disappointment about the latest developments. Jonathan Cherner, a co-owner of Cherner Automotive Group in Tyson’s Corner told the Washington Post, "Boy, have our public officials let you, me and the entire region down,"

Senate Democrats Block Immediate Repeal of The Abusive Driver Fees

The Democrats have been in control of the State Senate for less than a fortnight and already they are talking about raising the state's 17.5-cent-a-gallon gas, raising the car sales tax, and states sales tax. Gee it didn't take them long to violate their campaign promises.

And yesterday in the Courts and Justice Committee the Democratic majority voted against an emergency clause in SB 1 which would have made the repeal of the abusive driver’s fees effective upon the Governors signature instead of waiting until January 1, 2009, which is when legislation without clause becomes active.

The emergency clause was sponsored by Spotsylvania Democrat Edward Houck. He described the abusive driver fees as “The largest mistake I've made in my 25 years in the legislature.".

To make amends he sponsored the emergency clause to repeal the abusive driver’s fee immediately, sadly he couldn’t persuade his fellow Democrats on the committee to back his idea.

Democrats who voted against the clause include Senators Marsh, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Reynolds, Puller and Deeds.

The seven Republicans on the Courts of Justice Committee all voted for the emergency clause. They include Senators Stolle, Quayle, Norment, Cuccinelli, Obenshain, McDougle and Hurt.

Senator Houck should be praised for taking leadership on this issue, and working to fix the General Assembly's mistake. The seven Republicans who voted yes on the immediate repeal should be credited as well.

Allen to forego Governors race

George Allen announced Tuesday that he would not be a candidate for governor in 2009. This announcement comes as somewhat of a surprise. Many Virginia political watchers had him running, and possibly the odds on favorite for the GOP nomination.

In my opinion George Allen, was one of Virginia’s best Governors in the last 50 years.

As Governor he implemented major reforms, from abolition of parole, to welfare reform, to high educational standards of accountability.
George Allen revolutionized Virginia's government. His bold and principled leadership and great enthusiasm for good government have left an indelible imprint on the Commonwealth.

Along with Ronald Reagan, Allen is one of my political heroes. As a college Student at GMU, Allen motivated me to get involved in Virginia Politics. For that I will always be an Allen fan.