Voters working to defeat Democrat Tim Kaine

It sounds like some Virginia voters are already talking about Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine, and not in a good way.

From reporter Mason Adams at Blue Ridge Caucus comes this:

I took yesterday off since I’ll be covering the Roanoke Democratic firehouse primary on Saturday. My wife and I spent some time traveling and hiking around the Natural Bridge area before coming back into Roanoke.

After stopping at a restaurant to eat, Adams overheard a political conversation going on at a nearby table and listened in. What he heard revealed some voters were already engaged in the U.S. Senate race. One diner was supporting George Allen ... another was backing Jackson.

Adams continued:

... I did overhear some comments on the same subject of the U.S. Senate race a while later. These came from one fellow who was ready to defeat Democrat Tim Kaine.

He was working to convince another member of the dinner party of the urgency in beating Kaine, and from what I heard he used two main arguments: Kaine closed interstate rest stops, and he recommended that convicted double-murderer Jens Soering be sent to Germany.
...
... it’s worth noting a couple of things. One is that these conversations already are being had this year. It’s not just talk about the presidential race, but the U.S. Senate race too.

Second is which two attack points have already taken hold and which are being used to convince likely voters, even in late January.

The controversial Soreing issue is more relevant than Democrats would like ... it's sticking with Virginians who fear for the safety of their families.

As to the rest areas, Virginians recognized that political move for what it was and were grateful to Bob McDonnell who fulfilled a campaign promise to reopen the 18 rest stops. It's still a sore topic especially after a McDonnell-ordered VDOT audit revealed $1.2 billion in VDOT's coffers proving that Kaine's demand for the closings, supposedly because of strapped funds, was false.

Bottom line: Virginians haven't forgotten Kaine's time in Richmond. Add that to Kaine's rubber-stamping of President Barack Obama's overreaching government programs and it could be the formula for a Republican victory in November.

Is VA State Senate afraid of accountability?

The state senate rules committee voted down an independent audit of VDOT. The state senators are supposed to represent the citizens of Virginia. Are they afraid of accountability?

Obenshain & Gilbert weigh in on VDOT, Kaine, rest areas

The political games being played by Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine and VDOT with Virginia's rest areas are being disseminated to the citizens of the Commonwealth and do not let up two days after 18 rest areas and a visitor center were shuttered to the public. Check out the VDOT Waste webside.

Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) and Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock) issued a press release today about the subject:

HARRISONBURG—Today, Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) and Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock) wrote an open letter to Governor Tim Kaine expressing their objections to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)'s closure of eighteen rest areas across the state and calling his attention to a VDOT practice that is draining funds that could go toward restoring service to the closed rest areas and maintaining Virginia's vital transportation infrastructure.

The full text of the letter is appended, and a PDF copy may be viewed here.

* * * * *

July 23, 2009

The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine
Governor's Office
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218

Dear Governor Kaine,

As the deadline for saving the rest areas from closure passed us by, you expressed regret that funding was not available to keep them open. We have long urged you to preserve these rest areas for the safety of Virginia's motorists, but we are not unaware of the financial challenges confronting all state agencies and departments during the economic downturn. We have, therefore, sought to accompany our calls for keeping the rest areas open with ideas for locating the necessary funding, and in that vein, we write you today to call to your attention a VDOT practice that is draining funds that could go toward restoring service to these closed rest areas and maintaining Virginia's vital transportation infrastructure.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)'s equipment division maintains an extensive 32,000 piece, $534 million fleet, with VDOT residencies “renting” equipment from the division to meet local needs. We are informed that, under current policies, residencies can lose rental priority, and in some cases even rental rights, if they do not utilize equipment with certain established frequencies, and that on many occasions, this requirement has led to the wasteful spectacle of residencies leasing more, or more expensive, equipment than is required for a particular task, or in more egregious instances, running rental equipment in back lots to log time on the meter despite the lack of any actual need for that equipment.

Any system that rewards this sort of low-level fraud, and indeed renders it necessary for residencies wishing to gain timely access to necessary equipment at a later date, is severely flawed, and we call upon your office to review these wasteful practices, which tie up equipment, transport it needlessly, and waste both fuel and man-hours.

We also write to express our concerns about the cost of maintaining the VDOT fleet. In one instance where the Louisa residency was unable to obtain a backhoe from the equipment division and was forced to utilize a private rental, they were able to meet their equipment needs for $800 / week, a savings of almost twenty-five percent off the $1,040 / week quoted by VDOT's own equipment division. When one considers that, whereas private rental agencies seek to profit in such transactions, an internal equipment division should not be marking up costs, one begins to realize the full scope of the cost differential.

The mowers VDOT provides for maintaining the median strips between interstate highways, meanwhile, are sometimes let for as much as $218 / hour. At this exorbitant rate, a single mowing season is sufficient to cover the entire cost of purchasing new equipment outright. What can justify such expenses? Why are the Department's equipment costs so high?

These are only a few of the questions we believe an outside performance audit of VDOT could answer, and we renew our request for such an audit. We do not believe that any measures short of a complete external review of the Department's operations are sufficient, but even if you are not, at present, willing to take this step, we urge you to make inquiries into current VDOT equipment policy.

If Virginians are to be asked to go without many of the rest stops upon which they have long relied, we believe they are owed the assurance that the state is leaving no stone unturned in the quest to reduce wasteful, duplicative, unnecessary, and fraudulent spending, and hope that you will join with us in seeking efficiencies and cost savings.

We remain ready and willing to work with you to restore funding to the Commonwealth's closed rest areas and to once again announce that Virginia is open for business and tourism.

Respectfully yours,

Sen. Mark D. Obenshain
26th State Senate District

Del. Todd Gilbert
15th House District

Senator Obenshain represents the twenty-sixth district in the Virginia Senate. The district includes the city of Harrisonburg and the counties of Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rappahannock and Rockingham (part).

Solution to closed Virginia rest areas

Previous post:
- Democrat Gov. Kaine & VDOT to close rest areas ... call to protest


H/T to Home Educators Association of Virginia

Democrat Kaine & VDOT closing 18 rest areas ... call & protest

~Valley I-81 rest areas slated to close July 20~

Call Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine and tell him NOT to close rest areas: (804) 786-2211 (see additional contact info below). You may also want to ask for an audit of VDOT.

Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine can be held accountable for playing political games with taxpayers' money and their kidneys at a time when the General Assembly is not in session and the people of Virginia have not been polled about closing interstate rest areas.

Rest areas along roadways in Virginia are a way of life, a convenience for citizens, and a welcome sight for out-of-state travelers. They are also an integral part of safety while driving endless miles of interstate ... literally becoming "rest" areas to pull over when getting sleepy behind the wheel.

Now comes word that 18 rest areas will be closing July 20. The alternative? From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

"These are so much better than we have in Canada," Stan Jacobs said. "In Canada, you pretty much got to run to the bushes."

What is it with Democrats who want to go backwards and copy Canada in health care and rest areas? So we have a possibility of people relieving themselves along the roadways? Gee, thanks, Gov. Kaine.

While driving to Harrisonburg Monday, I saw flashing signs positioned on the shoulders of I-81 at the Mount Sidney rest areas at mile marker 242.4 announcing the closure of the northbound rest area on July 20 and the southbound rest area on July 21.

Politics? You betcha.

First, what better time to rouse travelers' ire than closing rest areas during the busy summer travel season?

Second, rest areas are a result of taxpayer money that Virginia citizens can actually see and use as opposed to the pork that is in the budget that could have been cut.

It was not long ago that VDOT poured millions of dollars into the Colonial Downs rest area on I-64 near Williamsburg. Now we cannot keep others open? Why would the Virginia Department of Transportation play games with the Commonwealth's citizens by closing popular rest areas?

Check out VDOT's budget here. Check out their plans for I-81 here.

Tim Kaine could have stopped this ... but he didn't.

Republican reps have tried for months to halt this senseless move. Now Democrat Gov. Kaine, who also is the Democratic National Committee chairman and MIA from his job in Richmond much of the time these days, has moved ahead with the closings at a time when the General Assembly is not in session and representatives can do nothing about it.

It makes no sense except ... it smacks of politics.

The list of 18 rest areas being closed July 21 by Democrat Gov. Kaine and VDOT:

I-81 North Rural Retreat
I-81 South Smyth
I-81 North Radford
I-81 South Troutville
I-81 North Mt. Sidney
I-81 South Mt. Sidney
I-81 South New Market
I-95 North Ladysmith
I-95 South Ladysmith
I-95 North Dale City (cars)
I-95 South Dale City (cars)
I-66 East Manassas
I-64 East Goochland
I-64 West Goochland
I-85 North Dinwiddie
I-85 South Dinwiddie
I-85 North Alberta
I-85 South Alberta

The Waynesboro News Virginian reminded of past inquiries into VDOT's accountability:

Some minds inquire but don’t yet know. Bob McDonnell ... roughly a year ago urged lawmakers to order an external audit of the Virginia Department of Transportation. Chapped that VDOT planned to close a string of Interstate 81 rest areas to cut costs, state Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, and Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, echoed the call in March. Responses flowed like hardened mud.

Its balances unchecked by independent snoopers, VDOT has proceeded with the whittling Obenshain, along with a pair of Republican locals, Sen. Chris Saxman, of Staunton, and Del. Steve Landes, of Weyers Cave, detested. The agency announced Thursday that it would shutter 19 rest areas, reaping $9 million in savings as part of $1.5 billion in cuts in a six-year improvement program.

Stops in Mount Sidney made the list. For most motorists, the move is a trifle. Not so for truckers. They rely on rest areas particularly on highways like I-81, a glorious ride for ordinary drives but a grind for professionals making hauls up steep grades on 18 wheels. Rest areas provide a chance to cool heels along with gears.

Why didn't Tim Kaine tell VDOT to cut pork before cutting services that would affect the public?

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that VDOT plans to "mothball" the rest areas. Columnist Bill Lohmann jokes that rest areas brought all kinds of relief. But he is spot-on with some of his comments:

Out-of-state visitors might be enchanted by the history of Jamestown, the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the solitude of the Eastern Shore, but they'll go home, and you know what they'll tell their neighbors? "I really had to pee," they'll say, "and Virginia locked its bathrooms."

Having traveled much of America by car, my family can tell you which states have nice rest areas (and, yes, Virginia ranks up there as one of the best) and which states have awful rest areas. It definitely leaves an impression.

Del. Chris Saxman tried to bring attention to the issue here and here. Senator Mark Obenshain and Del. Todd Gilbert expressed concerns here, here, here, and here.

Solution? Find money in VDOT's budget (they need to be audited), and look into privatizing rest areas.

Contact Tim Kaine's office and tell him you do NOT want rest areas closed down: (804) 786-2211 or email or check website.

I called "Constituent Services" at the Governor's office (#4 on the menu) and expressed my concern to the young man who answered the phone. He didn't ask for any information and when I questioned whether he needed something because I felt he was not writing it down or taking it seriously, he hung up on me. Nice.

Update: Bob at The Journey has written about this issue, No Rest Areas for the Weary, and has some good thoughts. Check it out for more on closing of rest areas.

Update: Solution to closed Virginia rest areas

Chris Saxman discusses VDOT

By Del. Chris Saxman
Republican - 20th House District

I'm sure you have heard the news recently surrounding VDOT's challenges in this economic downturn. Here in the Valley -- and throughout the state -- the Governor has suggested shutting down Interstate Rest Areas as a way to save money.

I raised my concerns about this proposal yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability with Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer. I issued a press release on this situation which offers some ways I think we can work together for some better solutions.

With VDOT expressing concerns about not being able to fund maintenance and other projects, it is concerning to read in this morning's Richmond Times Dispatch that "The Virginia Department of Transportation last year paid more than $200,000 in one-time bonuses and more than $300,000 in salary increases to retain some of its top employees."

The article further notes that, despite shutting 28 facilities in 2008, VDOT has increased its payroll by 70 percent since 2000. We all know that costs go up, and Virginia is recognized as the best managed state, yet "VDOT's payroll this year is $651 million, up from $425 million in 2000."

You can read the full article online here.

I am not opposed to bonuses and salary increases. As a small businessman, I realize that it is important to reward hard work and results in order to retain good employees. I also understand that it is important to pay competitive salaries in order to keep good, highly trained employees.

What concerns me is that these bonuses are coming at a time when the Commonwealth and the nation are experiencing a significant economic downturn, and VDOT is considering laying off workers, shutting down rest areas and complaining about funding cuts. It is also concerning that VDOT has been growing its payroll at a rate of nearly 10% annually.

Tough times require us all to prioritize. The legislature just spent this year's legislative session finding ways to tighten our belts for state government, so to speak, to help the Commonwealth weather this economic storm and protect core services.

It is my hope that our state agencies will likewise find ways to ensure that they are operating in a fiscally responsible manner with the hard-earned tax dollars of Virginia citizens.

Cross-posted at SixtyFour81.com

Saxman press release on VDOT accountability

RICHMOND- On Thursday, April 2nd, Delegate Chris Saxman participated in a meeting of the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability in Richmond.

Delegate Saxman authored legislation to establish the oversight Commission during the 2006 special session on transportation. The House of Delegates unanimously approved the measure to create a Commission to conduct performance reviews of the operations of state agencies with transportation responsibilities. The Senate initially defeated the measure in the Rules Committee, but the measure was included in the final approved transportation package.

The Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability is charged with ascertaining whether appropriated funds have been or are being expended for their intended purposes, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of transportation programs. Delegate Saxman was appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates to serve on the Commission in 2008.

Today's meeting included a presentation on the Federal Economic Stimulus money that Virginia is scheduled to receive, as well as an update from Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer on the status of the closure of the Interstate Rest Areas, a move recommended by the Governor to save the state money on maintenance costs.

"Transportation is a critical issues facing Virginians, which is why we established the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability," said Delegate Saxman. "The Commonwealth spends billions every year on transportation projects, but it is critical that we ensure those funds are actually being spent on their intended purposes and are achieving the desired outcomes. It is our job to provide oversight and guidance to ensure our transportation agencies are operating efficiently and effectively and providing real results for Virginia taxpayers."

"I remain concerned about the Governor's proposal to close Interstate Rest Areas and was able to raise these concerns with Secretary Homer," continued Delegate Saxman. "Innovation has always been a key factor in our country’s growth and long-term economic strength. During economic challenges, innovation becomes all the more important for governments. I asked Secretary Homer if the Commonwealth could privatize Virginia’s highway rest areas, as other states have done."

"Secretary Homer responded that we would need to have our Congressional delegation submit legislation to allow Virginia a federal exemption. Unfortunately, previous attempts to grant an exemption have been thwarted by the federal truck-stop lobby; however I will be contacting Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Senator Jim Webb and Senator Mark Warner to inform them of this situation and see how we can work together to provide this option for Virginia."

"By offering licensing options, rest areas could remain open for travelers, while also generating additional revenues that could be re-invested into VDOT’s maintenance program. These funds should remain in the VDOT planning districts in which they are generated."

"While this option certainly would not “solve” all of VDOT’s fiscal challenges, it would be another tool in their toolkit in these tough economic times. It would provide VDOT some flexibility in how they go about addressing funding challenges, while minimizing the effects on services."

"Another option that may help the Commonwealth would be for the Governor or Secretary to make the request that Virginia be included in innovative financing projects. We must be willing to explore new ways of funding projects that can help us reach our transportation goals in less time and at more competitive costs, and it is my hope that the Commonwealth will keep an open-mind to these new approaches moving forward."