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Virginia
Legislators' Focus on Gridlock Solutions for Virginia Called ''Exercise in Futility''
With all 40 Senate and all 100 House seats up for the November 2007 election, and with GOP majorities of 23 and 56, respectively, lawmakers had declared gridlock solutions their first 2006 priority, extended the regular two-month session past mid-March, and met several times throughout the summer and September, which cost taxpayers $300,000 extra, but got bogged down in Republican ''bickering'' and achieved practically nothing, report Hampton Roads Virginian Pilot writers Christina Nuckols and Tom Holden, quoting House Appropriations Committee Republican Chairman Vincent Callahan Jr., who called the efforts an ''exercise in futility.''
The party's Senate and House leaders, the writers note, clashed over funding, the former seeking new taxes for road projects, and the latter insisting on tapping current revenue and borrowing for construction.
''I find the whole thing not only disappointing but a terrible commentary on the inability to get things done down here,'' Chairman Callaghan said. ''In 2001, 2004, 2006 we've had the same problem: a disagreement between the House and Senate and an inability to compromise.''
House Republican Speaker William Howell angrily denied any House responsibility, putting the blame squarely on the Senate and Democratic Governor Timothy M. Kaine. ''Name one idea the Senate has come up with besides raising taxes,'' he told reporters. ''The governor has said nothing. What kind of leadership is that?''
Governor Kaine countered the inference, pointing out that his hands were tied after House leaders scuttled compromise proposals, including those from their own party. ''They were angry from day one,'' the governor observed, ''and they remain angry today.''
Lawmakers from Northern Virginia and other clogged areas vowed another search for a compromise in three months, but many doubt they will succeed. Meantime, the writers add, the Hampton Roads region will likely have to cancel several long-range projects, which would complete its network of interstates and water crossings, and may also lose some $63 million in related federal aid. -- Virginian Pilot 9/29/2006
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