1. For Whom The Roads Toll
May become the major motif in Virginia’s transportation dialogue during the next few years. Bob McDonnell announced this week that he wants to jump start the improvements on U.S. 460 with bids from private companies that will combine road improvements with tolls. This was accompanied by a story noting that tolls are part of an emergent public-private partnership in Hampton Roads that will attempt to alleviate some of the region’s worst problems. At the moment, there is a ton of worldwide private capital looking to purchase America’s public infrastructure- if it can find a way to obtain a steady rate of return. Given the extraordinary pent-up demand for transportation improvements in the Commonwealth, the answer to the question “for whom the roads toll” may be a simple one. It tolls for you.
2. Cuccinelli Sues
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli had Virginia in Court this week, arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency is basing its regulations on bad data and that it should be compelled to revisit the science underlying its policies on auto emissions and climate change. The AG’s motion was part of a joint filing with the state of Alabama. Cuccinelli also authored a piece in the National Review explaining the rationale for court case against the health care legislation that President Obama signed. He continues to keep his campaign promise to resist federal overrreach on multiple fronts. As one observer recently noted, Cuccinelli was part of the Tea Party before it was invented.
3. Bolling Runs
For Governor that is. The Washington Post reported that Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has formed a political action committee to support a gubernatorial run in 2013. It’s no surprise, but it’s a smart move nonetheless. Given all the attention that has gone the AG’s way, it makes sense for Bolling to remind people that he is the heir apparent for the nomination and that he set aside his own ambitions in 2009 to smooth the way for McDonnell’s run. But here’s the real upshot. By forming the committee, Bolling ensures that the media will be asking the Attorney General soon (read this week) if he’ll be seeking the Governorship in 2013.
4. Those First-Term Democrats
May be defeated in November if Virginians have buyer’s remorse about Obama, but campaign funding totals this week indicated that the Republicans are not going to get a free ride. Both Tom Perriello and Glenn Nye have raised the kind of dollars that show they’re serious about keeping their jobs. In addition, the prospect of internal division on the Republican side in both the 2nd and 5th districts have many Democrats believing that the seats could be keepable.
5. What’s the Impact of the Tea Party?
The answer to this question is becoming increasingly crucial to the 2010 elections nationally and in Virginia. At the moment, groups affiliated with various Virginia Tea Party movements are beginning to have a noticeable impact on local GOP party elections. Last week it was Campbell County, this week it was Bedford and Prince Edward. Jim Severt directed my attention to the blogsite for Virginia’s Fifth District Watchdog which is covering these local races closely and conducting an internal debate about whether Bill Bolling should be considered friend or foe of the Tea Party.
6. The Assembly Returns for 122
Gubernatorial amendments this week. The media will be keeping score on the Governor’s batting average, especially in the Democratically controlled and newly emboldened Senate. I presume that the McDonnell team won’t mind losing a few and shifting the headlines away from Confederate History and felons’ voting rights to debates about how to best promote economic development.
7. Bristol Herald Courier Celebrates
The Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. One of the most heartening aspects of putting together a Virginia news aggregation over the past few years is to see some of the great work still being written by Virginia reporters, despite the cloud that looms over their entire industry. I’d been especially impressed by much of the energy and coal-related reporting that comes out regularly in the Bristol Herald-Courier. It’s not only a great honor, but a richly deserved one as well.
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