As a resident of Arlington County, and someone that places an incredibly high value on personal freedoms and adqequate represenation from elected officials, I believe its time for a change of leadership in the 32nd Senate district of Virginia. Recently, I have made it a priority to make our elected officials more accountable for the votes they cast, which is why I wanted to shed some light on our current State Senator, Janet Howell’s record. While Senator Howell has a history of being a champion for the Democrats in the state house, during her time in Richmond she has repeately voted against the needs of her constiuents, and has started to errode away at the liberties we enjoy under the Virginia Consitution.
Senator Howell’s voting record provides ample evidence that she doesn’t have her constituency in mind. In the 2010 legislative session, she voted against SB283, a bill that prohibited any federal requirement that individuals obtain health insurance coverage, as well as, prevented the imposition of fines on individuals whom did not comply. As someone that’s young and a recent graduate, it’s already bad enough when my parents strong arm me into doing something I don’t want or need because its “in my best interest”, let alone the government coercing me because they know what is best for me; however, the list of Senator Howell’s failures do not end here.
During the 2008 legislative session she supported SB6009. This policy effectively raises the gasoline tax and creates a special sales tax for the Northern Virginia region. It is notable that under Senator Howell only 20% of the tax money that the residents of Northern Virginia currently send to Richmond is actually spent here. What that means is that there is plenty of money to fund transportation projects—but its being spent elsewhere and Senator Howell is not fighting to bring our tax dollars back. She would rather increase gas taxes, with no guarantee that the money raised in Northern Virginia would be spent here. Considering the price of gasoline at this time, it seems that Senator Howell suffers from a case of myopia when it comes to finding a revenue for transportation projects. We need a better Senator, one who will actually serve as a champion for the area by fighting to bring our tax money back, rather than one who is willing to raise taxes when only 20% of the money we send to Richmond actually comes back to us.
Senator Howell clearly wants to hold this seat by any means necessary, which is the fundemental reason she voted against SB313 during the 2006 senate session. SB313 required the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide monthly lists to the State Board of Elections of license applicants who indicate non-citizen status on their applications, and directs the state board to forward the information to the general registrars, and in turn cancels the person’s voter registration. Maybe its time that James O’Keefe investigated some of the shady practices of Senator Howell. Regardless, its clearly time for a change in the leadership of the 32nd Senate District.
The 32nd District needs an voice independent of overt partisanship, which is why the Arlington Conservative Podcast is endorsing Patrick Forrest for the 32nd District Senate Seat. He has a proven record of leadership and public service from his time in the United States Coast Guard, and he has worked tirelessly to assist refugees and the underpriviledged in UN Refugee camps for Bhutanese in Southeastern Nepal. In addition, he will fight to get us our tax dollars worth of transportation funding, that is so desperately needed in our region. As the product of of the public school system, and an instructor at George Washington University, he understands the importance of ensuring we have a vibrant education system that is second to none. For these reasons, I am endorsing Patrick Forrest, and plan on supporting his campaign. I suggest every other voter in the area take a look at the current representation, and ask yourself, do I want the same failures, or do I want someone who will forge a new path.
Senator Howell’s voting record provides ample evidence that she doesn’t have her constituency in mind. In the 2010 legislative session, she voted against SB283, a bill that prohibited any federal requirement that individuals obtain health insurance coverage, as well as, prevented the imposition of fines on individuals whom did not comply. As someone that’s young and a recent graduate, it’s already bad enough when my parents strong arm me into doing something I don’t want or need because its “in my best interest”, let alone the government coercing me because they know what is best for me; however, the list of Senator Howell’s failures do not end here.
During the 2008 legislative session she supported SB6009. This policy effectively raises the gasoline tax and creates a special sales tax for the Northern Virginia region. It is notable that under Senator Howell only 20% of the tax money that the residents of Northern Virginia currently send to Richmond is actually spent here. What that means is that there is plenty of money to fund transportation projects—but its being spent elsewhere and Senator Howell is not fighting to bring our tax dollars back. She would rather increase gas taxes, with no guarantee that the money raised in Northern Virginia would be spent here. Considering the price of gasoline at this time, it seems that Senator Howell suffers from a case of myopia when it comes to finding a revenue for transportation projects. We need a better Senator, one who will actually serve as a champion for the area by fighting to bring our tax money back, rather than one who is willing to raise taxes when only 20% of the money we send to Richmond actually comes back to us.
Senator Howell clearly wants to hold this seat by any means necessary, which is the fundemental reason she voted against SB313 during the 2006 senate session. SB313 required the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide monthly lists to the State Board of Elections of license applicants who indicate non-citizen status on their applications, and directs the state board to forward the information to the general registrars, and in turn cancels the person’s voter registration. Maybe its time that James O’Keefe investigated some of the shady practices of Senator Howell. Regardless, its clearly time for a change in the leadership of the 32nd Senate District.
The 32nd District needs an voice independent of overt partisanship, which is why the Arlington Conservative Podcast is endorsing Patrick Forrest for the 32nd District Senate Seat. He has a proven record of leadership and public service from his time in the United States Coast Guard, and he has worked tirelessly to assist refugees and the underpriviledged in UN Refugee camps for Bhutanese in Southeastern Nepal. In addition, he will fight to get us our tax dollars worth of transportation funding, that is so desperately needed in our region. As the product of of the public school system, and an instructor at George Washington University, he understands the importance of ensuring we have a vibrant education system that is second to none. For these reasons, I am endorsing Patrick Forrest, and plan on supporting his campaign. I suggest every other voter in the area take a look at the current representation, and ask yourself, do I want the same failures, or do I want someone who will forge a new path.
Robert Melvin
No comments:
Post a Comment