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On Sunday, Sen. Mark Warner appeared at a rally in support of Virginia State Senator Edd Houck’s (D-VA-17th) re-election campaign.

Sen. Warner noted how Sen. Houck has been critical in helping to maintain and protect Virginia’s AAA bond rating. He also talked about how if Washington doesn’t deal with its’ huge debt in a fair and balanced way that there would be cuts that disproportionally effect education, infrastructure, law enforcement and research. This trickle down effect will have a devastating effect on local communities.

Virginia, under Gov. Bob McDonnell, has already cut billions of dollars in education and health care the past couple of years. This is all while his biggest donors get hefty tax breaks while Virginians struggle.

Combine what’s happening on the federal level and on the state level and you have a recipe for disaster. Virginia’s AAA bond rating has been assigned a “negative outlook” by Moody’s. Sen. Edd Houck has consistently supported a balanced approach to our state budgets, which has helped to preserve Virginia’s AAA bond.

As Sen. Warner put it, “the last thing we want to do is turn Richmond into Washington.” He went on to say:

If we turn Richmond over to all one party and not the John Chichester types because their voices will not be heard in a legislature where compromise is not viewed as an essential trade of government, but compromise is somehow viewed the way it is now in Washington as a sign of weakness.

Sen. Houck’s Koch Brothers backed opponent doesn’t comprehend the words “balance” and “compromise.” The Republicans have lurched so far to the right that moderate’s in the party, who understand “balance” and “compromise,” have no home.

One such person is former State Senate Finance Chairman John Chichester (R-VA) who recently endorsed Sen. Houck. In his endorsement, he had the following to say:

Senator Houck worked closely with me and other Republicans to pass common sense legislation that helped to protect and create jobs, make create jobs, make critical investments in core services, and cut taxes.

Party labels are not as important as someone’s commitment to principle and willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion to find solutions. Edd will continue to be a leader on issues important to Virginias like improving our economy and keeping taxes low…I strongly encourage all of my fellow Republicans and other friends in the 17th District to send Edd Houck back to the State Senate.

Vote on November 8 to re-elect Virginia Sen. Edd Houck, our futures depend on it! The 17th District consists of all or parts of the counties of Albermarle, Culpeper, Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania and the City of Fredericksburg.

You can read more about Cindy Colasanto’s emotional struggle to change the way emergency responders drive through red light intersections here – after her daughter was killed in a tragic car crash with a Fairfax County police officer. It’s a truly heartbreaking story with a happy ending. Ashley’s Law was signed into law on July 26, 2011, in large part to 3 years of hard work by Cindy and the help of Sen. Toddy Puller.

Former State Senator John Chichester (R-VA) has endorsed Toddy Puller (D-VA), per the following press release:

Former Virginia Republican State Senate Finance Chairman John Chichester endorsed Senator Linda T. “Toddy” Puller for reelection to the 36th Senatorial District of Virginia. Senator Chichester said: “We need more senators like Toddy Puller. She is fair, has integrity, listens and has no agenda except to represent the people of Virginia in the best way possible.”

Senator Chichester represented the 28th District of Virginia in the Fredericksburg area for almost 30 years. He also served eight years as the President Pro Tem of the Senate.

“During my service in the Senate,” Senator Chichester said: “Senator Puller did not approach issues as a Republican or a Democrat but considered what would work best for the people of Virginia. She carefully considers the facts about the issues and works to keep the state fiscally strong by ensuring Virginia is able to provide the core services government is tasked to do. Her common sense, effective approach to government has helped to make Virginia the ‘best governed state, the best state in which to do business, and the best state to raise a child.’”

“Senator Puller is well respected for her leadership on veterans issues, education, and transportation. She has been very successful in addressing concerns and supporting legislation to make great strides in these areas.”

In conclusion, Senator Chichester stated that: “it was a pleasure to serve with her in the Virginia Senate and I am pleased to endorse Senator Toddy Puller for reelection to the Virginia State Senate. I know she will continue to serve the 36th District and our great Commonwealth well.”

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Toddy is the consummate professional. I couldn’t agree with Chichester more, “She is fair, has integrity, listens and has no agenda except to represent the people of Virginia in the best way possible.”

Go Toddy!

We’ve addressed the #BananaMan incident in great length. We’ve also raised serious questions on the process followed by Stafford County Public Schools in recruiting, vetting and hiring administrators (see Dr. Karen Spillman). Of course, we strongly believe that the Board of Supervisors chainsaw approach to the school’s operational budget didn’t help matters.

But, what we haven’t discussed are the tools of the trade—the poorly conceived and onerous rules put in place for our public school children to follow. The same rules that allowed Dr. Spillman the latitude to respond to BananaMan as if he committed high-treason on school property.

It would be a safe to say that most parents haven’t read the Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct, a voluminous set of easily breakable rules and regulations put in place to assure “zero tolerance.” Surely, parents want their children to learn in a safe and secure environment, free of drug-dealing, bullying, and other things.

But a casual reading of Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct may cause a lot of parents’ jaws to drop for many of the punishable offenses seem harmless. To prove our point, we’ve come up with our very own Top Ten list of suspension-worthy offenses:

1. Playing Yahtzee [10 to 180 day suspension]




2. Selling Raffle Tickets [10 to 180 day suspension]




3. Sharing a newspaper with friends [10 days or less suspension]




4. Buying an apple from the cafeteria and sticking it in your backpack to eat later [10 days or less suspension or warning]




5. Running in the halls [180 days or less suspension or warning]




6. Failure to return tray in cafeteria [3 days or less suspension or warning]




7. Farting [expulsion, suspension or warning]




8. Sleeping in class [10 days or less suspension or warning]




9. Drinking non-dairy (Hemp) milk (lactose intolerant students) [expulsion, suspension or warning]




10. Eating bananas in support of BananMan (disruption of school) [expulsion, suspension or warning]

Zero-tolerance policies became prevalent in the 90s in response to drugs, gun violence and other violent acts; however, “over time, zero tolerance has come to refer to school or district-wide policies that mandate predetermined, typically harsh consequences or punishments (such as a suspension and expulsion) for a wide degree of rule violation,” says the National Association of School Psychologists.

They go on to note the following problems associated with broad zero tolerance policies:

Zero tolerance policies are complex, costly and generally ineffective. Suspension and expulsion may set individuals who already display antisocial behavior on an accelerated course to delinquency by putting them in a situation in which there is a lack of parental supervision and a greater opportunity to socialize with other deviant peers. Further, expulsion results in the denial of educational services, presenting specific legal as well as ethical dilemmas for students with disabilities. Finally, there is no evidence that removing students from school makes a positive contribution to school safety.

A recent published report in the Journal of School Psychology also suggests, “little correlation exists between zero-tolerance discipline policies and well-behaved students.

Not to mention that these policies are often applied in a disproportional manner towards minorities and more negatively impact students with disabilities.

Our schools are becoming “school to prison pipelines,” which is the direct result of these broad-based zero tolerance policies. The broad-based implementation of these policies by school districts are essentially taking the ability out of the hands of school officials to resolve minor offenses. This is helping to push more children into the juvenile justice system.

Every day these policies remain in place, children are being denied educational opportunities and are instead beset with juvenile criminal records.

Stafford County Schools, Virginia and the country need to find a better balance on these zero tolerance policies. Clearly, serious offenses need to have serious consequences; however, minor offenses can be better dealt with using alternative strategies (such as counseling, family involvement, early intervention strategies, etc…).

Reforms to “zero tolerance” policies in Fairfax are at the forefront of School Board races there and the focus of a group of concerned citizens who are determined to reform the disciplinary process (FairfaxZeroToleranceReform.org).

You all may recall, in March 2009, a 17-year-old football player in Fairfax County committed suicide – facing possible expulsion from Fairfax County Schools over carrying marijuana on school property (he wasn’t selling it or using it). Per FairfaxZeroToleranceReform.org, “[he] committed suicide just one day before a second hearing that very likely would have kicked him out of any Fairfax – and therefore any Virginia – public school. He was an extraordinarily well-liked young man, a good student, involved in his community. He had already experienced initiation into the disciplinary process and a hearing that shredded him and his family by using tactics like humiliation and false accusations to get him to acquiesce, and to get his family to keep silent about it.”

The National Association of School Psychologists have rightfully concluded that “although zero tolerance policies were developed to assure consistent and firm consequences for dangerous behaviors, broad application of these policies have resulted in a range of negative outcomes with few if any benefits to students or the community…more effective alternative strategies are available. Systemic school-wide violence prevention programs, social curricula and positive behavioral supports lead to improved learning for all students and safer school communities.”

Ultimately, rules cannot replace common sense. It’s clear to me (and should be to everyone) that Stafford County Schools “zero tolerance” policy needs a dose of common sense.

We believe there is a causal relationship between the Stafford County Board of Supervisors tightening school budgets and zero-tolerance policies. The School Board is pressured by the BOS to produce more with less, and in turn the School Board imposes on its principals the requirement to maximize instructional time and make it free of distraction. Surely, it is not a bad thing to try to get the most out of instructional time.

But kids are not perfect, and adolescents can sometimes be impulsive or forgetful. And…THEY FART A LOT IN CLASS!

As we know from politics, the Law of Unintended Consequences looms large. A zero-tolerance policy starts off being a good thing, helping to protect kids from drugs or bullying or gangs. But sometimes the policy grows in size and scope to become a tool for administrative overreach—and for an authority-craving principal to use as a battering ram to instill fear and lay down the law.

Fear, as a result of a zero-tolerance policy, is an interesting motivator. But, in the end it doesn’t command lasting respect.

Luckily, not all Stafford County Schools principals take the low road. In fact, most try first to mitigate behavioral problems [or pranks] before they turn into full-fledged crises.

It’s time for all of us to read the Stafford County Schools Code of Conduct, and to make sure School Board candidates promise to dial back the many draconian punishments in it.

As many of my regular readers know, the issue that I’m most passionate about, locally, is strengthening our public education system – something the Republican-led Stafford County Board of Supervisors could care less about. Last year I wrote about how education was clearly not a priority for Stafford County Republicans, evident by the fact that they were spending $60 per day on inmates vs. $21 per day ($3 per hour) on each student.

Furthermore, the board also adopted an economic development plan, which made absolutely no mention of our public education system. They simply do not view a high-quality education system as an economic incentive, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Enter Supervisor Cord Sterling (R-Rock Hill). In an unforgettable moment last year, he stood on the courthouse steps and launched a blistering attack on our school board – calling for them to be fired. Not what I would have done to establish a good working relationship with them.

With Cord’s seat up for re-election this year, voters can finally FIRE HIM!

Stafford Democrats came up empty in recruiting a candidate for this seat, but luckily voters have not. Dr. Dean Fetterolf (I-Rock Hill) believes Stafford is “Better off with Fetterolf” and SO DO I!

Pictured: Dr. Dean Fetterolf (I-Rock Hill)

For the last few years, Dean has chaired the School Board’s Finance and Budget Advisory Committee. There is not a single person more passionate and knowledgeable than Dean on what goes into building and, most importantly, maintaining a top-notch school system. He also understands that a quality school system can be used as a powerful economic incentive for attracting new businesses and families, which has a direct impact on our property values.

He rightfully notes that the amount of funds transferred to schools, as a percentage of total county spending, has fallen more than 16% since 2006. How does this compare to our neighbors? Despite a recession, our neighbors have increased their funding above their existing required local effort by an average of 20%. Stafford has CUT it by 30%. 30%!

Dean has put forth a 21st Century Globally Competitive funding goal plan for Stafford Schools:

• Reduce the 5th highest K-7 student teacher ratio in VA

• Improve Stafford’s 108 out of 132 ranking in per pupil expenditure
• Provide Competitive salaries for teachers and staff
• Help replace the 1000 computers that are 5-7 years old

• Help replace 88 old school buses

• Help fund $11M in future textbook purchases

• Replace Stafford High School

• Provide planning funds for a new CTE Facility
• Remodel or Replace 5 aging Southern Elementary Schools

It’s time to cut the CORD and vote Fetterolf for Rock Hill Supervisor on November 8th!

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08302011/648352/index_html?page=1

As reported earlier today, last week’s Virginia quake may have actually exceeded design standards at the North Anna nuclear power plant. The reactors were automatically powered down when the power failed from the quake.

An inspection team from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been dispatched to assist resident inspectors in determining whether design standards were exceeded. Employees are saying that the reactors could be down for six weeks to six months, depending on the results of the analysis.

This is troubling on so many levels.

Dennen provides more troubling background on the history of quakes and the North Anna plant:

The subject of earthquakes and North Anna Power Station goes way back, before construction even began in the early 1970s.

According to stories in The Free Lance-Star, some geologists and environmental groups warned of an active earthquake zone that runs through portions of Central Virginia, including Mineral.

In 1976, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found Dominion power’s predecessor, Virginia Electric and Power Co., guilty of making seven material false statements about geology at the plant. The company was fined $32,500.

Among the statements: That “faulting at the site is neither known or suspected.” Also listed was the company’s failure to tell the NRC staff or Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that it knew a fault existed at the site.

Vepco had appealed the fine, saying that statements it made about the fault “were believed to be true at the time they were made” and that there was no intent to mislead or deceive.

More recently, in February, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League brought up the location’s earthquake history in Dominion’s application for a combined license for third reactor pending before the NRC.

Units 1 and 2 went online in 1978 and 1980, respectively.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08242011/647297

Perhaps the biggest story to come out of Eric “Law & Order” Olsen’s primary victory is the amount of Republicans and Independents that I know, believe it or not I do know a few, who have indicated to me that they would never vote for him in a general election. The only problem WAS that Olsen had no opponent. Well, that was until an Independent candidate, by the name of Tim Barbrow, filed to run in the nick of time.

Per the FLS:

[Olsen] will face Stafford attorney Tim Barbrow in the Nov. 8 general election.

Barbrow filed the necessary paperwork before the deadline, said Greg Riddlemoser, Stafford’s registrar. He said the necessary 125 registered voter signatures still have to be confirmed, and he figures that process will be done by Friday.

From what I can tell, Tim is held in very high regard by the legal community and offers Democrats, Republicans and Independents an excellent alternative to Olsen. I suspect this is going to be a race to watch over the next several months.

In other encouraging news, Sheriff Jett has a challenger too – a credible one to boot.  Chuck Feldbush has filed to run against Jett. Chuck is a long time Stafford County resident and a retired Prince William County police detective.

If I were Chuck I’d start out by asking Jett why he needed to purchase one of the most expensive radio communications systems in the entire nation, when other cheaper, more capable alternatives were never considered. I’m just saying…

Democrats helped Krystal Ball (D-Fredericksburg) shed the presumptive nominee label by selecting her to be the official democratic nominee from Virginia’s 1^st Congressional District at a convention this past Saturday.

Ball wasted little time in drawing a sharp contrast between her and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Montross).

When we passed Social Security they threatened to repeal it, when we passed Medicare they threatened to repeal it and now, now that we have passed health care reform they are threatening to repeal it. Well I have one message for Eric Cantor and John Boehner and to Rob Wittman. Let me say this clearly. I don’t care what your buddies in the health insurance lobby want we are not going backwards!

So what are Wittman’s legislative priorities? You’ll have to ask Eric Cantor (R-VA-7^th).

As long as we have politicians like Rob Wittman, nothing is going to change. You know Rob Wittman. He has been our Congressman for three years now. And in that three years he’s basically learned one thing, which is how to vote the way Eric Cantor tells him to.

You see Wittman is nothing more than a lap dog for Cantor. As I’ve previously written, Wittman has done Cantor’s bidding 1657 times or 93 percent of time. Folks in Virginia’s 1^st district deserve some real representation and not a lap dog!

Ball also notes that while folks in the 1^st district are being left behind, Wittman is taking good care of his friends on Wall Street.  While Wittman votes against extending unemployment insurance, he fights to preserve Wall Street executive bonuses. It’s called “No Banker Left Behind!”

Worse yet, while Wittman fights for Wall Street over Main Street, he also continues to pay lip service to our veterans and the environment. Priorities Rob, priorities!

Rob Wittman is the worst kind of politician. He is the kind of politician who talks about veterans and then votes against Sen. Webb’s 21st century GI bill. He is the type of politician, who talks about the [Chesapeake] Bay, and how important it is and how we have to clean it up, and then he turns around and votes against the Clean Estuaries Act. Rob Wittman takes his orders from credit cards companies, health insurance companies and banks. But you know what, those guys already have enough members of congress fighting for them. We need a fighter for the 1^st district of Virginia!

Ball concluded things best by saying that voters have a clear choice come November.

They can choose between tax cuts for the few and balancing the budget for everyone, between preserving the middle class and preserving Wall Street executive bonuses, between leaders who are willing to stand up for what’s right and those who only stand for their own re-election.

It’s time to fire wrong way Rob and hire a full-time representative who stands up for Main Street over Wall Street, who does more than provide lip service to our veterans and environment and who doesn’t take orders from credit card companies, health insurance companies or banks, but the American people. That person is clearly Krystal Ball!

The Democratic Party of Virginia released the following earlier today.

Governor McDonnell: Drilling at any cost

Meets with oil execs while Obama administration takes prudent steps to prevent future tragedies.

The Democratic Party of Virginia is calling on Governor McDonnell to support President Obama’s call to delay any new offshore drilling projects until a full understanding of the causes of this most recent disaster can be determined.  Both of Virginia’s United States Senators,  Jim Webb and Mark Warner, have made it clear that they support the President’s decision, and expect any lessons learned from the Gulf tragedy to be incorporated into federal regulations that would govern offshore energy production off Virginia’s coast. Yet Governor McDonnell continues to declare unrealistic goals for when drilling should begin and he appears to ignore the safety and environmental considerations that the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has brought to light.

“Some Virginia leaders are reconsidering their support for drilling off the state’s coast after a fatal well accident in the Gulf of Mexico, even as Gov. Robert F. McDonnell continues to lobby aggressively to drill for oil and natural gas without delay,” the Washington Post reported today. “McDonnell (R), who has made drilling off Virginia’s coast one of his administration’s top priorities, flew to Houston on Monday to tout the benefits of offshore drilling at an industry-sponsored conference.” [Va. officials reconsider support for drilling after gulf oil accident, Washington Post, Tuesday, May 4, 2010; A10]

And in an interview on WTOP Radio on April 27, Governor McDonnell stated, “”This is certainly a setback, but I certainly continue to be dedicated to making us first to drill, 2012 at the latest, and over the next couple years these safety and environmental issues will be addressed.”

“Governor McDonnell’s misplaced priorities have struck again – and this time it’s our environment that is at risk,” said David Mills, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia.  “When responsible leaders learn of relevant new information, they adapt their positions.  Senator Webb and Senator Warner have agreed that the President’s call for a delay on new projects is the responsible course of action until the cause of the tragedy in the Gulf is determined — yet Governor McDonnell continues to push for unrealistic timetables.”

Mills further stated, “Just last night, Governor McDonnell was in Texas rubbing elbows with oil industry executives as they discussed the profits to be had from offshore drilling. A spill of this magnitude off Virginia’s coast would devastate our coastal economy and endanger the effectiveness of the world’s largest navy base at Norfolk. A responsible leader with the right priorities for Virginia would join Senators Webb and Warner in their commonsense approach. “

Very well said by the DPVA!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Priorities Bob, Priorities. The responsible thing to do is take a step back and pause. Throughout this debate, we’ve been repeatedly told how safe offshore drilling was and how any fear was unfounded. Clearly this is a huge issue now and the safety of such rigs must be looked at more carefully.

McDonnell is more concerned in assisting the oil industry fat cats than Virginia businesses and workers who rely on a strong coastal economy. Imagine what kind of hit a spill like this would be to Virginia’s tourism industry that relies so heavily on state beaches ($19.2 billion industry, 210,620 jobs) or its fishing industry ($1.23 billion in output sales, $717.4 million in value-added income and 13,015 jobs). This doesn’t even take into consideration the negative environmental impact to our wetlands, wildlife and aquatic life or water quality. Oh yeah, the U.S. Navy is also deeply opposed to drilling.

Could you imagine the impact that a spill would have on our economy?! I cannot even begin to imagine.

Given the immense risk of drilling, one has to wonder is it worth it? The Virginia Conservation Network’s data clearly suggests no.

The Atlantic OCS has significantly less recoverable oil and gas reserves than any other OCS region, with an estimated 3.82 billion barrels of oil and 36.99 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. At current rates of consumption, the entire Atlantic OCS would supply the U.S. with only 6 months worth of oil and 18 months worth of natural gas; Virginia’s offshore supply of oil and gas would last less than 7 and 18 days, respectively.

Meanwhile, four times more gas and oil is available in areas already open to drilling than in waters protected by the moratorium, and the industry is using only a fraction (18-20%) of what it already has access to. These unused areas could produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil and 44.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day, nearly double current domestic oil production.

Weighing the effect such a spill would have on our economy against any potential benefit, I would have to say that drilling doesn’t seem worth it to me. Regardless, the only course of action right now should be to pause and reassess. This decision is far too important to be made rashly and the consequences too great. McDonnell should follow the lead of Senators Warner and Webb and put commonsense above ideology.

At a recent Stafford County Tea Party rally, Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13^th) suggests that it is OK to shoot lawmakers over policy differences. First we have Corey Stewart comparing the Obama administration to the Nazi’s, now we have this.

Obviously, he was just misquoted.

Again, this sort of irresponsible rhetoric may cause someone with violent tendencies to think it is acceptable to act out in this way. You can obviously hear the teabaggers laughing and shouting words of encouragement. Unbelievable.

I just can’t understand why Virginia Republicans are falling all over themselves to appeal to teabaggers. They are becoming more of a fringe party everyday.