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01
Road talk
Jan 26, 2007A member of the newly minted 2007 Readers Advisory Panel took me to task for failing to post Wednesday’s editorial on the Virginia legislature’s road compromise for comment.
So, I’m opening the topic for discussion and sharing his critique:
I have a hard time buying your thesis that the right and middle groups of the GOP have compromised between themselves, and no more compromising should be allowed. That is what one of the House GOP leaders said, I believe it was yesterday. He stated emphatically that the present proposal is take-it-or-leave-it and no amendments will be allowed.
Of course, this totally ignores the Democratic minorities of both chambers, whose numbers are quite substantial although less than a majority. Are their thoughts, their voices, their concerns worthy of no consideration?
I can understand the GOP leaders of our House saying such a thing. They are incorrigible. But the Herald Courier editorial page? You usually are much more balanced and reasonable.
Posted by Andrea Hopkins Grading the SOTU
Jan 24, 2007So, what did you think of the State of the Union address and Sen. Webb’s rebuttal? If you missed Bush’s speech, here’s the transcript.
A transcript of Webb’s rebuttal is also available.
Briefly, here are some of my thoughts. For the sake of convenience, I divide them into domestic and foreign policy.
On the domestic front, Bush set out a modest, achievable platform. He proposes a tax credit for the purchase of private health insurance, which could help quite a few middle-class taxpayers who are increasingly feeling an economic squeeze. He also talked about federal government funding for states that are trying innovative approaches to cover more uninsured, working poor residents. I wonder if this will help with Gov. Bredesen’s Cover Tennessee initiative?
I liked the energy sections. Bush laid down a bit of a challenge - cut oil use by 20 percent by 2017, increase CAFE standards for cars, mandate the use of 35 billion gallons of renewable fuels and alt. energy by 2017. Clean coal, ethanol, nuclear and biodiesel all got a nod.
Education, entitlement reform, a balanced budget and immigration also got a mention, but the energy and health care sections of the speech stood out more - in that they were not just airy ideas, but actual concrete proposals.
Here’s hoping Bush and Congress are serious about a bipartisan effort to do something.
Where there’s smoke …
Jan 17, 2007Two public opinion polls - one in Tennessee and one in Virginia - say the same thing: A majority of state residents support a public smoking ban. It’s about time. Are you listening, Mr. Lawmaker?
The Virginia poll - commissioned by a variety of health advocacy groups and performed by Mason-Dixon - says this: 71 percent favored a law prohibiting smoking in most public places, including workplaces, public buildings, offices, bars and restaurants. Sixty percent of those polled said they strongly favored such a law, while 11 percent somewhat favored it. Twenty-nine percent said they opposed it.
Eighty-five percent of those polled said they agreed with the statement that all Virginia workers should be protected from exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke in the workplace. The poll showed support for smoke-free laws across party lines, with 78 percent of Democrats supporting it, 69 percent of independents and 66 percent of Republicans.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, similar results, according to this Memphis Daily News article: A poll released in December by [American Cancer Society] found 73 percent of registered voters in Tennessee would either strongly or partly support a law that would make all workplaces in Tennessee - including restaurants and bars - smoke-free.
“The results really ... illustrated how widespread and strong the support is across the state for a smoke-free workplace,” said John Chiaramonte, director of government relations for ACS.
It’s time for lawmakers to get in line with the will of the majority. The issue isn’t partisan. It’s a health issue. The science is clear: Smoking is a health hazard. It speaks volumes to me that some of the most zealous anti-smoking crusaders used to be smokers themselves. Lesson learned, perhaps?
Toes in the water
Jan 17, 2007Not too many folks are dipping their toes in the election waters in Bristol Tennessee. Two seats on City Council and two seats on the Board of Education will be on the May ballot. Qualifying deadline is Feb. 15.
Why the lack of interest?
So far, the candidates are: Incumbent Jim Messimer and perennial candidate John Robert Harrison on the City Council side and newcomer Vincent Margiewicz for the school board. That leaves three incuments unaccounted for - Bill Bingham, Beth Webb and Steve Morgan.
Other interested parties out there? What will be the key issues? Stay tuned.
Editorials under construction
Jan 16, 2007Here’s a look at some subjects were mulling this week. Note, this is your opportunity to have your say before these puppies appear in print.
1) Big Stone Gap, the movie: The state should do what is necessary to make sure this movie is actually filmed in Big Stone Gap. This is both economic development and a tourism boost.
2) Payday lending: We support efforts to crack down on these predators, but why, oh why, is Delegate Terry Kilgore pushing a measure that would legalize car title loans (putting your wheels in hock for a small amount of cash)? Can someone explain? Terry?
3) Metro government in Sullivan County: An intriguing idea. Preliminarily, we support a cautious venture down this path, but questions must be answered. What are the risks? What are the benefits?
