Political shenanigans have deeply infiltrated the raging debate over how to fund transportation in Northern Virginia and the rest of the commonwealth.
Republicans and Democrats traded verbal barbs last week, accusing each other of trying to derail the transportation compromise so they would be better positioned for the fall’s legislative elections.
“It’s like people are trying to come up with a million different reasons to oppose the bill so it will die,” said Del. David Albo, R-Springfield.
Looking for critical votes in the Senate last week, Republican supporters of the transportation funding package unsuccessfully sought to distress Sen. Mark Herring,
D-Loudoun, by earmarking $20 million for the Dulles Metrorail project and $2 million for Loudoun transit projects.
Herring, who is facing a tough re-election race in a conservative district, voted against the bill anyway after pointing out Loudoun would receive the funding if the bill becomes law, regardless of whether the earmark was included. He did, however, open himself to political attacks in the campaign for voting against a bill that explicitly included Dulles rail funding.
“Every member of this chamber, the press, the guards, everyone, knows this is about nothing but politics,” said Senate MinorityLeader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax.
Last week, the political antics involving in the transportation debate went on public display when members of the House of Delegates’ Sensitivity Caucus (a group of lawmakers who like to humorously skewer colleagues) awarded Gov. Tim Kaine the “porch sitter” award for “contributing nothing” to the transportation debate.
“I’ve got thick skin,” Kaine said. “I was laughing until I saw the specifics of [the House Republicans’ transportation] plan.”
