Joe Bahen: Virginia’s McDonnell is mis-spending NHTSA funds

When Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell inherited a $4.2 billion budget deficit, he was faced with tough choices to close the gap. Among the choices he made were to increase fines for speeding by 20 percent and to stall on his campaign promise to restore interstate speed limits to 70 mph.

Then, in March 2010, the Governor’s Office instructed the Virginia State Police (VSP) to continue raiding National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Section 402” grant monies for a “blitz” enforcement program known as “Air, Land and Speed.”