Bacon's Rebellion

What is the value of state-owned intellectual property (patents, copyrights, etc.) in Virginia? Is there a repository of this data somewhere? Approximately how much income does it produce in a year? Where is the accounting of it?

If one wants to understand why METRO is not meeting its potential as shaper of functional human settlement patterns or why citizens have not given METRO a dedicated source of revenue, look no farther that the story in today’s The Washington Post.

In February of 2005 METRO announced that as of 1 July it is reducing the number of staff who have a car provided and free parking from 135 to 49.

How could this condition be allowed to exist by the Chief Executive, the Board or a janitor when service is being cut and fares raised? The fact that it does exist indicates a culture that is oblivious to its mission.

Renowned UVA political scientist Larry Sabato this morning announced a $1,000,000 cash gift to the University of Virginia. The gift, payable over three years, is the largest ever given the university by an active faculty member, according to UVA President John Casteen. Sabato has written 23 books. Some of them have been read!

Mostly lifted from the Associated Press

California is spending $350 million in stem cell research, so Virginia might as well get into the act. That’s the logic of state Sen. Russell Potts, R-Winchester, for appopriating $1 million in state funds for stem cell research. (See Senate Bill No. 1194).

Well, that’s not the only reason he gave. How’s this for a hard-nosed justification for spending tax dollars?

“Whereas, following a tragic injury, Christopher Reeve demonstrated great courage and strength and served as a heroic example to other paralyzed individuals to the world.”

By all means, let us appropriate state dollars to honor Christopher Reeve, an actor with no discernible affiliation to Virginia whatsoever (other than the fact that his horse riding accident occurred here). Astoundingly, the senate Educate and Health Committee approved the measure.

Funding medical research is normally a function of the federal government. When the Commonwealth has funded university R&D in the past, the purpose has been to build upon existing academic “centers of excellence” that might attract more out-of-state research dollars and lead to the spin-off of promising new business enterprises. Here are the questions I would like to pose to the free-spending senator. Are there any existing centers of excellence conducting stem cell research in Virginia? What is the likelihood that Virginia’s $1 million contribution can be leveraged into additional federal R&D grants? What is the likelihood that any scientific discoveries resulting from such research will be commercialized here in Virginia?

Perhaps there are sound economic development-related reasons for backing this initiative. But none of them appeared in the preamble to Mr. Potts’ bill. This strikes me as just another feel-good measure that will squander more tax dollars, as Mr. Potts is so inclined to do. If there are sound reasons to support this research, someone please let me know. I am happy to stand corrected.

In justifying a $1 million state subsidy for stem cell research, state Sen. Russell Potts, R-Winchester, indirectly invoked the moral authority of Ronald Reagan. “If [stem cell research] is all right for Nancy Reagan and her family … it’s all right for me.” (As reported by Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Jeff E. Schapiro.)

It is touching to hear such reverence for the opinion of Nancy Reagan, who supports stem cell research as a potential cure for the Alzheimer’s Disease that crippled and killed her husband. I wonder if Mr. Potts feels the same deep-seated respect for other sentiments that Nancy Reagan might hold, especially those she shared with her husband, including his opposition to increasing taxes and government spending.

I don’t recall Mr. Potts having cited the moral authority of either Nancy or Ronald Reagan in defense of his fiscal philosophy as practiced here in Virginia. Indeed, Mr. Potts’ legislative record is the antithesis of everything that Ronald Reagan–and his wife– stood for. As documented by Bacon’s Rebellion columnist Phillip Rodokanakis (“And the Winner Is….”, Jan. 31, 2005), Potts not only supported last year’s tax increase in Virginia, the biggest in state history, he lent his name to legislation that would have increased state spending by more than $2 billion — more than any other member of the General Assembly.

Say what you want, Mr. Potts, spend what you want. But keep Ronald Reagan out of it.

In response to the soaring property values in his Arlington District and all of Northern Virginia, Del. Bob Brink (D) has proposed an amendment to the Virginia constitution allowing a “homestead” exemption. HJ 820

Authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation that will permit localities to exempt from property taxes up to the first $100,000 of value of real estate designed for continuous habitation, owned and occupied by the same individuals as their dwelling.

Brink argues this will give homeowners relief and equalize the tax burden between residential and commercial property.

The House of Delegates may have killed legislation to clean up air pollution earlier today, but the House leadership has put forth a plan to put more money into cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. According to a press release from the Speaker’s office:

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today announced a major financial commitment – $50 million annually for the next 10 years – to the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF). It would be the largest infusion of dollars to the WQIF since its inception in 1997. House Republicans will include an amendment to the 2004-2006 Budget that will dedicate $50 million from general funds to the WQIF, with priority being given to those “point source” water and waste-water treatment plants whose current discharges most exceed proposed environmental regulations to ensure that the worst dischargers will be cleaned-up first.



Fifty million bucks a year — that ain’t chopped liver. Let’s see how the state Senate and the Governor’s office handle this one!

Voting 17-5 this morning, a House of Delegates committee killed legislation that would have required the owners of 15 coal fired power plants in Virginia to drastically reduce emissions. EPA studies indicate that power plant emissions are responsible for 1000 deaths, 140,000 lost work days and 23,700 asthma attacks annually in Virginia, according to reports by the Associated Press. The power companies in Virginia are already facing EPA emissions reductions not as stringent as those proposed by Delegate Jack Reid (R-Henrico). Tommy Hudson, president of the Virginia Coal Association, said passage of Reid’s bill would put 6.5 million tons of coal and 1000 Virginia jobs at risk, resulting in devastating economic consequences for southwest Virginia.

In an otherwise predictable Washington Post editorial skewering of the Republican House of Delegates car tax proposal is this surprising line:

There’s a fair argument to be had about how much of this year’s unanticipated revenue to spend, return to taxpayers or put in reserve.

The Danville Register & Bee reports that SB 893, sponsored by Sen. Charles Hawkins, R-Pittsylvania, was unanimously passed by the Senate Committee on Local Government. The measure calls for a meeting in Southside to discuss rural economic development and formulate a strategic plan.

There was no mention in the article of “Virginia Works,” Gov. Warner’s plan for Southside. I hope there’s some coordination.

When Governing Magazine gave Virginia all A’s in its survey of state performance, it certainly did not support my contention that Virginia’s government could be more efficient. Barnie Day was probably too polite to mention this in our recent discussion.

Well, along comes Norman Leahy of One Man’s Trash to remind us of the Virginia report card filled out by “Professor” Doug Wilder and the Wilder Commission. Not many Wilder Commission recommendations were implemented, so it’s probably safe to say that Mayor/Professor Wilder might continue to grade a little tougher than the magazine and give me at least a crumb of sustenance as I tilt at windmills.

To date, 865 budget amendments have been filed by members of the House of Delegates during this session of the Virginia General Assembly. Requests for new spending total $3,861,517,482. Requests for spending cuts total $16,907,129. Do the math. The net new spending requests in this biennial total $3,844,610,353. Keep in mind that this total is for House budget amendments only. They do not include Senate budget amendments nor the fiscal impacts found in a couple thousand bills that have been filed.

Without any notice and without giving commuters a hearing in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), an unelected and unaccounted body, is scheduled to raise tolls from 50 to 75 cents at the main plaza and 35 to 50 cents at each exit on Feb. 16-17. This increase wil ostensibly finance the Dulles Rail project–which will not be built to Reston until 2011 at the earliest and which will not take cars off the roads to ease congestion. The new fares could be in effect as early as spring!

This means that for those who use the Toll Road every work day, their annual costs will jump from $204 to $400… Add that to the price of gasoline and tolls for the Greenway, and suddenly, Virginia is more than doublinng Northern Virginia’s commuters costs to get to work–but is providing nothing in return.

At least the Greenway, which is a private toll road, held hearings in Loudoun County on its fare increase in 2003. The same should apply to the Toll Road controlled by the State. The Toll Road was financed by the taxpayers of Virginia, who were promised that the tolls would be lifted once the road is paid off. Instead, tolls could eventually go to $2.25 each way to pay for Dulles Rail!

Commonwealth Conservative has a good round-up of coverage on the burgeoning state “surplus.” The comments section shows us that the various political positions don’t really even agree on what the surplus is.

… pretty soon it adds up to real savings.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has developed a teleconferencing capability as a tool to cut down on the expense of VDOT officials traveling to Richmond for meetings all the time. According to a recent communication I received from Commissioner Philip Shucet, the state has spent $1.025 million on teleconferencing technology since 2001. VDOT “conservatively” estimates a savings of $10.475 million in avoided travel and time costs. That’s a 10 to 1 ratio. Not bad.

Better things are to come. That $1.025 million includes significant upgrades only now being put into place to improve coverage as well as the quality of the video and sound equipment. Shucet may be in charge of building and maintaining roads, but he also believes that any rational transportation strategy includes implementing alternatives to using the roads.

There has been some discussion on this blog regarding the potential for squeezing more efficiency out of state government. If VDOT can save money through teleconferencing, so can most other state agencies. And teleconferencing is only one idea of many.