It was announced late last week that President Bush will be attending the annual Independence Day and Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson, of course, is a giant in American history, constantly being reconsidered, his genius just as much apparent as his personal foibles and character flaws. Still, it was Jefferson who gave voice to the multitude of concerns which drove the people of America to found a new country, a new way unlike anything the world had ever seen. A nation founded on the principle of being a free state for all men. It took over 200 years, but we’re closer to Jefferson’s dream than ever before.
President Bush will celebrate those principles on the last Fourth of July of his second term, but he will also welcome into our society men and women who took the difficult step of leaving their homelands to become a part of the American dream. Despite the recent hub bub over immigration, these people should be honored for wishing to become part of this dream and taking the proper steps to do so.
This ceremony has special importance for me. One, as a UVA Grad, I have the typical Jefferson obsession, but I also work at a home which was heavily influenced by Jefferson’s architectural style. Additionally, I have seen President Bush before. I was in the front row of an event held at NOVA Community College in 2004. The theme was “The Ownership Society,” and one of the topics was personal health accounts. I was just feet away from the man throughout the whole thing, and he passed us by as he exited. I did not get to shake his hand, but throughout the whole ceremony, I felt genuinely secure. Right or wrong, President Bush took the action that he thought would protect the American people. It has to be incredibly trying to decide to send American sons to war.
But at any rate, as we exited the townhall, there was a couple arguing with some young protesters on bikes just outside the hall. A typical scene, but there was something very special about this couple: they were recent African immigrants, dressed in their native attire. They had made their own difficult decision, had seen in the American dream the chance (the chance is all that matters) at a better life and they took it. They became fully invested in America, involving themselves in the process of electing a President. And here they were, defending their men against some privileged liberals who had the great fortune of being born in America in the first place. It was an incredible scene that will stick with me always.
Information is forthcoming, but right now the President is scheduled to speak at Monticello at 10 A.M. The press release can be found here. I will update the post when more information is available and put this on the website calendar.
With the time, you may be able to make the event (Charlottesville is a half hour drive) and still be back in time for the Parade in New Market. If anyone has any interest in perhaps taking a caravan down, let me know at craig.orndorff@gmail.com.
Filed under: General Assembly | Tags: Gas prices, General Assembly, Mark Obenshain, Special Session, Todd Gilbert, Transportation, Video
for the last few days, anyways.
Sorry for not being able to keep on top of the transportation session. But here’s what we’ve got:
*Governor Kaine’s plan is dead for the time being. The people of Virginia have dodged a major bullet here-however, it wasn’t long before the Senate Democrats decided to switch to a larger caliber. Here’s their plan:
- Increase the general sales tax a quarter of a percent
- Increase the sales tax on automobiles half a percent
- and the grand finale–Increase the gas tax six cents over the next six years
Another part of the plan would reverse the hard won legislation for earlier this year that removed VDOT’s authority to impose tolls on I-81 without the General Assembly’s authority. In Thursday’s Northern Virginia Daily, State Senator Mark Obenshain took a particularly hard line on this part of the plan.
But Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, said he was concerned that one portion of the bill would return authority to impose tolls on Interstate 81 to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Legislators approved a measure earlier this year putting the valley’s major thoroughfare off-limits for tolls for any reason unless the General Assembly specifically agreed.
But Saslaw’s bill “seems to state the intent of the GA to give the CTB that authority to impose those tolls on Interstate 81 for additional lanes that are constructed,” Obenshain said, speaking from the floor of the Senate.
The House Rules Committee voted Friday to send this bill to the House for a full vote. Delegate Gilbert gave us a sneak peek of which way he’s leaning on the measure:
“What the Democrats did in the Senate today was, in my mind, unconscionable,” said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock. “It was in complete disregard for the plight of working Virginians.
“To ask people at a time like this to pay more for gas demonstrates that Senate Democrats really have a tin ear about the everyday needs of their constituents,” Gilbert said.
A bright spot of the Committee’s action was to move forward a measure from Delegate Chris Saxman that would dedicate royalties and revenues from off-shore drilling off the Commonwealth’s coasts to transportation. According to SWAC Girl, that amount may be as much as $200 million over the next five decades. Bob Goodlatte, of course, has been championing this on the national level over the last few weeks. Even Newt Gingrich has been touting this through his group American Solutions, and as mentioned the potential of the Virginia bill:
Go here to sign Newt Gingrich’s petition.
And go here to sign the county party’s petition to say “no thanks” to the Senate Democratic plan. Be sure to contact Mark and Todd until the General Assembly goes back into session on July 9th. Their contact information can be found here.
H/T to Suzanne Curran of American Solutions.
