Filed under: Election 2008, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, Local Press, Morning Round-Up, State Government and Politics
And….we…..are…..back.
Four stories you should know about:
-Governor Kaine is warning the General Assembly that major cuts are going to be needed in the budget due to what appears to have been a horrendous miscalculation by then-Finance Secretary, now-LG candidate Jody Wagner (seriously Democrats, this is the best you can do?) Could this be the silver bullet that kills Kaine’s VP chances? I dunno, Barack Obama barely has any accomplishments in his agenda, so even someone with a train wreck of a legacy might be worth it. Hint to Governor Kaine: Lying only works when you’re trying to raise taxes, not spending. For some reason, people tend to get a bit more upset when there’s no money instead of too much (even if it is all in the government’s hands). Personally, I like Delegate Clay Athey’s proposal best:
When the ax falls, it should land first on new programs proposed by Kaine, said Del. Clifford L. “Clay” Athey, R-Front Royal.
”That would free up $300 [million] to $400 million for before getting into core stuff” like education, Athey said.
Also a must read: Senator Obenshain’s response, up over at SWACGirl. Some highlights:
It wouldn’t have taken an expert to determine which way the fiscal winds were blowing in the waning days of 2007. Profligate spending, unfortunately, was the order of the day, and the attempts my Republican colleagues and I made to inject a dose of fiscal sanity into the budget process were dismissed out of hand. Reality and new spending programs were at odds, and the Governor decided that reality would simply have to give way.
………
More to the point, when the Governor presents revenue forecasts put together by his Secretary of Finance, we need to be able to rely on those projections as an unbiased and factually-based estimate. Instead, however, the numbers were merely a ploy to push new expenditures our Commonwealth can ill afford.
-President Rick Zinser is leaving Masanutten Military Academy next year after an eight year run. I’ll be perfectly honest: Colonel Zinser has done a marvelous job at the academy and has greatly changed how it is viewed in the community. Military academies (and this one in particular) are not little prisons; they are well thought out, alternative educational institutions driven by military values. Though I rarely like to do this, be sure to read the profile on Zinser and the Academy in last week’s Herald.
-Republican Electoral Board Member Bev Felming is working with the Woodstock Town Council on massaging the town’s current stance that town elections will be held at the old location (County Government Building) while all others will be at Central High School. The town decided to hold off on action when several residents protested the move, despite the fact that the move recieved no opposition before when it came to both the Electoral Board and the Board of Supervisors. (Although it should be noted there was some that may not have been lodged in public) Read your local government agendas, people!
-Strasburg’s planning commission is tackling the issue of commercial versus residential development once more, this time in the form of a proposal for 80-some condo units on Signal Knob Drive.
Filed under: Congress, Domestic Policy, Election 2008, Events, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, Local Press, Morning Round-Up, State Government and Politics
Six stories you should know about:
-Rep. Eric Cantor has come out swinging against Barack Obama’s energy policy. Funny. You couldn’t even get people to think about energy policy for most of the last twenty years.
-Representative Goodlatte is touting his coastal exploration plan.
-New Market has released details for its fa…uh, late summer Heritage Festival. You can keep trying to explain to me why you think moving this thing to the opening weekend of the fair was a good idea…..
-Strasburg’s Capital Improvements Plan is headed for an update.
-McCain surrogates Delegates Chris Saxman and Matt Lohr are outlining the Senator’s energy policy in Harrisonburg news conference this morning. Sorry folks, they’re not on the shortlist for veep.
-Larry Hincker, Virginia Tech’s VP for University Relations, spoke to a group of university security officials about crisis communication. That wasn’t a mistype. You may remember his for this gem.
Filed under: Election 2008, Election 2009, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, Local Press, Morning Round-Up, State Government and Politics
stories you should know about:
-Garren Shipley speculates what the possible selection of Time Kaine for VP could mean for the General Assembly and Election 2009. My speculation: this is fun, but right now I’m at 55% confidence that Kaine won’t be picked.
-Karen Spillman, who was recently hired as Strasburg High’s new principal, apparently has a bit of a history with the media…..and not particularly a good one.
-Bob Goodlatte will be hosting a Veteran’s Fair at the Weyer’s Cave Community center on August 12th from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. Veterans can get helping enrolling in benefits and learn more about about area VA Programs.
-Just a little bit to the North, but The Winchester Star is reporting that we may be looking at a great peach season this year. Note: In the 2002 census of agriculture for Shenandoah County, fruit made up nearly 48% of cash receipts for crops.
-Also just a bit away, The Winchester Star takes a look at Star Tannery’s fire company and their annual parade. They mention cancellations in Toms Brook and Conicsville, but I believe they mean Toms Brook and Strasburg (and I believe Mt. Jackson as well).
Filed under: Election 2008, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, Morning Round-Up, State Government and Politics
Sorry, late start. Five stories you should know about.
-State Senator Frank Wagner, who along with Delegate Chris Saxman has been pushing for Virginia to use off-shore drilling not only to help America’s energy woes but also to aid transportation funding, weighs in on the McCain energy policy.
-County Chair Mike Monahan has been named head of the McCain effort in Shenandoah County. Congratulations, Mike.
-Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode is boosting his 7th District colleague Eric Cantor as a possible vice-presidential candidate for Senator McCain. He even went so far as to have some “McCain-Cantor ‘08″ buttons made. Even if the ticket doesn’t come to fruition, being a Virginia political button fiend, I just HAVE to get me one of those.
-Speaking of Virginia Veeps, on the other side of the aisle former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe is promoting Governor Tim Kaine (or Kaine Wreck, as we like to call him after the transportation debacle). This comes to many as a sign that Hillary Clinton, who McAuliffe defendely ferociously and often to the point of lunacy as it became apparent the nomination was slipping away from her, is not being considered for the nod.
-The town of New Market has ok’d a deal to send wastewater to Bridgewater’s Timberville plant. The deal, which will cost $10.25 million up-front, is seen as a cheaper alternative to building a new plant, which would have came in between $15 and $20 million.
Four stories you should know about:
-The SCC will halt rate caps for utilities starting December 31st. Translation: Higher power bills. Some Allegheny Power customers may see as much as a $20 jump.
-Senator Mark Obenshain slammed Governor Kaine for using bad numbers in this year’s budget process.
-Apparently members of the Virginia Delegation in Congress have been to Iraq over 31 times. Impressive, although all the praise seems to be reserved for Obama’s two trips.
-RPV Chairman Jeff Frederick did a little dance on Tim Kaine’s face ego:
It isn’t clear how the governor’s failed logic leads him to the conclusion that the failure to address Virginia’s transportation challenges somehow falls upon Republicans. Republicans acted to address Virginia’s transportation challenges. Democrats obstructed – namely, on the governor’s proposals. Mr. Kaine’s press conference reminds me of when my 21-month-old daughter throws a temper tantrum because we gave her the red pacifier instead of the white one. She’s still getting the pacifier, just as the House Republicans did address transportation. But because Mr. Kaine didn’t get the pacifier he wanted (a massive tax hike on hardworking Virginia families), he’s now throwing a tantrum of his own.
Filed under: Election 2008, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, MSM
I’ll try to post a wrap-up of the Senate debate coverage tomorrow, but here’s a quick round-up of four stories you should know about:
-In an interesting public-private partnership, Shentel has helped maintain the county school system’s summer enrichment program for this summer
-In a bizarre turn of events, the county is accepting sealed bids for the trunks of the trees that were removed from the Courthouse square last month. Apparently, because one gentleman asked for them some time ago, the county has to treat this situation the same way they would the deaccession of any other piece of public property. Bids must be in by 2 p.m. on July 30th. Your tax dollars at work.
-The Department of Planning and Zoning has released the dates for the first steering committee hearing for the revision of the county’s subdivision ordinance. This is a process all stake holders need to be involved in.
-U.S. News and World Report is spilling ink raising the profile of Governor Tim Kaine as a possible veep pick for Obama. Yes, the very same Governor Kaine who is now the proud owner of a 48% approval rating.
Filed under: Election 2009, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, State Government and Politics
Sorry if this post is a bit bigger than usual, but I was just too busy to post yesterday. However, there’s still nine stories you should know about:
-State Senator Ken Cuccinelli stumped in Staunton at Shoney’s Restaurant Wednesday night. Although the AG race isn’t until next year, I encourage all Republican activists to start looking at the three candidates.
-Poultry growers in the Valley are speaking out against ethanol subsidies, saying that funding ethanol puts the crunch on their feed prices. Feed costs make up about 70% of their production overhead.
-Bob Goodlatte is crushing Sam Rasoul in the money race, outraising him roughly 5 to 1.
-The Virginia Cooperative Extension showed off new equipment in Mount Jackson that injects manure and nitrogen into the ground rather than spreading it on top.
-Tim Craig of the Washington Post discusses some counties in the state that may be the localities that decide November’s election.
-There will be no new Christian high school in the county, at least not this fall.
-The Obama campaign is opening offices in Harrisonburg AND Winchester.
-New Market will have a meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday to go over their waste disposal plans.
-Delegate Todd GIlbert visited Harmony Hall last night. Harmony Hall, a 1754 stone house owned by Belle Grove Plantation, will be one of just a handful of historic houses opened to the public in Shenandoah County when it is completed within the next decade.
Six stories you should know about. Lots of local news:
-In a stunning reversal of fortune, it appears that the bust of Peter Muhlenberg will be staying put right in front of the old county courthouse (well, once it gets back in place, that is). Town officials, the DAR, and the Board of Supervisors had been negotiating for months over the issue, but by June it appeared that both sides were deadlocked. Congratulations to the DAR for showing what a grassroots movement can do.
-Mt. Jackson Clerk and Treasurer Judy Fultz will be leaving the town as full-time treasurer effective November 1st, although it appears she will continue in at least a part-time capacity as clerk for a bit afterwards.
-The County has begun real estate reassessment. Put your garage on wheels before its too late!!
-The School Board is working on its capital improvement plan for the next five years. The total: nearly $54 million. A vote will take place next month.
Also considered urgent for next year is $235,000 in improvements to the Stonewall Jackson High School track, $120,000 for architectural changes to the entrances of buildings for safety and security reasons, $100,000 for school bus leases, $70,000 to resurface gym floors at W.W. Robinson Elementary School and $35,000 for the purchase of cars for student transportation.
Other major expenditures in the draft plan are $300,000 for network phone improvements to the middle schools and central office in 2010-11, and then the same amount for the elementary schools in 2011-12 and high schools a year later; $250,000 for new lights at Strasburg High School’s baseball and softball fields in 2013-14; and $200,000 for the completion of a wireless network update in all schools next year.
Of note: the article mentions that Robinson gym teacher Thad Hockman is leading parents in raising money for the floors there.
-Apparently, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is not being vetted as McCain’s veep.
-The Special Session called by Governor Tim Kaine cost taxpayers over $179,000. Thanks again Governor Kaine for calling a session with no realization that the Warner strategy wasn’t going to work–there’s a new sheriff in town.
Filed under: Election 2008, General Assembly, Local Government and Politics, Morning Round-Up
Nine stories you should know about:
-The State Board Elections reports that over 148k people have registered to vote in Virginia since the first of the year. More than 2/3rds of them have been since the February 12th primary.
-UPI suggests that Latinos may provide the margin of victory in Virginia this fall.
-President Bush has lifted the executive order banning offshore oil and gas exploration that has been in place since his father’s administration. Might the President be taking cues from Delegate Chris Saxman?
-Shenandoah County Schools are using an interesting initiative to encourage schools to cut down on energy bills at the schools.
-Area blood blanks are suffering, according to various Red Cross officials, including SCRC and Board of Supervisors member Sharon Baroncelli, executive director of the Shenandoah Chapter.
-The RNC Committee on the Platform is giving run of the mill Republicans an unprecedented level of participation in the formation of the convention’s platform.
-The New Yorker has a fascinating story up about how Obama got his start in the rough and tumble world of Chicago politics.
-Speaker Bill Howell has named Delegate Todd Gilbert to a number of commissions:
Landes and Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, were named to the Substance Abuse Services Council, which makes recommendations on Virginia’s public and private efforts to control alcohol and drug abuse.
……..
Howell named Gilbert to a commission studying the operations of the circuit court clerk’s office. The commission will consider staff shortages, security concerns, funding and technology-related issues.
Gilbert also is a member of the Southern Growth Policies Board, which promotes cooperation among Southern states.
And, Gilbert was named to the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, which administers, funds and supervises the state system of local alcohol-safety action programs
-Finally, my grandfather’s obituary has been posted:
Roy C. Orndorff, 91, of Maurertown, died July 13, 2008.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 11:00 AM at the Dellinger Funeral Home Chapel, Woodstock, by Rev. Joe Fleming and Rev. Charlie Moore. Burial will follow at Sunset View Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Orndorff was born December 19, 1916 at Cedar Creek, Virginia. He was the son of the late Lester and Della Orndorff.
He was the founder of the Orndorff Trucking Company, Orndorff’s Coal Yard, farmer, sawmill owner, orchardist, mine worker in his early years, and a huckster.
He was a lifetime member of Cedar Creek Christian Church, where he served as superintendent, Sunday school teacher, elder, and chairman of the board. He was also a member of the Saumsville Christian Men’s Fellowship, and the Saumsville Hunt Club.
Mr. Orndorff was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Benjamin Orndorff.
Mr. Orndorff is survived by his wife Christie Jewell Orndorff of Maurertown; two sons, Lester H. Orndorff, and Charlie Orndorff both of Woodstock; a daughter, Mary Ann Herrell of Winchester; two sisters, Emma Good of Leesburg, and Ruth Long of Woodstock; two brothers, Donald Orndorff of Strasburg and Phillip Orndorff of Fairfax; seven grandchildren, Lisa Nelson, Amanda Herrell George, Melisa Orndorff, Christen Orndorff Palmer, Tiffany Brown, Craig Orndorff, and Sabrina Orndorff; three great grandchildren, Clark Keller, Ashton Nelson, and Meleah Brown.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, 7 to 9 PM at the Dellinger Funeral Home, Woodstock.
Pallbearers will be Gary Strosnider, Jerry Elbon, Ron Smoot, Leo Ryman, Roger Orndorff, and Guy Gochenour. Honorary Pallbearers will be Guy Wetzel, James Allen Hepner, Harold Racey, and Carson Ryman.
The family request that memorial contributions be made to the Woodstock Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 221, Woodstock, VA 22664, Toms Brook First Responders, P.O. Box 168, Toms Brook, VA 22660, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 321, Woodstock, VA 22664.
Sorry for the very, VERY late round-up. Two stories you should know about:
-The Richmond TImes Dispatch has an article up about Eric Cantor, once again mentioning his mentioning by the Great Mentioner (the mythical creature that somehow gets peoples names into circulation as possible VP selections). Interesting Cantor Fact: Cantor was the “designated survivor” for his party in Congress during the 2006 State of the Union Address (the designated survivor is the individual charged with carrying on that particular branch of government in the event of a cataclysmic attack during the State of the Union and gets the distinct pleasure of watching the address is a secure, undisclosed location).
-Appropriations Committee member Delegate Kirk Cox slams the real Mark Warner record:
Virginia is a balanced budget state. The General Assembly must pass and the governor must sign a balanced budget. Warner’s predecessor, Gov. Jim Gilmore, submitted a final budget that was balanced as required by Virginia’s Constitution.
It was only two years later that Mark Warner decided he needed to raise taxes because he did not have enough taxpayers’ money to spend.
A recent Warner TV commercial claims he cut spending, but state budgets rose 24.7 percent during his term. State spending in the Gilmore years rose at a much slower pace.
Mark Warner was able to manage spending increases by raising taxes, while Gov. Gilmore worked to reduce your car tax by 70 percent. Mark Warner actually promised to get rid of the car tax completely while governor. Just another fact he tries to keep from voters.
Mark Warner does have one true claim to fame – he raised our taxes $1.3 billion, the largest tax increase in Virginia history.
While running for governor, Mark Warner repeatedly promised Virginians there would be NO tax increases. Many times he said, “I will not raise taxes; I will not raise taxes!”
…….
In early 2004, he claimed there was a huge budget shortfall – as much as $1 billion. But by May, it was obvious Gov. Warner was rushing the General Assembly to enact his tax hike before his administration released new numbers showing large state revenue increases. Less than two months after his tax increase budget passed, Virginia ended fiscal year 2004 with a $324 million surplus!
Facts don’t lie.
Sing it, Kirk!
On a personal note, expect light posting this week. My grandfather passed away early this morning at the age of 92. He was the fifth generation of Orndorffs in Shenandoah County, and spent nearly his entire life in what is today District 5 on the Board of Supervisors. Although he was an ardent Democrat, he always encouraged me to excel at whatever I did. He instilled in me a deep sense of patriotism and love of country, a good mix of self-reliance and care for the downtrodden, a strong work ethic, and an undying sense of duty for serving others. He shall be missed, but his spirit is hardly gone from this earth.
Roy C Orndorff
1916-2008
