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Re: “Virginia’s 3 percent roads solution,” Editorial, July 10
This Examiner editorial was interesting, but with all such “solutions,” it seemed to miss something. Where does the 3 percent come from?
The final paragraph states that “... the beauty of [Del. Bob] Marshall’s 3 percent solution is that it also provides more money for roads and transit than any one of the other harebrained schemes, without costing taxpayers another dime.” Unless we’ve discovered how to make gold from lead, some other part of the budget has to be reduced. Is it education, health care, prisons, the State Police?
Consumer experts always warn that if you’re promised something for nothing, watch out. Few people love to pay more taxes, but if you want to acquire something legally, it usually comes at a cost. I’d like to hear the cost of Mr. Marshall’s plan before deciding if it’s better than any of the other “harebrained schemes.”
It’s Richmond’s job to fund state road construction
Congratulations! The Washington Examiner and Del. Bob Marshall understand Virginia’s transportation crisis and tax burden. Shame on the General Assembly for failing us yet again.
Gov. Tim Kaine, House and Senate Democrats, and some Republicans were fixated on raising statewide taxes to pay for our desperately underfunded state roads. Other House Republicans preferred to abdicate their responsibility to local taxing authorities. The negative consequences of gridlock in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads area hurt Virginians statewide.
The better solution forces the governor and the General Assembly to exercise real leadership by spending more responsibly and using the General Fund for road construction and maintenance.
Virginians need to keep writing Gov. Kaine and both their legislators to insist that $1 billion per year in general revenue funds be reallocated for new roads, which is roughly 3 percent of the budget.
Sterling
Life of service deserves respect, not disgrace
Re: “Police volunteer dismissed for wearing ID badge at rally,” July 8
This letter expresses my extreme disgust and indignation over Montgomery County Government’s disrespectful, callous and ungrateful treatment of Mr. Alfred Eisner. His termination as an MCPD volunteer with 10,100 hours of service is disgraceful. Al Eisner is also:
- A Holocaust survivor;
- An immigrant who became a U.S. citizen;
- A U.S Army retiree who served in both Korea and Vietnam;
- A retired colonel from the Maryland State Militia.
Al Eisner’s devotion to the nation, the State of Maryland and Montgomery County has been proven by his actions and is equaled by very few. He has been cheated of his due honor by Montgomery County officials who prefer to coddle illegal aliens who contribute nothing, take undeserved benefits, and tear at the fabric of our society.
Wheaton
Enforcement ineffective
for illegal immigration
Re: “Montgomery County citizens should always come first,” From Readers, July 10
Brad Botwin seems to have found the magical formula to solve crime: focus our law enforcement resources on persecuting illegal immigrants. Botwin asks us to alienate a minority, like Italians and other ethnic groups were alienated in the early 20th century, creating the conditions that made organized crime possible.
Instead of listening to Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar, who saw immigration reform as an opportunity to focus his efforts on real threats, Botwin wants us to believe that law enforcement must put itself at the service of the xenophobic Right. The Anti-Saloon League thought the same thing during Prohibition.
Harsher punishment for criminal aliens could be a legitimate part of immigration reform, but as history has taught us, without reform, punishment becomes ineffective and even counterproductive.
Alfredo M. Bravo de Rueda
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