uvAggravator2.0

I'm in the General Assembly Building this evening catching up on state work.  Tomorrow there is a reception organized by the Democratic Caucus at the Suntrust Building for me and Senator Patsy Ticer.  Then it's back to northern Virginia.

Online, I'm seeing bits and pieces of the Governor's plan on ABC privatization.  I have not yet seen the proposal in writing.  I have some immediate concerns about the expansion of liquor licenses to 1,000 outlets, whether "big box" retailer or smaller package store.  That's nearly triple our current number of 336 state-owned stores. 

These licenses will inevitably be bought and sold, which moves this state away from the concept of state control of distribution and towards a free market in marketing liquor.  That's the system in Maryland and the District and it has its costs, especially when you see where these stores are invariably located.

I also am very skeptical about selling a productive state asset for a one-time windfall, especially for transportation where revenue means little unless it's in the form of a consistent annual stream. 

Anyway, I expect to have my hands on the plan within a few days. 

Councilman Dan Drummond posts his thoughts 
http://councilmandan.blogspot.com/

Loving the Labor Day weekend in Virginia Beach.  Sharon and I arrived in Sandbridge with the kids on Saturday morning for a weekend at our friends' condo.  We spent all Saturday at the beach (sorry Earl, weather was perfect).

The next morning was the annual "Rock'n Roll Half Marathon."  I got to the start line at 6 a.m., with our family friend and my "personal coach" Vincent who is a world-class triathlete (45-49 division). 

Vincent is French and very fast which means that his coaching usually consists of telling me:  "Allez! Allez!  Vite!  Vite!"

The race started at the VA Beach Convention Center, where 30,000 runners were packed in to the corrals.  Old, young, men, women, fast, slow.  They started us in waves so you're not constantly running down slower runners or vice versa.

The first few miles are a blast.  You run down to Pacific Avenue, then head south over the Ruddee inlet and out of town on General Booth Boulevard.  All the way there are cheerleaders, bands and thousands of spectators.  I was feeling good and knocked off the first four miles in 33 minutes, which is good for me.

Coming back, you snake through the U.S. Navy base.  Very few trees and the sun was rising now.  I began to fade a little bit despite the generous volunteers at the water stations and the righteous music ("Cinnamon Girl" at Mile 4 rocked).

For the last third of the race, it was back over the bridge, then up Pacific and back down Atlantic Avenue, before finishing on the Boardwalk. 

I was dying the last mile and must admit I walked about fifty yards, despite Vincent's protestations.   I staggered in at 1:53:45, which is a PR for time.  No points for artistic effort.

(fy, the winning time was a Kenyan in 1:03.  I'm not making that up).

Then last night, the City sponsored a concert on the beachfront for all race participants and family members.  At least 10,000 attended by my count (any cross-over with Glenn Beck rally?) 

The star of the show was Pat Benatar whose band crushed a set of Eighties archetypcal hits ("Heartbreaker," "We Belong," "Shadows of the Night"), before a crowd of crazed forty-somethings.

In 1982, did I ever expect 28 years later to be singing "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" a few yards from the Atlantic Ocean, while balancing a child on my shoulders?

It's all good at the Beach. 

Congratulations to the City and the race sponsors (Suntrust and Dodge) who sponsored a great weekend with fitness and entertainment for all. 

Got back to Fairfax today after the weekend down south.  Stopped in at the Labor Day picnic in Woodbridge and saw a lot of friends from NOVA Central Labor Council and state AFL-CIO. 

Thanks to organized labor for today's day off.  Without a union movement, we'd all be working today.

Spent part of the afternoon hob-nobbing at the St. Mary of Sorrows' Labor Day picnic in Burke.  It's the oldest Catholic parish in Fairfax County and a spiritual hub of the County since the 1850's, when the parish was first founded by Irish railroad workers.

Stopped by Delegate Jim Scott's barbecue around 5 p.m.   Congressman Connolly was speaking on his re-election.  Nobody's taking anything for granted.  Lots of thoughts from my recent travels around VA and my daily traveling around the 34th SD.

To quote Buffalo Springfield:  something's happening here.  What it is ain't exactly clear.

Tonight begins the high school season in northern Virginia.  I have two great match-ups tonight in my area:  Fairfax vs. Woodson (at FHS) and Madison vs. Oakton (at JMHS).  I'll be at one of them with my family to start the year. 

These are big schools with great programs.  Woodson was a regional finalist last year, losing to Lake Braddock (another school in the 34th Senate District).  Lake Braddock went on the state finals before losing.   

Oakton has been a state champion (2005) and state semifinalist (2008).  James Madison is always a very tough program and Fairfax High School has been posting winning records lately (note -- I played for the Blue and Gray "back in the day").  All of these schools play at the very highest level. 

Remember the Rams?  Last night, Robinson Secondary School pummeled the T.C. Williams Titans by the count of 35-2.  The Rams were the state champs in 2001, the same year I rode their coattails to victory as a State Delegate.  Yes, they are also located within the 34th State Senate borders. 

When you're talking high school football, you will not find more quality teams than you will find up here.

ROVA?  Richmond?  757?  What you got?

Our family is planning a quick trip down to VA Beach for the Labor Day weekend to see friends and run in the annual Rock N Roll Half Marathon along the Boardwalk.  It's a great race, perhaps my favorite in Virginia.

Of course, our plans are in the balance thanks to Hurricane Earl, which will be hitting on Thurdsay and Friday along the Eastern Seaboard.  The storm may delay our departure by a day, which will give me one more day to contemplate the complete meltdown of our state's computer system (yet again).

(update at 9:30 pm:  fyi, my father's middle name is Earle,which was his father's name.  Sometimes, when my life is too peaceful, I like to terrorize my mother by threatening to name my next child Earle).

Does anyone have an explanation for this continued dysfunction?  It seems as if this problem is not getting fixed, even though we have very bright people (Sam Nixon) in leadership positions for our state technology. 

(another update at 9:35 pm:  Thanks to a couple regular contributors who gave their thoughts below.  The idea of an independent audit of this system, paid for by Northrop Grumman, is a very good one.  Fyi, I did see a good article from the Post today and will post link ).

Listening to the Democrats this summer, you’re unlikely to hear about an impending tax increase. In an effort to sanitize their historically irresponsible decision to raise tax rates in the midst of a struggling economy, President Obama and the congressional majority say they are merely “allowing the Bush tax cuts” to expire.

Skillful messaging perhaps, but cold comfort to the millions of Americans and small businesses who aren’t concerned with what their effective tax rate was in 2001. For them, on Jan. 1, one of two things will happen: Taxes will go up, or taxes will stay the same. Coming to grips with this reality will be crucial to jumpstarting the economic recovery. Decisions on whether to buy an appliance, invest in a company, or expand a business are made by taking into account after-tax returns in the future — not in the past.

Democrats want Americans to believe that by letting tax rates rise they have discovered religion as deficit cutters. But after a two-year assault on the federal trough in which Congress passed the notoriously wasteful stimulus and added a new health care entitlement, few Americans are even bothering to listen. In reality, the harm this tax increase will inflict on jobs and gross domestic product will strongly outweigh any presumed boost in tax revenues.

American businesses are sitting on top of a record $2 trillion in cash — money that could be spent hiring more workers, funding new projects or paying out dividends to investors. But right now these dollars remain stuck on the sidelines.

Already grappling with weak demand for goods and services, businesses of all sizes have five main costs and expenses that impact their bottom lines. Thanks to the agenda in Washington, all are going up, turning the White House’s much-touted “Recovery Summer” into the “Summer of Uncertainty.” Here’s a look:

• Taxes will jump next year on everything from ordinary income, capital gains, dividends and estates. And with our national debt soaring, the prospect of even more tax increases in the future seems more likely.
• Health-care costs are growing as a result of Obamacare’s mandates and inflationary impact on premiums.
• Energy costs remain in limbo as leading Democrats, led by Sen. John Kerry, float the idea of passing cap-and-trade during the lame-duck session of Congress.
• Credit is becoming more expensive and is increasingly out of reach for most small businesses, partly because the 2,300-plus page financial regulatory bill encourages banks to horde their capital rather than lend it.
• Labor costs also threaten to climb higher as labor unions dig in their heels and gear up for another push to pass card check.

During last night’s Oval Office address, President Obama vowed that America would “nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs.” But if government doesn’t stop penalizing hard work and discouraging risk taking, there won’t be any entrepreneurs left.

In this environment, it’s understandable why businesses — which have pared their expenses by laying off over 2 million workers since Congress passed the stimulus in February 2009 — would be reluctant to start hiring again. Hence the disappointing 71,000 jobs created by the private sector last month — a figure too small to keep up with the growth of the workforce, let alone take a bite out of the 9.5% unemployment rate.

No matter how much money President Obama borrows and spends, our economy simply will not recover until small, medium and large businesses have the confidence to put Americans back to work.

Republicans categorically oppose hiking taxes in times of economic crisis. For the past 19 months, we have offered better alternatives to the stimulus, cap-and-trade and the health care overhaul that keep the growth of government in check. We have taken a scalpel to the budget and offered up hundreds of billions of dollars of spending cuts. I don’t believe any American thinks that this $3 trillion is being well spent.

Next year, President Obama is going to preside over one of the largest tax increases on families and small businesses in American history. How his administration has convinced itself that this is a good idea right now is beyond comprehension.

Mr. President, the federal budget is teeming with waste. If you want to rein in the deficit, Republicans welcome you to sit down with us and go line by line through the budget to cut needless spending. But don’t impose sweeping tax hikes that will only make a bad economic picture much worse.

Today a Circuit Court Judge for the City of Charlottesville rejected the position of the Attorney General seeking to subpoena via Civil Investigative Demand certain documents generated by Professor Michael Mann as a potential fraud against the taxpayers of Virginia. 

Professor Mann is a leading proponet of the scientific theory of "global warming" and his views are controversial in that respect.  He formerly taught at  the University of Virginia, where he sought state and Federal grants to further his research.  For reasons that were not clearly articulated (but appear to revolve around the idea that "global warming" is an inherently false theory), the AG served five separate Civil Investigative Demands on the University to obtain records of Mr. Mann's research and communications. 

The Court made several important rulings.  First, it found that the AG does not have "unbridled discretion" to subpoena state agencies or universities anytime he thinks a fraud has been committed.  Second, it found that the AG simply failed to articulate what Professor Mann did that was "misleading, false or fraudulent" in seeking research grants.  Third, it found that the AG lacks the authority to prosecute professors who seek out Federal grants.

At the end, the Court did find that universities are corporations and thus subject to Civil Investigative Demands, if they are properly tailored to meet the above restrictions.  For this reason, the AG will be allowed to redraft two of the Demands -- regarding state grants -- to fit within the confines of the statute by seeking materials produced after 2003. 

Frankly, I don't see how a professor's academic research could ever be part of a "false claims" investigation, as such procedures are open to rampant subjectivity -- witness the foregoing fandango.

The AG's power here needs to be curtailed.  Expect such legislation for the 2011 session.

Last night, I spoke at the annual "Iftar" dinner for the Muslim community and friends in Fairfax.  The event was organized by my friends at the Turkish-American Friendship Association and took place in downtown Fairfax City, about a block from my law office.  There were several hundred in attendance.

Being of the Christian faith, I personally did not know much about Ramadan or Iftar growing up.  Essentially, during the month of Ramadan, Islam prohibits eating during daylight.  Iftar then becomes the first meal of the day at twilight.  Often it can be a community celebration.

Thanks to AFTA for inviting me and my family to join the meal the last night.  I also had a chance to speak with a Voice of America reporter who was there doing a story on "Islam in America."  Seems to be a salient topic these days. 

I got back today from a 2-day trip to Wise County, located in the far southwestern corner of the Commonwealth.  The trip was sponsored by Dominion Energy and was centered around a visit to the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, a 580 megawatt coal-fired air-cooled power plant costing $1.8 billion.  It is set to open in 2012.

Before I recount my journey to Wise and my impressions of Virginia City, it's worth recounting that I always have been (and remain) a (1) proponent of a mandatory RPS standard in Virginia law, and (2) the de-coupling of power industry profits from the amount of kilowatts produced and delivered.  That is my long-term vision for the energy sector and I'm open about it. 

Having said that, the visit to Virginia City was eye-opening, especially in light of my experience on the Energy and Environment Commission since 2008.  The site was a hive of activity with about 1,800 workers on-site building various structures, including the air cooled condenser, turbine housing and steam exhaust piping.  The power generated will be enough to service approx 150,000 homes.  It is a massive project with all the latest construction technology. 

The controversial aspect of Virginia  City is its use of coal -- a material which emits carbons into the atmosphere when burned.  While there are a full suite of emission controls in place at the new plant, it is true that burning coal causes air pollution beyond nuclear or even gas-fired plants (the plant also generates about 100 of its mw from burning recycled wood chips, ergo its designation as a "hybrid" plant"). 

Having said that, the Virginia City plant also has some positive environmental aspects, namely its use of "waste coal" or refuse piles buried in the earth prior to the Seventies, when the filtered "coal fines" from early mines were discarded in local landfills.  In Wise County alone, there are nearly 180 identified sites of waste coal which mar natural habitats and cause water pollution.  This is an existing water quality problem for everyone. 

As part of its charge, Virginia City reuses "waste coal" through a process which uncovers the deposits, removes and oxidizes the buried bits, and then restores the land (or streambed) to its natural shape.  We visited one such reclaimed site in the town of Coeburn.  This is a classic example of creating energy through environmental best practices and needs to be acknowledged. 

Last night we took a tour at UVA-Wise, where we had dinner with college and community leaders.  UVA-Wise is a little known jewel.  It has great facilities and is attracting students from across the state.  As proof of that, I introduced myself to one student and learned she was from San Diego (by way of Norfolk).   

This morning, I woke up early to run around the football field at Burton High School in Norton (home of "the Raiders"), which is under the shadow of the mountains and next door to our Holiday Inn.   It's very dark and quiet in Norton at 6 a.m.  

Then we took the bus to St. Paul to hear the Nature Conservancy speak on central Appalachia, an area our speakers described as "the center of the earth" because of the aged mountains, untouched by Ice Age glaciers, and the resulting biodiversity (the Clinch River alone has over 40 mussel varieties).   We also had a presentation from student leaders at St. Paul's High School who are seeking to reclaim a wetland and create a park in the middle of a former town landfill.  It was outstanding. 

We flew back today to Richmond and I drove home.  All in all, it was an important trip.  Energy continues to be the #1 economic development challenge regionally and nationally.  In Virginia, we continue to struggle to develop native sources of energy, both renewable and non-renewable.  Our utility companies must be part of the solution and we can learn from their professionals -- even as we maintain oversight on their regulated monopoly.  I'm glad I had a chance to learn from them. 

Thanks to our friends at Wise County for their hospitality.  We'll be back soon. 




 



  

I've been out of town since Saturday.  Got back today to find that the Governor has announced a $400M budget surplus for FY10, which is significantly better than anyone had projected.  

Still trying to figure out how our reveue projections can swing so quickly, when all seemed lost just a few months ago.  In the meantime, the Assembly has borrowed money from our own VRS system for the upcoming fiscal year(s) in order to balance the budget.  That transaction should not be forgotten before everyone rushes to spend this new money.

Got back today after spending 4 days vacationing in southwest Virginia.  This is an annual trip for our family and every year it gets better.  Here's a quick review and "greatest hits" ...

Day 1 (Roanoke) -- One of our favorite "small cities," Roanoke is actually an easy and scenic 4-hour drive down Rte. 81 from NoVA.  With its antebellum decor and great service, the Hotel Roanoke is one of my all-time favorite hotels.  It's also a 5-minute walk downtown, right over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks which still gets lots of cross-country traffic.  Lots of great places to eat in the Star City and the kids love the trains. 

Day 2 (Hungry Mother) -- Since we discovered Hungry Mother State Park in 2004, it's been our favorite family place to relax in VA.  A cabin is about $100 a night and gives you complete access to great hiking and jogging trails around Hungry Mother Lake, as well as boating, fishing and swimming in the Lake.  This year we complete the family hike of Molly's Knob with only one melt down (me), then hit the beach in the afternoon.  The town of Marion is a few miles away with a drive-in movie theater and putt-putt golf.  If you're looking for great local cuisine, I suggest "The Tuscan" on Rte 11 in town.  Best Italian food in Smyth County.  By far!

Day 3 (New River Trail) -- One day I'll bike with my kids from Galax to Claytor Lake (56 miles) on the Trail, an old railroad cut which is now a state park.  This year, we stuck to canoeing up the New River from the landing at Foster Falls in Wythe County back towards the NC line.   The river runs parallel to the bike trail and underneath the Rte 77 bridge.  We share the river with a herd of cattle --  not an advertisement for best management practices (except maybe in India).  After a day of canoeing the New River, it's back to Hungry Mother for a late swim.

Day 4 (Wytheville) -- There's a lot of nearby towns to see (Abingdon, Damascus, Galax) but we have to get home.  We make our traditional stop at the Wytheville Bob Evans which has a commanding view up Rte 81 and great pancakes.  After brunch, it's a 5 hour ride back home up the spine of western Virginia. 

Next year, we'll stay longer and hit more sites, especially those of musical interest, i.e. the Crooked Road of country music history.  In the meantime, it's a great break from NOVA and very easy on the family budget.  Check out the possibilities at the website for Virginia State Parks.

... with my son.  We'll be taking the Orange Line into the City, then switching at RFK.  It's a mile walk from the last station to FedEx, which is about as "pedestrian friendly" as you can expect in the suburbs.

Starters are supposed to take 30-35 snaps tonight.  First-team fans will likewise be limited 1-2 beers (or not!)

Always good to beat Baltimore.   Even if it doesn't matter.

Sorry for the delay on posting.  I'm dealing with an avalanche of work and family obligations.

A few quick notes from the game on Saturday night:

1.  Is there any reason for Blue Line trains to not run directly to FedEx Field on game nights?  Nothing is more useless than a six-car train packaged with 1,000 fans making 5-6 superfluous stops before the stadium?  On game nights, make the Blue Line an EXPRESS TRAIN to the stadium.  Also, some of the trains are looking very ragged on the interior and need new carpeting. 

2.  The Ravens continue to have the ugliest jerseys in the league.  (And E.A. Poe is from Richmond anyway)

3.  The Redskins continue to have problems with the O-Line.

4.  London Fletcher is old school NFL and we like that.

5.  Santana Moss can still play.  Everybody else?  Well it's pre-season.

6.  Cost of 2 tickets in Section 451?  About $180.  Cost of METRO pass to game?  About $6.  Cost of beer?  About $7 per cup.  Watching a ball game with my son?  Priceless!

Earlier this week, the Obama administration announced plans to reduce defense contracting costs by 10% a year for the next three years.  At the same time, it announced that it would eliminate certain defense agencies such as the Joint Forces Command ("JFCOM"), which is based in Hampton Roads.  That elimination alone represents 5,000 jobs.

In Nothern Virginia, a reduction in defense and homeland security contracting would be significant in impact.  There is no doubt that defense largely drives job growth in in NoVA.  There are literally thousands of companies based in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William that make their living based on contracts with the military or DHS.  Eliminating those contracts will cost jobs. 

There is certainly a need to right-size the Federal budget and defense spending is a major part of that.  Having said that, the speed of this announcement and lack of coordination with Virginia leaders is somewhat disconcerting, especially since our area just went through massive changes with the BRAC recommendations, which included building enormous (and costly) new facilities at Fort Belvoir and near Bailey's Crossroads that replaced perfectly good facilities in Arlington.

Talk about mixed messages.

This announcement could a be a minor blip in the steady growth of NOVA and its businesses over the past seventy years.   Or it could be a major watershed.  On balance, the Virginia area has shown great flexiblity in growing, even when the defense budget was contracting.  (Look at the growth of Internet-based businesses in the 1990's when military spending was comparatively low).

This will be a challenge for us. 

Minority Whip Eric Cantor questions the motives behind the $26 billion bailout bill approved by the House

To quote "Rapper's Delight" -- our AG's favorite rap group -- "well, it's on and on and on, on and on  .... and the beat don't stop til the break of dawn."  

The same themes have dominated this summer in Virginia:  privatize the liquor stores, crack down on illegal immigration, file suit against our universities.  
 
Yesterday marked the kick-off of the Governor's bid to privatize the ABC stores in Virginia.  I have mixed thoughts on this and it's still early.  I don't plan to bash the Governor's plan, which is not yet a tangible proposal.  There are advantages to eliminating a state agency.  And there are certainly disadvantages. On balance, the current system works very well in terms of controlling liquor distribution and capturing revenue.  That's what it's supposed to do. 

In regard to immigration, we've passed many laws in Virginia and it seems we're going to get more in 2011.  You can't drive here unless you're legal. You can't get in-state tuition unless you're legal.  You can't get any government benefits (e.g. FAMIS or Medicaid) unless you're legal.  You can and should be referred to the Feds if you're not legal and picked up on a crime.  We've passed a lot of laws.  And I've voted for most of them.  At some point, how much more can a state do?

Finally, according to the radio, today will mark the 50th day this year that the thermometer has reached ninety degrees in the D.C. area.  Good thing global warming has been disproven.  I don't know much about "hockey stick" graphs but I do know that fifty days of 90+ degree heat in one year is pretty extraordinary. 
 

I spent this entire weekend on Rte 28 hitting events in northern Fairfax and Loudoun County.

Saturday began with the annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair sponsored by the County's Cooperative Extension at Frying Pan Park, a working farm just a couple miles from Herndon. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I was pleased to be there to kick off the ceremonies. 

For those who didn't know (or care), Fairfax County was formerly the dairy capital of the mid-Atlantic, supplying fresh milk to the Washington D.C. area.  Up until 1950 or so, that was the primary industry.  Eventually development drove up land prices and the dairy industry moved west to the Shenandoah Valley.  However, we still maintain the agricultural legacy with our 4-H Clubs in the County, including an active one right in Fairfax City.

After hitting the Fair, I took the kids and drove up Rte 28 to see another venerable institution -- the Washington Redskins.  Saturday was their Fan Appreciation Day at Redskins Park in Ashburn, a few minutes away. 

There was an impressive crowd of 10,000+ to watch the Skins do their thing.  We didn't get any autographs but I did watch about 45 minutes of scrimmaging.  Enough to report that Donovan McNabb throws a very crisp spiral and Albert Haynesworth looks a lot leaner than last year.  Can this be the year to rejoin the NFL's elite? 

(side note -- Congratulations to Russ Grimm, all-time Redskin great, for his induction to the Hall of Fame on Saturday.  The Hogs got their due.  Grimm's son Cody played at Oakton HS and Virginia Tech and is now playing with the Tampa Bay Bucs).

This morning, I was in Leesburg for their annual 20K run along the W&OD trail through Loudoun's rural crescent.  It's a good training race and a tough one.  The steep hill on Mile Four ruined me for a while.  I recovered for a while, then fell apart again on Mile Nine.  I was hurting the whole way but staggered in to finish at 1 hour and 49 minutes, which is not bad.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) discusses the job market and the upcoming elections with CNBC.

It's that time of year again. 

This weekend, Virginia law suspends the sales tax on all purchases of school supplies.  These types of holidays never made any sense to me economically  -- the savings for a few notebooks (5%) is minor and could be wiped out by simply marking up the product a few cents.

But it seems to be popular.  My kids, of course, will buy all their materials this weekend.

Fyi, I may be running in the Leesburg 20K on Sunday.  I'm supposed to do 20 miles for my marathon program but, maybe, we'll just consider the lesser distance a typo. 

Last night, I did a very quick tour of the "south side" of the 34th Senate District.  Here's a recap.

6:20 p.m.  Begin the night at University Heights (Fairfax Villa) Night Out gathering.  A few dozen people there to drink lemonade, eat hot dogs and hang out in the cul-de-sac.  Toss the football around with a couple of teenagers who attend TJHS.  Hand out pencils.  The usual stuff.

7:00 p.m.  Up Braddock Road, I arrive at Surrey Square and Old Forge pool.  The civic association is sponsoring the Night Out with cookies, chips and local residents.  I'm there to answer questions and give a few remarks.  Then it's back out onto Braddock. 

7:30 p.m.  I head north up Olley Lane and turn into Rutherford (just past Little Run Elementary).   The pool is in the back of the community.  There's a crowd of mostly kids.  I begin my speech ... Hold On!  That's McGruff the Crime Dog.  He has followed me to Rutherford.  The attention span of the audience follows him.

8:00 p.m.  I cross 236, head up Woodburn and take the back entrance into Camelot.  I see a lot of old friends gathered for their Night Out party.  It's traditionally one of the biggest in the County.  Chairman Bulova (Sharon that is) is there along with the top brass in the Fairfax County P.D.  Again, lots of kids.

At darkness, I begin the drive back to Fairfax City.  In an election year, I'll try to hit 6-8 Night Out parties. This year I'll settle for four.

The U.S. District Court in Richmond today overruled the Motion to Dismiss filed the U.S. Government and held that the lawsuit of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to exempt Virginia from the 2010 Health Care Reform Act could proceed forward.

The decision is not a ruling on the merits and does not preclude a later finding for either side.  It simply means that the AG has stated a sufficient basis to attack the Federal law for over-stepping the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. 

Today's decision means that the U.S. must now come forward with evidence that the decision of individuals to buy (or not buy) health insurance has an effect on the larger market for insurance and health care in order to implicate the Commerce Clause. 

There is a lot of case law on this and I won't bore my few readers with the details.  Suffice to say that there are some jurists who feel that Federal action is always warranted on a matter of national interest and others who feel that actual interstate transactions must be directly involved. 

My take on this whole episode is that the purchasing mandate (as I understand) does not take effect until 2014.  There will be two elections for Congress BEFORE that time, and any future Congress has the ability  to amend or even repeal the purchase mandate.  Therefore, it is premature for any judge to rule on the constitutionality of the mandate, as the issue is not "ripe" for determination. 

Obviously my position lost today.  I bet you're shocked to hear that.

Many years ago, there was an era called the "20th century." 

It was a time when some terrible things happened, like world wars and genocide.  It was also a time when many good things happened, such as universal vaccines and access to electricity.

Many of the best aspects of the 20th century originated in the United States.  During those 100 years, the U.S. Congress tore down state laws of racial segregation.  It passed laws (Social Security) to give economic integrity to senior citizens.  It created protections for workers through collective bargaining laws and a 40-hour work week.  It established environmental protections for our air and water.

These laws were good.  They showed the world that the U.S. was a real democracy.  Just as importantly, they did not change the nature of America as a free enterprise economy, where citizens succeeded on their own merit.  During a century of reform, the U.S. economy exploded to become the envy of the world. 

The 20th century was a triumph for democracy in the U.S.  But several principles of it are being lost.

Take for example the current debate over the "Bush tax cuts" in U.S. Congress -- or lack of debate to be more accurate.  Now there are a lot of reasons to resist raising the marginal tax rates on high-earners, many of whom live in Fairfax County.

But how about high-earners who are dead?

Ten years ago, the Congress  voted to phase out the estate tax  thereby exempting inherited wealth from taxation.  That vote repudiated a foundation principle of the 20th century -- that America is a meritocracy and its laws are designed to prevent the aggregation of wealth and power in the hands of the few. 

In fact, the Virginia companion (which Governor Harry Byrd signed in 1929) was specifically enacted to ensure that all citizens paid taxes.  In 2006, the Assembly caved in to lobbying pressure and voted for repeal -- a policy that lost $150M in annual revenue without creating a single job.  (Previously Governor Warner had vetoed repeal in 2003 and saw his veto sustained by Assembly Democrats.  Every single legislator that sustained his veto was re-elected, most easily, and Warner went to U.S. Senate with 67% of the vote). 

Curiously, Congress enacted its Federal repeal only temporarily so that the tax would be fully eliminated in 2010, then come back in 2011 at the previous rate of 55% for every dollar over the $1.5 million threshold (that's $3M for married couples).

When the Democrats took over Congress, this situation begged for a "common sense" solution.  What value is there in exempting the children of multi-billionaires from any inheritance tax in 2010 , then allowing that same tax to come back at a level ($1.5 million) that has not been adjusted for inflation in many  years?

A median solution would actually protect small business while reviving the Democratic creed first articulated by Andrew Jackson , a creed that sustains the Party in its reach from rural conservatives to urban liberals, i.e. that democratic government is not about protecting the rich and powerful but "the mechanic, the farmer, the shopkeeper." 

However, there has been no solution in the past four years. As it is, the inheritance tax continues to exist (or not) in a legal world of confusion and undeserved windfall (til 2011), while the U.S. deficit explodes beyond all reckoning.

With three months to go til Election Day, it  may be too much to expect to see this perverse (and anti-democratic) outcome fixed.  Of course, the real drama will occur in late December -- after the Election -- when enterprising beneficiaries will be faced with a set of incentives that are bizarre if not downright chilling.

Either way, the failure to address this issue is just that:  a failure. 

Will be at the State Capitol with Delegate Mark Keam for the Governor's signing of SB 712, our bill to establish an overseas campus for George Mason in the Republic of Korea.   Representatives of GMU and the Korean Embassy should also be there.

The campus will be built on man-made island in Incheon Harbor that was created when the new airport was opened in 2002.   This island has been designated (and will be created) as a "free trade" international city within Korea, a fitting distinction considering that a third of the world's population is within a two-hour plane flight of Incheon. 

Grants from the Korean government will estblish English-speaking campuses on the island.   George Mason is one of the select American universities invited to participate, because of its role in the prestigious Virginia higher education system and its proximity to Washington DC..  SB 712 gives them the legal framework to do that.

The Governor has a number of commissions meeting this summer.  One of them is focused on Economic Development.

According to today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, that Commission is reviewing 115 different ideas to promote economic growth in the Commonwealth.  

Two of those receiving the most favorable attention according to the RTD:

1.  Eliminating the corporate income tax in Virginia
2.  Increasing our state's economic development budget

Tax less, spend more.  There's an idea.

The last thing we need right now is a Commission which continues to avoid hard choices and just provides happy talk.  Advertising our state is great but the metrics on the return investment are very uncertain (yes, I've heard all the "estimates").  The only sure winner in a marketing campaign is the contractor you hire. 

And eliminating a whole category of taxation, would mean that our small locally-owned businesses (LLC's and PC's) would be stuck with the corporate tax burden while the large companies pay nothing.  That would benefit the large company shareholders.  Do they even live in Virginia?

Personally, I would be much more impressed if the Commission was to tell us what economic tools are not working and suggest elimination.  Or suggest eliminating certain corporate tax breaks which don't create jobs.

That would show something. 

Friday Night I was at Lanier Middle School in Fairfax to see the City of Fairfax Theater Company (I had the name wrong earlier) put on their performance of "Annie Get Your Gun."

The sets were colorful and the acting was very professional, if not actually professional.  There was also an ad hoc music group, which played the musical numbers from the orchestra pit.

The story, which was written by Irvin Berlin in the 1930's, tells the story of Annie Oakley (a.k.a. "Little Sure Shot") who toured with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show in the 1880's.  The show was a smash in the eastern U.S. and in Europe.  Oakley was a famed sharp shooter who married Frank Murphy, another performer.

Hollywood made it a movie in the early 1950's, the era of super-size cinematic productions.  The dialogue and music are definitely period pieces -- don't think you'd see that writing now.  

Anyway, the show plays three more dates (Friday, July 30, Saturday, July 31 and Sunday matinee Aug 1). 

Senator Jim Webb (D-Virginia) is both a student of history and an unapologetic free thinker -- two traits that immediately separate him from 90% of the people in elected office today.

As a Senator, he has been a leader on national issues such as the GI Bill for Iraq-Afghanistan vets and the reform of Federal criminal sentencing laws.  In both cases, he took positions that were risky, even unpopular, for the sake of doing the right thing.

Yesterday, in the Wall Street Journal , he took on the ultimate verboten topic:  Federal affirmative action programs, specifically those which require government contracts be given to "minority" (i.e. non-white) applicants.  As a white man, he risked being called a "racist" by even addressing this subject.  And surely some will misrepresent his message.   

But he was right to do it.  Because this discussion needs to be acknowledged (it's already happening) without the predictable name-calling which has already infected the illegal immigration debate.

Since the good Senator has raised this topic and I am now commenting upon it, I will confess the following:  I am an ordinary white American male who was raised in a stable home by church-going and loving parents.  I've had every advantage that comes with living in this great nation and am glad for it.  Having said that, I note the following facts --

1.  The Civil Rights laws of the 1950's and 1960's were passed to address a specific situation unique in American history, namely the enslavement of black Americans until the Civil War and the subsequent segregation laws which were used to treat them as second-class citizens.   This situation is (and was) unique and there is no corollary to it -- although invariably other minority groups attempt to analogize themselves to that experience.

2.  Because of slavery and segregation, there was a distinct impact on American society which has taken generations to unravel.  That situation was recognized by laws passed in the latter 20th century which sought to remediate this discrimination by ensuring access to opportunities by the descendants of America's native African-American population. 

3.  Our world has changed radically (for the better) since those times.  My parents grew up in a society that was still segregated.  My mother attended an all-white high school in Alexandria in the late Fifties.  By the time I entered the Fairfax City School system, we were fully integreated, although my high school was still 90% white.  My children -- who are half-Korean by ethnicity -- now attend the City schools which are at least half minority.  Their friends are of Asian, African and Middle Eastern descent.  There is no connection with the segregated system of 50+ years ago. 

4.  The "minorities" that have come legally to the U.S. in the past generation from around the world are not poor and down-trodden.  Nor are they victims of legal discrimination.  In our area, they are highly-educated and motivated professionals who have sought the academic and career opportunities of America.  (I say this being married to the daughter of such a family).  It is an absurdity to conflate their legal situation with that of the Jim Crow era.

5.  Thanks in part to this infusion of human capital, we increasingly achieve a "diversity" of outcome without any government manipulation.  Look at our  local schools:  the valedictorian of the celebrated W.T. Woodson High School this year was of African descent -- and nobody noticed.  Our magnet school (Thomas Jefferson) as well as the University of Virginia could have all their slots filled with qualified "minorities" without losing any academic ground.  The U.S. Supreme Court is fully diverse, with the conspicuous exception of Protestants. 

6.  While America integreates, the whole concept of race is being changed before our eyes (See Obama, President Barack).  Intermarriage among racial groups is not controversial -- it's not even noteworthy.  In a mixed marriage, the concept of identifying yourself or your children as a "member" of one particular racial group becomes a case of self-selection -- nothing more.  It should not form the basis of qualification for some government benefit.  

Those are the positives.  Now here are some realities from those of us (like me) who are not minorities: 

1.  Believe it or not, being "white" is not an automatic ticket to success (people of my age will remember the famous Eddie Murphy spoof on SNL years ago about the "white world" -- unfortunately it's not true).  The majority of citizens on Medicaid and TANF are white.  There are significant pockets of poverty in Virginia in communities which are completely white.  Indeed, the lack of diversity is often a proxy for lack of jobs or investment.  On average, white Virginians have average higher incomes than some minorities (blacks and Latins) and lower than others (Asians).  It's a mix.  (Okay, I will admit we dominate NASCAR).

2.  As Senator Webb points out, the current contracting laws, which seek to benefit anyone who is "non-white" are built on a Civil Rights era platform where only blacks and whites existed in significant numbers -- and only whites had access to education or investment capital.  The facts have changed but the laws have not.  That has led  led to bizarre outcomes where being a "Native Alaskan" is considered a great windfall (??), while working your way through school out of a trailer park means nothing.   (side note -- I once had a client who could not bid on a Fed contract because he was "not a minority" -- he was an Afghani refugee who escaped the Communists and started his own successful business in Springfield).

3.  The most statistically significant determinant of success in America is not race.  It's the wealth and education of  your parents, whether they are from Mumbai, Lagos or Peoria.  Again, I say this being the product of a great parents, an advantage which I cannot duplicate except for my own kids. 

Here, is my humble conclusion to all this ...

The Civil Rights laws had a distinct purpose which needs to be recovered -- the remediation of ills arising from America's history of slavery and segregation.  The effects of that history is still apparent in this nation, yes in Virginia.  That challenge is not over although this nation has made enormous strides.   Separately, the use of Federal (and state) law to promote small business is critical, especially in Virginia which needs to open up its state contracting to more outside firms. 

However, only favoring businesses which can prove they are "non-white" is simplistic and ultimately wrong.  Similarly, there is no moral or historical reason to legally favor the children of immigrants over the children of existing residents --simply because the latter is white and the former is not.  Again, that choice dilutes the moral clarity of the Civil Rights laws and ironically puts a burden on those who may need help the most. 

We have seen two generations pass through without a serious discussion on the topic that Senator Webb has raised.  It's going to happen very soon.  When it does, I suggest that it occur without the inevitable cries of "racism" and with a clear eye towards the history of our people and the purposes for which these laws were intended.

This is a shameless plug for my wife Sharon and my two daughters who are in the production of "Annie Get Your Gun" which is being done by the Fairfax City Players tonight at Lanier Middle School.  Show begins at 8 p.m.  There are also shows tomorrow (Saturday) night and next weekend.

The City Players is an amateur group based in Fairfax City which puts on musicals and theater productions.  The cast is a range of parents and school children.  Everyone volunteers their time.

Come see the show. 

Last night I was the MC at the annual Vienna Tysons Chamber of Commerce business awards, which was held at Maggiano's in Tysons.  There was a large crowd of over 100 business owners attending, along with Supervisors Cathy Hudgins, John Foust and Sharon Bulova (Chair) and Delegate Mark Keam.

As everyone in Fairfax knows, the Tysons area has grown exponentially in the past forty years from a rural grocery store at the corner of Rte 7 and Rte 123 to one of the largest office and employment centers on the East Coast.

Most of this growth is driven by high-tech corporate icons such as SAIC or Microstrategy or quasi-government agencies like Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac.  The growth is supported by small businesses, such as those represented by the Chamber, which provide the services from preparing meals to moving families.

With the County Board emphasizing a future on-site residential population of potentially 100,000 people in Tysons, the role of small business is only going to expand. 

Of course, one of unique niche businesses in Tysons are tow truck operators called upon to Slim Jim a vehicle when the owner has locked himself out of it after a speaking engagement.  Not that I'd know anything about that. 

I've been out of town the last 10 days.  Just catching up to the flood of news, messages and emails.

I see the Post had a front-page story today on the privatization of the ABC system which is being studied by the Governor's Government Reform Commission.  I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot on that in the next few weeks.  There are a lot of interested parties who'd like to see the ABC franchise expanded.  The Assembly needs to stay focused on what best represents the taxpayer and community, which has an interest in regulating the time, place and manner of alcohol sales.

Whatever happens I think it's foolish to talk about the revenue as a "transportation solution."  That money will be a drop in the bucket and who knows whether it's a one-time cash infusion or an annual stream of revenue (as the current ABC system works).  Also the transportation solution should be based on transportation revenues, not the sale of a state liquor franchise. 

Will be posting shortly on my trip to Turkey ...

This past week I was part of a bipartisan legislative group that visited the nation of Turkey through a trip sponsored by the American Turkish Friendship Association, which is based in Fairfax CIty.

Also attending were Harvey Morgan (R-Middlesex), Jim Scott (D-Merrifield) and Betsy Carr (D-Richmond).  An earlier group of legislators took a similar trip in May.  We paid for our own plane tickets to Istanbul.  The rest of the trip, including accommodations for one week was paid for by ATFA.

It was a working vacation.  Our group met with several government representatives, including MP's representing the Turkish ruling party in Ankara and the mayors of localities around Istanbul.  We also visited with prominent Turkish journalists, an international trade association, a political think-tank and several business leaders seeking contacts in the U.S. 

Turkey is a nation of 70 million people.  It has the 16th largest economy in the world and is a pro-American gateway to Arab nations, many of which have strained relations with the U.S.  The purpose of our journey was to promote Virginia (and the U.S.) as a trading partner and maintain the friendly relations which have existed since WWII. 

My favorite encounter was our debate before a crowded hall of college students in Ankara.  Like many students in the MIddle East, they expressed skepticism of the role of the U.S. in promoting democracy.  We stood up for our country and its long alliance with Turkey through NATO.  It was good to have an actual American in the room to defend the U.S.  While we did not agree on every point, I think we impressed the students with our willingness to hang in there and answer questions.

The meetings, greetings and gift exchanges were only part of the story.  Otherwise, here are some of my impressions from the whirlwind journey:

1.  Istanbul (nee Byzantium, Constantinople) is a visually stunning City and the former capital of three major world empires (Rome, Byzantine and Ottoman).  Its architecture monuments like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are some of the most famous in the world.  The Bospurus straits split the City (and Europe from Asia) and the views are unparalleled.

2.  The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is some of the most exciting shopping in the world.  You can spend all day there with less than sixty bucks and never see the same shop twice.  Nothing like seeing Western tourists in khaki shorts and Saudi women in all-black burqas standing in line together to buy gifts.

3.  The land of Anatolia (eastern Turkey) is the cradle of the Christian faith with cities like Ephesus, Antioch and Sardis as well as the modern-day Izmir, which was Smyrna.  The cave paintings in Cappadocia (the Biblical Galatia) are astonishing.  They literaly tell the story of the Christian faith at its formation.

4.  The Turkish people are friendly and many speak English.  Despite recent tensions, we had very few negative comments and several families generously hosted us for dinner, which featured lamb kebabs and fresh fruit.  It is also a democratic country, unlike most its neighbors.

5.  The coastal waters are clear and warm.  I went swimming in the Aegean Sea near Ephesus and the Black Sea, north of Istanbul.  After the latter, we visited with the Mayor of the seaside city where we spent the day.  He was running for re-election so I gave him his re-election slogan:   "Keep the Black Sea Blue."   Not sure how that will translate.

6.  The interior of Turkey is dry and mountainous.  Reminds me of Utah or Nevada.   It has been criss-crossed by conquerors dating back to the Hittites, so much so that there are warrens of cliff dwellings and caves to hide from invaders. 

7.  The nation of Turkey is legally secular but the large majority appear to be practicing Muslims.  You have no doubt you're in the Islamic World, especially when the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer at 5 a.m.  By contrast, there a few actual churches or synagogues left despite the long history of intermingled faith. 

In my career, I've been invited on several international trips.  This was the first I ever accepted and I'm glad I did.  Returning to Virginia, I realize how fragile our position in the MIddle East and how critical our relations with allies like Turkey.  Again, I cannot overemphasize the unfailing generosity and friendliness of our Turkish hosts.  There is a strong bond there. 

Thank you to the American Turkish Friendship Association and our great guide Mahmud for making it possible. 

Tessukur lar Turkiye.  Chok guzel!   (Thank you Turkey.  Great job!)














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Rep. Eric Cantor appears on CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss business issues among current legislation.

Henrico job fair attracts long lines
By Andy Jenks
NBC 12

At Henrico’s Deep Run High School, there was a competition that attracted a big crowd. But it’s not a sporting event, nor is it anything one might call entertaining.

The competition was for a paycheck, and way of life. More than 3,000 people packed a job fair knowing full well that they outnumber the positions available.

Way in the back of a line that seems impossibly long is Amy Harmon, who worked for Circuit City until it went under.

“There’s a lot of folks that need jobs, and that are willing to come on out and look for jobs,” Harmon said.

Amy and everyone else lined up very early for the chance at just a few seconds of face time with potential employers.

“I was expecting this, ’cause no one has jobs, and it’s starting to hit this economy real bad in Virginia,” said job seeker Michael Jones.

The job fair, hosted by Rep. Eric Cantor (R, Henrico), comes at a critical time.

“When you have over 100 people in line an hour and a half before the doors open, I think indicates a real need to bring job seekers and employers together,” Cantor said.

The Richmond-area unemployment rate is inching upward, slightly, to 7.6 percent, and the region’s public employment center in Henrico is preparing for millions less in federal stimulus aid.

“Government spending money doesn’t create jobs. This jobs fair is trying to match up people looking for employment to be hired,” Cantor said.

Cantor’s involvement, though, was criticized by Democrats, who pointed out that some of the industries on display benefited from stimulus money. But on this day, politics took a back seat to reality.

“I need work. Just like everybody else. There are a lot of people that need work,” said job seeker Gordon Bengtson.

That’s why so many say it’s worth it to wait in line, and imagine the first step toward a new career.

“I just have as much chance as the next person, so I’m good,” said job seeker Janet Johnson.

The job fair, which included a police presence and refreshments, was paid for with taxpayer dollars. A Cantor spokesperson was not immediately able to confirm what was spent.

When I was a first-grader in 1974 at J.C. Wood Elementary in Fairfax City, I wrote an editorial to my school newspaper opining that kings and queens should be abolished and the money spent on them should be used for parks and libraries.  Thirty-six years later, I stand by every word I said.  But nothing has changed. 

A young person's instincts are usually correct.  But traditions are hard to break down.

When I was a freshman House member in 2002, I objected to the fact that the Democratic Caucus held its annual meeting at the Homestead.  First, while the Homestead is beautiful, it isn't a precise fit (to put it mildly) with the Democratic brand which is giving a voice to working people.  Second, we weren't in the majority and, therefore, it seemed presumptuous to invite donors and supporters to such a meeting. 

I made that point to whomever would listen (a small group to be sure) and the motion went nowhere.  I've raised it a couple times since and the response was the same. 

This week, the Joint Democratic Caucus, House and Senate, again held its annual meeting at the Homestead, a tradition dating back to 1988.  (The Republicans held their own Joint Caucus at the Homestead earlier this year).  This year's event got some modest publicity on the Post Virginia politics website and some targeted criticism on the liberal blogs. 

Since I stand by my earlier position and thus largely agree with the criticisms, I won't bother with a long-winded defense.  Having said that, the Joint Caucus meeting at the Homestead is not really remarkable -- there are several Caucus events which are held to raise money and give exclusive access to donors.  With those funds, the Caucus is able to support candidates (i.e. challengers) that need the institutional help. I should know, as I received nearly $500,000 in Caucus and DPVA funding in 2007. 

The events themselves are pretty mundane.  After Caucus meetings on Monday afternoon, there is a cocktail party that evening with all the guests.  Most are lobbyists or trade representatives that work regularly in Richmond.  We see them throughout the year and they call on us when they have a client issue.  Nothing new there.  The only benefit for me was that my wife Sharon could join me Monday night which was great. 

On Tuesday morning, there was a golf tournament and a skeet shooting contest.  Although I was signed up for the former, I took part in the latter (my mix-up and my mistake) with a small group.  There was no business transacted unless you count blasting away at orange "birds" flying through the woods of Bath County.

Tuesday afternoon I spent the whole time at the hotel Business Center doing legal work.  No fun there.

Tuesday night was another cocktail party followed by dinner.  Without using names, I sat next to a spokesman for domestic power producers on one side and the legislative director for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (Teamsters) on the other side.  I already knew both of them.  We spent most the time talking about baseball and music. 

Wednesday morning I went for a run in the mountains around the Homestead.   I had a quick breakfast in the dining room where I sat with the Teamsters rep (he was wearing a tee shirt that read "Keith Richards for President"). 

Afterwards, I caught a ride home with my law partner, Delegate Scott Surovell.  No checks requested or received.  The two-day stay cost me about $1K. 

Here's the larger point ....

A lot of folks criticize Virginia for having laws that permit unlimited donations, both personal and corporate.  I agree with the criticisms and have sponsored legislation to cap "super-size" donations.  I'll do so again in 2011.  Until that law changes, I'll continue to raise money and attend events for myself and the Caucus under the existing laws.  Mom didn't raise an idiot. 

Some day, a new regime will come along and there will be a change in this state in terms of corporate access or influence. It doesn't mean that the current way is corrupt or illegal.  It's neither.  But there will be a change.

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor appeared on Fox News “On the Record” with Greta van Susteren to discuss the overwhelming response from the American people to cut spending and the Republican efforts to bring some fiscal restraint to Washington.

As we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to forget there are thousands of men and women fighting to defend our freedom and security every single day.

Published July 4, 2010
By REP. ERIC CANTOR
Virginia Pilot

In December, with Congress in the midst of the heated health care debate, I received an e-mail from 1st Lieutenant Wilson Nance, a Marine stationed at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

“I have no other reason to write you other than to give you encouragement in the coming months ahead,” the 2006 VMI graduate wrote.

From the safety and security of the U.S. Capitol, grappling with Democrats over high-risk insurance pools and the public option, I received support and encouragement from a soldier in a war zone 6,000 miles away. It was an inspirational reminder that we must remain vigilant in our support of the courageous men and women who serve in our armed forces.

If anything, I should have been the one thanking and encouraging Lt. Nance, not the other way around.

As we go about our daily lives – going to work and buying groceries – it’s easy to forget there are thousands of men and women fighting to defend our freedom and security every single day. It shouldn’t be only on the Fourth of July, Veterans Day or during the occasional standing ovation at a ball game that we stop to honor their sacrifice.

We should be thinking about them, honoring them and praying for them every day. More than 830,000 veterans live in Virginia, and nearly 200,000 Virginians serve in the military around the world.

Just recently, with the uncertainty surrounding the dismissal of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, we were reminded how perilous the situation on the ground in Afghanistan continues to be. Our troops serving there are very much at the center of a protracted and dangerous fight for our national security.

Our nation is at a crossroads, both at home and with its commitments abroad. The America we grew up in is rapidly changing, and unless we change course now, our children and grandchildren will inherit a country worse off than it was left to us, with less freedom and opportunity. That freedom and opportunity is being fought for each and every day by the young men and women thousands of miles away, in foreign lands against enemies that couldn’t possibly imagine what the honor of being an American and experiencing liberty means.

In supporting our troops, a great place to start is to follow the example of the good people in our communities leading the way to honor veterans and help troops and their families who currently serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Retired Marine Sgt. Nathan Huffman from Richmond organized a 100-mile Memorial Day Ultra Marathon in May, in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country.

Retired Army Col. William Barrett founded Heroes Helping Heroes, a nonprofit organization that provides community-based programs to assist veterans in finding employment. There are dozens of programs like Heroes Helping Heroes looking for volunteers and support.

Started after the attacks of Sept. 11, Homes for Our Troops helps troops with serious disabilities find homes at no cost. Thanks to the program, Staff Sgt. Dwayne Cole, who was paralyzed in 2007 in Iraq when a bullet hit his spine, just received keys to a brand new home in Henrico. After spending six months at Walter Reed, he and his wife had been living in a rented apartment with inaccessible bathrooms.

While supporting programs like Heroes Helping Heroes and Homes for Our Troops are great opportunities to get involved, little things can also go a long way. The next time you see someone in uniform in the grocery store or in the airport, thank him or her for what they do for our country. If you have a friend, neighbor or relative serving overseas, send them a letter, email, or care package.

The courage and dedication of America’s military is a constant inspiration for our nation. We must follow the lead of Sgt. Huffman, Col. Barrett and many others in supporting and honoring our troops every day.

Eric Cantor, a Republican from Richmond, serves as House minority whip.

Yesterday was hot.  Really hot.

My Chief of Staff Kathy, her husband Bruce and I spent all day at the Town of Vienna July 4 Festival where we staffed a booth, along with Delegate Mark Keam.

Folks came by at odd intervals to visit us.  But it's fair to say that nobody was moving quickly.  In fact, it was so hot that I saw a dog chasing a rabbit -- and they were both walking.

Around 2:30 p.m., I found myself irresistibly drawn to the Post 180 American Legion Beer Tent, in the shade by the Vienna Community Center.

One 16 oz. cup later, life didn't seem as hopeless.

While knocking back the icy cold beverage, I had a great conversation with Bob Hatter, President of Post 180.  Bob and his wife Martha are the kind of folks that are the backbone of a community but don't make a big deal about it. 

Bob was telling me his history as a young soldier in West Germany during 1961, when the Berlin Wall went up.  When the message came that there was activity on the Russian side, Bob and his unit were mobilized and sent to Berlin via the Autobahn, which cut right through Soviet-controlled East Germany.

Bob and his unit got to the scene to watch the Soviet and East German soldiers actually building the wall.  Not content with watching the injustice unfold, the young Americans began heckling the other side.  Some U.S. soldiers actually threw pieces of concrete and mortar across the dividing line.  An actual firefight seemed imminent.

Cooler heads (and officers) prevailed and the incident wound down without any shooting.  The wall stood in place until 1989, when the people of Berlin themselves tore it down.  I was a senior in college that fall and will never forget it. 

Anyway, it's amazing what you can learn when you buy a beer on a hot day. 

It was a beatiful summer day in Fairfax today.  Here are the key numbers to remember:

20,000  Estimated attendance along Parade route
10,000 Estimated number of people who will show up at 10 a.m. tomorrow for July 4 parade
150  Number of folks in basement of Auld Shebeen to hear Old Shamrock bagpipes
80  Number of members of Redskins Marching Band
50  Number of clowns riding in cars
20  Number of elected officials riding in cars
6  Number of high school marching bands
3  Number of Bolivian dance groups
1  Number of anti-tax activists marching with bullhorn (thanks Jim Parmelee!)

Last week the Board of Supervisors passed a major new plan for Tysons Corner which serves as a massive overhaul for the car-choked symbol of anti-pedestrian suburban sprawl.

The irony about Tysons is that everyone derides it and yet it still claims the highest rents and best occupancy rates in the D.C. area.  In other words, nobody wants to be there - but everybody is.

It's like how Oreo's are still the most popular snack food but no one admits buying them.

The concept behind the new plan is to divide Tysons into digestible neighborhoods with a grid pattern of roads and transit, cut down on patchwork land uses, and create walk-able enviroments with mixed- use residential and park spaces. 

With the new Metrorail in place, what could go wrong?

It's all great stuff.  But some folks are not enamored .

Leaving aside the inevitable qualms of neighboring communities on large increases in permitted density, there are some real world issues contrasting the way things are with the way we want them to be (editor's note:  I represent the "South of 7" portion of Tysons and the neighborhoods immediately adjoining).

In my previous life as a Fairfax City Councilman (1998-2002), I was a full-bore advocate for walking to work and walking to shop. I pushed for businesses with "street presence."  I fought the enemy of large parking fields with minimal landscaping and flat buildings with low FAR ratings. We all thought that "street scape" was the future.

It hasn't quite worked out that way.  The reality is that the Wal-Marts and Costco's continue to capture market share, even in 2010.  Small downtown business cannot seem to compete, except for a highly niche audience.  I can't tell you the struggles I've seen for downtown businesses in Fairfax to stay open -- and that's with a City that's highly supportive of small business.

To commit Tysons to a pedestrian-friendly path is laudable.  I'm 100% for it.  All new cities and all new roads should contain spaces for bikers and pedestrians.  But you can't just build it - the market (i.e. consumer market)  has to support it.  Businesses have to want to locate there and consumers have to want to visit you. 

You can't dictate that.  People choose convenience over aesthetics all the time in America. And that leaves me skeptical, while still supportive of the plan goals. 

Tysons will always remain an uncoordinated example of suburban sprawl.  That's its nature.  It can be more accessible for walkers and bikers.  But it will take far more than a plan to change Tysons'  fundamental nature.  It will take a change in the attitudes of those who visit.

It was a twilight 5K tonight at George Mason University.  About 800 runners showed up, including ultra-marathoner superstar Michael Wardian -- who according to our MC set the indoor record time for 26.2 miles last night.

We ran a fast track all around the University campus.  I finished in 23:19.  My times have really fallen back since the spring.  Did I just age 10 years and somehow miss it?

Big day tomorrow.  Starts with Central Fairfax Chamber breakfast at 7 a.m. and finishes with fireworks at 9 p.m.  In between, there' s 14 straight hours of shaking hands in Fairfax, Vienna and back to Fairfax.

My favorite part is walking the parade route before the parade starts.  I get to see a lot of constituents and hand out free "People's Senator" pencils.  It's a nice easy way to see old friends. 

See you tomorrow

This is a long and incoherent story but it's worth writing about.

On Sunday, there was a ceremony at the Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna to "break ground" for the Korean Bell Garden which has been the subject of a multi-year fundraising campaign by the Korean American Cultural Committee and its indefatigable chairwoman Chun Elmejjad-Yi, with significant support from the Korean Embassy. 

It was 100 degrees outside and the various dignitiaries were shuffled over to a tent to make speeches and pose for photos from the Korean press.  Another day in the life of a politician.

But then things got interesting.

In the middle of the ceremony, Congressman Jim Moran showed up.  He didn't repeat the usual niceties.  Instead, he spoke directly about the lack of democracy and human rights in half of the Korean peninsula, which had led recently to the killing of 46 innocent sailors for the ROK.  Suddenly, the reporters started taking actual notes.  Because Jim was actually taking a symbolic moment and linking it up to real issues for the U.S. and our allies. 

I had a chance to speak next.  Besides standing 100% behind the comments of Jim, I talked about my own visits to Korea and my personal connection to the cause of Korean unification.

In 1996, when I became engaged to my wife Sharon, her family (which is Korean) had no idea how to process an American son-in-law.  So they gave me a Korean name. 

My Korean name is "Kim Yu-Sin" (Kim Yoo Sheen).  That's not any ordinary name. It's the name of a famous hero in Korean history, the chief general of the Silla kingdom in 8th century A.D. that conquered the neighboring kingdoms of Koryo and Paekche and unified the Korean people -- think George Washington without his Presidency. 

Under the leadership of the "Silla dynasty," the Korean people would be unified for the next several hundred years.  Indeed, the Silla emperors created much of today's Korean culture, language and traditions -- including the "Korean bell" which was the focal point of the traditional Silla village.

The Silla kingdom was based in Gyeong-ju,  near my wife's birthplace of Taegu in southern Korea.  Koreans from the southern hills speak their own dialect and have their own sense of identity, much like American Southerners.  Incidentally, a lot of them now live in places like Fairfax, Burke and Centreville.  God Bless America.

Kim Yu-Sin is the patron saint of Korean unification and Silla identity.  Incidentally, hisburial site in Gyeong-ju, where I've had my photo taken, is near the famed "Emmele" bell --  perhaps the only surviving bell from the Silla era.  It's massive in size (nearly 40 feet tall) and still standing in its original location, I think.  The national museum of Korean History sits next to it. 

Anyway, I say all this to make a larger point -- that unification of the Korean people is an historic destiny.  Making that occur in a democratic framework should be the goal of U.S. policy in East Asia.

And you don't need a Korean name to know that.