Lacey Putney, Lacey Putney

31 Pages·2012·6.72 MB·English

VV II RR GG II NN II AA
QQ UU AA RR TT EE RR LL YY MM AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE
LLaacceeyy
PPuuttnneeyy,,
VViirrggiinniiaa INSIDE
Our Gentleman of Virginia—page 4
GGeennttlleemmaann The Gentleman from Bedford—page 7
Congressman Frank Wolf —page 12
New to the Senate & House —page 18
Winter 2012

VV II RR GG II NN II AA
Our Gentleman
from Virginia
QQ UU AA RR TT EE RR LL YY MM AA GG AA ZZ II NN EE
4 Winter 2012 issue
Lacey Putney, Our Gentleman of Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Gentleman From Bedford
Mr . Putney Virginia’s #1 Independent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Honorable Lacey E . Putney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Congressman Frank Wolf
The Gentleman
Remarks at Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . .12
from Bedford
7
Visions of the Capitol
The Photography of Wanda Judd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
New to the Senate & House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
How Did They Do It? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
EpiPens Enforced in Virginia Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Congressman
An Interview with Jeffrey A . Brauch
Frank Wolf
Dean of Regent University Law School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
12
Around Capitol Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Association and Business Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
On The Web
www.vccqm.org
New to the
Volume 18 Number 1
Senate Issue Editor–Brennan Long
Editors–Kristen Bailey-Hardy and Shirley Pappalardo
and House Publisher–David Bailey • Art Director–John Sours
School Distribution–Kristen Bailey-Hardy
18 Advertising–[email protected] • Printer–Clinch Valley Printing
Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine
(ISSN 1076-4577) is published by:
Virginia Capitol Connections • 1001 East Broad Street • Suite 215
Richmond, Virginia 23219 • [phone]
Copyright 2012,Virginia Capitol Connections, Inc. All rights reserved.
The views expressed in the articles of Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine,
a non-partisan publication, are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher.
Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012 3
Lacey
Putney
Our Gentleman
of Virginia
By Mike BeleFSki
Fifteen years ago we called Lacey Putney—
The Gentleman from Bedford—
Today He’s Our Gentleman of Virginia
1. In our VCC July 1997 interview, you for all the elections in which I participated. Well, he shoved my
were the most senior member and the petition, and he said, “Well you can take this, you are not going to
only independent. What makes you keep run in the Democrat Primary.” I said, “Let me just hand them right
back to you and you can put them wherever you want them. I am
your independent label today?
going to run and I’ll run as an independent and I have ever since.”
Good question. Going back a little
If the Watergate incident had not come along there were two
bit beyond that. The Democrat Party
or three other Democrats, I won’t call their names, and several of
moved too far to the left especially at the
us were going to join the Republican Party. I’m supporting them
Federal level and the last time I voted for
financially, anyway. I have been urged to declare myself as a
a Democrat was Senator Harry Byrd, Sr.
Republican and many of my old friends in Bedford County have
The only election that fall was our U.S.
urged me to come back and run as a Democrat.
Senate and our sixth congressional district.
The voters do not like candidates who change political parties.
Our Congressman Dick Poff, who was elected on Eisenhower’s
I saw it so graphically when Mills Godwin decided in his second
coattails. Prior to that, the sixth district, which is now split, was
go-round not to run as he did in his first but to run as a Republican.
very, very strongly Democrat. A gentleman from Roanoke ran
He ran against Henry Howell. Many, many people in my area,
as a democrat. A little bit more liberal than I thought we needed.
conservatives, didn’t vote for him because they don’t like somebody
So I called the attorney general and asked if I vote democrat in
that switches party. The Republican philosophy generally, not on
all the elections in which I participate am I eligible to run in the
all issues by any means, is more in line with mine: social issues,
primary next year and he said yes. So I voted for Senator Byrd and
fiscal issues and what have you. And I decided, every year I’ve
I didn’t participate in that congressional. I knew it was going to be
decided to quit for over thirty-some years, and I didn’t want to
a blowout anyway. As an aside, the guy who ran against Dick Poff,
alienate any[one], didn’t want to make any more political enemies.
came down from Roanoke, was a former councilman, I think, and
So without any political party organized help or fundraising I have
was campaigning on Bridge Street in Bedford with a yellow sport
continued to run as an independent. In several of the elections, I
coat, green slacks and funny color shoes and he did about as well as
have had the endorsement of the Republican Party, but knowing
I thought he would.
that I should be quitting, retiring and somebody else would take this
Well, when I go to file for the primary, the chairman said did
thing I just did not switch parties. That’s the biggest reason.
you vote for so and so and I said Morton I voted for democrats
4 Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012
2. How has the Bedford area changed since in the last 15 years? they thought the chief executive should do his thing in a four-year
Tremendous changes. We were one county with about 20,000 term and move on. And as former Delegate Vince Callahan used to say
population. Since then the redistrictings have put Bedford with the city governors come and go.
of Lexington, Rockbridge, city of Buena Vista and Franklin County for Legislators are the reason we have AAA bond ratings and the best
several years. Then in 1991, I don’t remember if a piece of Rockbridge state to do business. The bill got out of committee once when Governor
or a portion of Botetourt and Bedford County has made up the 19th. I Mark Warner was here and I remember when it passed the first step in
have had parts of the city of Lynchburg, Rockbridge County, Lexington, the House, the governor was outside the door. All of the news media
Bedford City, and Bedford County. Anyway, and the last one last year folks were there and the Governor was beaming from ear to ear. Next
was the addition to my district of the city of Covington and Alleghany day when we reversed it, it was no long news worthy for some reason.
County. All new territory to me. I’m not sure that’s a good answer as Governor Warner and I chatted about it very amicably and he said to
to why I’ve continued to run as an independent. The voters in the 19th me one day, “Lacey, does it bother you that the other 49 states permit
and Franklin in most parts of Virginia, there a few exceptions where gubernatorial succession and Virginia doesn’t?” I said, “Governor, it
the party label dominates, but my experience shows me that the voters bothers me that that many, all 49, are out of step”. More and more
in my area vote for the candidate and are not members of or active members of the P&E committee who agreed with that view got stronger
in either political party and while the party has been a help to some and stronger and they killed it almost every time.
candidates certain of the Republican Party has done much better in my When Delegate Bob Purkey came before the committee, we were
area than the Democrat Party but the beauty of it for me, I guess I meeting in the Speaker’s Conference Room, I was chairman, we were
was fortunate, that so many of my colleagues went to bat for me when standing close to the chairman’s chair, and ticked off all of the cogent
the Democrats for years attempted to remove me from my important reasons why Virginia should adopt gubernatorial succession - all of our
committees, Appropriations, P & E and on several occasions it was a manufacturing had gone off shore, all of our textile industry had left
close vote I am told. America, many, many other things. Near the bottom he cited the increase
in unwed mothers in Virginia and I interrupted him and said, “Are you
3. I’d like to address the issues that VCC asked you 15 years ago and
suggesting to this group (and the press was all over the place) that the
see if you had any changes in your views—
increase in unwed mothers in Virginia is directly related to gubernatorial
Most Prestigious House Committee succession?” Everybody was laughing and there were a lot of red faces
No different, that’s historic. When I came here John Warren but anyway I never saw a thing about that in the press. More and more
Cooke, was Speaker of the House. His father was on Robert E. Lee’s the P &E members said no, no dice. A number of legislators who were
staff and at Appomattox with him when he surrendered. So he had warm to the idea of doing a six year term instead of a four, for some
some connections with history. He was the chairman of P&E. The reason more and more of them became disenamored with it.
first meeting of every session was to tell every new member, I guess
Most effective Virginia Governor
every member, that it was the most prestigious committee, the only
Mills Godwin. Clearly. Both terms. I think he was a leader. He
committee that had its roots in the House of Commons. Privileges and
saw that Virginia was not addressing core services particularly public
Perks in Parliament for the most part were reserved for the Lords, MPs
education and higher education. This prompted him to push for the
had very few but inch by inch they acquired more of them. I have a
sales tax. He also was in office when we created the Community
paper done by a graduate student at UVA some 15 or 20 years ago on
College System. He was a staunch believer that education is
the history of the Privileges and Elections Committee. P&E was listed
a great equalizer of our civilization and was a good orator. I
first in the rules as the order in which a member becomes Speaker in
would call him conservative and the legislators were more
the event that there is a vacancy in the Speaker’s chair. That’s why
conservative then.
I became the Speaker in 2002 when Vance Wilkins resigned.
Gerry Baliles, in my opinion, was a leader. When you
It’s an interesting paper to read. The Privileges and
can talk Lacey Putney into voting for the taxes that we
Elections Committee was the forum that heard and tried and
raised in 1986 you need to be a pretty convincing guy.
decided contested elections all over the Commonwealth.
I think George Allen was a good governor, I don’t
I remember reading a couple of articles about how they
think he has received nearly the credit because he had
almost had fistfights during election for sheriff in southwest
a story to tell in welfare reform and the criminal justice
Virginia. That controversy was decided by P&E. The
world, abolishing parole and it is amazing to think that
jurisdiction was quite broad. It still is. When the committee
the use of the word “macaca” can do that to a guy that is
handles all constitutional amendments, all matters involving
reasonably popular.
election laws, reapportionment, confirmation of gubernatorial
I think Bob McDonnell is a man of integrity that he
appointees, and it handles very significant pieces of legislation
is really anxious to do what he promised and what is
and I still refer to it as the most prestigious committee.
right.
Virginia Governor’s One Term limit I’ve gotten along well, I hope I have, with all of the
If I can find a reason to support it I would. Most of the governors. Virginia has been blessed that we have not
governors who have been drummed out of office and sent to jail, had any governors go to jail.
I think you will find that most of them were in the second terms.
issue of Abolishing Parole
In attending legislative conferences across the country without
I am probably one of the conservatives who had some
exception, legislators in every state with whom I’ve discussed it
reservations about it but supported it. On balance I thought
say don’t every let gubernatorial succession come to your state. I
it was a good idea. I thought we had too many recidivism
say why? Because once they are there they will do what they are
instances where they were let out too early, committed a
supposed to do and they will spend the
crime and brought back in.
next two years making appointments
The part that bothered
and campaigning for another
me the most and I
term. The Framers of our
have not done any
Constitution had more
checking recently
insight in human nature than
was when you abol-
you can believe. They knew
the lust for power of man, See Lacey Putney,
continued on page 6
Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012 5
Lacey Putney toward the sales tax may have been partly because many of my

from page 5
friends here who like to vote by polls tell me that they gas tax polls
ish parole you are going to create a prison system of long-term in-
worse than any tax on the books.
mates. Those who never think they will see the light at the end of the
I had no illusions about it passing. I talked to the Speaker ahead
day, when you have not anything to live for I think you are going to
of time and to the Governor. I asked nobody to sign on, I asked no
be housing a group of unmanageable people and I do think to some
one to come to the subcommittee hearing. I thought it ought to be
extent there is a little bit of a downside to that.
on the radar screen and on the table for discussion because I can tell
you in my area we have secondary roads that no school bus should
Proposal for a Sales Tax increase—
be passing on. And if we all know we need them I guess it’s like
Why do you think that’s the way to go in Virginia? everybody wants them but nobody wants to pay for them. Everybody
As far as I know all 40 members of the Senate and all 100 members wants to go to heaven and nobody wants to die to get there. The thing
of the House feel that transportation is grossly under funded. I don’t that has really impressed me has been the editorials, It is amazing
know of any of them with whom I’ve discussed it who don’t feel that some of the remarks I have gotten, one from a college president, They
our roads are deteriorating, we are not building roads where we need. say look we are going to organize, get behind this thing and get it out
I probably would be more consistent in my philosophy focusing on of here next year. Now, I don’t know whether I will live to come back
the gas tax which is clearly there is a nexus those who use they pay. but we will wait and see what happens.
I am equally convinced that those who don’t own a vehicle benefit
Have you taken any vacation trips recently?
greatly from a first class transportation system.
During the Baliles special session in the 1980’s I took my elderly Carmela and I have been going to Wimbledon. We went to The
mother to the supermarket. She said do I notice in the Lynchburg U.S. Open from 2007 to 2010. We have been to Israel for about ten
paper that you ought to think about increasing the sales tax? I said, days. Spent two-three weeks on a honeymoon in the Greek Islands.
yes ma’am. She said you mean I am going to have to pay more from We just came back from about 18 days about 100 miles south of
my little dab of social security retirement money? I said yes ma’am. Cancun called Playa Del Carmen. Most beautiful place I have ever
Look at the shelves, tell me how that stuff got there, it came over the stayed in my life. Carmela is so crazy about the sun we have to go
highways. You do not have to own a car to benefit. I don’t have any somewhere. We don’t do a lot of big stuff because we don’t have a lot
children in the Bedford County School System but I have no problem of money. We live a very modest life out in the quiet country and like
of paying reasonable taxes to have a quality system of education. it. The beauty of it is Carmela likes it.
There is the crowd that you should never use general fund money
Michael E. Belefski, is President of CPC Corporation, a
for transportation, which is one of the silliest arguments I’ve heard.
Communications and Marketing Firm specializing in Performance
We are financing highway 58, completely paying off the bond with
Management Analysis in Business, Law and Political Systems. He
the recordation tax. That is general fund revenue. Baliles started
can be reached at [email protected]
earmarking ½ cent of the sales tax for transportation. My leaning
SM
6 Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012
I
presume that much of our interview will
focus on the changes which have occurred
since I was elected 36 years ago, so let
me say at the outset that these changes have
been so numerous and sweeping it is difficult
to know just where to start.
It has been a rare privilege to have
served with 9 Governors-Harrison, Godwin,
Holton, Godwin, Dalton, Robb, Balilies,
Wilder and Allen, and when I recently
announced for re-election, a reporter from
the Lynchburg News & Advance pointed out
that if reelected for one more two-year term
my years of service would tie former speaker
John Warren Cooke for the longest term of
service in the history of the Virginia General
Assembly-38 years.
When I arrived here in 1962, members
had no offices, no secretaries, and the term
“legislative assistant” had not yet been
coined. The one secretary who was assigned
to the entire 6th Congressional District
would come to the member’s desk in the hall
of the House, when she could be located,
and with some degree of luck a member
Reprinted from Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine, Fall of 1997
might dictate two or three letters in a week.
There were 4 or 5 telephones for our use in
The
the Capitol and members would grab them-
first come, first served.
The Assembly convened in regular
session only every two years-the even
numbered years-for 60 days. There was
no “carry over” provision in the legislative
Gentleman
process and, therefore, any bill not passed
was dead for at least two years.
In my first session, 1962, there were
95 Democrats and 5 Republicans in the
House-1 woman, and no minorities. From
a philosophical point of view, the 2 parties
From
were the 2 wings of the Democratic Party-the
so-called Byrd Conservative Majority and
the other more progressive liberal members
of that party.
Looking back at the committee system the
most prestigious committee was Privileges
Bedford,
and Elections. Major policy decisions were
made by this committee, which consisted of
only 13 members and the Chairman of P &
E was the floor leader, who in the normal
course of things advanced from that position
to the Speaker’s chair.
The division of legislative services
Mr. Putney Virginia’s #1 Independent
was housed on the 3rd floor of the Capitol
opposite the Governor’s office-then
by David Bailey designated as the Division of Statutory
Research and Drafting. One of our more
colorful colleagues regularly referred to it as
Virginia Capitol Connections appreciates delegate Lacey “Statutory Search and Redrafting.”
The Appropriations Committee
Putney’s willingness to share his thoughts with the people of room was on the 4th floor of the Capitol
(Remember, there was no General
Virginia through an interview at his General Assembly office
Assembly Building). Budget deliberations
in July 1997. Lacey is the most senior member of the House were conducted by a 5 member sub
committee called the Executive Committee,
of Delegates and the legislature’s only “Independent.” As you along with the Budget Director and certain
representatives of the Executive Branch.
listen you will hear “vintage” Putney.
See Lacey Putney, continued on page 8
Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012 7
“
Putney’s Colleagues Speak in 1997
The conservative independent or the independent conservative;
LLAACCEEYY PPUUTTNNEEYY from page 7
or is he even a conservative? The only legislator who can
advocate an increase in the sales tax and get away with it.
We junior committee members were
not permitted in the committee room while Former Delegate Vincent F. Callahan, Jr.
the Budget Bill was being developed.
Capitol police were stationed at both doors
The Democrats want him. The Republicans want him.
to the committee room to ensure that only
authorized persons were allowed to enter. But the people of Virginia have him!
Other committees frequently met and
Senator Chuck Colgan
voted in closed sessions and often there
”
were no records of committee votes. The
Lacey Putney is the finest example of a public servant.
committee chairmen did pretty much what
they chose to do when they chose to do it, and A strong guardian of the public funds appropriated by the
a junior member didn’t dare to challenge the
state government and a fellow champion of the rights and
chair! I remember one instance when a bill
compensation of state employees.
to weaken the Virginia Right to Work Law
was placed in the pocket of the committee
Senator Walter A. Stosch
chairman, and it remained there until the
session was concluded without any hearing
or official action being taken. Except for
believed that the legislative business of the the loyalty oath and ran as an Independent.
the Appropriations Committee, legislation
people of Virginia just could not be thoroughly Shortly thereafter, U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd,
was discussed and voted on by the entire
and efficiently transacted by meeting only Jr. ran and was elected as an Independent and,
committee membership. There were no
every two years. Later, I sponsored a similar in the aftermath of the McGovern nomination,
standing subcommittees.
proposal in the House and, again, the influence a number of Democratic incumbents in the
One of the most significant changes to
of the Speaker Cooke played a major role in its House of Delegates also ran and were elected
occur in recent years was the very drastic
defeat. Although I am still of the opinion that as Independents. Although I have not checked
move to annual sessions in 1971. I opposed
the change to annual sessions was not in the the records on this, I do recall several who
this change because of the tremendous cost to
best interests of the people of Virginia, I am ran and were elected as Independents-most
the Virginia taxpayers and also because it was
no dreamer-I would predict that we will return of whom immediately returned to the party
a giant step away from the so-called “citizen”
to biennial sessions about the same time the to avoid losing seniority. Those I recall
legislature toward a full-time one.
legislature approves riverboat gambling-and I without looking back in the records are Lewis
Moreover, there is less stability in the law
hope that never occurs. Parker, Mecklenburg County; Ray Ashworth,
by reason of annual session. Laws become
effective on July 1 and no sooner than they Question: When did you Sussex County; French Slaughter, Culpeper;
Calvin Fowler, Danville; all three delegates
are being understood, implemented and become an Independent?
from Prince William, Stanley Owens, Ken
enforced, the General Assembly is back in I was elected in 1961 as a Democrat
Rollins and Bill Murphy. Delegate Owens
Richmond changing them again. and reelected in 1963 and 1965. In 1967
lost his Chairmanship of the House Finance
After a few years experience with local party leaders presented to me a loyalty
Committee, but Delegate Murphy returned
annual sessions, efforts were made to change oath, of which I had never heard nor seen
to the party and later became a judge, from
the Constitution and return to the biennial before, calling for me to take an oath that I
which he is now retired. Others include
schedule. This proposal, which was sponsored had supported all Democrats in the previous
Claude Anderson, Buckingham County, who
by former Senator Howard Anderson from general election and that I would support all
later became Chairman of Privileges and
Halifax County, passed the Senate once or Democratic candidates in future elections
Elections; Dick Bagley, Hampton, Virginia,
twice but died in the House Privileges and from the Courthouse to the White House. At
who also became Chairman of Privileges
Elections Committee on a very close vote. this time the Liberal Wing was gaining more
and Elections; Norman Sisisky, Petersburg,
This was primarily because of the influence of control of the Democratic Party at the national
Virginia, who is now a member of Congress;
Speaker John Warren Cooke, who genuinely level and, because of this, I declined to sign
Charles W. Gunn, Jr., Rockbridge County;
FutureLaw, L.L.C. and Eva Scott, Amelia, who later was elected
to the Senate and became a Republican.
Being an Independent is not easy. There
have been many lonely moments in recent
John G. “Chip” Dicks
years, being the only remaining Independent
Martin K. Johnson (I am frequently asked by my colleagues
Susan S. Gaston which phone booth in the Capitol has been
designated for “Independent” Caucus
Sarah D. Dicks
meetings); however, I have been fortunate
Timothy S. Reiniger to enjoy an unusually good and cordial
relationship with Speakers of the House,
Roger G. Bowers
including Blackie Moore, John Warren
823 East Main Street • Suite 1801 • Richmond, Virginia 23219 Cooke, A.L. Philpott and now Speaker
Phone: [phone] • 888-252-6299 • Fax: [phone] Tom Moss. I have also enjoyed an equally
Website: www.futurelaw.net • E-mail: [email protected] warm relationship with the leaders in the
Republican Party.
8 Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012
Question: In the Gubernatorial election coming up,
Virginia is the only state where a governor cannot
succeed himself. Will we stay that way?
You have asked a very pertinent question as well as an interesting
one. I have not supported the proposed Constitutional change to
permit gubernatorial succession and, based on polls which I have
taken in my district, the overwhelming majority of my constituents
support me in this position. In view of the fact that Virginia is the
only state which does not permit gubernatorial succession, I predict
that this matter will be placed on the ballot for the voters of Virginia
to decide in the very near future.
Question: What do you see as challenges for the next
generation as we come to the end of the century?
” Well, I believe the greatest challenges will be in the areas of
public education, higher education, transportation, and public safety.
Finding adequate funding for public education, both for instruction
costs as well as building and maintenance, will be no simple task.
Each day seems to bring something new in communications
and information technology which presents the potential for
improvements in the teaching and learning process, which I believe
will continue to be driven more and more by computer technology.
The electronic classroom with two-way communications — both
audio and video — will revolutionize instructional procedures and,
hopefully, provide the same learning opportunities in the poorer
school divisions as in the more affluent ones.
The heart and soul of higher education is found in the quality of
instruction. If Virginia is to be competitive in attracting the very best
professors, it is absolutely
imperative that a substan-
tial increase in general
fund support be provided
without delay. As one of
few remaining members
who worked to create the
Tuition Assistance Grant
(TAG) Program for resi-
dent Virginia students who
attend nonsectarian private

colleges and universities
in Virginia, I think it is Lacey edward Putney,
also imperative that this
19th House District.
program be continued and
strengthened. Born: Big Island, Virginia,
As a member of the
June 27, 1928
Appropriations Subcom-
mittee on Higher Educa- Education: Washington and Lee
tion, I have become firmly University, B.A., LL.B.
convinced that our overall
system of higher educa- Occupation: Lawyer
tion in Virginia-public and
Married: Carmela C. Bills
private combined is second
to none in the nation, and it Children: Susan Powers and
would be a travesty to relax
L. Edward, Jr.
our commitment in this vi-
tal area. Military Service: USAF (1950-54).
When we look at
needs in the area of Houses committee assignments:
transportation, we see Appropriations (Chairman);
conditions very similar Privileges and Elections; Rules
to those which prompted
Governor Baliles in 1985 The member of the House who
to call an historic special has served the longest, having
session of the General
been elected in 1961, serving
Assembly to address the
continuously since 1962.
critical shortage of high-
See Lacey Putney, Updated 2012
continued on page 10
Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012 9
LLAACCEEYY PPUUTTNNEEYY from page 9
way funds. Action taken during that two- increasing the sales tax from 45.% to 5% “
week session resulted in the largest tax in- with the additional funds earmarked for Putney’s Colleagues
crease in the history of Virginia. It included education and transportation, subject to
an increase in the gasoline tax as well as voter approval in a referendum. Speak in 1997
the titling tax, but the most important part Virginia taxpayers will support this
A wealth on Institutional
of the package was the increase in the sales modest increase if they know in advance
tax form 4% to 4.5% with the new half cent what they are getting. They know so well Knowledge- Lacey has
allocated to transportation. This was the the need for highway improvements, for
heard every argument
first time in modern history that general replacing thousands of unsafe bridges, and
fund revenues were allocated to highway they also know that something is wrong that exists on most of our
construction and maintenance. I know of in higher education when they can send
perennial favorites.
no other initiative during my 36 years in their children to out-of-state colleges for
the General Assembly which has contrib- less than it costs at our public colleges Delegate John C. Watkins
uted so greatly to economic development and universities in Virginia. Frankly, I
all across Virginia, and Governor Baliles don’t see this being accomplished without
Truly a southern gentleman;
deserves great credit for his leadership in the support and leadership from the
bringing this about. I might add that I sup- Governor’s Office. always there to help anyone.
ported this largest tax increase in Virginia’s Question: How about an
history and, interestingly, not one constitu- Delegate Riley Ingram
Independent for governor?
ent ever complained to me about my sup-
How about Lacey Putney?
port for it.
Lacey Putney has made a lot of Lacey Putney is one of the
Governor Allen, in my judgment, was
right on target with his initiative to abolish concessions to the shortness of life. One few truly original public
of those is not learning how to operate a
parole during the special session in the Fall servants remaining in the
computer, and another is a decision to seek
of 1994. Although I strongly supported the
no other elective office. Commonwealth of Virginia.
measure, I believe now, as I did then, that
more funds will eventually be needed for Question: What could you say Delegate R. Steven Landes
professionally trained correctional officers about the quality of members
as well as adequate facilities. The impact of of the General Assembly?
this sweeping reform has not yet been felt in This is a very subjective determination, A legislator that always puts
its entirety because it applies only to felonies and I like to think that those of us who the best interest of the citizens
committed beginning January 1, 1995. With have been privileged to serve in the
of the Commonwealth at the
inmates receiving long sentences, even oldest, continuous, law-making body in
young ones, knowing that they will most the western world are men and women of center of his legislative goals.
likely die behind the prison walls, I believe honesty and integrity. I must say, however,
He is known and respected
we can expect a substantial rise in the level that more recently some members seem
of violence in our prisons. This will require to vote along the lines of special interests for his fairness, frankness
more and better trained officers to deal with rather that what they genuinely believe and compassion. Best put, it
a tremendously stressful work place. to be in the best interests of the people ”
As I see the fiscal picture today, we of Virginia. Also, as the two political can be said that his word is
have reached a very critical crossroad-a parties become more equal in number the his bond, his character and
point in the history of Virginia that calls for desire to retain control versus the desire
integrity cannot
political courage and leadership, especially to obtain control for the first time has
in the areas of transportation and higher brought about a higher level of competition, be questioned.
education, two of the important cornerstones more campaign spending, and much
Delegate Joseph P. Johnson, Jr.
of our economic strength. While I am not of what the news media likes to call
advocating a tax increase, I would support “negative” campaigning.
In recent years
there have been signs exercise of power rather than the extent to
that some in positions which it is used and flaunted. By following
of power seem to find this course, the long distinguished history
Alpha Natural Resources enjoyment in the use of and heritage of the General Assembly will
that power without re- be preserved.
gard to whether it best Through the years I have had an
Donald L. Ratliff
serves the Common- opportunity to meet and speak with
VP–Virginia Government and External Affairs
wealth. It has long been legislators from other states, and I firmly
Alpha Natural Resources my philosophy that believe that no legislative body in this
One Alpha Place • P.O. Box 2345 statesmanship is more country is composed of men and women of
Abingdon, Virginia 24212
likely to be measured by higher moral character and integrity than
276.619.4479 (office) • 276.623.2891 (fax)
276.275.1423 (cell) • [email protected] the extent to which one the General Assembly of Virginia.V
www.alphanr.com restrains and limits the
10 Virginia Capitol ConneCtions, Winter 2012