Republican lies about VA economics

If you listen to the chicken sh*t being spread by Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Republican spin masters (liars), you'd think the Commonwealth of Virginia is a high tax state, run inefficiently, and deep in debt. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, Virginia ranks as one of the highest states in per capita income and well below the national average in tax burden. Under Governor Mark Warner and Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia has won accolades for state government management, delivering a quality education, and creating a business-friendly environment. As the Washington Post points out:

In fact, the Republican rhetoric points to a real dilemma for its own candidates: how to reconcile the fact that Virginia is regularly ranked among the best-managed states, the best states in which to raise a family and the best states in which to do business with the fact that it has been run by Democratic governors for the past eight years.

After eight years of George Allen and Jim Gilmore Virginia was in the dumper... the budget in shambles, the bond rating tanking, schools declining, local governments in disarray. Then came the rescue by Mark Warner and Tim Kaine; supported by quality legislators like Creigh Deeds carrying the flag in the Virginia Senate and Jody Wagner crunching the numbers as Secretary of Finance.

In the last weeks of this strange campaign, Virginians will focus like a laser beam on truth and reality. Republican lies will bubble to the surface like spilt oil in a farm pond. Watch for these races to tighten up quickly.

Virginia's 1902 mindset

It is past time for a change in Virginia laws concerning restoration of civic rights of felons. Most states automatically restore the rights of felons after they have served their time, finished probation, and paid fines and court costs. It is a civilized view - once a person has paid for their crime and become a productive member of society, he/she should be a full member of the community and government.

Virginia joins Kentucky as one of the two most restrictive states in the nation when it comes to restoring rights of felons. Both states prohibit felons from serving on juries, running for public office, or voting - for life - unless the governor restores the rights following a complicated petition process. Governor Mark Warner streamlined the process, but the final decision rests on the discretion of one person - the governor - and can vary widely depending on who is in office.

Governor Tim Kaine, believing felons who remain crime-free after conditions of their sentence have been completed, has restored civic rights to 3,598 felons. That's the most since at least the 1930s when records were first kept. Of course, right wing conspiracy nuts think this was done only to help Barack Obama carry the Old Dominion - the first Democrat do win the state's electoral votes since 1964.

Virginia's laws go back to the days of Jim Crow when it was seen as a way to disenfranchise blacks. During the debate on the 1902 Virginia Constitution, Delegate Carter Glass exclaimed:

This plan will eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this state in less than five years, so that in no single county... will there be the least concern felt for the complete supremacy of the white race in the affairs of government.

The Commonwealth's restrictive laws treat all felons as if they had committed treason - which should be the only crime for which a person should be permanently barred from civic participation.

Since 1998, nineteen states have reformed their laws on restoration of felons' rights. It is time for the Commonwealth of Virginia to join them. After completing all the terms of the sentence felons should automatically be eligible to register and vote, to serve on juries, and to hold public office. That decision should not be a burden on, or left to the whims of, the person in the Executive Mansion. Virginia's archaic laws on the rights of former felons are degrading, dehumanizing, and counterproductive. This issue should be addressed by the 2010 General Assembly.

For more information visit The Sentencing Project.