Jim Bowden does it again!

We’re rapidly approaching the point where I can’t keep up with my fellow anti-HB6055 bloggers (and believe me, that is an infinitely good thing).

Jim Bowden has yet another brilliant rhetorical blast:

The stra-teg-ery for HB 6055 is stunning. ]

The Republicans are going to swap out the HRTA as the hated unelected, unaccountable, unseparated powers, UN-CONSTITUTIONAL Regional Government – and insert the MPO. That will fool the voters. Uh-huh. Check out this old list to see who is on what. “Hey, Rube, Follow the shells closely as I move them around. If you find the pea, then you win – new taxes, higher taxes. Billions of dollars for these folks to hand out (some good guys on this list, but they will be in the minority) in contracts for major projects – civil engineering management – they have NEVER done!”

Name HRMPO HRPDC HRTA Position Affiliation
Burgess,Jr. Charles MPO* HRPDC* City Manager Poquoson
Blevins, Harry HRTA Senator GA
Bridges, Jerry A. MPO Ex Director Va. Port Authority
Burdette, Randall P. MPO Director Va. Dept Aviation
Clark, Stan MPO* HRPDC* HRTA* Chair, BOS, Isle of Wight County
Collins, Nancy K. MPO * (Sec) HRPDC* HRTA Interim Ex Dir/Secretary HRPDC
Cuffee-Glenn, Selina MPO* HRPDC* City Manager Suffolk
Fraim, Paul MPO * (Chair) HRPDC * (Chair) HRTA * (Chair) Mayor Norfolk
Frank, Joe MPO* HRDC* HRTA * (V/Chair) Mayor Newport News
Franklin, Tyrone W. MPO* HRPDC* Administrator Surrey County
Gilland, Randall MPO* HRPDC* Vice Mayor Hampton
Goodson, Bruce MPO* (V/Chair) HRPDC* (V/Chair) HRTA Chair, BOS,James City County
Hayes, Jr., Clifton MPO* HRDC HRTA City Council Chesapeake
Helsel, Jr., Gordon HRTA* Mayor Poquoson
Heuer, Dennis MPO* HRTA Administrator VDOT, HR District
Hill, Corey HRTA Chief Va. Dept Rail/Pub Trans
Holley, III, James HRTA Mayor Portsmouth
Johnson, Linda HRTA* Mayor Suffolk
Johnson, Michael W HRDC* Administrator Southampton County
Jones, Louis MPO* HRDC* HRTA (Sec/Treas) Vice Mayor Virginia Beach
Jones, Chris HRTA Delegate GA
Kearney, II, Ross A. , HRDC HRTA* Mayor Hampton
Martinez, Roberto Fonseca MPO Div. Administrator Fed Hwy Admin, US DOT
McReynolds, James MPO* HRDC * (Sec/Treas) Administrator York County
Page, Terry MPO Manager Fed Aviation Admin
Ramsey, Lane MPO* HRDC Interim Administrator Glouster County
Richards, Mark MPO* Ex. Director Wsbg. Area Transport
Sapp, Charles HRTA City Council Hampton
Shepperd, Jr., Thomas HRTA* Chair, Bd of Sup York County
Smith, Douglas MPO* HRDC* City Council Portsmouth
Taylor, Rowland L. HRDC City Manager Franklin
Thompson, Letitia A. MPO Transit Administrator Fed Transit Administion
Townes, Michael MPO* Pres/CEO Trans Dist Comm HR
Tuttle, II, Jackson MPO HRDC* City Manager Williamsburg
Zeidler, Jeanne HRTA* Mayor Williamsburg

I can’t vote for a single person on this MPO list. None of them run for an office with a ballot for “MPO Grand Pooh Bah of Transportation”. None.

Guess how many seats this will cost the Republicans in Hampton Roads/Tidewater? Two were lost from the House of Delegates in 2007.

A fellow at the 7-11, when informed of this latest scheme, said, “I hope they vote out all the Republicans who vote for this.” Then, he started to ask for names of who was for and against it.

Message to the GOP Caucus: HB 6055 may be more hazardous to your health than HB 3202. Heads up.

If any of you, dear readers, are within driving distance of Richmond (and you’re not chained to your desk), head for the Bulll and Bear Club at 901 East Cary Street (21st Floor) to hear Jim give a talk about this disaster.  What I wouldn’t give to be there myself.