The King’s Clothes Vanish
By Greg L | 19 February 2008 | 29th VA Senate | 34 Comments
Ken Cuccinelli, who is unarguably the best Virginia Senator from Fairfax County reminded readers of his “Cucinelli Compass” today about some interesting, well, changes in the policy outlook of Senator Chuck Colgan. I had been somewhat hopeful that Colgan’s campaign promises actually meant something, especially after he introduced SB 90 which would have required that Virginia employers enroll in the federal E-Verify system. Alas, that initiative was orphaned by Colgan soon after it was introduced to suffer an ignominious defeat in the Senate Courts Of Justice Committee with nary any of the stalwart defense Colgan gave today to the notion that Senators are not permitted to oppose the budget. Yeah, Colgan actually told Senators they’re not allowed to vote against the Finance Committee’s budget today. It would be too partisan. Really.
Ken points out some interesting developments in Senator Colgan’s outlook, to help his readers understand what might be going on here:
The following was taken from Senator Colgan’s website on October 26, 2007:
“Here I clear the fog of innuendo, misinformation, and allegations. Here is where I stand!
• I do NOT SUPPORT any increase in the gas tax
• I do NOT SUPPORT allowing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants”
Well now, that was 11 days before the election… let’s take a peek at what has happened since then…
All mentions of the gas tax were pulled from Senator Colgan’s website some time after January 30, 2008. Then came the gas tax bill. How did Chuck vote? Well, on Senator Saslaw’s gas tax increase, SB 713, Senator Colgan voted for it in committee and again on the floor of the Senate. Thanks in part to Senator Colgan, a gas tax increase passed out of the Senate 25-15.
Oh well, so much for that pesky gas tax promise.
How about in-state tuition for illegal immigrants? Well, when SB 652 came up, which allows certain illegals to get in-state tuition, Chuck voted for it. Whoops. That’s not on the website either… darn those pesky campaign promises.
You know, this would be pretty funny if it weren’t so terribly pathetic. Chuck, just make up your darned mind and tell us what you stand for, OK? I’m tired of guessing. While you’re at it, remind me when you got elected King and obtained the authority to compel your fellow Senators to follow your voting instructions while they supposedly represent their constituents.
I must have missed that one while someone was talking about the extraordinary quality of your garments, which I don’t get, either. I keep looking, and all I see is, well, you know. Not pretty. Really.
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34 Comments
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This is why so many people don’t trust ANY politician, because they lie to get into office, then do what they want to. The public be damned.
I’m with “Had to Say”.
I understand not being able please all of the people all of the time… but with so many “interests” to look after it seems more often than not “the people” are left holding the broken promises of elected officials.
Had to Say said on 19 Feb 2008 at 5:48 am:
This is why so many people don’t trust ANY politician, because they lie to get into office, then do what they want to. The public be damned.
They lie, lie, lie but seem to get re-elected. They must be doing something right or wrong to keep themselves in office.
Billyboy,
I think Senator Colgan has a lot of explaining to do. Based on the votes it looks like he has backed down on his promises. I actually talked with him about the E-verify bill and he said he didn’t know why it didn’t go through the committee. Seems to me if he was genuinely interested in it, he would have known and he would have fought for it.
I must say I’m disappointed.
Former Governor Mark Warner told some whopper lies when he said Colgan was going to crack down on illegal aliens in those campaign ads.
C’mon Colgan voters. Start defending him. We’re waiting….
I think Peggy the LA is pulling the strings on this octogenarian puppet.
Senator Colegan’s habit of changing his mind/position should be no surprise to anyone. He sometimes changes it back and forth and back again. Big deal. That may or may not be the reason he got re-elected. Like it or not, this district got what it worked for.
It makes you wonder what kind of pressure the state parties put on their people to vote the “right” way on an issue despite what they campaigned on.
Wouldn’t it be great to get some true independents in our state and federal legislatures to do what is right for the people/state/country instead of what is right for their party/contributors?
Given the relatively low number of signaturs required to run for a state House/Senate seat it should be easy enough to get such candidates on the ballot.
Advocator said on 19 Feb 2008 at 11:35 am:
I think Peggy the LA is pulling the strings on this octogenarian puppet.
Si, Si! Es muy possible!
Mr. Anon said on 19 Feb 2008 at 10:57 am:
C’mon Colgan voters. Start defending him. We’re waiting….
Mr. Anon -
Don’t hold your breath. Where are all of those Colgan supporters who “insisted” we eat crow???
I’m baffled … not.
I know the abusive driver fees are gone, I assume the gas tax was a way to pay for it.
As for “Ken Cuccinelli, who is unarguably the best Virginia Senator from Fairfax County”
Get our he gets about 20% of his legislation through and barely won re-election.
OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS
CUCCINELLI 18,611 OLESZEK 18,510
Ken was certified as the winner at the Recount Hearing at the Fairfax Circuit Court on December 19. The recount resulted in Ken picking up 9 additional votes to win by 101 votes. Janet Oleszek has conceded the election
Shame on Senator Colgan. He is the typical lying, conniving politician. Colgan didn’t get my vote - I knew it was all lip service. Maybe in four years we can actually elect someone who is honest and cares about representing our interests (Bob Fitzsimmons).
Thank the good Lord that we have County Supervisors who actually care about us at the local level.
Many of us here told all of you who voted for that old fool not to do it. He’s had a decade to work on this problem and he’s looked the other way. Now that he’s a rich man he could care less about his home area since he doesn’t have to live amongst the madness. It’s time for him to take one of his jets and fly away to retirement.
You act like Chuck is doing this in a dark room with the doors closed - is his word the only word on the budget no0o0o0o0.
The gas tax - BFD - a penny a gallon. Gas should be $9 a gallon, like it is in the rest of the world - that will cause conservation - we would think twice before we drive the car to the 7-11 to get a cup of coffee, along with our day laborer.
Seems like it past with a few of your republican cronies voting for it.
Ken - a great leader - what has he done since he was appointed in 2002?
Have you heard what he did to his own family member this session? When they were in Richmond, fighting against a particuar judicial bill, he sat on his hands and let the finance committee overwhelmingly pass the bill, while he abstained. Apparently the judicial system has more power than the “#1″ Senator, because he did what he was told. You could understand his position if he were consistent, but he votes for other bills involving his family, police and non profits. Since this is how he treats his family, the citizens of his district are in for real trouble. the emperor has no clothes …and no heart!
Hopefully the republicans will run a viable candidate next time..not FITZ!
Perhaps SB 652 was written the way it was to avoid being killed off by Saslaw. It will all be sorted out during crossover, when both houses start working on each others’ bills.
What is the intent of the bill? Is its overall purpose to help or restrict illegal immigrants?
Senator Colgan is not a die-hard conservative which everyone knows. He does believe in compromise. You know, those rascally bills that pop up where you have to take some things you don’t like in order to get something you do want. Compromise is what makes things move forward.
As for the 1 cent a year gas tax…I agree with whoever said BFD. Do you all just realize what you have commited to as a county? A serious BFD. I bet the same nay-sayers will be howling over your increase in taxes. And they WILL increase, rather significantly. Municipalities just do not support themselves.
I doubt that any of Senator Colgan’s critics here voted for him anyway. It all sounds a lot like sour grapes to me. Maybe you guys can find another job for Mr. FitzSimmonds. Mr. F will never get my vote, regardless of who runs against him. And for the record Park’d, Senator Colgan is not an old fool. He may not politically agree with you. But that hardly makes him a fool. Furthermore, he is a gentleman.
Before “t” jumps in…Cuccinelli was not appointed to his seat. He won it in a special election in 2002, then won general elections in 2003 and 2007.
I don’t care if Ken won by a single vote, at least he didn’t go back on his campaign promises. I guess some of you can overlook that because the tax on gas was only a penny. I guess it’s OK to lie if the effects aren’t significant to you?
I have usually found that compromising occurs to the benefit of both parties. Not really sure how Colgan made out in the “compromise” that resulted in his bill going down in flames.
Gentlemen don’t lie, just for the record.
I suppose it depends on what you call a lie.
Dolph said on 19 Feb 2008 at 7:02 pm:
He may not politically agree with you. But that hardly makes him a fool. Furthermore, he is a gentleman.
Don’t ever forget that he is a politician first then you can add gentleman.
Both are concepts many people just don’t seem to understand.
A friend of mine always reminds me that the Democrats do nothing but Tax and Spend, he then reminds me that the Republicans just Spend.
There was an outcry to remove the abusive drivers fees - I think they should have just corrected the law to include out of state drivers - now, I do not know all the infractions that were considered abusive, but someone going 45 in a 25, well, they are abusive - and many of us only learn if we have to pay.
How to replace the money that we were counting on in the budget….cut other areas? Raise the gas tax - we all want more money for roads, are you willing to pay a penny a gallon, if the money goes to roads?
Should we increase the tobacco tax? How much money in healthcare does the state subsidize that is related to first and second hand smoke? It is a filthy dirty habit, that harms out health - why not discourage it.
How about in our county - how are we funding the illegal immigrant movement - we are stealing from our rainy day fund. I would pay another penny a gallon to fund that. As it is, they are going to have to raise the property tax rates anyway. And, they should not be just raising money through property taxes - visitors also cost the county money in services - so if someone proposed an additional penny a gallon tax - to get money from non-residents, what do we say? I say, Yes - keep my property tax bill lower, and get the money some other way (increase sales tax?).
Do I want to pay more of my hard earned money to our Government? No, but do I want services - Yes. Are there programs that should be eliminated - Yes - like Abstinance Programs (should be run through religious orginizations) - waste of state money - but for every program that one wants eliminated, there are people (lobbyists) asking for that very program to be kept over other programs.
I guess Clinton may have blurred the distinction between the truth and lying for some people, particularly those who voted for him and have to justify that decision. Colgan sycophants also seem to suffer from this malaise.
I would say that making a campaign promise, putting it in writing on your website, and then doing the very thing you promised not to do constitutes lying. Even politicians have some issues that are not negotiable.
Being a lady is also a concept that many people today don’t understand. The posts on this website certainly illustrate that sad fact.
Mr. Anon said on 20 Feb 2008 at 7:45 am:
I would say that making a campaign promise, putting it in writing on your website, and then doing the very thing you promised not to do constitutes lying. Even politicians have some issues that are not negotiable.
I decent size stack of campaign material saying that very samething. I hate to say it but it sure seems like lieing to me.
I did see this letter to the editor regarding Chuck. I will be contacting my Senator. Thanks Bob!
http://www.manassasjm.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Common%2FMGArticle%2FPrintVersion&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354667085&image=mjm80×60.gif&oasDN=manassasjm.com&oasPN=%21opinion
corr: I HAVE decent size stack of campaign material saying that very samething. I hate to say it but it sure seems like lieing to me.
I would suggest not voting for him again if you are not pleased. (sarcasm button on)
Mr. Fitzsimmonds really means he would like to have been elected. He wasn’t. Time to move on.
Lafayette said on 20 Feb 2008 at 8:02 am:
corr: I HAVE decent size stack of campaign material saying that very samething. I hate to say it but it sure seems like lieing to me.
Remember the old saying…. YOU CAN TRUST A THIEF, BUT NOT A LIAR!
Pat.Herve said on 20 Feb 2008 at 7:11 am:
we all want more money for roads, are you willing to pay a penny a gallon, if the money goes to roads?
A penny a gallon more for gas is not going to break my bank. Increased taxes for State mandated babysitting for 4 year olds will!
Run down on Colgan’s budget fight and his pre-election promises.
http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2008/02/sen-ken-cuccinelli-calls-dems-on-their.html
Hey, forget about the lying. Just look at all these great new roads Colgan gave us. It doesn’t matter that they are all congested with illegal aliens in white vans, sporting 50 ladders on the top.
Just move on! He’s a gentleman. Move on you sore losers (sarcasm button broken).
Dolph,
Off topic but this one’s for you.
http://www.flixxy.com/dolphin-quest.htm
Thank you Anonymous. That was neat.
I’m sure some you saw the cartoon in a recent issue of MJM that showed Sen. Colgan behind a podium while tomatoes are thrown at him. I can understand the need for some decorum in the highest legislative body of the Commonwealth, but being upset that opposition Senators actually oppose you is mind-boggling if not disturbing. Remember during most of the recent history of the Commonwealth, budgets have ballooned out of control at rates of 10%, 15% or higher a year, regardless of the Party of the governor. That’s a disgrace. And it’s a disgrace that there was no opposition to budgets on the Senate Budget Committee up until now. It could very well be that when the “Republican” Chichester was the Chairman, pork was passed around to all committee members’ districts like candy during a Manassas Christmas Parade. I expect opposition, I expect fighting in a gentlemanly way on the most important issue facing this state - the budget. Glad they finally took a stand against a new, excessive, unnecessary government program — universal pre-K. Get used to the opposition, Senator Colgan! It makes for a finer political process.