‘Moderate’ Democrats reveal agenda

L. Scott Lingamfelter
Published: April 5, 2008

During this past Session of the Virginia General Assembly, I was amazed with the determination of my liberal colleagues to expand government at the expense of your freedom, rights and pocketbook. By contrast, House Republicans took principled stands protecting the right to life, guarding constitutional freedoms, advancing mental health reforms, looking after consumers, keeping ballooning spending under control, defeating higher taxes, responding to illegal immigration and making tough choices about how to fight crime in our neighborhoods.

Legislative liberals, however, introduced bills creating new or excessive bureaucracy. As they did, I was reminded of the age-old saying, “a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take everything you’ve got.” Here’s a sample of the bills introduced by a handful of influential liberal Democrat legislators who ran in on “moderate” platforms last year, but dusted off their liberal agenda with glee the moment they showed up in Richmond this year (are you surprised?).

One bill would criminalize driving with small dogs on your lap (our latest “crisis”).

Another would create a pedestrian and bicycle advisory committee (yep, that’ll fix congestion).  Yet another bill introduced by Democrat gubernatorial hopeful Brian Moran of Alexandria would mandate that lawn sprinkler systems automatically turn off when it is wet outside (like you can’t figure that one out).  And another would even erode private property rights by expanding government’s eminent domain powers (they must’ve forgotten your outrage recently over the Supreme Count ruling).

And there’s more. Liberal Democrat bills would have provided financial breaks for convicts, allow absentee voting for any reason whatsoever and prohibit the display of certain “anatomical parts” from the towing hitch of pick-up trucks (yep, that’s right). Democrat legislators also tried to ban the use of cell phones by adults in cars, backslide on parole abolition for violent criminals and a slew of other ideas designed to regulate you at every turn.

Fortunately, the House Republican majority was able to kill all of this nonsense in committees or subcommittees. These nanny state bills were solutions in search of a problem. We do not need our government wasting time and money on such silliness.

Here’s what’s important. While our economy has been remarkably healthy in Virginia — ranking as the friendliest state for businesses by Forbes magazine — citizens are rightfully worried about the economy, the falling dollar and the frequent talk of recession. CBS News, USA Today, The New York Times and Gallup polls in February all confirm a similar trend.  Americans think that the economy is the most important issue for them. A CNN poll last month showed that 74 percent of Americans feel the economy is in a recession right now.

And what was the response of Democrats in Richmond? They advocated higher taxes and increased regulation of business including bills to (1) weaken the Right to Work Laws that will drive up prices and taxes, (2) raise gas and cigarette taxes, (3) allowing working people to claim unemployment benefits, and (4) regulate restroom use (really, I’m not making this up, honestly) in private businesses. Is this what you voted for in 2007?

In a CNN poll last month, 72 percent of respondents said that increases in gas prices are creating financial hardships for their families.  Yet even as people are faced with record gas prices, some politicians support raising gas tax rates when people are having difficulty making ends meet.

I know there is a better way forward than the path Democrat legislators would have us take. After knocking on thousands of doors during my 2007 reelection campaign, people were clear. 

They urged me to allow families to keep their hard-earned money, oppose efforts to limit their freedom and allow our economy to grow without ham-fisted government tactics blocking the way. 

Is it any wonder that the two remaining Democratic candidates for president both advocate massive government programs and huge spending increases for nanny-state ideas while suggesting government can run your life better than you can? When you think how state-level Democrats advocated the very same approaches in this year’s session, it reminds you that “the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree.” Face it; Democrats want to run your lives, run you out of business, and run away with your pocketbooks.

I am proud of the work done by the House Republican Caucus and I hope that our liberal colleagues begin to understand that we have a duty and obligation to put taxpayers and families first, not making them subservient to an all-knowing nanny state.

L. Scott Lingamfelter is a retired US Army Colonel and combat veteran, who has served in the House of Delegates since 2002.  He represents Prince William and Fauquier Counties and serves on the House Appropriations, Education, and Militia and Public Safety Committees.