I just received an email from Delegate Bob Marshall. Before you read it, you may need a little background. What is is the problem? Because the Virginia Commonwealth and the United States government cannot properly manage our money, they want to mothball 18 rest stops. This post here at SWAC Girl provides the details.
Manassas, VA- Delegate Robert G. “Bob” Marshall (R-13th District) today sent a letter (Click Here to View Letter) to Congressman Frank Wolf and Senator Mark Warner requesting that they introduce an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Bill to suspend the federal law for one year which prohibits Virginia and other states from contracting with private restaurants or gas stations to operate at state owned rest stops on Interstates. This would give Virginia a way to get the large number of rest stops which will close on July 21, 2009 reopened as quickly as possible.Marshall believes that the $8.6 million needed to keep these rest stops open could have been found in Virginia’s $78 billion two-year budget. However, since Governor Tim Kaine decided to cut this service from Virginia’s budget, Marshall is trying to find an alternative way to keep the rest stops open. These services are the public face of the government of Virginia that citizens and visitors see and feel in their daily lives,” said Marshall. “Public safety and practical necessity require that these Virginia Interstate rest stops and welcome centers stay open. I think that allowing these public/private partnerships would be a great way to get these rest stops reopened as soon as possible.”
Marshall noted in his letter to Wolf that the closing of these facilities will negativly affect Virginia’s economy in several ways including negative impacts to tourism and the loss of jobs associated with the rest stops. “In this economy that is unacceptable,” said Marshall. He also mentioned the negative safety impacts as a result of these closures. “In many areas of Virginia these rest stops are the only place for a drowsy driver to safely stop and rest. We need to get these stops reopened.”
Contact Delegate Marshall at (703) 853-4213.
What amazes me is that Marshall only suggests a one year suspension. Where do the leaders of our Federal Government get the gall to tell Virginians how to run rest areas? Why do they think we need such help? Patrick Henry must be rolling in his grave.
How did we get into this mess? Why is our country slowly falling apart? I think the answer is that we have been letting power hungry politicians turn our country into a “socialist paradise.” When you think “socialist paradise,” keep in mind the people who think a “socialist paradise” is a paradise. At first it is the people who don’t pay taxes (or are too dumb to realize how much they do pay in taxes). These fools love the idea of making the “rich” pay taxes, but they have not got the brains or the diligence to make any such thing happen. Instead, it is the upper middle class (which they want to join) they see made poorer. Latter, when their “paradise” has come to full fruition, only the man in charge still thinks it a “paradise.” Because the government owns everything, and he is the government, everything he surveys he owns, including you and me.
Other Views
Tertium Quids is providing excellent coverage here.
Fisherville Mike has memories (here).
The Richmond Times Dispatch provides the customary official corporate news media view (here). It’s a crisis, of course. What is wrong with calling this stupid move stupid?
Tom,
I agree with your premise, we need to get rid of the suspension. This is not just a one year suspension. But the only way to change the federal law at this point is to add an amendment to the transportation appropriations bill so that Virginia can negotiate contracts in the coming year. The suspension should be gone indefinitely so we can bring business into the Virginia rest areas just like other states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.
Thanks for reposing the email!