DEMOCRATS SAVE VIRGINIA REST AREAS FOR SOCIALISM

First Governor Tim Kaine decided to mothball almost half of Virginia’s interstate rest areas.

The Virginia Department of Transportation began notifying motorists Monday of impending changes at the rest areas slated for closure later this month.

In June, the Commonwealth Transportation Board finalized plans to scale-back the number of rest areas VDOT maintains and operates from 42 to 23 as the agency grapples with a $2.6-billion revenue shortfall.

Electronic message signs notifying visitors that the facilities will close July 21 are being posted at each location beginning Monday and VDOT has updated its Website and 511 traveler information system to reflect the closures.  (from here)

Then Delegate Bob Marshall proposed a private sector solution.

Del. Robert G. “Bob” Marshall (R-13th District) sent a letter Tuesday to Congressman Frank Wolf and Sen. 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.  (from here)

Next Congressman Frank Wolf decided get a waiver from the Federal Government.  Nanny state regulations prevent prevent a private sector solution.

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf plans to propose an amendment to the annual transportation spending bill for the 2010 fiscal year that would suspend the federal law barring commercialization of rest stops, Dan Scandling, a spokesman for Wolf, said.  (from here)

So what happened?  The Democrats will not reverse socialism.  No matter what, the vanguard of the proletariat will not allow reversals.

An effort to keep some Virginia interstate highway rest areas open by privatizing them has been defeated in a congressional committee.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, offered an amendment to a bill moving through the House Appropriations Committee that would have essentially exempted the commonwealth from a 1960 law banning commercialization at rest stops, but the amendment failed on a 32-26 vote.

Unless something extraordinary happens, the Virginia Department of Transportation will close 18 rest stops on Tuesday in an effort to save money, including a stop on Interstate 81 southbound at New Market. (from here)

Del. Robert G. “Bob” Marshall (R-13th District) sent a letter Tuesday to Congressman Frank Wolf and Sen. 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.