Tuesday, April 03, 2007

What A Refreshing Change!

A few years back, Senator Chuck Colgan ran a survey in the Potomac News, and asked for responses, promising to publish the results. While not a constituent, I filled it out, and sent it in.

And waited.

And waited.

No results were ever published.

A few months back, Delegate Jeff Frederick (R-52) sent out a constituent survey. I filled it out, and sent it in, too.

And yesterday, received my own copy of the responses (as of mid-March). It makes for interesting reading, suggesting perhaps one reason why Senator John Cha-Ching!-chester decided to get out of Dodge, and even suggesting reasons as to why Chairman Sean (Connaughton) decided that it might be a good time to leave. And the results could not possibly make Governor Timmy! and Virginia Dems optimistic about this Fall's prospects for a Democrat resurgence. Here are some of the results:

The notion that Virginians are not paying enough in taxes was virtually laughed at by Delegate Frederick's constituents. To the question "would you prefer state government raise more revenue through an increase in gas and other taxes, or would your preference be that the state use existing money by prioritizing transportation in the budget?" a whopping 12.6% of those responding wanted higher taxes; 87.4% said "Prioritize transportation." Similarly, 84.8% of respondents support a cap on local government's ability to increase real estate taxes, a result hardly surprising in a County where Chairman Sean's seven-year spending spree increased the average homeowner's bill by 50-60%. Similarly, 85.8% of respondents wanted the promise kept for a 100% phaseout of the car tax.

And transportation was the priority for respndents. 63.7% of respondents said that 100% of the budget surplus should go to transportation. 83.1% of respondents identified "too much runaway development" --- as opposed to "don't pay enough taxes," combination of the two" and "neither" --- as the primary cause of our transportation woes. 83.5% of respondents wanted greater local control of transportation decisions, while 96.7% of respondents support the constitutionally dubious proposition of an adequate local public facilities arrangement.

On other issues, a Conservative education agenda clearly appealed to respondents. 88.1% agreed with the proposition that more than 65% of state education dollars should be spent on children in the classroom, a number that has to be bad news to the overbureaucratized school systems of Northern Virginia.

Finally, responses to three questions on illegal aliens and immigration were telling, indicating 90.4% support for the notion that Virginia law enforcement should detain for deportation those who are pulled over to traffic offenses and other crimes, 93.9% opposition to giving in-state tuition rates at state-supported institutions, and 93.9% support for greater penalties for business hiring illegal aliens.

Interesting. And this is in what many consider to be the most Democrat district represented by a Republicans?!?!?

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