Scott Surovell
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On the article U.S. News & World Report: Fairfax Home to Top Schools in Virginia
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On the article Virginia GOP Voter ID Law: Voter Suppression?
Scott Surovell
10:31 am on Sunday, March 31, 2013
Under the law we just passed, the only ID that counts is DL/Govt ID, CWP, Voter Registration Card, Student ID, or employer ID - all must have a photo or or name & address. That's it.
Why should nuns be required to vote absentee? Why can't they vote like everyone else?
Mailing people ID's 10 days after they were taken doesn't solve the problem.
Last year, the Virginia DMV reported 500,000 license suspensions and 20,000 lost licenses. With a 10-day delay for reissuance, that means, 14,246+/- people are disenfranchised - about 1,400 per day. Are you saying that's justified because of the POSSIBILITY - that someone is trying to commit a felony somewhere in Virginia to cast a vote by impersonating someone which has never been proven to have actually occurred?
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On the article Virginia GOP Voter ID Law: Voter Suppression?
Scott Surovell
9:27 am on Sunday, March 31, 2013
ReplyThere has not been a single documented case of *voter impersonation* in Virginia that anyone has ever shown me. There have been prosecutions for voter registration issues.
Most people have a tendency to view this from their own point of view. We have an obligation to look out for people who are not like us - not everyone has ID all the time.
- While knocking doors I met a 104 year-old woman who registered in 2008 to vote for President Obama. I don't think she had an ID, not do I think she should be required to schlep to the DMV to get one.
- I also met a 96 y/o woman who was adamant that she was voting for me. I saw her at the polls on election day - she was driven their by her daughter. I don't know if she had an ID and I really don't care. We shouldn't make people over 90 carry around ID solely they can vote.
- There are 30 nuns in the Poor Clares Sisters Monstery on Beacon Hill. They are registered to vote and I'm pretty sure they don't have ID given that they are cloistered.
- Blind people frequently don't have ID.
- People's ID is taken in court due for license suspensions. The right to vote isn't conditioned on one's traffic record or ability to pay a fine.
- People LOSE their driver's license. As a practicing traffic defense lawyer, I can't tell you how many people I see w/lost license on their DMV transcript.
- Getting a license isn't easy if you don't have a car.
- Voter impersonation is a felony.This is a solution in search of a problem.
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On the article New State Budget Brings Steps to Expand Medicaid
Scott Surovell
11:14 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Kari
That's correct. The question is largely whether we take this money on the table or let it go to the other states.
I'm pretty sure most of my constituents would like to take this money rather than allow Virginia's money to go to other jurisdictions.
Chris Christie, Rick Scott and John Kasich reached the same conclusion after studying it.
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On the article New State Budget Brings Steps to Expand Medicaid
Scott Surovell
11:12 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thanks for the feedback Stuart.
I've met many families who are transferred here with the military or for a job who have intellectually and/or developmentally disabled children who can't get a Medicaid waiver to care for their child at home.
Not everyone comes here willingly.
Many of my constituents claim tax deductions for mortgage interest and state incomes taxes that vastly exceed what the low income families receive from the government. For some reason, some people don't equate deductions with TANF or SNAP funds although the impact on state taxpayers is identical in terms of dollars.
Are you suggesting that Virginia stop allowing taxpayers to deduct mortgage interest or real estate tax payments from their state income taxes?
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On the article New State Budget Brings Steps to Expand Medicaid
Scott Surovell
9:07 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Thanks for your comment Beka. I'm not clear where your issue lies, but I have a couple thoughts.
First, Medicare is a federal program. Congress runs that. State government has no control over it.
Second, Virginia has some of the strictest medical malpractice rules in the United States. You cannot file suit without certification from a doctor that malpractice has occurred and we have a total damages cap of $2 million which is very unusual. The Medical Society of Virginia is very happy where things stand on that in Virginia.
Third, I suspect that the decision to expand Medicaid or not has little to do with your complaint. Expansion was a question about whether we take a bunch of federal money just sitting there or let it go to other states. The federal government is picking up 100% of the cost in the first two years and 90% in the out years. The cost savings to Virginia taxpayers by opting in virtually offset the 10% we pay. Plus it creates 30,000 jobs.
It sounds to me like your issue might have to do with the balance of the program - e.g. that Medicaid reimbursement rates are too low. I agree with you about that. To raise rates, we'd need to either (1) cut secondary education, (2) cut higher education, (3) release incarcerated felons, (4) undo the transportation plan we just entered, or (5) raise taxes.
What's your preference?
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On the article Shopping Carts Push Politician to the Brink
Scott Surovell
7:42 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Marty & Edie - The stores need to install systems to prevent this where needed. The Walmart at King's Crossing has installed a system that causes their carts to lock once they get leave the parking lot. Aldie requires a $0.25 deposit.
Unless Walmart post's 24-7 security at the exits to the perimeter of their property, they can't catch people and I don't feel that the public should be paying the police to keep their carts on the property.
My statute simply says that if a retailers cart is found off-premises and they are notified in writing, they have 7 days to remove it or else they will be fined.
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On the article Transportation Solution Debate Begins in Richmond
Scott Surovell
1:17 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
It takes 15-20 years to make something like this happen.
1 - Federal matching funds.
2 - Military needs transit to Belvoir. It now employs more people than than the Pentagon and is growing and I'm hopeful they'll help.
3 - The state is increasing transit commitments
4 - Special tax districts around stations.
5 - The County.Over the long term, there will be more money for transit.
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On the article Why Del. Cline and I Propose to Restrict Phones While Driving
Scott Surovell
11:54 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tess - I agree with you 100% that enforcement is a problem. It's something we're talking through right now with VA Prosecutors and law enforcement.
Some people think a hand's free ban is better because it's easier to enforce and reduces the chance that the police will unnecessarily stop someone - e.g. someone dialing a phone number that a police officer mistakes for texting.
We'll see what happens.
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On the article Why Del. Cline and I Propose to Restrict Phones While Driving
Scott Surovell
7:33 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
ReplyDave:
You are right. That's one solution, but not the only solution.
The existing law lacks clarity in these situations. We want to make sure other kinds of phone use is included - emailing, browsing, Angry Birds, etc. There probably needs to be some exceptions.
We will see what happens as this moves through the process.
Scott Surovell
8:09 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
These rankings are nothing more than proxies for wealth and to a lesser extend demographics. The 2012 free & reduced populations in these schools are the following:
TJ - 2.55%
Langley - 1.55%.
James Madison - 8.6%
McLean - 10.1%
W.T. Woodson - 9.9%
Oakton is 10.5% and the other Fairfax County high schools are 13.3% up to 60%+. US News should have just said the wealthiest schools in the country notwithstanding their alleged algorithm.
The Washington Post challenge index is a fairer measure although none of these are perfect. Standardized test scores are notorious for their biases and correlations and no one has figured out how to truly measure which schools produce the most well rounded children ready to learn and compete in a 21st Century global economy.