Feb22

Some Good, Some Bad, and Some Really Bad

on February 22nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Posted In: State Politics

As things slowly get hashed out in the 2012 General Assembly session, it’s time for another legislative update… there’s some good to report, and there’s some disappointing. Then there’s some really bad.

First the good: SB 274, patroned by Sen. Ralph Smith, and it’s companion in the House, HB 869 have both passed. These are bills that would make Urban Development Areas (UDA’s) optional, rather than mandatory. This was a major goal of Roanoke Tea Party as we set out for Richmond on Lobby Day, so we have tracked the progress of this legislation with great interest. It’s not over yet, but we have cleared some major hurdles. If you follow the links, you can see how our Delegates and Senators voted. Be sure to call and thank them. (Or scold them as circumstances demand)

Now the disappointing news… HB 27 was killed in a Senate committee after passing the House. This bill, patroned by Bob Marshall, was another key piece of legislation we were pressing on Lobby Day. Had it not met the same untimely fate as HB 66, (the Light Bulb Freedom Act) it would have exempted Virginia homes from Federal Cap & Trade regulations. Tough break on both counts.

Are you sitting down? You should be before reading this next section, which contains the really bad news… SB 641 has now passed the Republican controlled Virginia Senate and has been referred to the House committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources. It’s not entirely clear to us what these Senators were thinking when they voted to “develop a model ordinance” local governments could begin using to control how we heat our homes – for the sake of (wait-for-it) regulating air pollution and emissions from outdoor wood burning boilers. You read it right – regulate emissions in the form of wood smoke.

What’s next?! We’re just asking… Woodstoves banned? Why stop there? How about oil furnaces? Coal stoves? They burn fuel too, and in so doing, give off that dreaded CO2 the Green crowd gets so worked up about. By the way, that reaction also gives off HEAT, which is really handy when you’re trying to, you know… heat your home in winter so you don’t freeze to death or go broke paying the light bill.

Even if there were an explanation for this bill that didn’t reek of Agenda 21, it would remain a monumentally stupid idea. Should you be inclined to call or email expressing some outrage this week… start with these Senators:

Then call your Delegate and ask them to put this piece of garbage where it belongs if it ever makes it out of committee.

Gregory Honeycutt
President, Roanoke Tea Party

Print Friendly
└ Tags: ,