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Timothy Watson

Stop driving up hits and post the bloody story already. :)

Young Grasshoppa

NLS aka Master of Disaster!

Timothy Watson

I for one believe that dueling should be made legal in Virginia. Anyone else agree?

Timothy Watson

By the way, how long has that new subtitle been there? I just now saw it.

Timothy--YES.

Good move by Ingram to throw Hogan under the bus and have him try to deal with it. And it is pretty clear the Speaker wants this to go away so that his boy, Clarke, does not take any more shrapnel from Morrissey, and to protect the deal that Howell's lobbyist buddy cut.

This type of reporting is what makes this site so good. Keep up the pressure on these crooks Ben.

OK...let me see if I have this straight.

A fined polluter needs to clean up its act. A mess the polluter created.

The pollution represents 50% of what the taxpayer-funded wastewater treatment plant gets.

And the answer to this problem is to take $5 million from the taxpayers and give it to Honeywell to solve the problem they made and have been fined for? Shouldn't Honeywell be made to pay for its own mess? That IS a sweetheart deal. Nothing like using my taxes to pay off a Fortune 500 company with a history of breaking the law.

That money should have gone to the water treatment plant so that ALL of the area's pollution could be dealt with. Giving it to Honeywell rewards them for their actions, while leaving the people footing the bill with a water treatment facility still dealing with pollution.

This must have been one of those deals cut in Room 204 of the Commonwealth Park Suites. Probably the same lobbyist is paying for that little cigar lounge.

Unbelievable.

I want to hang out in the lobbyist room at the Commonwealth Park Suites and smoke cigars with Clarke Hogan! Do I get freebies from the lobbyist too or do I have to pay my own way? Will the Speaker be there? He loves cigars and I am sure he would not want to miss this group-smoke! Although he used to smoke them in his office at night and maybe that is what he prefers.

Guess being the unofficial "Vice Speaker" has its perks. Free smoking club. Sweetheart amendments for your buddy's client. Too bad you only make $18K a year plus per diems doing this, or everyone would want in on the game.

A pretty face without a brain

Hogan is the Vice Speaker in the same way Dan Quayle was the Vice President.

The Virginia House of Delegates. Where the Ethics Road ends and the Profiteering Road begins.

Embarrassing.

With stuff like this going on, is it any wonder that House Republicans under Howell and the lobbyist guy with the big cash have continued their steady march to minority status?

Pete in Williamsburg

Kudos to Ingram for handling that with class. As for Hogan, I haven't seen tap-dancing like that since Gregory Hines passed away or an oratory segue like that since Otter at the expulsion hearing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8uCS9wcyQ4. "Say what you want about my sliminess, but I'll not let you pollute the entire Chesapeake Bay. Gentlemen!"

Davis Mercedes Chappell

Up with HOPE(-well), Down with DOPE (clarke hogan)!!!

$5000? or is it $5,000,000?

I presume 5 million, but you've got a period where there should be a comma.

Pete in Williamsburg

Have any of his fellow Republicans come forward to say it's no big deal?

Not Larry Sabato

5 million- fixed that.

bubba

I'm no history expert for Hopewell, but if I recall, this wastewater treatment plant is state of the art and was developed in partnership with Allied Signal, Fort Lee, and Hopewell at the time to help reduce the amount of pollution entering Bailey's Creek and thus the James River.

No treatment technique have been invented since the plant was constructed AND treatment standards have gone up thus requiring the retrofit at the plant.

The WQIA program exists to complete projects just like this so that you can safely eat croaker and spot in the Hampton Roads.

I don't really see the issue as this type of funding strategy is implemented across the Commonwealth from C'ville to Lynchburg to NoVa to help treat industrial and municipal waste.

Now Federal funds are available for project like this, but with the loss of Rep. Sisisky it it became harder to secure the dollars.

Bubba:

But the Hopewell Wastewater Facility was not going to get the cash. It was going to reimburse Honeywell for cleaning their own waste. I have no issue with taxpayer money going to upgrade a public water treatment facility. But to give it to a private company for whom cleaning up their mess should be a cost of doing business, seems wrong to me. Why should Honeywell get taxpayer money to clean up its own mess, if the public facility needs an upgrade and could handle the Honeywell issue and the rest of the Hopewell area combined?

Seems like the tax money is going toward solving Honeywell's problem while leaving the people who paid for it still dealing with the rest of the pollution the local wastewater facility is not currently capable of handling.

Here is the amendment text. It is pretty slimy. And worse, it looks like it only removes 1/3 of the goo that Honeywell is dumping into the Wastewater Treatment facility. What about the other 2/3? Anyone want to take a bet that this is just enough of a reduction to prevent fines or to lower DEQ permitting expenses? Nice.

Natural Resources
Department Of Environmental Quality Language

Language:
Page 341, after line 27, insert:
"C. In order to remain eligible for reimbursement grants from the General Assembly under § 10.1-1186.01, Code of Virginia, the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility shall enter into a contractual agreement with a manufacturer operating a facility located in the City of Hopewell, employing more than 600 employees at such facility, to reimburse the manufacturer in the amount of $5,000,000 for design and installation costs for systems that will reduce total nitrogen annual mass load from that manufacturer to 67 percent of the 2007 total nitrogen mass load discharged by that manufacturer into the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. Upon a certification by the Department of Environmental Quality that the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility has entered into such an agreement with a manufacturer as described in this paragraph, there shall be a grant made from the Water Quality Improvement Fund in the amount of $5,000,000 to the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to finance the costs of reimbursement to the manufacturer. The amount of the grant made to the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility under this paragraph shall be included in calculating the total amount granted to the Hopewell Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility from the Water Quality Improvement Fund for the costs of the design and installation of nutrient removal technology under § 10.1-1186.01 (E), Code of Virginia."

Sal Iaquninto may also be involved, but as NLS has said before, given his height no one would notice. Someone needs to take a magnifying glass to this and see where Sal fits in.

Looks like the Speaker has found someone as incompetent as he is. God only knows what Hogan will try to sneak into the budget for Jankowski (with Howell's OK), now that Hogan is a budget conferee. Glad to know my taxes are in the good hands of Hogan and Howell. I will sleep much easier at night now.

not michael brown

Did the amendment pass?

Not Larry Sabato

No it failed 96-2.

No, it lost. That is part of the story. They got caught red-handed and were getting gutted on the floor over how it got there before Howell stepped in to protect Boy Clarke. Then it got voted down massively.

Gnarly

Same old same old...both sides try to slide something into the budget and it's all good until they have to go on record....then they scramble like scared sheep.

Riley is always underestimated. It was done behind his back and he busted them.....so he got his payback and came out looking like the honest statesman that he is.

Gnarly

BTW: Room 204 at the Commonwealth Park is no more open to the public than a table in a restaurant where a lobbyist is dining with a few legislators. You can't apply an open meeting law to these situations.

NotNotJayHughes

Ben:

Since Hopewell is my hometown I can assure you that Honeywell, as a major employer in the tri-cities area, is NOT looked down upon by residents of the area since they depend upon Honeywell as a source of employment to pay for strange things known as food and mortgages/rent.

Second, that press release is dated from waaaay back in 2001, Ben. And if you read the EPA report the infractions happened back in 1998. So this whole bit about Honeywell polluting the environment is late news man.

Third, Bubba, your knowledge of my hometown’s history is remarkably accurate.

Willie Jane

So what happened on the uranium study bill? Did Hogan actually kill it?

Timothy Watson

Why did Abbitt (who, admittedly, isn't the brightest) and Gilbert vote in support of the amendment?

not an obamalemming

bubba and anon 1:31,
thanks for the information very helpful.

Doug in Mount Vernon

Even if the money were going to a public water treatment facility, the real issue remains--Honeywell should not be polluted waters illegally or to an extent that would require a $5 M investment FROM THE STATE!!

Outrageous behavior for ANY elected official!!

Doug in Mount Vernon

Where in the H is the Dept of Natural Resources? Are there no laws being broken that need to be enforced?!?!?!?

Virginia needs a real EPA that knows how to get the damn job done, and STOP this kind of activity, and furthermore, it needs a Democratic House leadership & a Democratic Attorney General to ensure the state is doing its job catching and prosecuting these polluters (according to the law) and stopping the corruption in the House that would allow ANY legislator the leeway to sneak in such an outrageous corporate welfare provision into a state budget document!!!

Doug in Mount Vernon

AND we Democrats remain so STUPID as to let the GOP proclaim itself as the party of efficient low-tax government.

It's BULLSHIT!!

Timothy Watson

@Willie Jane

I saw language for the uranium study in one of the budgets but I'm having trouble finding it right now. I'll get back to you.

Timothy Watson

@Willie Jane

-----
Item 120 #1s:

Explanation:
(This amendment requires the agency to report by December 15, 2009 on the
feasibility of regulating uranium mining in Virginia.)
-----

Passed the Senate's Subcommittee on
Economic Development and
Natural Resources and was no contested on the floor. Passed as part of SB30.

Timothy Watson

@Doug

If you want "bullshit" go check out how the House budget cut $27,300,000 in equipment for community colleges and spent $35,444,000 for "student center[s]".

It also cut $2,523,000 for money to repair and replace roofs, repair safety hazards, and remove lead pain and asbestos at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton.

If you want to see more go check out my blog. :)

not an obamalemming

dimv,
Oh yeah, great idea, shut down honeywell, those lousy corporate polluters... and while you are at it kill all the cows and chickens in maryland whose waste ends up in the ches. bay.

congrats you win the prize for ignorant statement of the day so far.

People who do not live in the real world really should be less vocal.

NotNotJayHughes:

That was not the only complaint against Honeywell's Virginia operations. I count at least 7 here.

http://www.contractormisconduct.org/index.cfm/1,73,221,html?ContractorID=30

Dan Kachur

Lemming, if you don't realize how your response to DIMV is itself incredibly ignorant, then you too should be less vocal.

There’s a bigger issue. A Delegate amended the budget to help a lobbyist close to the Speaker in a location over 100 miles from his district. He did it without talking to either of the Delegates who represent the area. He did it without consulting the local government or the people affected. That’s not the way it usually works.

If Jankowski thought that this was a non-issue amendment, he would’ve asked Riley to carry the amendment. Had the committee known this amendment was floating out there, it would have been killed long before it went to the floor. This was an effort by Hogan and Jankowski to "put one over" on the rest of the House to help out an insider lobbyist close to the Speaker.

I have no issue with lobbyists. I do have a problem when a favored lobbyist gets special treatment instead of having to go through the process like everyone else. Especially when the likely reason for the special access is because that lobbyist comes with the fattest wallet in town.

Just look at VPAP. Based on Ben saying this guy is tied to the RSLC, his group has given the Speaker's PAC $778,000. No one else comes close. Even Dominion is nowhere in this ballpark. And if you look at Hogan’s access, and if Ben is right about the $50K, it begins to smell even worse.

Tonight, I’m sure the Speaker will be smoking cigars in that room in the Commonwealth Park and laughing about how the rules do not apply for to his close buddies. That’s pretty sad.

Ben:

Honeywell is a good corporate citizen of the Tri-Cities area. Private industry is not a bad thing. The beaurocatic federal government only employs those in NOVA, not ROVA.

I wish Morrisey would have punched him. Would't have been the first time. "Will fight for you!"

Dem Legislator in Search of Clue

Obama raises funds for Islamic militants

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57341

And what does that have to do with this issue?

You know, I guess I've been a little confused. I used to think the "Leadership Suite" was up on the 6th Floor of the General Assembly Building. When did they move it to the 2nd Floor of the Commonwealth Park Suites? Are people allowed to smoke cigars in the weekly leadership meetings now? Griffith would probably have to stay away with all of his allergies.

Did Hogan try to embarrass Morrissey with the comment about where he lives or something? Someone help explain...Regardless of its truth, if there is any, it seemed a low-blow.

Hogan's heros weren't so concerned about the shit in the bay when they stripped CSO funding for Richmond and Lynchburg. Oh that's right -- localities can't make political contributions.

Willie Jane

Timothy Watson-- Abbitt voted for the amendment because he is Hogan's lapdog. Nothing bright about Abbitt, and Hogan keeps him around for things like this. Abbitt had been programmed to vote for it, so he did--not realizing that the rest of the rats had jumped ship.

SmartyTops

She's right about Hogan and Abbitt. They are joined at the hip in trying to destroy the sensible uranium bill aimed at something not even in their districts.

Halifax Hal

So Hogan is messing in a district 100 miles from his and gets caught padding Jankowitz's wallet. He's messing in someone else's district trying to kill the uranium bill. Does this guy do anything for his own district, where I happen to live? I don't think so. We are living in an economic disaster zone with no honest hope in sight and this clown Hogan is running around messing in other people's business. I wasn't here when he first got elected and am amazed a guy like that is still in office.

Jason

I can tell you, the guy cares nothing for his district. I personally know of dozens of hard-working people who have tried to beat through to make him understand how much we need this uranium study for our region--but talking to Hogan is useless. He won't listen and he don't care. He has some deal going for himself, and I hope someday we know what it is.

Not Brian Moran

Ben:

The Virginia Public Access Project reveals that on November 5, 2007, Honeywell reported giving $1,000 cash to Delegate Brian Moran.

The Virginia Public Access Project further reveals that on 11/3/2007 Honeywell reported giving Delegate Ken Plum $500 in cash.

Should they return the donations in the name of righteousness? I wonder what freshman Delegate Joe Morrisey would say about this...does he even know they have accepted funds from Honeywell?

Willie Jane

Jason and Halifax Hal need to take a close look at the Gluharoff/Hogan connection and then see how it links up with a paving contractor down there named Dunnavant.

There is a big difference. Moran and Plum did not try to sneak a sweetheart amendment through for the company. And, besides, Hogan got more than them.

The issue is not about donations. It is about bending the rules for cronies and contributors. Plum and Moran never tried to sneak something through the process for Honeywell.

How does Jack Dunavant connect to Gluhareff and Hogan? If you know, please share. Whatever it is, I bet it's interesting.

anon 3:29,

Unfortunately you will find people like dimv and dan don't care much about you folks in rural VA.

All they really care about is their own extreme liberal agenda, and trying to turn the Commonwealth “blue”; and at the same time push through nanny style legislation to make themselves feel better because they have a self imposed shame from sucking at the public tit for so long.

They have no concept of what it takes to work and get ahead in life, if you read their posts you will find spoiled, useless, self absorbed diatribes bent on getting more government into our lives and taking away your freedom and your wealth along with that of your posterity.

Don’t expect folks like that to come to the rescue of ROVA. The democrats of that era have long since faded or ran away.

These folks are more of the obama types, whining for change but having no idea what they are really looking for, wanting everything to come from “papa government” and for you to pay for it. Most of them have never had a real job outside either the government itself or some company affiliated with the business of government.

You waste your breath on these types when you put the words. good- corporate-citizen in the same sentence.

Better for you to spend your time supporting the speaker and others who at least understand how a real working class American, like yourself, feels; and how one lives.

duh

I think that the RSLC is a Republican Leadership PAC aimed at getting Republican majorities in states, hence the name. Doesn't it make sense that they are giving this money to the Speaker? I bet if you looked at other states, they would be giving to other Republican speakers across the nation.

Maybe they do. But in those other states, do the people who run it then use the donations to get a foot in the door for lobbying clients?

It is not only the amount that is a problem. It is that it appears to be a quid pro quo for special access given a lobbyist connected to the RSLC when others do not get the same treatment.

Big RSLC donations=special access and favors for Jankowski.

Gnarly

Help me out here. As I'm understanding this, the RSLC is a 501(c)4 where contributors are reported to the IRS only. Or is it a PAC where the contributors are reported? It is my understanding that it can't be both.

If it is a 501(c)4, which I'm thinking it is, this is becoming the new "in " thing and one of the cleanest ways to launder campaign donations that we've seen around Virginia. Hmmmmm.

RSLC has a Virginia PAC for their activities here. On the national level the disclose with the IRS.

hillary is kicking obama's butt in this debate

Gnarly

So they report what THEY contribute...but not where their funding comes from? What a great scam.

Danny LaBlank

Is this different than Adam Ebbin and Don McEachin putting in bills for the AFL-CIO after big labor gave millions to VA Dems last election. Or Saslaw doing the payday lending bidding after having them help buy the Senate for the Dems. Congrats, the Dems are more obvious about pandering to their donors. Most of these comments are from Dem aides and members in the GAB who should be working. Rightious indignation continue...

Danny LaBlank

Is this different than Adam Ebbin and Don McEachin putting in bills for the AFL-CIO after big labor gave millions to VA Dems last election. Or Saslaw doing the payday lending bidding after having them help buy the Senate for the Dems. Congrats, the Dems are more obvious about pandering to their donors. Most of these comments are from Dem aides and members in the GAB who should be working. Rightious indignation continue...

I think there is a real difference. Let's use your AFL-CIO example. One could reasonably state that the AFL and someone like Ebbin share some core values. Same with the payday lenders. I am sure that Saslaw actually believes in the issue, although I will grant you that his effort may be influenced by dollars.

But that is not the same with the RSLC. The lobbyist in this case is a contract lobbyist rather than a lobbyist attached to a single issue. He gets value--and probably can bill more--because his RSLC money bought him access IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ISSUE.

While the AFL may give money to pursue their agenda, it is a whole lot different than the RSLC paying money and their guy having access in whatever issue is paying him that day.

I am not saying the AFL is right. I am saying when you take their money, you know the agenda. When you take RSLC's money and give Jankowski access, you have no idea what his agenda will be until he comes and tell you who his clients that year are. Putting it another way. An AFL staffer who lobbies pushes a consistent set of issues. Jankowski lobbies for whoever is paying him and is able to monetarily benefit from the special access he gets.

Or look at it the other way. If the RSLC did not funnel all that money through Jankowski, do you really believe he would have anywhere near the access he does to the Speaker and others? The money gains the access and it does it without respect to the issue he is pushing. And that is the difference.

not michael brown

2-96...that has to be a loss margin of historic porportions

What is amazing is:

1. That it was not 1-99 with Hogan voting yes.

2. That Hogan did not vote yes.

3. 2 other cretins DID vote for it, although one is Hogan's pocket pet Watkins Abbitt so that may be a proxy for Hogan's own vote.

Doug in Mount Vernon

Definitely a lemming:

You need to read better. I didn't say anything about closing down Honeywell. You're about as transparent as a GOP hack.

Honeywell may very well be a great member of the community down there. That does not AT ALL excuse them from polluting our state, whether one lives in NoVA or RoVA is irrelevant!

Enforcing environmental laws and asking corporations to use a sliver of their profits to be good citizens is not unreasonable and it is the only right choice. These assholes that try to portray it as closing down companies are totally disingenuous. If any company is polluting rivers or land in a town, I would take exception that they are as much benefit as they may be claiming that they are.

Definitely lemmings.

not an obamalemming

dimv,

Typical liberal, bigoted nutcase post.

Bathed in ignorance and better than thou attitude.

Have you ever considered that you are not the keeper of all knowledge?

Maybe you should listen to the local folks when they talk about honeywell being a good neighbor.

Ahh, but you know better, you are an educated northern Virginian and they are just rednecks from rural Virginia.

People like you make me sick. You look down upon people and their opinions from your bigoted, lofty, self inflated position. Your arrogance and self aggrandizement pervert your argument to a state of meaningless.

Why don’t you turn some of that anger on those who run the blue plains project and the long term problems they have caused. Maybe you could check out the lower Potomac treatment plant, in your back yard, and see the type of product they pour into the creek that runs past their plant then into the Potomac.

Better yet, You tout your respect for the rule of law, then answer me this..

What is your opinion regarding another issue that is closer to your back yard, specifically, all those ILLEGAL aliens running around up there? Maybe you should focus some of your wrath upon those folks and their illegal ways. I can guarantee that your problem is costing the Commonwealth a whole lot more than 5 million.

Fix your own back yard and let the folks closer to this issue deal with it.

bubba

What watershed does the snakehead call home again?

Pete in Williamsburg

Lemming... dude,

You start with "you make me sick" as part of a lead-in for a lecture about anger, arrogance and meaningless rants.

You might want to write your post and then sleep on it and give it one more edit before you post.

So has this been in the press or is this just a smear campaign? If what I read is part true then why has the press not followed this?

You expect the press to actually write something not handed to them in the form of a press release? What planet are you on?

Keith

Sickos, all of you dumping on Clarke Hogan. He has done more for Halifax than the long string of Demmies that ran us in the ground for decades. He is our only hope. He will make a great governor someday. Clarke understands the importance of applying the State's meagre funds in ways that help the innovative class energize the economy. That's the key to getting us on track.

Keith:

Clearly Clarke has not applied those talents to your local public schools since you cannot spell.

Name one meaningful thing Clarke has DONE to help the "innovative class" energize the economy. He may "understand" it but that is not the same as actually doing something about it.

And how many jobs has the district lost since Clarke went to Richmond and started "energizing" things? Lots of "energizing" of Halifax's "innovative class" going on there.

But maybe Clarke thinks that getting $5 million for a big manufacturer 100 miles outside the district is going to "energize" Southside's economy. After all, it sure energized that lobbyist buddy of his.

Better than anon

For anon
10:28

Those who are from Halifax know that it was Clarke who was able to get the higher Education center, that was built largely with private donations, given official status and dependable funding for the "innovative class" and the regular people to have a place of higher learning in Halifax County.

There are hundreds of students there every day and many thousands have been able to find jobs in healthcare and other places that are the future growth areas of employment

It shows how little you really know about southside for you to make such an uninformed comment.

not an obamalemming

pete,
I wrote, slept, and decided you should mind your own business.

Take a look at posts from some of the folks who are close to the area and the issue.

They do not seem to care much about what the arrogant elitists outside of rural VA think.

So maybe you, doug and all the rest of those narcissistic fools out there should leave them to their own business.

Go back to being a kool aid carrier for allahbama You are much better at that.

Keith

Clarke understands the power of free enterprise to help the common man. No government program can help the common man like having a good job, and Clarke has brought many great jobs to Halifax. When he becomes governor, we will see this state soar. He is business friendly.

Jason

Good God. This Keith is in the Kool-Aid. Hogan is the ultimate in slime and greed--and someone thinks he should be GOVERNOR!?!?!
He's not fit to be Dog Catcher.

Jack

Clarke Hogan is the only person in politics I've ever seen who can be trusted. He is the only one who cannot be bought. He is a Statesman, and he will make one of the best Governor's Virginia has ever had.

Anole


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