Dave Albo Hates Smart People

According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress, Fairfax GOP Delegate Dave Albo has introduced legislation to force Virginia universities to charge out-of-state tuition to students who take more than 4 years to graduate or earn above 120 credits.  His goal is to move students through the universities more quickly in order to create more slots for Northern Virginia students.  The legislation, if passed, would require Virginia universities to increase in-state enrollment by 1.3% a year until in-state students compose 80% of the student body.

Of course, since he failed to do his homework, its worth noting that the University of Virginia requires you to complete your undergraduate degree in 4 years.  Students who don’t must engage in an endless round of appeals and are eventually transferred to the School of Continuing Education, where they pay by the credit.

Albo also doesn’t seem to realize that the $28,000 in out-of-state tuition paid by 1/3 of the UVA student body covers a significant portion of the cost to educate the 2/3 of in-state student who pay a third of that amount.  Albo wants to require state universities to increase their percentage of in-state students by 1.3% a year until they reach 80% in-state enrollment.  Because kids from Northern Virginia, who already attend the best secondary schools in the state, in the only school districts in the state to receive subsidies from the state government, don’t have access to a quality education.  Of course, the bigger issue is how universities such as UVA are supposed to be able to afford to enroll 80% in-state students when Richmond cuts funding to higher education every year.  If 15% of the UVA student body is suddenly paying $20,000 less a year in tuition and the state won’t make up the funding difference, those new Northern Virginia college students are soon going to discover that they will be paying out-of-state tuition to complete their college degrees since the university didn’t have enough funding to offer all the classes needed to graduate in 4 years.

The other side effect of Albo’s proposed legislation is to discourage college students from expanding their horizons and enrolling in classes non-essential to their degree program.  Students whose tuition will more than double if they go over 120 credits have to incentive to take a couple of 18-credit-hour semesters to branch out and learn more about photography or chemistry or German history.  Don’t bother with high school dual enrollment classes or AP tests – those transfer credits will only require your parents to spend an extra $20,000 so you can complete your degree.  Albo’s imposing a learning tax on intellectually curious students and over-achievers.  Way to foster an atmosphere of excellence in the commonwealth.

1. House Privileges and Elections Committee rejects an amendment to prevent veto sessions for being scheduled over Passover.
2. State Senator Mark Obenshain introduces legislation to criminalize women who don’t report their miscarriages in 24 hours, and then fails to address any sort of real criticism in the unsurprising backlash.
3. The House GOP howls about the DPVA annual Jefferson Jackson dinner’s traditional scheduling in February and Governor Kaine attending a DPVA sponsored inaugural ball during session, when lawmakers are prohibited from fundraising.  RPV Chair and Delegate Jeff Frederick then sends out a fundraising solicitation during session, claiming he didn’t really do it during session.

Who am I kidding?  Its not like this is out of the ordinary.

On a Sunday afternoon in January, it is very important to bake an apple cake.

I have a long list of recipes to make this weekend and now all I can think about is standing in my kitchen in my kitchsy ’50s apron covered in flour and baking an apple tart cake, blissfully ignorant to the cold, blustery outdoors.  Sigh.

No Prostitution Poster

I like Caroline Kennedy – she was a strong presence on the trail for Obama, she lent him the Kennedy aura, she is articulate and well-spoken, and she spends a significant amount of time engaged in philanthropic endeavors.  However, I have serious doubt about her appointment to the U.S. Senate.

New York certainly isn’t lacking in qualified candidates: U.S. Reps Nadia Velazquez and Kristen Gillibrand, Attorney General Michael Cuomo, and several others are dedicated public servants who have been chosen by the people of New York as their representatives.

Ideally, the next Senator would be chosen by a special election.  In reality, whoever Patterson appoints is likely to hold the seat for as long as he or she wants it.  Caroline Kennedy is a lovely, accomplished woman but handing a Senate seat over to her because of a sense of misplaced romanticism about her family is a bad idea.  A Bush or a Clinton has been president for the last 20 years.  Vice President elect Joe Biden’s Senate seat has been the subject of some rather unsavory maneuvering behind the scenes which has resulted in a caretaker appointment for the next few years until Biden’s son (Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden) returns from his deployment from Iraq and can presumably take over the seat.  Illinois Governor Rod Blogojevich was just arrested for allegedly attempting to sell an appointment to President elect Obama’s open Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Senate seats aren’t prizes to be distributed to those lucky enough to be born into a famous family or rich and well-connected enough to return the favor.  Senators are representatives of the people, sent to Washington to represent and guard our interests, to govern our country.  Handing them out like candy to people with big names and bigger pockets only perpetuates the perception that politics and government are only open to those who regularly attend polo games and reduces them to much the same spectator sport.

We just elected a new president who, in addition to hoping to elevate our rhetoric, strives to elevate our country and our politics to something higher, more virtuous and hopeful and moral.  Let’s not prove him wrong right out of the gate.

His latest offense article focuses on a speech gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds gave recently.  Craig doesn’t manage to find a single source for any of his subjective judgments, other than his own opinions.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, a Democratic candidate for governor, began fleshing out his campaign theme today, delivering an emotional but unpolished message.

According to who, Tim?  Did someone in the audience tell you that they thought his message was unpolished?

Deeds message closely tracks with the policy positions being espoused by his two rivals for the nomination, Terry McAuliffe and Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria).

How is it similar or different?  Examples please – perhaps you could try doing a little research and reporting.

Deeds differs from McAuliffe and Moran in one major way: he’s not a sophisticated speaker.

Again, according to who?  Seeing as there is no source, anonymous or otherwise, I assume the sentence is supposed to read “In my opinion, Deeds is not a sophisticated speaker.”  See how that works?

During his speech today, Deeds often stumbled over his words and at times appeared to be rambling, a surprising performance for a politician making his second bid for statewide office.

Not to repeat myself, but according to WHO, Mr. Craig?  Did your apparently third-rate journalism schooling not instruct you on the necessity of sources?

Deeds personality will also be what sets him apart from his two rivals. Moran and McAuliffe were both born north of the Mason-Dixon line, with the accents to prove it. They sort of look alike – have similar hair cuts, at least – and both tend to raise their voice when the speak.

Nevermind.  Obviously no serious journalist would compare the haircuts of the candidates.  Congratulations on executing such an elaborate practical joke on Virginians.  Well played, Tim Craig.  Well.  Played.

Gangrene shoes

Most people go to great lengths to hide the fact that they have foot fungus.  Advertising your bacterial toes seems like a suspect decision.

The package includes 300 hotel rooms, a $200,000 food and drink credit, and prime real estate for watching the parade.  Stafford says he plans to drop another $600,000 on a MLK Day breakfast and beauticians, tuxedos, and gowns for his guests.  He’s partnering with the Urban League and the Joint Center for Economic and Policy Studies, an African-American oriented think-tank, to make it all happen.

Why?  Because according to Stafford, “to whom much is given, much is required.”