Old School Politics in Virginia

In Virginia, the General Assembly is back in session and the sweet, sweet aroma of political payback is in the air:

Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr. (D- Northumberland) wants some constituents of Del. Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) to be penalized after Miller submitted legislation that prohibits menhaden fishing in the Rappahannock River -- something Pollard claims will impact the economy in his region.

Pollard said he plans to introduce a bill Tuesday that would require all Virginia Railway Express riders in Manassas and Manassas Park to pay an extra $1 per trip to ride the commuter rail. The proceeds, Pollard said, will go to fund economic development projects in the Northern Neck.

In the words of President Obama and Sean Connery, if they bring a knife, you bring a gun. If they ban menhaden fishing, you make his people pay an extra $1 for the same amount of service!

Growing up in Michigan, a state with a full-time, permanent legislature, I am always amazed at the alacrity with which the Virginia General Assembly operates. And it's stories like this that are less likely to happen in a place like Michigan. It's also stories like this that remind me of why I love politics and that all politics is local.