Some New Heroes

MoonHowler

The BOCS is learning and we have some new heroes.  Mike May, Frank Principi and Marty Nohe simply didn’t allow Corey Stewart to change staff recommendations on the Environmental Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan to favor his developer buddies. 

Last Tuesday’s meeting lasted until well after 10 pm.  Listening to it was worse than being beaten with whips and chains all while watching paint dry and grass grow.  After what seemed like hours of droning by staff and citizens,  Stewart wanted to change 3 different areas of impact from what staff recommended.  He tried to talk his way around the business end of it.  That didn’t work.  Staff had just gotten the copy of the proposed changes that afternoon.  That didn’t sit well.  Perhaps they remember the ripping they got over passing Corey’s ‘attachment’ to the legislative package before they had time to read the attachment, digest the UVA report, or give citizens time for input.  They sure didn’t allow him to do it to them  or the county again. 

Mike May moved to pass everything but the 3 items in question.  Those were to be tabled until next week when a side by side comparison would be prepared.  Citizens would also have time for input.  Congratulations and thanks to Mike May for good governance.  Thanks to Supervisors Nohe and Principi for doing good back up.  Sunshine is always needed, even in Prince William County. 

Moonhowlings is glad to see our supervisors putting a stop to the end runs and antics  of the Chairman.  He obviously wants to dispense with some of the environmental issues since they get in the way of the developers making a buck.  Sneaking in changes late at night when the changes have not been subject to public review is sneaky.  Using the excuse that endangered species is a federal issue just isn’t going to fly, Corey.  He must think that the migration flight of the butterfly is an example of illegal immigration or something.  Geeez. 

Note:  if other supervisors were part of blocking the end run, it was late, I was bored out of my skull, and I apologize to them.

 

The DREAM Act passes the House

MoonHowler

The DREAM Act passed the House, but outlook for the Senate is not so good.  The DREAM Act is short for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.  Wikipedia provides the following information:

This bill would provide certain illegal and deportable alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. illegally as minors, and have been in the country continuously and illegally for at least five years prior to the bill’s enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning. The students would obtain temporary residency for a six year period. Within the six year period, a qualified student must have “acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or [have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in the United States,” or have “served in the uniformed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge.”[2] Military enlistment contracts require an eight year commitment, with active duty commitments typically between four and six years, but as low as two years.[3][4] “Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated [according to the terms of the Act] shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act.”

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