Decision 2007: Pam L. Pouchot (I)

2007 General Assembly Election Interview Questionnaire
HearSay with Cathy Lewis ~ WHRV 89.5FM

96th District
Pam L. Pouchot (I)

Why do you want to be a member of the Virginia General Assembly?

Two years ago my delegate, Melanie Rapp, was running unopposed. I believe there should be competition/choice in all elections. At that time I decided to run to offer the citizens of the 96th District an alternative. This past March I got my petitions signed and all the paperwork filed. Several months later I learned that Del. Rapp decided not to run.

Out of 140 possible seats in the General Assembly, 76 (59 in the House and 17 in the Senate) are uncontested. The candidate wins by default because there are no other choices. There are so many citizens saying they will vote out a certain incumbent because of disagreement on the issues. But that is an empty threat because in so many cases the ballot will contain only one name.
By becoming a candidate, I was assured that there would be at least 2 candidates on the ballot.

I also am a volunteer lobbyist at the General Assembly. I have witnessed our government in action. I often did not like what I saw and heard. I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the arena. I believe in term limits. I will not make politics a career. I do not want to be part of the problem, but part of the solution. I have common sense. I am tenacious.
What is the most pressing issue facing Virginians today? Facing the region?

Many of the citizens of the 96th District will say the HRTA and its associated taxes are of the utmost priority. While that is very important, I believe education should be our number one focus. The answer to many of Virginia’s concerns lies in education. Ensuring that all of our students reach their full potential is not an easy task. I believe prevention is more effective and cost efficient than remediation.

I propose a statewide program made available to pregnant women to teach them how to teach their children. Mothers are their children’s first teachers, but too often do not know how to do so successfully. A child’s development is greatly influenced by factors in his or her environment and the experiences he or she has. Too many children enter kindergarten with a blank slate and spend the rest of their school years just trying to catch up, which is a formula for failure.
I propose licensing all childcare providers with the exception of those children cared for by other family members. The childcare providers would be required to attend classes in how to provide a nurturing home with educational opportunities. Community groups can provide lending libraries with educational toys, crafts materials and books. Community attractions, such as the Mariner’s Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia Living Museum Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center in our area, could be persuaded to offer “childcare days” where entrance to these would be offered for a very nominal fee or for free to licensed childcare providers and the children they care for so that they can bring new experiences to the children.

I also propose a program for any student who is not reading, with comprehension, at grade level by the end of first grade. These children would be placed in a full-time reading program for one year with one goal in mind, to teach them to read. I would propose a low pupil/teacher ration (8:1). At the end of the program the student would continue on to the second grade, a proficient reader who now has the tools to succeed.

A child who can read with comprehension rarely drops out of school or is a behavior problem. A child who does not drop out of schools will earn a high school diploma, making their lifetime earning significantly higher than a dropout’s or one with a GED. More students may continue with higher education courses, either academic or vocational/technical. (I would also propose increasing our vocational/technical programs in high school. Only 27% of Virginians are college graduates. We under serve those students who will not be attending college.)
Educated citizens are thinking citizens. As the drug trade and crime rates drop, so does the need for more law-enforcement. Salaries are higher with more disposable income. Higher salaries allow citizens to be able to afford health insurance, resulting in savings to the Medicaid program and creating a healthier population. Educated citizens are more concerned with the environment and better able to create solutions. An educated workforce results in a thriving economy.

So much relies on the ability of our children to academically succeed in K-12. That education must start from birth if all of our children are to reach their full potential. When prioritizing need, education must be number one on the list.
No matter how worthy the project all programs rely on the availability of funding. The Governor has announced spending cuts because we have a decrease in the projected amount of increased revenue for the fiscal year. The department of Medical Assistance Services will save $60 million by negotiating lower administrative fees for insurers participating in Virginia’s Medicaid Program. The State Police will save $1.3 million by driving their police vehicles for an extra 20,000 miles before replacing them. The Department of Forestry will save $133,000 by reducing energy consumption. And the list goes. None of these savings would have been realized if there had not been a budget crisis. These funds, already allocated, would have been unnecessarily spent. There will also be increases in revenue, not from new taxes or fees, but by better fiscal management of existing funds. The following are two examples of increase revenues at no cost to the taxpayer. The ABC expects an additional $1.5 million by increasing its hours of business in some locations. There will be an additional $20 million in interest revenues by disbursing General Funds dedicated to transportation, as the funds are needed rather than disbursing them in a lump sum transfer at one time.

The General Assembly must prioritize its needs with a zero based budget. Each agency must justify its funding. I propose employing out-of-state auditors to review each agency’s justification of their needs, effectiveness and costs. We now have departments with little or no accountability. We have duplication of effort. We have contracts awarded to the lowest bidder with no concern for the bottom line. We have inefficient and ineffective programs. With the examples I just mentioned it is obvious that there is waste in government and can be found if one is serious enough in the pursuit. This will only work if all parties understand that the status quo will no longer be tolerated.

When the waste is identified, perhaps we can move forward on necessary programs to create health insurance programs for all citizens, clean up our environment, ensure public safety and fund transportation needs. We must fund needs before we consider wants.
The recently enacted Abusive Driver Fees have generated intense criticism from citizens and lawmakers alike. Where do you stand on the laws and, if you oppose them, how would you replace the transportation funds they were designed to generate?

I do not support abusive driver “fees” to fund transportation. I do support exorbitant “fines” for two offenses, DUI and speeding 20 mph over the limit, to curb such dangerous behavior. As a fine, the money would not be a part of the transportation plan.

I would support tolls on all the interstates at the state borders. We have a lot of drive-through traffic on our north/south corridors. Let those drivers just passing through and the tourists help pay for using our roads. I would also consider a reduced rate for Virginia taxpayers. This could be accomplished through an EZpass account.

I would support tolls on new construction, but not on existing roads even when improvements are made.

I also support a statewide gas tax, but a fixed amount, not a percentage of the price per gallon.

What is your view on The Hampton Roads Transportation Authority formed earlier this year?

Transportation is a state responsibility, not a regional one. I support the dissolution of the Hampton Roads Taxing Authority.

The HRTA’s myriad of taxes including the grantor’s tax, additional regional taxes on gas, a 1% registration fee on all newly registered vehicles, tax on labor for auto repairs, higher car registration fees, and additional rental car fees may discourage those who might otherwise have relocated to the Peninsula. What has not been much discussed in the media is the increased real property tax of up to 10 cents per $100 on commercial and industrial property that may be imposed by the localities embraced by HRTA beginning January 1, 2008. Businesses that are located near the borders of the HRTA boundaries may have to move to neighboring non-taxed localities or suffer economic loss. Additional regional commercial real estate taxes will not make investing on the Peninsula so inviting. Potentially adding one million container trucks to I-64 will only create further congestion, not solve it. And the congestion at the HRBT is not even addressed. I do not support HRTA or any regional taxing authority without approval of the voters. For those who say this is the only offer on the table, that it’s all or nothing and that anything is better than nothing, I will ask you the following question. If your family was starving and you were offered food, but you knew it was contaminated with E-coli, would you still feed that food to your family or continue looking elsewhere? HRTA is tainted food.

There are other aspects to HB 3202, some commendable and some questionable.

The Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability, created by HB 3202, should realize savings with better VDOT oversight. After adoption of a road improvement program, localities may now adopt an ordinance establishing a system of impact fees, imposed on developers, to fund or recapture all or any part of the cost of providing reasonable road improvements benefiting new development. The creation of urban transportation service districts with taxing authority should be approved by local referenda. I question the time line to acquire environmental permits for highway projects (§ 33.1-19.1). § 33.1-23.4:01 Allocation of Proceeds of Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Capital Projects Revenue Bonds. only requires a minimum of 4.3% of the bonds for rail capital. Rail is one area we need to expand. As an example, rail transport of the million container trucks yearly from Craney Island to I-95, I-85 and I-81 would make more sense than constructing a 3rd crossing.
I am sure there are a lot of goods ideas on solving our transportation issues out there. It is time the General Assembly starts listening to its citizens.