As young professionals and members of Virginia's growing work force, we depend heavily on a working transportation system. The problem is that all of the major transportation infrastructure systems in our Commonwealth have reached their chocking point. To add to that fact many of our roads and rail lines have reached and surpassed their chocking points years ago and Virginia's government has been unable to receive millions of dollars in well needed matching funds, from the federal government because we have been unable to raise the necessary funds for the match.
The question is what can be we do as young professionals and more importantly as Young Democrats? Well, the answer is simple. First, we must begin to vote every chance we get. Then we must make our elected officials accountable, by asking the hard questions and demanding the hard answers. For too long, the Republican Party has held up valuable transportation funds and it is time for that to change.
The time is now! With a gubernatorial race going on, Virginia will take center stage in American politics. So now is the time to bring issues of transportation to the forefront. Expansion of the Virginia's transportation systems will create thousands of new jobs, end the annoying gridlock and make it easier for Virginians to move across our great state!
That is my seven cents!
Richard A. Fowler
City-County Caucus Chair
