Albo Must Go

Albo Battles "Ilegal" Immigration, Fails to Speak English

2009-07-07T15:07:00.006-05:00

Our good friend Dave Albo has always been a true patriot, defending his constituents from the brown hordes of illegal immigrants overrunning Springfield's Starbucks and clogging the roads with their Range Rovers on the way to the high-paying K Street jobs that they're taking from us hard-working Americuns.

That's why we at Albo Must Go were so disappointed to see that Dave still hasn't bothered to fully learn English. Had he bothered to run spell check on his website before putting it online, he'd find out that it's actually spelled "illegal".

This is America. You should speak the language of a people from the southeastern section of a group of small islands off the coast of another continent over 3,000 miles away--and you should do it proper like.

I know folks like the Minutemen would be proud to count Dave Albo among their own...just as soon as he learns to speak English.

Albo Picks A Fight With The Internet

2009-06-17T22:06:00.006-05:00

Back in the middle of The Abuser Fee Revolt in 2007, Del. Dave Albo came up with this jem.

"You Can't Fight The Internet."
"Legislature's Short View Killed Va. Driver's Fees," Washington Post B1 (Mar. 8, 2008)

Well, it now appears that Delegate Dave has changed his view and he's decided to fight. Here we are five years after the advent of Not Larry Sabato, Raising Kaine (RIP), Daily Kos, and three years after the advent of Albo Must Go, and Delegate Albo has decided to actually start a blog and get himself a Facebook presence. It's not really much of a blog, but it's there.

Why would he do this you say? He's already popular on Facebook. Here are some of the names of two Dave Albo fan clubs.

Group #1 - F@!k Dave Albo (22 Members)
Group #2 - F@!k You David Albo and Virginia, I Ain't Paying You S&!t (15 Members)

Here's some of the top hits on Google?

#3 - Albo Must Go
#9 -The Pitchfork Rebellion: Dave Albo "digs out" and finds Judge Finch's "Performance Evaluation"
#10 - Hit & Run: The Dave Albo Employment Act
#11 - DPVA: Dave Albo Fact Check
#14 - Blue Commonwealth: Greg Werkheiser on Policy Innovation
#19 - Waldo Jaquith: Dave Albo v. Wikipedia
#20 - Virginia Virtucon: Dave Albo: Tax Hiker, Self-Dealer

So why would Dave Albo create a blog with his name in the URL? It's all about geeky stuff like search engine optimization and trying to game the Google algorythms, etc. (if we here at AMG had a clue we would've named this thing "davealbomustgo.blogspot.com" but we aren't that smart). Still, it's interesting that after all these years, our hero seems to have changed his tune and decided to fight the Internet.

The Internet looks forward to the battle.

Nine More Years of Abortion, Guns & Phone Taxes?

2009-05-14T21:00:00.012-05:00

On September 7, 2000 oil prices hit a 1o-year high, gasoline was selling for $1.57 per gallon, Intel was selling for $68/share ($15/sh. today), Tom Davis was 11th District Congressman and George W. Bush was duking it out with Al Gore for the Presidency. Microsoft was in the verge of releasing Windows ME and Elian Gonzalez had just been sent back to Cuba. In the 42nd District, the Lorton Prison would be open for another two years.

What was Del. Dave Albo doing? He was busy cross-examining some State Corporation Commission representatives and he had a point to make about his constituents.

Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, said phone bills, particularly various taxes tacked onto bills, trail only abortion and gun control as a top issue for his constituents.' Richmond Times-Dispatch 9.7.2000

Then in 2005, he lost the Washington Post endorsement to Greg Werkheiser.

District 42: The incumbent, David B. Albo (R), an energetic, engaging lawmaker, is in line to lead the House Courts of Justice Committee, a key legislative job. But lately he has moved away from his earlier moderate record, joining ranks with right-wingers in trying to torpedo the Warner tax package and waging a strident campaign against undocumented immigrants. Gregory A. Werkheiser (D), a bright, charismatic lawyer, has mounted a coherent and well-financed campaign. We have backed Mr. Albo in the past, based on his legislative skill and broad knowledge of legal and judicial issues. But he has abandoned important elements of his own constituency as well as the sensible middle ground. Accordingly, we support Mr. Werkheiser.

He also lost the endorsement of other newspapers as well - see this AMG, Why Are We Blogging Against Dave Albo (Apr. 2, 2006).

A lot has changed since September 7, 2000, but has Delegate Dave Albo learned anything? Apparently not.

Yesterday, the American Family Foundation gave Delegate Dave Albo a 100% rating for his 2009 Session voting record. He shared this honor with the likes of Jeff Frederick, Ken Cuccinelli, and Bob Marshall. Here's a picture of The Family Foundation's proposed memorial commemorating this moment in history.

What were some of Dave Albo's courageous votes?

Voted to Require Women Seeking an Abortion to View an Ultrasound (HB 2579)
Voted to Advise Women Seeking Abortion to Provide Information That Fetuses Might Feel Pain (HB 2634)
Voted to Permit "Choose Life" License Plates (SB 817)
Voted to Defund Stem Cell Research (SB 1338)
Voted to Delay HPV Vaccine for 6th Graders (HB 188)
Voted Against Adding Sexual Orientation to the Commonwealth's Non-Discrimination Policy (HB 2385)
Voted Against Reistatement of the Estate Tax to Fund Tuition Grants, Preschool Initiative, and Health Families Virginia Program (HB 2376)
Voted Against Expanding the Domestic Partner Benefits to Include Life Insurance (HB 1726)
Voted to Eliminate Funding for Planned Parenthood (Budget Amendment)

Don't forget some of these other Albo Must Go pieces regarding Dave Albo's "Pro-Family" Positions:

The world has changed a lot since then. So has the 42nd District. Something else is about to change soon as well.

Albo's Totems for Bill Howell

2009-04-19T22:50:00.003-05:00

We've often highlighted the conflicts that Delegate Dave Albo feels as he is forced to toe the Rural Conservative Party line because the House Caucus is controlled by rural conservatives such as his law partner, Majority Leader Delegate Morgan Griffith.

This is all part of a larger annual pattern. After all, if he doesn't do as he's told, he won't be chairing his committee much longer.

AMG, Announcing Albo & Griffith, Attorneys At-Law (June 24, 2008)
AMG, Albo's $84,000,000 Motion (Mar. 21, 2008)
AMG, Albo Wants Kids Back on Welfare (Mar. 6, 2007)
AMG, Albo Moves to Save His Seat (Feb. 7, 2007)

Well, he's capitulated once again.

Albo Kneecaps Roe v. Wade & Sandbags Women

2009-02-09T19:41:00.009-05:00

We have previously covered Delegate Dave Albo's questionable record on issues important to women:

On Electing Women's Judges
AMG, Why Does Albo Hate Women? (Apr. 17, 2008)
AMG: Albo to Rerras, Just Don't Grope the Applicant (Feb. 15, 2007)

On Childcare

AMG: Is Dave Albo Offering to Babysit 1,900 Children (Aug. 7, 2006)

On Employment Discrimination
AMG: Albo on Employment Law, "No Such Thing As Workplace Harassment" (July 21, 2006)

Delegate Dave Albo also likes to argue that he is "moderate" or "bipartisan" and that he has a "moderate" record on social issues like abortion. We also have this lovely gem from 2001:

Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, said phone bills, particularly various taxes tacked onto bills, trail only abortion and gun control as a top issue for his constituents.' Richmond Times-Dispatch 9.7.2000

It appears that his business partner, Majority Leader Morgan Griffith has finally gotten to him (See AMG, Announcing Albo & Griffith). First, Delegate Dave Albo had the following record:

0% pro-choice record in 2008
0% record in 2006
0% record in 2004

Have things improved? Well.... this session, Delegate Dave Albo has voted on HB 2634 which requires doctors to anesthetize a fetus before an abortion (click here for vote).

Next, Delegate Dave Albo he voted on HB 2579 to require doctors to offer women a ultrasound before they may proceed with an abortion. (click here for vote).

One more thing.... Women have been regularly getting into law schools now since 1965. Delegate Dave Albo has been on the Court's of Justice Committee for 14 years. So, how many women judges are there in Virginia sitting on Circuit Courts?

13 out of 157 (8.2%)
Source: American Judicature Society

How many new women Circuit Court Judges have been appointed since Delegate Dave Albo was elected Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee in 2006?

3
Source: (2008 - HR 5, 2007 - HR52, HR65, 2006 - HR7, HR34)
(At least one of these replaced an existing woman judge, so that's a net gain of 2)

So where does Delegate Dave Albo stand on women and women's issues? You decide.

Albo Sacked for Safety on State of the Commonwealth

2009-01-25T13:59:00.002-05:00

In a sign of desperation, the Republican Caucus used embattled Delegate Dave Albo (R-Abuser Fees) for its response to the State of the Commonwealth. How successful was it? Well, here's what the conservative Fairfax Times had to say:

Still hung over from a fruitless transportation special session last June and defeats on Nov. 4, members of the state Republican leadership chose to take the low road during their post-State of the Commonwealth rebuttal Jan. 14. . . .

In a partisan push, Del. David Albo (R-Springfield) and Sen. Stephen Newman (R-Lynchburg), who gave the rebuttal, mocked the governor by pointing to his December 2008 budget address, saying nowhere in his speech did Kaine use the words “streamline” or “consolidate,” “public-private partnership” or “reform.”
Nowhere in the Republicans' rebuttal did either Albo or Newman use the words “new ideas.” . . . .
With only a little more than a month for state leaders to solve Virginia’s budget crisis, now is the time to focus on common-sense solutions.

Virginians cannot afford for our legislators to play politics in the next month and a half. We need new ideas, not old ideals. We need answers for the future, not agendas for the upcoming House of Delegates election. Virginia Needs Solutions, Not Partisanship, Fairfax Times (Jan. 21, 2009).

How accurate was Del. Dave Albo in his facts? The Democratic Party of Virginia published this four-part fact check correcting misrepresentations throughout the speech.

DPVA, Dave Albo Fact Check (Jan. 15, 2009)

This is not unusual behavior for Del. Dave Albo who spent his last contested race accusing his opponent of supporting tax increases he didn't support or saying he was in touch with his district while opposing restaurant smoking bans, blocking transportation funding, or pushing bills to promote the sale of alcohol for his donors.

Albo Puts Ideology Before Northern Virginia

2009-01-20T00:22:00.005-05:00

Delegate Dave Albo loves to pretend like he cares about Northern Virginia more than keeping his leadership position in the Republican Party.

See, he has a little problem. His law partner - Majority Leader Morgan Griffith is Chairman of the House Republican Caucus. AMG, Announcing Albo & Griffith, Attorneys At-Law (June 24, 2008). We've frequently questioned how can Delegate Albo can exercise independent judgment or represent Northern Virginia when his business partner is his boss in the Republican Caucus.

Part of his misinformation strategy is to introduce bills that he knows have no prayer of passing like HB 1669. This bill requires the Commonwealth to return 50% of the growth of all income taxes to localities. How likely do you think it is that the rest of the Commonwealth will let the highest income jurisdiction in the Commonwealth keep half of its income growth?

Our Delegate thinks he can introduce these bills and then come back and pretend that he "did something" while he was in Richmond. It's an interesting strategy. Perhaps it is why he has been rated as one of the most ineffective legislators in the General Assembly.

So when the rubber hits the road and it comes time for Delegate Albo to buck his caucus so that we can actually seat a duly elected member of the Fairfax County delegation who does it go with? Northern Virginia or his law partner? He votes with his business partner and refuses to seat a duly elected State Delegate for four days in a row.

Is this behavior new? Well this may be the first time Delegate Albo has actually disenfranchised voters. Time to put that on his political resume. However, it's not the first time he's put the Republican Party before Fairfax County. In 2006, when it came time to vote for some minor budget amendments to restore funding for subsidized Fairfax County childcare for needy kids did he vote with this rest his delegation?

Nope. Check out this Oldie but Goodie - AMG, Is Dave Albo Offering to Babysit 1900 Children (Apr. 7, 2006) or this one - AMG, Albo Nixes Poor Kids (July 6, 2006). The South County Chronicle called his behavior a mean, partisan cheap shot." The Mount Vernon Gazette editorial said "Last week, Republican members of the General Assembly voted down 20 of 36 of Kaine’s priority budget amendments. Even Fairfax County members of the General Assembly voted to hurt local children with the partisan maneuver."

Looks like some things never change.

42nd District Freedom is Coming

2009-01-16T16:37:00.006-05:00

The 42nd District Celebrates

Werkheiser to Declare This Week!

TO READ ABOUT IT CLICK HERE

Former Republican Senator Calls Albo's Bluff

2009-01-14T23:31:00.003-05:00

Former Republican State Senator had this to say about Delegate Albo's new proposal to create smoking and non-smoking sections:

This approach is kinda like Griffith's in '07. He had a bill that year just to get credit for doing something not a true solution. However if he can get it out of the house and over to the senate then there is something to work through conference. At least that is a start. Since Albo is on the ABC bill killing subcommittee it will be interesting to see if he is serious about reporting it out.

Is he serious about solving this problem?

Let's just say Delegate Albo has at least 168,000 dollars... uh, I mean reasons not to be serious about reporting it out.

AMG, Delegate for Sale (Apr. 1, 2006)
It's Miller Time: Leveraging Booze & Smokes for $$$ (Feb. 21, 2008)
AMG, Albo + Tobacco + $$$ = A Legislative Coward (Feb. 17, 2008)
AMG: Albo & Big Tobacco Run with Jim Crow & Joe McCarthy (Jan. 2, 2008)
AMG: Albo: Just Don't Light Up In Your Fireplace (Feb. 15, 2008)

AMG boldly predicts that "The ABC Billing Killing Committee" will do it's job rather than give Kaine and the Senate another shot at banning smoking in restaurants.

Albo Proposes Smoking AND Non-Smoking Sections

2009-01-08T21:12:00.003-05:00

Last year, Virginia came tantalizingly close to banning smoking from restaurants. However, Delegate Dave Albo fought it the entire way arguing that regulation of smoke in restaurants was "unamerican."

AMG: Albo & Big Tobacco Run with Jim Crow & Joe McCarthy (Jan. 2, 2008)
AMG, Albo: Leveraging Booze and Smokes for $$$ (Feb. 21, 2008).

This year, Delegate Albo is s back to the same tricks. He says that he plans to introduce bills to make it ok to limit smoke in restaurants so long as they have a smoking section (this is not a joke).

But Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who voted against the restaurant smoking ban last year, said Kaine does not appear to be seeking compromise. “They had a big election win and they want to run around shoving their bills down people’s throats without compromise,” Albo said. “It’s just purely political.” Albo said he plans to submit a narrower bill. It would ban smoking in some restaurants with key exceptions. It would exclude private clubs and restaurants that have designated smoking areas set apart from nonsmoking areas. It would also exclude cigar bars and establishments restricted to customers 18 and older, Albo said. Momentum Seen For Smoke Free Restaurants, Washington Post (Jan. 7, 2008).

Well, now THAT will be a big change from the way things are now - we'll have smoking sections AND non-smoking sections. Revolutionary.

One delegate said that kind of solution would make Northern Virginia the D.C. region's "ashtray."

It's interesting, because Delegate Albo did introduce a bill to regulate fireplace smoke - (Note: In Albo-logic it's American to regulate fireplace smoke, but it's Unamerican to regulate tobacco smoke).

AMG: Albo: Just Don't Light Up In Your Fireplace (Feb. 15, 2008)

You would think he'd budge after all the criticism. During the 2008 session, he was criticized by a Southwest Virginia newspaper and several other bloggers for his behavior:

AMG, Albo + Tobacco + $$$ = A Legislative Coward (Feb. 17, 2008)
Not Larry Sabato, Dave "Atria" Albo (Apr. 22, 2007)

In 2007, the Virginian Pilot pointed out that our own Delegate Dave Albo was #2 in tobacco contributions on the committee that had repeatedly killed smoking legislation. AMG: Doin the People's Bidness Albo-Style (Jan. 30, 2007). Even back in 2005, The Washington Post was asking questions and we got this gem:

Del. Dave Albo (R-Fairfax) went to Wolf Trap and took in a Redskins game courtesy of Dominion, and to a NASCAR event and two dinners on Altria. "These are two of the largest corporations in Virginia," he said, adding that it's to be expected that firms with large interests "would be more involved." "Nobody expects anything in return. It's a chance to talk. That's what we do," he said.
"Lobbies Treated Va. Lawmakers to $211,000 in Gifts, Food, Trips," Washington Post, B05 (Feb. 4, 2005).

When will Delegate Albo listen to his constituents? Maybe once people from the 42nd match the $164,000 that Delegate Albo has taken from the alcohol, restaurant, and tobacco industries. AMG, It's Miller Time: Leveraging Booze and Smokes for $$$ (Feb. 21, 2008).

Albo Mines Uranium Dollars in the 42nd

2008-12-06T09:58:00.008-05:00

Delegate Dave Albo has a long history of special interests who he is beholden to:

Alcohol Distributors - AMG, Cash, Booze & the Albo Cycle (Apr. 15, 2007).
Winery Owners - - AMG, Fighting for the Wineries of the 42nd (Dec. 1, 2006)
Tobacco Manufacturers - AMG, Albo & Big Tobacco Run with Jim Crow & Joe McCarthy (Jan. 2, 2008)
Restaurant Owners - AMG, It's Miller Time - Leveraging Booze and Smokes for $$$ (Feb. 21, 2008),
Walmart (retail people) - AMG, Albo: Yes to Walmart, No to Cops & Prosecutors (Dec. 23, 2007)
Resort Hotel Owners - AMG, Albo, Guns & Money (Feb. 11, 2007)
Delegate Morgan Griffith - AMG, Announcing Albo & Griffith Attorney's At-Law (June 24, 2008)

Who do we add today?

The Uranium Industry
(h/t to the Green Miles)

Yes. Why do we say this? Well, he took a $500 contribution from a group seeking to mine uranium in Virginia. You see uranium production is of critical concern to the voters of the 42nd District. After this, abuser fees, and going after all-powerful carpet layers and fireplace smoke, we thought the following video sums of Delegate Dave Albo current status with the voters (with apologies to Jimmy Page who is being associated with Delegate Dave Albo).

750 Volts: Posts Some Shocking Results

2008-11-15T19:19:00.003-05:00

Our good friend over at 750 Volts, Kenton Ngo, has a great map of the 2008 election results in the 42nd District. Check it out.

750 Volts, The Food Stamp Nation

Even the precinct where he grew up, Irving, went more blue. In the entire district, 12 out of 15 precincts went for and Barack ObamaJoe Biden. Delegate Dave Albo cannot be happy.

Albo Fiddles, While Planet Albo Burns....

2008-11-10T23:07:00.004-05:00

The most recent election bring a healthy dose of hope to the long-suffering residents of the 42nd District. Several writers have commented that the 42nd House of Delegates District voted 57% for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Well, it's actually better than that. First, that only considers the presidential vote, but not other candidates.

Barack Obama received 56.98% in-person vote in the 42nd District
Mark Warner received 65.34% in-person vote in the 42nd District
Gerry Connolly received 54.75% in-person vote in the 42nd District

Why else is it better than that? Nearly 15% of all votes cast in the 42nd were absentee votes. The 11th Congressional District Absentee votes were 4-8% higher for the Democratic candidate than the in-person voters. In other words, one should add at least 2-3% to all of these numbers.

So what was Del. Dave Albo's reaction? "'No 60 votes!' Del. David B. Albo [R - Abuser Fees] said. 'Then you know you're reaching for a low reason to party.'" Emotional Day Ends In Jubilation for Some, Stoicism for Others, Washington Post (Nov. 5, 2008). You can say that again.

But why not more? Strange we haven't had more spin or denial from Del. Dave Albo yet. We were hoping to hear some great quotes about how the 42nd District's voters want abuser fees, favor smoking in restaurants, don't expect to be bound by silly things like Constitutions, how PTA polling place cookie sales are still a critical issue for 42nd District voters, worry about the menace posted by boxcutter possession or fireplace smoke, why all of these new Fairfax County Democratic voters are on food stamps, or how government regulation of public utilities is "communist." [EDITOR'S NOTE - THIS IS NOT A JOKE. THESE ARE ALL POSITIONS DELEGATE ALBO HAS TAKEN AND WORKED ON]

C'mon Delegate! Keep fiddling while Rome burns. We expect nothing less.

Foodstamps Up - Time for Albo to Call the Election

2008-10-03T14:57:00.003-05:00

This just in from The Washington Post - food stamp requests are up by 40,000 people in Virginia - from 517,101 to 556,134 according to the Washington Post. Remember what Del. Dave Albo's theory was about the Democratic Party's surge in Fairfax County?

State Del David B. Albo [(R-Abuser Fees)] argues it is not the highly educated who have turned Fairfax blue. "My bet is that it's those who are on food stamps and government services who tend to be more Democratic," he said.

Del. Dave Albo sure must be getting nervous.

Hey, why aren't all of the pundits saying game over in Virginia?

Albo: Moving to Richmond?

2008-09-15T17:06:00.005-05:00

We have previously focused on Del. Dave Albo's fundraising habits as part of airing out his record on this blog.

AMG, Albo: Leveraging Booze & Smokes for $$$ (Feb. 21, 2008)
AMG, Albo: Yes to Walmart, No to Cops & Prosecutors (Dec. 23, 2007)
AMG, Delegate For Sale (Apr. 1, 2006)

It's now 2008 and Del. Dave Albo is having a pretty good year. In the first half of 2008, Del. Dave Albo took in $28,449 in campaign contributions. So how much of it came from real people (as opposed to corporations or special interests)???

What jurisdiction provided Del. Dave Albo with most of his contributions for the first half of 2008?

The City of Richmond

After analyzing these results it sure looks like Del. Dave Albo is planning on running for Mayor of Richmond. We wish him luck.

Albo "Foolish" On Immigration

2008-08-26T12:20:00.002-05:00

Last month, we brought you news about how Delegate Albo's demagoguery on illegal immigration was an big government scare tactic that cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars for little return.

Five days later, The Daily Press hammered Delegate Albo for the same thing in this editorial.

Legislative Window Dressing Won't Fix the Problem
The General Assembly has been playing "Let's pretend." And it's making somebody look foolish. A law the legislature passed earlier this year just took effect, requiring local jails to check the immigration status of any inmate who's foreign-born or not a U.S. citizen.

Perhaps legislators think this will make a difference in reducing illegal immigration. In which case they're foolish. Or they think voters are so thick or inattentive that they'll buy the illusion that, by passing such laws, legislators are on this problem. If voters do, they're foolish.

Requiring local jailers to ask every prisoner about their birthplace and citizenship, to verify with federal officials the immigration status of those who aren't native-born or citizens, and to include the information in the criminal history file, doesn't accomplish much. It isn't going to get any more immigrants deported.

In Virginia, most local sheriffs were already reporting to Immigration and Customs Enforcement the names of inmates they though were here illegally. Maybe they didn't report everyone, but only those who committed a major offense. By and large, though, they didn't think much of the response they got from ICE.

Local jails can send over as many names as they want, but ICE has only so much manpower to go through all the steps to get someone deported. The agency detains only a small fraction of the people police report to it, and officials have made it clear they're going to focus on felons. As well they should, since resources are limited.

And will continue to be. It would be hard to imagine the resources required to track down and deport the 12 million people said to be in this country illegally, or the kind of police-state mentality that would prevail if sufficient resources were allocated and swung into action.

So it's likely that illegal immigrants who commit misdemeanors - and even some felons - aren't going anywhere. So much for the claim by the bill's co-sponsor and State Crime Commission Chairman Dave Albo, R-Fairfax, that, "With our new law, these people who are here illegally should be afraid of living anywhere in Virginia."

Do legislators think voters are naive enough to fall for the idea that this kind of window dressing makes a dent in a national problem?

Effective solutions to immigration lie on two fronts. First, better enforcement by federal agencies - at the border, and keeping track of people who come in legally and overstay visas.

And second, a recognition that in some areas, local economics run the way citizens want them to - with essential services provided at the prices they want to pay - because immigrants come to do the jobs. If citizens don't want that, they need to find ways to get Americans or legal immigrants to do them, which might involve revising welfare programs that reduce the need to work, and paying more for some jobs - and understanding that higher pay could drive up the prices they pay.

From a broader perspective, we face a problem of legal immigration. The number of visas that our country is willing to offer immigrants - in the thousands - is laughably, pathetically short of the demand, which is in the millions.

Passing wishful-thinking laws and taking down names won't solve the problem. They can't. They might make some foolish people feel good, but they don't get at the causes of the problem. Daily Press (Aug. 1, 2008).

Good work Daily Press.

Albo: "Cleaning Up" South County

2008-07-27T23:07:00.006-05:00

There is an interesting discussion going on over at Not Larry Sabato regarding a new bill championed by Del. Dave Albo that requires local sheriffs to run immigration background checks for every person who is foreign born (e.g. Alexander Hamilton (Virgin Islands), John McCain (Panama), Del. Dave Albo's grandparents (we think we read somewhere that he's third generation, etc.) if they happen to be arrested. Note that it's not limited to people who are actually suspected of being illegal or who can't produce papers - it is any person who is foreign born.

In his quote to the paper, Del. Dave Albo proudly claims:

With our new law, these people who are here illegally should be afraid of living anywhere in Virginia right now," said Del. Dave Albo (R-[Abuser Fees]), who helped write the law and chairs the state's crime commission. "If you're here illegally, it's not any scarier to live in Prince William than in any other county." Va. Jails to Report Foreign Inmates, Washington Post, A1 (July 28, 2008).

NLS makes the point that Del. Dave Albo is taking the classic Republican tack of ruling by fear. Lovely.

The rest of the article makes you wonder what in the world Del. Dave Albo was thinking. First, these "small government fiscally responsible conservatives" clearly thought that this expansion of government power would be cost effective right? All of the training, incarceration expenses, extra staff, computers, etc. was worth it, right?

Let's look at the stats in the article. In 2007, Virginia jurisdictions made 12,073 reports to ICE resulting in 694 detainers. That's a 5.7% hit rate. Now, Prince William County says they're spending $1.5M extra per year doing this and reported 800 of those 12,073. If Prince William's hit rate was 5.7% that equals 46 detainers (800x5.7%) or they are spending $32,617 per illegal immigrant actually detained ($1.5M/46) (note that says detained, not deported).

How many more non-illegal immigrant felons do you think $1.5M of new police officers could catch say EVERY WEEK?

Now here's the funny part - ICE can't even tell them what happened to the 694 people that got detained. We're not kidding here.

See - if ICE actually requests a detainer, all ICE does is take them (detain them), process them, and release them with a bond to appear for their hearing (it's in the Washington Post article if you read the whole thing). Why? ICE really isn't interested in investing a lot of resources in deporting a guy convicted of drunk in public. In other words, no one knows how many people were actually deported as a result of this program. The article talks about how the Prince William County Police Chief is very frustrated because no one can tell him this. Albo Must Go would wager that Del. Dave Albo could probably get more people to return to their country if they just handed them $50,000 and a plane ticket instead of all of this convoluted nonsense.

This law then clearly wasn't motivated by budget considerations. It wasn't designed as a means to actually deport people (if it was, then spending $1.5M to deport a couple dozen people per year is legislative malpractice). So then Albo Must Go asks Del. Dave Albo - what is all of the grandstanding about this new law that treats all foreign born people, legal or illegal, different from people like Long Island born Del. Dave Albo really all about?

Albo's comments about trying to "scare" people who "live" here make that clear - he doesn't want certain people to live here - those affected by his bill (foreign born people). There are other labels for that kind of attitude. Judge for yourself.

Albo Rejects Ronald Reagan

2008-07-12T23:00:00.006-05:00

AMG did a double-take today. There are apparently some people left in the Republican Party who are actually still fiscal conservatives - that is, they believe that the government must actually pay its bills and that "starving the beast" is not a prudent fiscal policy.

It's strange because those who worship, like Del. Dave Albo, Ronald Reagan apparently don't remember him very well. The ideological aburdity of the current crop of Republicans is really starting to play itself out. Check out this statement from President Reagan in 1983:

"Today, as this bill becomes law, America ends a period of decline in her vast and world-famous transportation system. Because of the prompt and bipartisan action of Congress, we can now ensure for our children a special part of their heritage — a network of highways and mass transit that has enabled our commerce to thrive, our country to grow, and our people to roam freely and easily to every corner of our land. . . .
Woeful tales of highway disrepair have become part of the trucking lore. Bridges are crumbling from under us in many of our older cities while growth is being stifled in our newer ones, because the transportation system can’t cope with the expanding population.

“Overall, we have 4,000 miles of Interstate Highway that needs resurfacing and 23,000 bridges that need replacement or repair. Our cities need new buses, new or rebuilt railcars, and track improvements that will cost $50 billion during the next 10 years. Common sense tells us that it will cost a lot less to keep the system we have in good repair than to let it disintegrate and have to start over from scratch. Clearly this program is an investment in tomorrow that we must make today. It will allow us to complete the interstate system, make most — the interstate repairs and strengthen and improve our bridges, make all of us safer, and help our cities meet their public transit needs. . . .

“When we first built our highways, we paid for them with a gas tax, a highway user fee that charged those of us who benefited most from the system. It was a fair concept then, and it is today. But that levy has not been increased in more than 23 years. And it no longer covers expenses. The money for today’s improvements will come from increasing the gas tax, or the highway user fee, by the equivalent of a nickel a gallon — about $30 a year for most motorists.
"That’s why I’m pleased today to sign House resolution 6211, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act for 1982. It will help America enter a brighter and a more prosperous decade ahead. And so saying, and before the bridges fall down, I’ll get this bill signed.”
- President Ronald Reagan, January 6, 1983.

(too bad they didn't act before a bridge fell down this time......) In today's Richmond Times Dispatch, the Editorial Board took it to Del. Dave Albo and the GOP by pointing out that there are some bills to pay and that taxes have to actually increase to pay them.

More Money
Numerous Republicans in the General Assembly concede Virginia must spend more on transportation. GOP legislators embraced the abusive driver fees; they supported a package with regional taxing authorities. This year they have promoted an Offshore Energy Revenue Fund, which would direct royalties from natural gas extracted off Virginia's shores to transportation (and to the cleanup of the Chesapeake, and to programs related to energy). The offshore fund is not a bad idea, although it would not generate significant sums for several years. Senate Democrats played partisan games in summarily dismissing it.

But the larger point is the implicit consensus that transportation revenue must increase beyond the growth built into the existing system. We agree.

And that is why we support hiking the gasoline tax, at the pump. We also say the increase should be offset by reductions in taxes not directly tied to transportation. The next e-mail probably will denounce us as secret Islamofascist terrorists, just like Sen. Barack Obama. Oh, well. That the State Senate approved a plan incorporating many of the proposals we prefer raises the ideological temperatures.

The House of Delegates gutted the Senate bill, and killed Gov. Tim Kaine's proposals.

A case can be made that Virginia should not spend one penny more on transportation than the revenue the structure produces.

A case can be made that demands for maintenance, new construction, and mass transit compel higher taxes related to transporation, such as, principally, the gasoline tax. Such is the position we prefer.

Conservatism properly understood does not rely on gimmicks. Editorial, More Money, Richmond Times Dispatch (July 12, 2008).

So there you have it. AMG and the Richmond Times Dispatch stand arm in arm and AMG has cited President Ronald Reagan in support of an argument. We bring you this picture from down below today.

Albo Puts Grover Norquist Ahead of His People

2008-07-10T09:48:00.009-05:00

After yesterday's General Assembly session, we heard that Del. Dave Albo's band, Albopalooza, is adding this Nine-Inch-Nails song to their repertoire:

bow down before the one you serve.
you're going to get what you deserve.
god money i'll do anything for you.
god money just tell me what you want me to.
god money nail me up against the wall.
god money don't want everything he wants it all....
Head Like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails

Why do we say this? Well, for weeks Del. Dave Albo has been telling the press every chance he gets that he wants to vote for a transportation funding bill and that everyone's being unreasonable except him.

He introduced legislation to try to bridge the gap; and
He stated on the record during the session that he supported a grantor's tax to pay for transportation improvements that would actually be imposed by the General Assembly and not one that required a vote by local governments

So what happens when it's time to vote on a bill with a grantor's tax increase and no gas tax increase?

Americans for Tax Reform’s president, Grover Norquist, wrote in an open letter to Virginia lawmakers who sign the organization’s no-tax-increase pledge that voting for Hamilton’s bill would be breach their commitment. “That’s going to make it very tough to keep my own people behind it,” [Del. Dave Albo's law partner Del. Morgan] Griffith said. Futile Finale Awaits Another VA Roads Session, AP (July 8, 2008).

So first we have Del. Albo's own law partner telling the paper that "his people" (maybe like his business partners) aren't going to be able to get behind transportation legislation.

Next, Grover Norquist twists the screws and the faithful capitulate. Del. Dave Albo has signed the tax pledge for nearly a decade running now and we've covered Del. Albo's affinity for Jack Ambramoff pal Grover Norquist's anti-tax pablum before:

2008 - Albo Listed as One of Only 22 Va. HOD Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers
2007 - ATR Signers of Taxpayer Protection Pledge (Albo 1 of 28 on p.10)
2006 - ATR Signers of Taxpayer Protection Pledge (Albo 1 of 28 on p.10)
2005 - ATR Pledge Signer's Update (Albo 1 of 32 on p.10)
2004 - ATR Pledge Signer's Update (Albo 1 of 33 in VA on p.10)
2003 - ATR Press Release - Albo Pledges to Oppose Tax Increases
2002 - ATR - Pledge Signers Update (Albo Listed on P. 10)
2001 - ATR, The Tax Reformer (Albo Listed as 2001 Pledge Signer on P. 17

Don't forget these:
2004 - Voting NO on Governor Warner's Investments in NoVa's schools
2003 - Voting for the Local transportation referendum bill but refusing to campaign for its passage (See, AMG - Albo Flips Flops on Transportation & Taxes)
2001 - Voting against the 2001 Local transportation referendum bill

or this:
AMG, Stuck in Traffic? Call Dave Albo (May 13, 2008)
AMG, Albo, Tax Cuts & Mass Murders (June 16, 2007)

So what happens when it's time to put up or shut up for the People of the 42nd District?

It's depicted here below.

and here:

Letters to the Editor #6: Albo Out of Touch

2008-07-04T07:16:00.011-05:00

In today's Washington Post, Barbara Paciejewski, reiterates what we've been saying over here about Del. Dave Albo (R - Abuser Fees):

The Out-of-Touch Mr. Albo

Friday, July 4, 2008; Page A16
According to the Virginia Board of Elections, Tim Kaine won 60.15 percent of the vote in Fairfax County in 2005, and Jim Webb won 58.9 percent in 2006. Although some point to these figures as evidence of a changing electorate, Del. David B. Albo (R-[Abuser Fees]) has come up with his own reasoning, namely that it is not the highly educated who have turned Fairfax blue but rather "those who are on food stamps and government services" ["A New Political Geography," front page, June 29].

Just how many Fairfax voters does Mr. Albo think rely on food stamps and other such programs? How can a politician be this out of touch with his constituents?

BARBARA PACIEJEWSKI
Woodbridge

Well, Ms. Paciejewski, we thought we'd take you up on your hypothetical question. According to the 2000 United States Census, 5.3% of people in Fairfax County live below the poverty level - of course many of these are children and not all of these are registered to vote. Getting more specific, how many of Fairfax County's 363,328 households are on food stamps and how many are received public assistance in 2000?

Food Stamps - 5,999
Public Assistance - 2,743
SSI Recipients - 6,286
Source: 2000 United States Census

Now, taking this one further step, what about the 42nd District? How many 42nd District households lived below the poverty level in 2000?

Public Assistance - 268
SSI Recipients - 362
Source: 2000 United States Census

So what's happened since 2000? About 30,000 people have moved into NEW houses and condos in the 42nd. We found this picture of some of the housing going in at South County which must be what Del. Albo is talking about. The Board of Supervisors should be ashamed.

So how out of touch is Del. Dave Albo?

How much time do you have to talk?

Albo Insults His Constituents

2008-06-29T10:48:00.004-05:00

****ALBITE ALERT****

Our hero, Del. Dave Albo, once again shows his complete lack of understanding of the changing nature of his district. Ten years ago, the 42nd District was mostly West Springfield and the last remaining undeveloped part of Fairfax County - South County.

Since then, thousands of houses have been built and Del. Albo's district has become more and more Democratic. Why? Here's Del. Albo's analysis:

Some local Republicans play down the shift. State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II says the region has become more Democratic because many residents work for the government or government contractors, and have a "pro-bigger-government leaning." State Del David B. Albo [(R-Abuser Fees)] argues it is not the highly educated who have turned Fairfax blue. "My bet is that it's those who are on food stamps and government services who tend to be more Democratic," he said.

There you have it - all of the people moving in to brand new houses and brand new condos are on food stamps.

It's really mystifying because it's like he doesn't even read the paper. Just last year, The Washington Post ran a story about how the Eleventh Congressional District was the richest congressional district in the entire United States - the 42nd is smack in the middle of it.

Way to stay in touch with your constituents Delegate.

Albo: Saving Us From the Commies

2008-06-26T17:41:00.009-05:00

There has been much discussion lately over Dominion Power's recent rate increase. The Washington Post says Dominion expects the average bill to increase $17/mo. or $204/yr. Panel Sees No Way Around Rate Increases, Washington Post, B01 (June 25, 2008).

Some commentators have been critical of the legislature which has loosened regulations on Dominion Power. For example, one commentator wrote this:

Over the past decade, Dominion's strategy has been to obfuscate the true costs of providing service by eroding the power of its regulatory body, the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Using the most powerful lobbying techniques available, the company has successfully persuaded the Virginia General Assembly to disassemble the state's utility regulation law. Under a weakened SCC, Dominion has become an unregulated monopoly whose base rates have not been examined in 10 years. In fact, it has been allowed to continue charging rates that are well in excess of its actual base rate costs.

Folks familiar with Virginia's utility issues understand that Dominion's base rates have been frozen until 2009. Unfortunately, however, the benefit of a "rate freeze" is illusory if those rates are "frozen" at an unjustifiably high level. In fact, based on a decision in the late 1990s, Dominion was allowed to collect compensation for "stranded costs" that were expected to result from the opening of the state's electric markets to competition. But no substantial competition ever materialized, so the company incurred no significant costs. As a result, Dominion may have picked up between $1 billion and $2 billion in unwarranted "stranded costs" to date. And because of legislative constraints placed on the SCC, these excessive base rate levels will apply well into the future.

Without the SCC's ability to thoroughly investigate the utility company's base rates and without any opportunity for the SCC to recommend areas of potential savings, residents are left to silently suffer -- or make choices between paying utility or other essential bills. Businesses and nonprofits may be forced to make dramatic cuts -- in such critical areas as investments, services or new hires. Mary Lynch, Electric Shock in Virginia, Washington Post Page B08 (June 22, 2008).

So one of Del. Dave Albo's constituents apparently reads this article in the Washington Post one day and writes petitions his representative - what's Albo's response? Read below and read the constituent's response.

Gentlemen: In America we don't have government run electricity. And I can assure you that if we did, your rates would be much much much much much much higher. We have private sector generated electricity with oversight by the government to make sure they are not overcharging customers. Fuel rates have gone up dramatically. You all know this when you fill up your gas tank or pay your natural gas bill. Natural Gas fuels a great deal of Virginia Power plants. The "environmentalists" won't allow new coal and restrict Dominions ability to expand nuke. So your rates are going up, but I can assure you that it's better than the communist alternative of having the government do electricity.

[-Del. Dave Albo, June 24, 2008]

Here's the constituent's response:

Dear David Albo:

Your answer is silly and dumb. It makes no sense and certainly did not address my concerns. In fact, your response insults the intelligence of your constituents, especially one who served our country's flag for more than 32 years and probably knows more about the functioning of our Nation's government and economic system than you do.

The allegation is that you and your colleagues allowed the law that regulates utilities to be slowly changed over the years to the extent that Dominion Virginia Power has become an unregulated monopoly. David, you have been in office long enough to have insisted that there be better oversight on the power industry. It seems to me you have gotten out of touch with "We The People."

The citizens of Virginia deserve better than they are getting from you and your colleagues in the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle.

Lon Caldwell [Address of Constituent Redacted]

(FYI - See Albo Response to a different Lon Caldwell Letter here - AMG, A Career Ending Exercise Jan. 16, 2008) - it's not like he's not on notice....)

We're glad that Delegate Albo is keeping us safe from what commies are still left. The South County Communists has been quite active lately. But we would really appreciate some actual sympathy every once in a while for people of limited means. Then again, we all remember this gem:

"My job is to fight for my people, my people are wealthy."
- Del. Dave Albo, Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2004

Announcing Albo & Griffith, Attorneys At Law

2008-06-24T09:43:00.008-05:00

This just in from the blog of Waldo Jaquith!

Announcement!
We Are Pleased to Announce
The Union of Del. David Barr Albo
and
Majority Leader Morgan Griffith
In A Holy Rural-Conservative Alliance

Del. Dave Albo has made his marriage to the rural conservative leadership official! He's gone into business with Majority Leader Morgan Griffith of Salem, VA and they have decided to merge their law practices!

Given that Delegate Griffith is the #2 leader in the House Caucus, this will surely make it easier for Del. Dave Albo to buck the conservative rural leadership when looking out for the interests of his suburban moderate district - right?!?

We here at Albo Must Go remember how much Delegate Griffith looks out for Northern Virginia. On March 5, 2007, The Washington Post's Marc Fisher pointed out that at a meeting in Danville in 2007, Delegate Griffith was asked what the rationale was for the 2007 regional transportation plans. Here's what Marc Fisher said:

But there's another thing going on in this whole political battle, and it's being revealed right now as legislators head home and try to sell this package to their constituents. Let's visit Martinsville, Va., way down in the south-central part of the state, near North Carolina. There, Delegate Morgan Griffith let down his hair while talking to the local chamber of commerce: The Republican legislator told the local crowd that the whole purpose of this transportation package is to make sure that rural roads get built and rural interests are protected before those urban folks up in northern Virginia take over the legislature and the state, which is a demographic inevitability. Marc Fisher, The Real Aim of Virginia's Transpo Deal, Raw Fisher (Mar. 5, 2007).

Delegate Albo - we're glad to see that you choose your partners well. We're so excited.

Republicans to Albo: You're Abandoned

2008-06-22T21:34:00.007-05:00

What does Del. Dave Albo and this car have in common?

Well in today's Richmond Times Dispatch Jeff Schapiro says that the House Republican Caucus has basically decided to abandon Del. Dave Albo and fellow Abuser Fee Mastermind Del. Tom Rust.

Not a big surprise given that these two basically created one of the most expensive, embarrasing, disasters for the Republican Party last time they put their heads together and they are busy scheming again for tomorrow's special session. See AMG, Albo-Rust Redux (June, 2008). Here's our thoughts in case you missed it:

Congratulations to the Republican Party of Virginia for finally figuring out what we've been preaching now for over two years.

ALBO MUST GO!

Stuck in Traffic? Thank Albo

2008-06-15T09:19:00.004-05:00

Del. Dave Albo has been cruising along fighting taxes for a decade, signing anti-tax pledges, and refusing to enact statewide transportation tax increases. See AMG, Albo & Roads: Where's the Beef? (June 2, 2008).

Well yesterday, the chickens came home to roost. According to a Press Release just issued by VDOT, the following projects have been delayed by VDOT due to lack of funding (and remember this is ONLY the Northern Virginia list!):

PROJECTS DELAYED BY VDOT FROM LACK OF FUNDING

Route	Project Description
7	Widen Route 7 Bypass from 4 to 6 lanes - South King St. to East Market St. in Leesburg
123	Construct interchange at Route 1/123 in Prince William County
Leesburg	Widen Route 15 from Evergreen Mill Road to Masons Lane
Herndon	Widen East Elden Street from Van Buren Street to Fairfax County Parkway
Manassas	Build Interchange at Route 28 and Wellington Road to eliminate at-grade rail crossing
Purcellville	Improve intersection at Main Street and Maple Avenue
Vienna	Cottage Street Reconstruction from Moore Avenue to Cedar Lane

The following projects have been cut by VDOT due to lack of funding:

PROJECTS CUT BY VDOT FROM LACK OF FUNDING

Route	Project Description
I-66	Reconstruct I-66/I-495 interchange in Fairfax County
I-95	Widen I-495/95 Beltway from Telegraph Road to I-395 (5 miles) in Fairfax County
I-66	Widen I-66 from 4 to 8 lanes from Route 29/Gainesville to Route 15/Haymarket (2 miles) in Prince William County
I-95	Widen I-95 from 6 to 8 lanes from Route 123 to Dale Boulevard (4 miles) in Prince William County
US 1	Widen Route 1 from 4 to 6 lanes from Armistead Road to Route 123 (2 miles) in Fairfax County
US 1	Widen Route 1 from 4 to 6 lanes from Featherstone Road to Occoquan Road (2 miles) in Prince William County
VA 7	Widen Route 7 from 4 to 6 lanes from Patrick Henry Drive to Columbia Pike (1.5 miles) in Arlington County
VA 7	Widen Route 7 from 4 to 6 lanes from Reston Avenue to Dulles Toll Road (7 miles) in Fairfax County
VA 7	Add Westbound climbing lane on Route 7 west of West Market Street in Leesburg
VA 7	Widen Route 7 Bypass from 4 to 6 lanes - West Market St. to South King Street (1.5 mi) in Leesburg
VA 27	Widen Route 28 from 4 to 6 lanes from Route 29 to Prince William County line (4 miles) in Fairfax County
VA 28	Widen Route 28 from 2 to 4 lanes from Vint Hill Road to Fauquier County line (5 miles) in Prince William County
US 50	Construct interchange at Route 50 and Loudoun County Parkway in Loudoun County
VA 234	Construct interchange at Route 234 Bypass and Balls Ford Road/Route 621in Prince William County
VA 234	Construct interchange at Route 234 Bypass and Prince William Parkway/Liberia Ave.in Prince William County
VA 234	Construct interchange at Route 234 Bypass and Sudley Manor Drive in Prince William County
VA 236	Widen Route 236 from 4 to 6 lanes from Pickett Road to Chambliss Street (7 miles) in Fairfax County
I-495	Reconstruct I-495 Bridge over Route 50 in Fairfax County
US 50	Reconstruct Route 50 Bridge over I-66 (Ramp B)in Fairfax County
I-95	Reconstruct I-95 Bridge over Old Telegraph Rd in Fairfax County
I-66	Reconstruct I-66 Bridge over Route 29 in Prince William County
I-395	Reconstruct Duke Street/Route 236 Bridge over I-395 in Alexandria
VA 7	Reconstruct Route 7 Bridge over Tributary of South Fork Catoctin Creek in Loudoun County
US 1	Reconstruct Route 1 Bridge over Dogue Creek south of Sacramento Drive in Fairfax County
N/A	Sidewalk, pedestrian, drainage and safety improvements on Route 50 and other corridors in Arlington County

Stuck in traffic? Blame Albo.