Posted on 02/22/2007 12:50:11 PM PST by Gopher Broke
Victory Alert: Senator Potts Retires!
Today, Senator Russell Potts (I-27, Winchester), chairman of the Senate Health and Education Committee, the killing ground for all pro-life and pro-family legislation in the Senate, announced his decision not to seek re-nomination or re-election to the Virginia Senate.
Since becoming chair of Ed and Health several years ago, Senator Potts has led the fight against The Family Foundation's agenda, many times being the only "Republican" member of the committee to vote with the minority of Democrats to kill legislation.
With his typical hyperbole and dramatics, Senator Potts today said he thought of standing for election again, "winning just to prove the naysayers wrong," and then resigning, "but that wouldn't have been fair" to his constituents nor to the Senate. In reality, what hasn't been fair is his repeatedly broken - and, in fact, cynical - campaign promises to be a pro-life, pro-values Senator. In 2003, his last Senate election, Senator Potts' campaign materials stated that he was "100 percent pro-life" and the "most pro-life chair of Ed and Health in History."
His voting record in the four years since then has exposed him as just the opposite. Facing a strong primary challenge, the Senator decided to avoid facing the voters in his district.
Based on his rhetoric on the Senate floor today during his retirement speech, he is still in denial about the message sent to him the two-percent vote total he received during his bid for governor in 2005. Senator Potts apparently didn't learn from that failed campaign that his views are out of touch with the values of Virginians.
With his behavior encompassing everything from berating Family Foundation lobbyists in committee hearings, to his behind the scenes profanity-laced tirades about the pro-life movement, to ruling the cabal of leftist Senators who have repeatedly blocked - with vehement hostility - bills from coming to the Senate floor for a recorded vote, to raising the ever-increasing tax burden on Virginia families as a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Potts has distinguished himself only in self-promotion and in reveling in his role as an impediment to our shared values.
Despite the glowing media reports you will no doubt read about Senator Potts, the truth is he is so extreme that he repeatedly killed bills that received overwhelming - 60 or more votes - bi-partisan approval in the House.
While hundreds of thousands of Virginians will celebrate this announcement with good cause, it is important to know that even though Senator Potts is the face of obstructionism in the Virginia Senate - and a significant impediment - he isn't alone. While his will be a legacy of blocking pro-life, parental authority, education reform and almost every commonsense values-based legislative initiative, we must remember that he was doing the bidding of some Senate leaders who oppose our values as well.
Just as Senator Warren Barry, the previous chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee, killed all pro-family legislation and then retired, so too, Senator Potts. Why the trend? Ultimately, the fate of pro-family legislation is in the hands of Senate leadership. This committee has served a vital role in protecting Senate leadership from being exposed on social issues. By blocking these bills from ever reaching the floor, Senator Potts and his predecessor allow the entire Senate to avoid votes on social issues. When an opportunity existed to remove Senator Potts from this committee at the start of last year's General Assembly session, the leadership kept him in his position. While members of leadership defend their action as a matter that was unchangeable because of Senate rules, Virginians must remember who makes the rules - the very Senators who make these claims.
The next chairman of the Senate Health and Education Committee will be decided by the leadership of the Senate (which political party is in leadership next year will be determined in November's elections). Leadership must decide the composition of that committee, since there will be at least one vacancy open for a new member. The question remains whether the next chairman will serve as an obstructionist or will give fair hearing to pro-family legislation.
Yet this retirement does offer hope of an opening. There is always hope when an obstacle has been removed, but Virginians must be vigilant to fight for life as never before in the upcoming battle over the new composition of this committee.
district27@sov.state.va.us
I'll be happy to help him pack if that means he'll lesve even quicker.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
No, do let it hit you on the way out.
Where the DOG shoudda BIT YA!
*ping* In case you hadn't heard.
Oh trust me. I've heard.
;-)
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