Political Brinkmanship
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
Relative to what happens in other states and the nation, politics practiced in Virginia is considered genteel.  Mostly.  There certainly have been times of partisan bickering and feuding.  Only recently have I seen what I call political brinkmanship.  Following are a couple of examples of what I mean.
 
When Governor McDonnell's Secretary of Transportation decided that Virginia should have two representatives on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) board, he threatened to withhold Virginia's contribution to WMATA's funding if the representation was not granted.  His threat, or some consider blackmail, came at a critical time.  WMATA is ready to submit an order for new rail cars to replace older ones and to accommodate an expanding ridership that will come with the Silver Line running through Tysons Corner to Reston and LoudounCounty.  Currently Northern Virginia public officials have the best view of needs in the region for transportation solutions.  As the Secretary pointed out, in Maryland the state makes the appointments to the WMATA board.  One detail that was missed:  Maryland makes the total contribution of its share of the system's cost; in Virginia local governments have contributed $2.6 billion in the last decade to the state's contribution of $827.5 million.  Furthermore, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments are conducting a review of WMATA governance issues.  All parties need to move back from the brink as the commuters of Northern Virginia will be the big losers if a resolution is not reached.
 
Brinkmanship is involved in a dispute between Arlington County and the Commonwealth of Virginia over the use of HOT lanes in the I-95/395 corridor.  For more than forty years the reversible HOV lanes in the corridor have been among the most successful in the nation.  Virginia's plan to increase the lanes with private operators as HOT lanes has met with resistance by ArlingtonCounty.  Arlington has brought a suit based on civil rights of the people living in the corridor.  The case has brought a strong negative reaction from the business community in that it has stopped the project at least temporarily and because it was brought personally against a popular former Virginia Secretary of Transportation.  The Arlington County Board has said it welcomes a study to see if the HOT lanes will reduce congestion.  Will Arlington drop its lawsuit in order for the project to go forward, or will the Commonwealth agree to a study to see if the HOT lanes have the potential to deliver their promised results remains to be seen.  Once again commuters could be the losers if this confrontation is not resolved.
 
The most widely known example of brinkmanship in Virginia is the Attorney General's effort to get the working papers of a scientist who did climate change research five years ago at the University of Virginia.  After some hesitation, the University chose not to blink.  It has hired a law firm to represent it in what many consider an unwarranted assault on academic research.  The courts are likely to resolve this conflict.
 
Most success in government as in other endeavors comes about when multiple parties work together.  Confrontation leads to misunderstandings, hard feelings, and delays.  In most disagreements there is some truth to support both sides.  Unless some moral imperative or individual rights are involved, compromise and agreements that take into account constituent interests and needs are most desirable.