David J. Toscano

Attorney at Law

Ending Political Gridlock

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Deeds and Toscano Introduce Redistricting Commission Bill

(Charlottesville, VA – January 4, 2013) – Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds and House of Delegates Democratic Leader David Toscano are introducing a bill to reform the redistricting process. The bill will amend the Virginia Constitution to establish the Virginia Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan group that would create Congressional and State legislative districts which are contiguous, compact, and respect city and county boundaries – and specifically be drawn without favor to a political party or legislator.

“The main reason for political gridlock is legislative districts that have been gerrymandered to overwhelmingly favor an incumbent’s party, resulting in hyperpartisan legislators unable to work together for the common good” said Senator Deeds, who has been championing non-partisan redistricting since 2003. “This bill would result in much more competitive elections, and revive an endangered political species, the political moderate”.

Stated Delegate Toscano, a co-patron of the measure, “Redistricting has become a way by which those in power maintain their control – and both parties have done it. We are in a unique position right now. The next redistricting will occur after the 2020 census. Hopefully this will make it easier for incumbents to put aside narrow self-interest and make a change to help the Commonwealth’s interest.”

Senator Deeds noted how partisan redistricting has resulted in Charlottesville and Albemarle being part of a congressional district that runs from Danville to Fauquier County, a result of incumbent protectionism driving redistricting. “Instead of voters choosing their legislators, legislators are choosing their constituents. That must change.”

The Virginia Redistricting Commission would have 13 members, none of whom could be sitting legislators or employees of the US Congress or the Virginia General Assembly. Six would be appointed by Democrats, six by Republicans, with an independent member appointed jointly, to serve as Chairman.

The Commission would redistrict according to specific criteria to create districts that are contiguous and compact, with an aim of avoiding the division of cities and counties into more than one district. Districts could not be drawn for the purpose of favoring a political party or incumbent legislator or member of Congress, and would not use election results or demographic information except as required by federal law.

A Bright Future for Virginia

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Toscano’s HB1686 (2011) Clears Path for SCC’s Approval of Pilot Solar Energy Generation Project
Charlottesville, VA

Responding to a 2011 Bill introduced by Delegate David Toscano, the State Corporation Commission on Wednesday approved Dominion Virginia Power’s request to initiate pilot solar-energy generation projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dominion proposes to construct up to 30 MW of solar distributed generation facilities, using approximately 30 – 50 installations that would be owned by Dominion but be placed on leased commercial, industrial and community locations, such as rooftops.

Cale Jaffe, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said that without the efforts of Delegate Toscano this project would not have been possible. “This is an essential first step towards the beginning of a solar energy boom in Virginia, and his bill was a key to the SCC approval”.

HB 1686, passed in the 2011 session, directed the SCC to consider for approval utility petitions for distributed solar energy generation facilities. Delegate Toscano, the patron of HB 1686 and the Democratic Leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, expressed pleasure at the SCC action.

“This effort shows that great things can be accomplished when environmental groups and utilities work together; this project could lead to a dramatic expansion of solar-energy generation in Virginia”

According to Dominion Virginia Power, the demonstration project should provide enough electricity to power about 6000 homes during peak daylight hours, and is estimated to add less than 20 cents to a typical residential electric bill. The initial phase of the project is expected by the end of 2013.

Thoughts on the 2012 Election

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November 6, 2012 showed again that the United States is truly an exceptional nation. Every four years, we participate in a process to select our President and determine the direction of the country. Although our elections are not perfect, and while many have recently sought to limit the franchise and make voting more difficult, we still find a way to engage millions of people in a democratic process designed to determine which ideas win out. At the end of the process, thoughtful leaders always make some effort to pull the country together and make a peaceful transition to the next four years of leadership. Mitt Romney’s comments on the morning of November 7, 2012 show again how our system works best. Gracious in defeat, he embraced the best tradition of this country in congratulating the President and wishing him well.

Beyond the renewal of our democratic system, what can we learn from this election? I offer the following winners and losers:

Virginia won

In addition to the importance of Tim Kaine’s victory and President Obama’s win, the election again shows that the demographics of the Commonwealth are changing rapidly, with the result that Virginia is now a reliably purple state and likely to continue to be a swing state in the presidential elections for years to come. While we decry all of the TV ads, our importance as a state means more exposure for us and much more emphasis on our politics and our leaders. And much more influence in the federal arena.

Diversity won

The key to the Obama victory was mobilizing a very diverse political coalition. African-Americans, a group which cast over 90 percent of its vote for the President, were key – but so too were Latinos, who increased their vote 10 percent nationally, and increased their support for the President from 67 percent to 71 percent of their votes cast. In Virginia, Asian-Americans cast 64 percent of their vote for the President.

Women won

Obama’s performance with women increased from 2008, largely because of policies embraced by the Republicans and insensitive statements from their candidates. There is little doubt that Tim Kaine benefited from the ultrasound legislation and social overreach of the Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly. And we all know what happened to the Republican candidates, Akin in Missouri and Mourdock in Indiana, both of whom angered their electorates with their outrageous comments about rape and lost as a result.

Science won

Data-driven politics is stronger than ever. Many of the most conservative Republicans tried to deny the science of polling just like they have denied the science of climate change. This election proved them wrong on the polls; not only were they not skewed to favor Democrats, but many were remarkably predictive of the final results. New York Times poll analyst Nate Silver, who felt the ire of conservative Republicans, was so good that he predicted the presidential winner in all 50 states. Science won big on November 6, 2012.

Secret Super PAC money lost

Virginians are more sophisticated in rejecting the misleading and negative ads fueled by out-of-state secret super PAC money. The Kaine race saw more of this money spent to tear down our former Governor, and saw it earlier than ever before. But Karl Rove and the Koch brothers failed, and we now have two Democratic Senators in Virginia.

With the election over, I turn my attention to the legislative session beginning in January. I am now assembling my legislative package, which will likely include another effort to enact nonpartisan redistricting, a bill to reduce financial exploitation of the elderly, and measures to improve governance at the University of Virginia. As always, I appreciate your input and need your help; it is an honor to represent you in the Virginia General Assembly.

Please feel free to contact me at 434-220-1660 or by email at david@davidtoscano.com.

 

Contact Me

123 E. Main Street
8th Floor
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Email: davidjtoscano@gmail.com
Phone: 434-960-7171

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 501
Charlottesville, VA 22902

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