Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor / News Virginian
Published: June 10, 2007

Support Sayre

The 24th Senate District primary will determine the future of the Republican party of Virginia. As chairman of the Augusta County Republican party, I have publicly endorsed Scott Sayre over Emmett Hanger. I am not alone.

Seven out of eight of the Republican chairs in the 24th Senate District support Scott Sayre. So why do so many Republican chairs support Scott Sayre over the incumbent- Let me explain.

I have heard from many local Republicans that the party has strayed from its core beliefs. I assure you that the grassroots Republicans have not. However, some of our Republican representatives have adopted a "get-along-go-along-with-the-Democrats" way of doing business. For example:
* Emmett Hanger voted to support Democrat Governor Mark Warner's largest tax increase in the history of Virginia, raising taxes $1.4B (HB5018 '04) when we had a $300M surplus.
* Emmett Hanger claims a leadership role in a $2.6B tax increase that he called a tax reform package (SB 30).
* Emmett Hanger opposed the Transportation Trust Fund (HJ18 '07) requiring money for transportation to stay in a transportation "lock box."
* Emmett Hanger voted to add a 5-percent per-gallon tax to gasoline (SB708).
* Emmett Hanger sponsored legislation in 2006 and 2007 (SB677, SB 1204) giving in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants.

It is my opinion that these votes do not reflect the values of the Republican Party. That is why so many Republicans have chosen to support Scott Sayre. This primary is important. You have a choice.

Your vote will determine if we are the party of "tax and spend" or the party of "fiscal restraint." I know that Scott Sayre will bring the party back to its core beliefs. Please join me and the local Republican leadership and vote for Scott Sayre on Tuesday, June 12.

Kurt Michael
chair, Augusta County Republican Party

Hanger is the extremist

I had not planned to get publicly involved in the Senate primary election, but since Sen. Hanger has brought me into it, I will try to set the record straight. He has been pretty free using the word "extremist" when talking about those who disagree with his votes for large tax increases.

Are all the local delegates, Saxman, Landes, Cline and Bell, who represent all of Senate District 24 "extremist"- They all voted against SB 635 in 2004, which would have raised the sales tax, the income tax, recording tax, titling tax, gasoline tax, and others. The House killed this bill.

Sen. Hanger voted to spend over $9M to build tunnels from his office building to the capitol so he wouldn't have to walk 40 yards in the rain. Get real Sen. Hanger. Buy an umbrella. All the local delegates voted against this wasteful amendment put on by the Senate. Who is the extremist here- The House killed this amendment.

Sen. Hanger twice introduced a bill that would have opened a loophole in the law allowing some illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition. In other words, he would subsidize the education of illegal immigrants with your tax dollars and take up positions at our state colleges that your children would have gotten. The House killed this bill one year and amended it to eliminate the loopholes the next.

You decide who the extremist is and who is out of step with the people. I believe the delegates and Scott Sayre represent the Valley values best.

Vance Wilkins Jr.
former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates