Oh, the Irony

by: Eric

Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 21:15:00 PM EST

By an equally razor thin margin, that very same Senator Saslaw voted WITH Republicans in an evenly divided Commerce and Labor committee just last night.  Regarding Senator Donald McEachin's Energy Efficiency bill (SB1447),  the committee was divided along party lines with 7 Democrats for and 7 Republicans against.  Senator Saslaw cast aside his party, embraced the lobbying efforts of pay-to-play politics of coal loving Dominion Power, and cast the deciding vote AGAINST his own party.  The only vote that crossed the aisle.

The first three paragraphs from a CCAN press release (Feb 10, 2009) says it all:

RICHMOND-The only efficiency bill in the General Assembly that would mandate a reduction in electricity demand was killed Monday by one vote. Senate Majority leader Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax) cast the deciding vote to kill SB 1447, Senator McEachin's bill (D-Henrico).

"Senator McEachin's strong efficiency bill would have ensured reduced rates for consumers, boosted Virginia's economy, and created jobs," said Lauren Glickman, Virginia Campaign Coordinator for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. "Last night Senator Saslaw voted against the best interest of his constituents in Fairfax, and the best interest of Virginians across the commonwealth."

The McEachin efficiency bill was opposed by Dominion Virginia Power, the largest utility in Virginia. Senator Saslaw received $85,000 in donations over the last three years from the utility. Until Senator Saslaw's vote, the Committee was split along party lines, with seven votes in favor and seven against.

This is not the type of Democrat we need in Richmond.  A worthy primary challenger must be found and must rise up to remove a Democrat who is not worthy of the title Democrat or Leader.  Unfortunately the Senate primaries are a few years off, but perhaps now is the time to build the case against this man and begin building a case for our future, for a new leader, and yes, for CHANGE.  Even if that change means change within our own party.

Some will certainly argue that he should be judged on his entire body of work, that this one particular case, or this one issue (cough, sell out to Dominion, cough, on many bills) should not be the sole basis for passing this sort of judgment against him.  I respect those opinions and I do agree that politics is more than one issue.  But that will not change my opinion for two key reasons:

1. The confluence of Energy, the Environment, and the Economy is arguably the most significant issue we face today, and will face in the coming decades.  It is the fight of our time, a battle for our future and our children's future.  At least in my opinion it is a make or break issue, and Senator Saslaw has proven time and again that he will side with polluting special interests rather than the greater good.

2. Our goal, as Democrats and Progressives, should not be to simply elect Democrats.  It should be to elect good Democrats.  And if we've got good Democrats, it should be to elect better Democrats.  Politics is a field in which loyalty is richly rewarded, but let us not lose track of the ultimately goal - installing and maintaining the best government possible.   Voting the right way half the time is no longer sufficient now that the Democratic party is finally pulling ahead.  We have the Republicans on the run at the national level and they are tottering at the state level.  As we continue to push them back to the flat-earth world from which they came, we should begin to turn our attention to cleaning our own house.  The current Senate "Leader" is one of the first that should be swept away in order to make way for a better future.  

Senator Saslaw sold out the  Democratic party to special interests.  He chose his own big business contributors over the wishes of his own party.   All in arguably the most important issue we face today.    I call on the party to oust Senator Saslaw from his leadership role as soon as possible and for the party to begin finding a worthy replacement.  We shouldn't have to settle for a Senator who is both a hero and zero.  We deserve better.  We can do better.