VA Gov-Elect to Oppose Jobs, Affordable Housing

The Washington Post reports on Tim Kaine's plans to keep housing prices high and discourage job creation while ignoring transportation improvements. This isn't really news since it really just reflects his anti-progress campaign plank, but it's a good follow-up to April's earlier post on the housing bubble debate.

RICHMOND, Dec. 13 -- Virginia Gov.-elect Timothy M. Kaine (D) said Tuesday that he would seek legislation that would give local governments more power to control growth despite the likely opposition of the powerful development and
home-building industry.

In a speech to reporters, Kaine said he would make good on his campaign promise that local governments be granted the power to stop development if nearby roads are not adequate. He called that a "common sense" idea.

The common sense idea would be to improve the roads, not make it more difficult for people to find jobs and homes.

Michael L. Toalson, the executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Virginia, said his organization is gearing up to defeat any bill proposed by Kaine or his allies in the legislature.

"What Tim is doing is just looking for quick fixes to a transportation promise he made rather than offer up a credible, long-term solution," Toalson said.

Of course it's easier to prohibit progress than to come up with a long-term plan to work with it.

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