Roads, Rejection And Faking It

THUMBS UP TO:

Wall Street exec who rejected his bonus

Shareholders of the giant insurance company American International Group, which was given a $85 billion government lifeline last week, met on Monday.

AIG’s fired CEO, Robert Willumstad, informed the company that he would not accept the $22 million severance payment that was part of his contract, The Wall Street Journal reported. Willumstad had been chairman of the board of directors at AIG since 2006, but CEO only since June.

Getting going on the CFX

The first section of the anticipated Coalfields Expressway could be completed in about two years, officials said Monday. The Virginia Department of Transportation and Alpha Natural Resources have signed an agreement for design and construction of a two-mile portion of the proposed 51-mile road that will eventually stretch from Pound in Wise County, Va., across Dickenson and Buchanan counties to the West Virginia line.

Under a public-private agreement, Alpha Natural Resources will build the roadbed on land where the company is currently mining coal. This road has been an economic dream for Wise and Dickenson counties for many years, so it’s exciting to see even small steps to actual construction.

Celebrating hunting, fishing

Hundreds of citizens poured into the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Va., last weekend for the first Hunting and Fishing Expo. It’s not news that hunting and fishing are huge draws locally, but organizers deserve praise for developing an expo that is exactly what local people want.

There was a long line outside the building an hour before the expo opened last week. A good sign that people were excited.

The expo showcased local retailers that sell hunting, fishing and other outdoor equipment and the cost to attend was cheap: $2 for adults and kids 12 and younger got in for free.

Community response makes this one a winner; look for its return next year.

THUMBS DOWN TO:

Politicos pretending to be someone else

Ana Gamonal, chief spokeswoman for Senate candidate Jim Gilmore, was suspended without pay for two weeks beginning Sept. 20 for posing as someone else in an e-mail to the campaign of Gilmore’s Democratic opponent, Mark Warner.

In a written statement, Gamonal admitted sending an e-mail from her home account using a name other than her own and asking the Warner campaign to add her to its press list.

She apologized to the candidates, both former governors, for what she called a lack of judgment. Warner accepted her apology and said “we look forward to seeing her back out of the campaign trail,” spokesman Kevin Hall said.

The Gilmore campaign, in a written statement, said he believes citizens are entitled to “full transparency” and won’t tolerate activity by his staffers that is contrary to that belief.

Scare tactics on financial bailout

It’s scary enough that Wall Street needs $700 billion to rescue failing financial firms.

American taxpayers don’t need the added fear pushed on them by politicians – act quickly and do it the way we say or else. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson tried that tactic over the weekend when he asked for $700 billion and no oversight. Congress, thankfully, balked at that.

But even on Wednesday, President George Bush warned of a “long and painful recession” without a quick resolution.

We don’t need more bullying on this point. American taxpayers are going to pull Wall Street out of this crisis, but it must be done correctly and with oversight. A day or two to ensure that is reasonable.

And quit the scare tactics. We’re already there.