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A brazen move
The attempt by building and real estate interests to defeat legislation aimed at allowing local governments to enact ordinances regulating transferable development rights (TDRs) should be seen for just what it is: a blatant attempt to protect their own interests at the expense of others.
TDRs have been studied and debated by the General Assembly as a whole, and most recently by a committee composed of interested parties from across the political spectrum. Building and real estate interests were represented, as were local government &nd preservationists. * But last week, in Richmond, the pressure was put on legislators to defeat the proposed TDR bill. According to reports from the state Capitol, the word was passed that legislators voting in favor of the TDR bill would suffer the consequences this fall when they face reelection. The implication was clear, according to people who were there: a vote for TDRs would mean a loss of campaign support, especially monetary support, in the fall.
We realize that the job of special interests and their lobbyists is to influence the course of legislation as it passes through the General Assembly . That is a legitimate function in a democracy. , However, when those interests find themselves frustrated by their opposition and turn to threats of economic blackmail on the floor of the General Assembly, we think that is going too far.
To their credit, both Del. Raymond R. “Andy” Guest Jr. and Sen. Kevin G. Miller, Rappahannock's representatives, resisted the pressure and voted in favor of the TDR legislation. We applaud them for standing firm and voting for their constituencies at home — instead of the special interests in Richmond.
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