Yesterday, the General Assembly approved the Higher Education Bond initiative that provides $1.5 billion in new capital construction to Virginia’s colleges and universities. As Brian Moran said:

“This funding will be a great step in our efforts to compete in the 21st century global economy,” said Delegate Moran. “Last spring I traveled to India on the Governor’s Trade Mission and toured the Indian Institute of Technology. India and China produce as many engineers each year as we will produce this decade. If we want to compete and win, we have to invest in higher education so we have the capability to do groundbreaking research in the life sciences and nanotechnology and biotechnology.

We have thousands of new graduates that want to go to Virginia’s public colleges and today’s effort will help make sure we have room for them.”

As the Washington Post reported:

Most of the money will be spent on projects for community colleges and universities, including George Mason University in Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia Community College system. An additional $1 billion will be borrowed to spend on planning for another 25 projects.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said: "We've authorized the largest investment in construction at our colleges and universities in Virginia's history. This will help jump-start our construction industry while building capacity for our future."

The Washington Examiner also reported on the story.

Last week some members of our staff traveled down to Wakefield to help out Mark Warner's Campaign in the infamous Shad Planking "sign war" and also have a booth for Delegate Moran. For most of the staff, it was their first Shad Planking experience, something they will never forget.

We arrived Tuesday afternoon and helped put up some signs along Main Street and 460. We then all took shifts for the evening, making sure no one was out there tearing down Mark Warner signs. Then after a great breakfast at the Virginia Diner, we put up more signs along 460 and then proceeded to the event to set up our booth and help the Warner Campaign set up theirs.

Our good friend, Hahn Deniston, brought a popcorn maker with her, so that we could hand out some popcorn with the sodas, water and Brian Moran cups we also were handing out. And in sticking with the spirit of this is Mark Warner¹s year, our staff was decked out in "Mark Warner is Good" t-shirts.

In the afternoon, Delegate Moran came out to Shad Planking. He spent a lot of time working his way around the crowd, had some shad, and ran into Mark Warner. This was a fun time and something we are all looking forward to next year! You can also check out more photos of our time at Shad Planking by going to our Flickr account.

Dominic Gabello
Political Director
Virginians for Brian Moran

Last Saturday was Brian’s 8th Annual pancake breakfast and it was a bigger success then ever before. Because of demand, we had to move out of the local middle school and into TC Williams – the big new high school in Alexandria. (Note: TC Williams is a LEED Certified Green Building. Way to go!). The event was sold out – nearly 400 people came. Brian welcomed the crowd and Jim Moran gave keynote remarks about the change in direction our country needs.

We had the Teddy the Clown and a magician. The kids had a great time. We were lucky to have most of the Alexandria City Council, our local Democratic chairs and leadership, and even some good friends from Richmond and as far away as Russell County.

Lowell Feld of Raising Kaine had this writeup:

Now, back to Brian Moran's pancake breakfast at T.C. Williams. Attendance was around 350, including a LOT of elected officials: Rep. Jim Moran, Sen. Patsy Ticer, Del. Bob Brink, Del. Kris Amundsen, Del. Margi Vanderhye, Del. Jennifer McClellan, Del. Mark Sickles, Del. Adam Ebbin, Del. Al Eisenberg, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, Alexandria Vice Mayor "Del" Pepper, and many others. I also saw Fairfax County Democratic Committee chair Scott Surovell, Alexandria Democratic Committee chair Susan Kellom, and former FCDC chair Ginny Peters. Jon Bowerbank, who is planning to run for lieutenant governor in 2009, was there, along with advisors Brian Patton and Joe Puckett. Mame Reilly, Mark Warner's former political director and now director of Brian Moran's Leadership for Virginia's Future PAC, was there as well. By the way, Brian Moran is not yet a formal candidate for governor in 2009, but everyone knows he's running, so that pretty much goes without saying. Also, just for the record, I remain neutral in this race at the present time.

In his remarks, Brian Moran talked about the importance of family for him, particularly given that he is the youngest of seven children. Brian said that he learned from his older brother Jim the importance of public service, of not "sitting on the sidelines," of getting in the game and making a positive difference. Not surprisingly for an event at T.C. Williams High School, Brian talked about investing in Virginia's colleges and universities and about the importance of education in general. Brian concluded by saying that he's up for a challenge, isn't going to just leave it to someone else, and that "we can do great things together."

Today on this first anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech we grieve. We do so together for family members, for neighbors, for members of our community and our Commonwealth. The tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the lives cut short. But it also can be an important memory of the overwhelming power of the "Hokie Spirit" that brought together the campus, this Commonwealth and our nation in the wake the tragedy.

We've made tremendous and significant steps forward on the policy issues that came to light from this terrible tragedy. But the focus today is on our communities and our families. Today we grieve with our friends in the Virginia Tech community and share our heartfelt sympathies with the families of those who lost loved ones on that tragic day.

I hope you will join Governor Kaine in a statewide moment of silence at noon today.