"At last. We can see what comments folks have made to your web site! Great job! Appreciate your solid position on reproductive choice: http://www.toscano2005.com/issues/choice.html Have you figured out yet how to pay for those educational initiatives you are proposing? What do you think about the emphasis by Kilgore, Kaine and Collins on tax relief? By the by. Do you plan on responding to questions raised by readers such as Kay Slaughter's about environmental protection [you do seem to have something about that on your web site already: http://www.toscano2005.com/issues/environment.html ]? And is Rich Collins comment below a virtual endorsement? :)"
George Loper | April 5, 2005

Toscano responds: "George, thanks for the commentary and support. Re the funding of educational initiatives, Tim Kaine has a good approach and that is 'fund education first.' By this, I think he means that the budget folds in the educational funding at the beginning and is not subjected to cuts during the budget process. Fortunately, our economy is presently expanding, with the result that there are more tax revenues available for educational needs, and for other core needs in the Commonwealth. The expanding economy is what helped generate this year's budget surplus that got so much attention, and will help fund education in the future. Re the tax relief issue, I am very concerned about Mr. Kilgore’s proposal and somewhat concerned about Mr. Kaine’s; both potentially constrain localities in their efforts to fund critical services at a time when the state and federal government impose more unfunded mandates and/or cut back on funding. One of the attractions in the Kaine proposal, and the reason why it is worth some careful examination, is that it leaves the decision about whether to create the homestead exemption, as well as the amount of the exemption, with the locality—where it ought to be. In this way, Albemarle or Charlottesville could create a limited exemption that might provide some additional relief without being forced by the state to do so." -- David

"Looks good David ! I look forward to reading your thoughts on environmental protection. thanks, Kay"
Kay Slaughter | April 4, 2005

Toscano responds: " Kay, thanks for the comment. We are building our environmental proposals, and they are shown in another place on the site. There is much to be done in this area, and I hope that many citizens will help us think through a variety of issues and approaches as we move forward." -- David

"Great layout! Do you have any thoughts about how to pay for the educational initiatives you propose? My best."
George Loper | April 1, 2005

"I think this is a very helpful website. Any interested citizen can learn much from it. I hope that everyone who votes will have reviewed it."
Rich Collins | April 1, 2005

"I think it's great!"
Lewis Lee | April 1, 2005

David Toscano 2005, April 8, 2005

Note: Comments on Toscano's site may be rotated with 48 hours of submission.