Thursday, June 21
Commander Carlos Del Toro (ret.), the Democratic nominee for the 88th House of Delegates District, expressed his disappointment today about the U.S. House of Representatives recent decision to allow the imposition of power line corridors on unwilling states and localities:
“The House rejected an attempt Wednesday to block the government from imposing major new power lines in areas where states or local communities oppose them.” (House Rejects Bid to Stop Power Lines,
“I am concerned for the citizens in these areas, who may now have no say in whether or not these high voltage power lines are built in our community,” Del Toro said, “And I am particularly concerned for those in the 88th District, whose voices may now be ignored by the federal government.”
Del Toro wants to put the voice of the localities, and his constituents, first. “This bill was about curbing the wrong kind of power, the kind concentrated in a few people’s hands; unfortunately, the House decided to take power away from citizens and states,” Del Toro said. “If power lines are proposed, residents should have a say in that decision.”
“Doing the right thing shouldn’t be a partisan thing, and I’m disappointed that both Democrats and Republicans in the House refused to do the right thing on this issue,” Del Toro said.
Commander Del Toro’s opponent, Mark Cole, not only wants to build power lines in the community, but he wants citizens there to pay for them. Cole called for the creation of a special tax-zone, which would place the financial burden of the construction of the power lines on those who fall in the tax-zone (HB07 1919)
Veterans for Del Toro is a group of retired servicemembers who are committed to bringing focus, commitment and passion to the Virginia Legislature by helping elect Commander Carlos Del Toro (Ret).