Allen Takes Questions from the Richmond Times Dispatch

My Interview with Garrett Epps

Editors note:  I did this interview in January of 2011.  I would highly recommend the book Shad Treatment to anyone interested in Virginia politics.

Virginia Gentleman: Let me say first that I loved your book, the Shad Treatment, and I do believe it is a must for anyone interested in Virginia politics.  Your book really captured the spirit of the Byrd era. 

 How long did it take you to write the Shad Treatment?

Garrett Epps: I began it in late 1973, when I suddenly quit my job as political correspondent of THE RICHMOND MERCURY and finished in late 1975, while working at the copy desk of THE RICHMOND AFRO-AMERICAN. 

Virginia Gentleman: As a child growing up in Richmond what is your earliest political memory?

Garrett Epps: I remember watching TV with my mother.  I was 4 and I asked her how that man on TV was, and she said, “McCarthy.”  It was scary.  I also remember at the age of 6 running to my mother to repeat a neat rhyme I had heard at school: “I like Ike.” My mother frowned and said “That makes you a Republican!” I didn’t know what that meant but I ran to my dad and said, “Mom said I was a Republican.” My dad said, “I know some very nice Republicans,” so I felt better.

Virginia Gentleman: When asked about the existence of a “Byrd Machine”, Harry Byrd said “All I do is offer a little advice now and then”.  He went on to say, “We are a loose organization of friends, who believe in the same principals of government.”  How would you describe the Byrd Machine?

Garrett Epps: The Byrd Machine or Organization ironically was a stepchild of American Progressivism, which emphasized the need for specialized or qualified people to make decision. Virginia took this to extreme, having an extremely small number of state officials (“the short ballot”) selected by a very low number of voters.  (VOKey said of Byrd era Virginia, “by contrast, Mississippi is a hotbed of democracy.”)  The governor of the Commonwealth was so powerful that local officials had to remain in line; and Sen. Byrd picked the governors.   A far better description of it is in Judge Wilkinson’s marvelous book. 

Virginia Gentleman: In your book you describe the treatment a legislator receives when his bill is summarily killed.  You call it the Shad Treatment.  Can you explain the origin of that expression?

Garrett Epps: It’s my understanding that it was coined by Sen. Robert Whitehead, a famous maverick who was gone from the scene by 1973, when I came on it.  Whitehead was from Tidewater and so piscatorial images came easily to him.

Virginia Gentleman: When do you think the Byrd era officially died?  Would it have been with the election of Linwood Holton?

Garrett Epps: No, it ended with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which signaled that Richmond would no longer be able to keep the voting rolls small and all white.  Things went south for the organization the next year with the election of Sen. William Spong.

Virginia Gentleman: Your book really captured the feel of a campaign.  Have you ever worked on a campaign?

Garrett Epps: I was a campaign volunteer a number of times, beginning with J. Sargent Reynolds in 1963 and David O. Satterfield in 1964.  I worked quite hard for Jimmy Carter in 1976 but of course that was after the book had been completed though before it was published.

William Wampler Sr. RIP

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement following news of the passing of former Congressman William Wampler, Sr.


“William Wampler, Sr. passed away last night at his home in Bristol.  At the age of twenty-six, he had already served in World War II and been elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he championed the causes of his constituents in Southwest Virginia throughout his distinguished career of public service. I have personally been touched by the passion the Wampler family has for Virginia and for creating opportunity for all of the people of the Southwest. As I offer my deepest sympathies to his family and his many friends for their loss, William Wampler, Sr.’s legacy and the fruits of his years of public service to Southwest Virginia will be remembered and cherished for generations to come.”

Commonwealth Posts 10.6 Percent Revenue Growth in April

The following is a release from the Governors office:

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that April revenue collections rose 10.6 percent over the same month a year ago. April is a significant month for revenue collections. In addition to regular collections of withholding and sales taxes, final payments for tax year 2011 and the first estimated payment for tax year 2012 were due from corporations on April 17. Also, a large portion of estimated and final payments from individuals, which are due May 1, are typically received in April.  May, however, normally contains the high income tax returns, therefore April and May payments need to be looked at together.

 On a year-to-date basis, total revenue collections have risen 5.9 percent, ahead of the revised annual forecast of 4.6 percent growth. Adjusted for the accelerated sales tax program, state revenues have grown 5.6 percent, ahead of the economic base forecast of 4.7 percent growth.

Statement of RPV Chairman Pat Mullins on President Obama's VCU Campaign Stop

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins gave the following statement regarding President Obama's appearance at VCU: 

"What we heard from President Obama today was as unsurprising as it was disappointing.  For years now, Barack Obama has been telling us how he just needs more time, how the economy is going to get better, how none of this is his fault.

You've had three years, Mr. President, and yet unemployment is still over 8 percent. Fewer people are working now than at any time since the 1980s. You promised to do something about the deficit, but you've added $5 trillion to the debt. You promised to deal with the economy, but instead you wasted two years 

In the first days of your term, you said that if you didn't have the country's economic ship righted in three years, that your presidency would be a one term proposition. Time's up, Mr. President. You had three years, and you haven't done the job.  

Virginians are tired of excuses. They deserve better than your three years of broken promises, distractions, and blame shifting. And come November, they're going to vote for better."

Tim Donner endorses George Allen in GOP primary for U.S. Senate

Today, in a letter to supporters former candidate Tim Donner endorsed George Allen for U.S. Senate, praising Allen’s commitment to “reducing the size, scope and control of government.”  In response to the endorsement, George Allen issued the following statement:

“It is truly encouraging to have Tim Donner’s endorsement and his strong, thoughtful voice for the Constitutional values of Freedom, individual responsibility, limited government and opportunity for all.  Tim will be a most welcomed key, respected leader carrying our positive message of envisioning a better future for families and job creating small business owners.  Tim and I share the same serious concerns that America’s freedoms and opportunities are at risk because of an over-spending, over-regulating federal government.  We both want to see the repeal of Obamacare, while advancing personal health care options rather than government-rationed care.  This election will be pivotal in restoring the promise of the American Dream.  We will move ahead together, united for proven solutions to reinvigorate our economy with pro- job growth economic, reasonable regulatory and productive American energy development. I’m certain that Tim Donner’s passion for creative, common-sense conservative ideas will make him a persuasive advocate on our growing grassroots team.”

March Virginia Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.6%; Lowest in Over 3 Years

Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement this morning following news that Virginia's unemployment rate has declined for the fourth straight month. The unemployment rate for the month of March was 5.6%. That is the lowest unemployment rate in Virginia in over 3 years, and a decline from 5.7% in February. Virginia has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, and the third-lowest unemployment rate east of the Mississippi River. The national unemployment rate for March was 8.2%.

"Virginia is growing strong again. Today we received word that the state unemployment rate has now declined for the fourth straight month. At 5.6% our unemployment rate is far below the national unemployment rate of 8.2%. We have the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeastern United States. And we have fallen far below the 7.3% unemployment rate we inherited when taking office in January 2010. All of this means: more Virginians are working today. That is a good thing. It is a bipartisan accomplishment.