Kaine: Feds Aren't Handling Immigration Crisis

WASHINGTON - A lack of federal involvement is causing state and local governments to feel the pressure to handle the nation's immigration crisis, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine says.

Appearing on WTOP's Ask the Governor program Tuesday, Kaine says he is concerned about the patchwork of rules that are being developed in parts of the state to handle illegal immigration.

"One county is doing 'x' and the next door neighbor is doing 'y' and there are going to be all kind of odd consequences to that, I would predict," Kaine says.

There has been "real bankruptcy at the federal level on this issue," Kaine says.

"It's an outrage that the federal government has basically had a consensus that the existing immigration laws don't work," Kaine says.

Meanwhile, Virginia's plans for High Occupancy Toll lanes on the Beltway and the Interstate 95-395 corridor are still in the planning stages, but recent hikes in tolls on the privately-owned Dulles Greenway are raising concerns about the toll structure of the HOT lanes, which are a public-private partnership.

So will the increases be regulated?

"There is a contractual framework for the regulation of rates during the term of the deal," Kaine says.

The HOT lanes will bring "easy public transit access along the Beltway...," Kaine says.

HOT lanes, which will add extra lanes to the Interstate corridors, will be free to cars with three or more passengers. Vehicles with fewer passengers will have to pay to use the lanes.

Kaine also says the extension of the Dulles rail may not be delayed by much, despite modifications to the plan.

The federal government is reviewing the $2.8 billion project after Virginia was required to cut $300 million from the cost of the project.

Now, Kaine is expressing confidence the plan will move ahead.

"I believe that based on the timing that they are telling us ...that you can see some work start and some of the preliminary work start this year," he says.

Kaine indicated that some of the work cut from the original plan, like road improvements to Route 7, can be transferred to the state's transportation budget.

The federal government is providing about $900 million for the 23-mile extension.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)