Rishell, Miller spar over wind energy, pre-K, autism

The outcome of the race for the 50th District seat in the House of Delegates may be uncertain, but one thing about the contest was made plain Tuesday night.

“During this campaign,” Del. Jackson H. Miller said to his opponent, Jeanette Rishell, “I will not come to your home to buy a shotgun.”

The Republican’s quip came at a debate held by the Prince William Committee of 100, a nonpartisan group that holds issue discussions throughout the year.

It got the biggest laugh of the night, but the candidates also tangled over issues including alternative energy, education and insurance coverage of autism.

On the matter of the shotgun, Miller was responding to Rishell’s assertion that she supports both closing the so-called “gun show loophole” and maintaining “backfence” deals.

That is, criminals shouldn’t evade background checks by buying firearms at gun shows, but law-abiding Virginia residents should be able to exchange weapons for cash.

For example, if Miller wanted to come to Rishell’s house and buy one of her shotguns, then he should be able to do so, the Democrat said.

“I want to be able to be free to sell him that shotgun,” Rishell said at Tuesday’s gathering, which included a debate between candidates for the 13th House district.

On alternative energy, Miller noted that he sponsored legislation this year that makes it easier for wind energy companies to do business in Virginia.

Rishell, however, said the bill would have little impact as it would apply only to small companies.

Miller retorted that the bill became law with strong bipartisan support.

“If it was not a good bill, ladies and gentlemen, I don’t think it would have gotten such large majorities,” he said.

On education, Miller, who was endorsed by the state teachers union, said he can’t support universal pre-kindergarten now because it’s too expensive an undertaking.

But Rishell said that giving children a solid early start can reduce school-dropout rates.

“There is significant brain development by the time the child is 5 years old,” she said.

Rishell also charged that Miller told parents of autistic children he would support legislation to provide insurance coverage for the illness only to later go back on his word.

She was referring to a bill by Del. Robert G. “Bob” Marshall. Marshall introduced the legislation during this year’s General Assembly session, but it didn’t make it out of a committee.

Then the western Prince William County Republican unsuccessfully tried a rare parliamentary move to try to force the full House to vote on it.

Miller, who represents Manassas, Manassas Park and part of western Prince William, voted against Marshall’s maneuver.

He said his colleagues on the committee that scrutinized the legislation claimed it wasn’t a good bill.

“So every Democrat on that committee, as well as Republicans who heard the bill throughout, was against it,” Miller said.

The 50th District candidates did agree on issues, including the importance of property rights and of Virginia’s small businesses.

And at least on the basic right to own and carry a firearm.

Rishell, sometimes characterized as quite liberal, perhaps surprised some at the Four Points by Sheraton outside Manassas when she related her experience with guns.

Not so with Miller. He’s a Prince William police officer.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.