To the Editor:

I read with interest the recent commentary submitted by Del. Scott Surovell in the March 13-19 edition of the Mount Vernon Gazette. I was enlightened, frustrated and saddened by the 20 point commentary written by Delegate Surovell. While many of the 20 items Mr. Surovell discussed were noteworthy and reflected sound logic and value to Virginia citizens, several of the 20 items saddened and frustrated me.

In item 9 Mr. Surovell complained about not being successful in removing the Virginia ban on same sex marriage. In short why is our legislative time and money being wasted on such an issue? Gay marriage is offensive and in no way can legislative time and effort and resources be justified in dealing with nothing more than politically correct activity to please a few when so many other pressing issues face our state and our country.

In Mr. Surovell's item 15 he laments the defeat of the VA DREAM Act. This is another insulting waste of legislative effort to reward those who demand benefits from the taxpayer and yet they are neither legal or legitimate citizens of Virginia or the U.S. Not one cent in any way shape or form should be ever utilized to benefit those who are here illegally. This issue goes way beyond any social impact and in and of itself renders Mr. Surovell's view that the value of the U.S. citizenship is an absolute "Zero."

These two issues reflect so negatively in my view of the state of affairs in our country today. Placing a priority on kissing up to small but vocal factions in our society for nothing more than political gain is unacceptable and has no place in Virginia or the U.S. Many call for equal rights for gays and yet they have every right as anyone else, and seeking to provide taxpayer subsidized benefits to illegal immigrants and their children is fraud, waste and abuse of the taxpayer in the very least and frankly criminal in the most. The state and the country as a whole is being subject to such nonsense from the President and his failed agenda and now this has migrated into the once great state of Virginia. It saddens me to think that our elected officials trumpet as legislative priorities such things as turning normal marriage on its heels and placating illegal immigrants whose only recognition from the government and taxpayers is a bus ticket back to the country they departed from when they broke our laws and entered this country illegally. Had enough? I know I have.

But I can offer a few suggestions for your next list: 1) lower taxes 2) eliminate the ethanol requirement in gasoline that reduces fuel mileage in cars, damages many older cars (many owned by low income citizens who cannot afford a new car) and does nothing to help many of the mythical climate excuses that initiated its use in the first place. 3) Forget the gay agenda and stop illegal immigrants from extracting one cent from the taxpayers. Start using your time in Richmond for value added actions and stop placating every radical voting block you can uncover.

Garry A. Scutt

Alexandria