Remember when Democrats and liberals loudly deplored the prominence of ”social” issues such as abortion on the political agenda. Government, they said, should stay out of people’s lives and focus on the economic conditions that make a real difference in the world.
Well, that was then- before suburbanites decided that they didn’t want to come home from a restaurant [...]
Smoking Ban in Most Bars and Restaurants Passes, Big Victory for Kaine
How Delegates and Senators Voted on the Smoking Ban
Senate Education and Health Committe Rejects Cline’s Fetal Anesthesia Bill Requiring Doctors to Tell Women Seeking Abortions That Fetuses Can Feel Pain After 20 Weeks and Making Anesthesia Available
Edward Bell Executed-Kaine Allows Execution of Man Who [...]
It is the best of times and the worst of times.
For the print media who cover Virginia politics.
It’s hard to ask for more.
Virginia was a battleground state in the presidential election and we saw more of the candidates than we had in decades. In 2009, the Democrats have a contested gubernatorial primary for the first time in [...]
GOP Rift Over Howell Worsens
Virginia Senate Adds Stimulus Money to Budget Plans
House-Senate Budgets Go to Conference Negotiators
McDonnell Announces That Settlement Money from Pharmacy Benefits Management Companies Will Fund Grant to Treat People with Mental Illness
Assembly Raises Tax on Hotel Movies to Help Bring More Film Production to the State
Prayer Bill Roils Richmond
Gilbert Amendment Limiting Growth [...]
I attended the GOP Attorney General Debate in Roanoke Tuesday evening between John Brownlee, Ken Cuccinelli and Dave Foster.
You never quite know what to expect out of a intraparty downticket debate. I’ve been to ones that have been interminably boring as candidates spent all their time agreeing how horrible the other party’s nominee is.
Yet I’ll never [...]
House Insists on Weakened Smoking Ban Amendments, Senate-House Differences Go to Conference Committee
House Panel Kills Deeds Bipartisan Redistricting Measure
Senate P&E Kills Saxman Effort to Make the Right-to-Work Law a Constitutional Amendment
Oder Bill to Earmark Port Rvenues for Transportation Dies in Senate Finance
Saxman Bill to Dedicate Future Royalties from Possible Offshore Drilling Dies in Senate
Kathy Gear [...]
I always tell reporters when they ask me about Congressman Rob Wittman that I have a conflict of interest in commenting about him. Rob was a Ph.D. student when I was teaching at VCU and wrote his dissertation under me.
He’s a very smart guy and there may be no one in the country who knows more [...]
Virginia Budget Shortfall Reaches $3.7 Billion
What Virginia Gets From the Stimulus
Senate Rejects House Effort to Weaken Smoking Ban
House Privileges and Elections Kills Bill To Make It Easier for Felons to Have Voting Rights Restored
Senate Courts of Justice Enhances Homestead Exemption for Veterans and Seniors
Virginia Sheriffs Support Ruff-Wright Bill to Allow Use of Voice Stress Analyzers
Virginia [...]
Delegate Lee Ware’s op-ed piece published in Sunday’s RTD continues a flawed perspective on the smoking ban issue. I know and admire Lee Ware - he’s a good guy and a passionate conservative who believes deeply in a value system that prizes personal freedom and limited government. Unfortunately, these values, shared by many in the [...]
Democrats’ Slim Victories in NOVA Build GOP Hopes
State Program Helps Children Lacking Health Insurance
Fewer Families Can Afford Housing in James City County
Smith Bill Addresses Student Voter Registration Rules
Gear Bill Would let University Students Out of Jury Duty
Virginia Environmental Groups Optimistic About Virginia National Forests Proposals
Some HOV Cheaters Find Odds in Their Favor
Critics Say Smoking Ban [...]