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General Assembly 2010
Losing My Religion
By C. Douglas Smith
From Legis-Link, the weekly newsletter of the Virginia Interfaith Center
 Fox News icon Glenn Beck is comparing congregations that work for social justice to bastions of communism, and he is telling viewers who attend those churches to leave. Holding up a swastika and a soviet flag, Beck recently ranted on Fox News that houses of faith preaching justice are like Nazis.
I don’t know Glenn Beck personally, and I only occasionally hear him on AM radio, but I am saddened that he wants to split congregations along the lines of those who care for the poor and those who think helping others is really not their job. Of course he has no theological or scriptural basis for his position, choosing instead to characterize everyone who uses the phrase “economic justice” as anti-American. I could not disagree more.
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Last Week
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Political Headlines from Va. Press Assoc.
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MAIN STREET BLOG: Localities exhale
Local government advocates were mostly relieved as Senate and House budget negotiators today released the details of the deal made on a two-year budget.
General Assembly passes $70 billion budget
The House’s dominant Republicans got their own private, closed briefing on Virginia’s hours-old state budget deal this afternoon, before any details were made public.
Sunday talk-show lineups
Bias dispute knocks McDonnell off stride
You know you’re not having a good week when Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” lampoons Virginia’s anti-discrimination policy that excludes sexual orientation. “Gaywatch, Virginia Edition,“ was the heading used by the satirical news show anchored by Jon Stewart. “Whatever happened to Virginia is for lovers?“ Stewart, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, wondered during a piece that took aim at Gov. Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken…
FOIA bills have met varying fates this session
Virginia lawmakers are working to keep your personal financial information under wraps. A bill resulting from the work of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council would exempt, from Freedom of Information Act disclosure, parts of records containing account numbers or routing information for credit cards, debit cards or other accounts with a financial institution.
QA with Waldo Jaquith
Why did you start Richmond Sunlight? I am a big geek both for technology and following the General Assembly. Starting when I was a student at Virginia Tech from 2003 until 2004, the only way I could follow the General Assembly was online. I relied on the Web site, which has a lot of really great information on it, but it’s really badly organized.
Beyond the budget - General Assembly highlights
A one-man window into lawmaking
Watching Richmond politics unfold in person or on the General Assembly’s Web site is complicated, but one man has made getting informed simpler. Waldo Jaquith, the Albemarle County resident behind the legislative-tracking Web site Richmond Sunlight, spends his nights and weekends keeping up the site and giving people a place to discuss bills.
McClellan’s pregnancy believed to be a first for House
When the House of Delegates considered a measure to require pregnant women to have an ultrasound and be given a chance to view the image before an abortion, Del. Jennifer L. McClellan took to the floor. In a short speech, she talked about how the legislation could cover women who miscarried. “I had a whole different perspective on the unintended consequences it could have,“ she said this week.
State budget deal likely today
House and Senate negotiators are inching toward a compromise budget-balancing plan, promising to have a deal on lawmakers’ desks for today’s overtime finale to the 2010 General Assembly. The Republican-dominated House of Delegates and the Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate quit at midafternoon yesterday, having agreed to a one-day extension of the annual legislative session.
Budget negotiators inching toward deal
House and Senate negotiators are inching toward a compromise budget-balancing plan, promising to have a deal on lawmakers’ desks for Sunday’s overtime finale to the 2010 General Assembly. The Republican-dominated House of Delegates and Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate quit at mid-afternoon today, having agreed to a one-day extension of the annual legislative session.
McDonnell seeks federal disaster aid after snowstorms
Gov. Bob McDonnell has requested federal disaster money to reimburse state and local governments for expenses caused by severe snowstorms Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10, the governor’s office said today. “These storms required extraordinary response and recovery efforts at the state and local levels,“ McDonnell said in statement. “Federal assistance will help local and state agencies recover.“
Budget negotiators expect deal; final vote tomorrow
House and Senate budget teams expect to wrap up their negotiations this evening on a two-year spending plan, setting the stage for a final vote tomorrow evening. A dozen House and Senate members worked today to resolve final differences over public education and state-supported health care and revenue sources. House and Senate leaders expected final handshakes and signatures on a compromise that the House and Senate will consider in a session late tomorrow afternoon.
McDonnell seeks federal disaster aid after snowstorms
Gov. Bob McDonnell has requested federal disaster money to reimburse state and local governments for expenses caused by severe snowstorms Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10, the governor’s office said today. “These storms required extraordinary response and recovery efforts at the state and local levels,“ McDonnell said in statement. “Federal assistance will help local and state agencies recover.“
Budget negotiators expect deal; final vote tomorrow
House and Senate budget teams expect to wrap up their negotiations this evening on a two-year spending plan, setting the stage for a final vote tomorrow evening. A dozen House and Senate members worked today to resolve final differences over public education and state-supported health care and revenue sources. House and Senate leaders expected final handshakes and signatures on a compromise that the House and Senate will consider in a session late tomorrow afternoon.
Capitol Talk - What’s so hard about cutting $4.2 billion?
Jim Nolan and Jeff Schapiro discuss the state budget, and Gov. Bob McDonnell’s issues an anti-discrimination order.
Capitol Talk - What’s so hard about cutting $4.2 billion?
Jim Nolan and Jeff Schapiro discuss the state budget, and Gov. Bob McDonnell’s issues an anti-discrimination order.
Budget breakthroughs seen, but overtime likely
House and Senate budget negotiators reported progress last night on funding for schools and health care, but the General Assembly still appears headed for overtime tomorrow. Each extra day costs taxpayers about $25,000. This would be the fifth time in 10 years that the legislature has needed extra time to settle budget differences. The 60-day session had been scheduled to end today, but differences between the House and Senate over revenues and expenditures appeared likely to push back the timetable…
McDonnell says he’s done enough to protect gays
Gov. Bob McDonnell says he’s done enough to protect gay state employees from discrimination in the workplace. Rejecting Democratic demands that he seek last-minute legislation to add anti-bias safeguards to state law, McDonnell yesterday said his public pledge to oppose prejudice and fire those guilty of it is sufficient. “I believe that takes care of it,“ said McDonnell, ducking a question on whether he chose not to press legislation to avoid angering his conservative Republican…
Briefs: What’s happening at the Capitol today?
More than 50 delegates, most of them Republicans, sponsored the resolution. Senators, however, were less agreeable to House Joint Resolution 435, which praised pregnancy care centers—organizations established as a counterbalance to Planned Parenthood—that discourage at-risk pregnant women from seeking abortions. Bolling’s memo comes on the heels of Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, creating a special subcommittee to hear a slew of gun bills sent over from the House of Delegates.
McDonnell says he’s done enough to protect gays
Rejecting Democratic demands that he seek last-minute legislation to add anti-bias safeguards to state law, Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday said his public pledge to oppose prejudice and fire those guilty of it is sufficient.
Budget breakthroughs seen, but overtime likely
House and Senate budget negotiators reported progress last night on funding for schools and health care, but the General Assembly still appears headed for overtime tomorrow. Each extra day costs taxpayers about $25,000. This would be the fifth time in 10 years that the legislature has needed extra time to settle budget differences. The 60-day session had been scheduled to end today, but differences between the House and Senate over revenues and expenditures appeared likely to push back the timetable…
Briefs: What’s happening at the Capitol today?
More than 50 delegates, most of them Republicans, sponsored the resolution. Senators, however, were less agreeable to House Joint Resolution 435, which praised pregnancy care centers—organizations established as a counterbalance to Planned Parenthood—that discourage at-risk pregnant women from seeking abortions. Bolling’s memo comes on the heels of Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, creating a special subcommittee to hear a slew of gun bills sent over from the House of Delegates.
McDonnell says he’s done enough to protect gays
Rejecting Democratic demands that he seek last-minute legislation to add anti-bias safeguards to state law, Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday said his public pledge to oppose prejudice and fire those guilty of it is sufficient.
Run, Sarah, run?
Thanks to Below the Beltway for the Friday chuckle:
Bearing Drift, the magazine, debuts
Congratulations to Jim Hoeft and Bearing Drift on the premier issue of the Bearing Drift newsletter: Always good to see a new publication coming into the mix. The Bearing Drift newsletter is an e-zine, coming out monthly and delivered via e-mail. You can subscribe for free (for now) at BearingDrift.com.
House adjourns as budget deal remains elusive
House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said that while it remains possible, he does not consider it likely that lawmakers will approve a budget in time to adjourn on Saturday.
McDonnell presses negotiators for budget deal
Gov. Bob McDonnell is practicing shuttle diplomacy with House and Senate negotiators, pressing them to reach a budget-balancing deal before tomorrow’s scheduled adjournment of the General Assembly. Also, McDonnell is rejecting Democratic demands he send down legislation to put teeth his so-called “executive directive” against discrimination of gay state employees.
House adjourns as budget deal remains elusive
House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said that while it remains possible, he does not consider it likely that lawmakers will approve a budget in time to adjourn on Saturday.
McDonnell meets with budget negotiators
Gov. Bob McDonnell paid a surprise visit to House and Senate negotiators this morning, pushing them to adopt a compromise budget-balancing plan in time for tomorrow’s scheduled close of the 2010 General Assembly. The Republican, accompanied by chief of staff Martin Kent, met privately with Senate Democrats on the 10th floor of the General Assembly Building before huddling with conferees from both parties.
McDonnell meets with budget negotiators
Gov. Bob McDonnell paid a surprise visit to House and Senate negotiators this morning, pushing them to adopt a compromise budget-balancing plan in time for tomorrow’s scheduled close of the 2010 General Assembly. The Republican, accompanied by chief of staff Martin Kent, met privately with Senate Democrats on the 10th floor of the General Assembly Building before huddling with conferees from both parties.
Iraq starts laying groundwork for new government
BAGHDAD—The Iraqi prime minister’s bloc says it has started laying the groundwork to form a coalition government after preliminary election results showed it winning in at least two southern provinces. Today’s announcement that Nouri al-Maliki’s alliance has created a committee to open talks with other groups signals growing optimism about a strong showing in the parliamentary balloting.
Israel moves to change law after Biden ‘mishap’
JERUSALEM—Israel is moving to amend the country’s planning procedures on sensitive political decisions following an embarrassing diplomatic flap during a visit this week by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a Cabinet minister said today. The change endorsed by a parliamentary legislation committee yesterday will require a representative of the prime minister to be present when development plans are approved. The change aims to ensure the country’s leader is not caught off guard by…
Iraq starts laying groundwork for new government
BAGHDAD—The Iraqi prime minister’s bloc says it has started laying the groundwork to form a coalition government after preliminary election results showed it winning in at least two southern provinces. Today’s announcement that Nouri al-Maliki’s alliance has created a committee to open talks with other groups signals growing optimism about a strong showing in the parliamentary balloting.
Israel moves to change law after Biden ‘mishap’
JERUSALEM—Israel is moving to amend the country’s planning procedures on sensitive political decisions following an embarrassing diplomatic flap during a visit this week by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a Cabinet minister said today. The change endorsed by a parliamentary legislation committee yesterday will require a representative of the prime minister to be present when development plans are approved. The change aims to ensure the country’s leader is not caught off guard by…
Obama reportedly to tap Yellen as Fed vice chair
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is planning to nominate Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of central bank in Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the Journal said the White House has also chosen two other nominees to fill vacancies on the Fed’s seven-member board, although it said those names could not be learned late yesterday.
China fires back at U.S. human rights criticisms
BEIJING—China today accused the United States of destabilizing the world economy and meddling—its standard response to Washington’s annual review of Beijing’s human rights record. The U.S. report issued yesterday accused Beijing of abusing its citizens’ rights and maintaining currency policies that cost millions of U.S. jobs. The Chinese response touched on America’s gun crime and prison population and offered sweeping statements that often mirrored charges in…
Venezuela’s Chavez thanks Sean Penn for slamming his critics
CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is grateful that actor Sean Penn has defended him against his critics within the U.S. media. In an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week, Penn slammed Chavez critics who refer to the socialist leader as a dictator. The Oscar-winning celebrity noted that Chavez has won repeated elections and suggested that media critics who call him a dictator should be jailed.
Obama reportedly to tap Yellen as Fed vice chair
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is planning to nominate Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of central bank in Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the Journal said the White House has also chosen two other nominees to fill vacancies on the Fed’s seven-member board, although it said those names could not be learned late yesterday.
China fires back at U.S. human rights criticisms
BEIJING—China today accused the United States of destabilizing the world economy and meddling—its standard response to Washington’s annual review of Beijing’s human rights record. The U.S. report issued yesterday accused Beijing of abusing its citizens’ rights and maintaining currency policies that cost millions of U.S. jobs. The Chinese response touched on America’s gun crime and prison population and offered sweeping statements that often mirrored charges in…
Venezuela’s Chavez thanks Sean Penn for slamming his critics
CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is grateful that actor Sean Penn has defended him against his critics within the U.S. media. In an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week, Penn slammed Chavez critics who refer to the socialist leader as a dictator. The Oscar-winning celebrity noted that Chavez has won repeated elections and suggested that media critics who call him a dictator should be jailed.
Democrats press McDonnell to protect gay rights
General Assembly Democrats say Gov. Bob McDonnell isn’t going far enough to protect gay public employees—that he needs to put the law behind his promise to shield them from bias in the workplace.
Marsh stood in way of pro-gun legislation
With a newly elected Republican governor, a fortified GOP majority in the House of Delegates, and sympathetic rural Democrats in the Senate, proponents of expanding gun rights and the death penalty entered the 2010 General Assembly session with an ambitious agenda. Repeal the one-gun-a-month statute. Allow concealed guns in bars and in cars. Expand the death penalty to accomplices in capital murders. Prohibit public access to records of holders of concealed-handgun permits. Prohibit localities from…
Car-title lenders quietly regulate themselves; bill’s fate is up to governor
Restrictions on car-title lenders that limit costs for borrowers but preserve high interest rates are headed to Gov. Bob McDonnell, capping an under-the-radar campaign by lenders built on big-dollar donations and low-key schmoozing of lawmakers. A clampdown largely crafted by the industry, but nonetheless welcomed by consumer advocates as an improvement, won final approval yesterday in the Virginia Senate. Senate Bill 606, by Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, a business-friendly Democrat…
On-time state budget looks less and less likely
Continued disagreement over K-12 education funding and fees yesterday threatened to delay the scheduled adjournment of the General Assembly tomorrow. While the 13 budget negotiators from the House of Delegates and state Senate reported some progress, they also said time was running short to adopt a budget on which both chambers could agree.
Imam of Falls Church mosque prays in House of Delegates
The imam of a Falls Church mosque, where two Sept. 11 hijackers worshipped, prayed without incident yesterday in the House of Delegates. About a dozen delegates missed the opening prayer but declined to say whether they were boycotting Imam Johari Abdul-Malik. “I was in the bathroom,“ said Del. Riley E. Ingram, R-Hopewell. “I had a reason but am not commenting on it,“ said Del. R. Lee Ware Jr., R-Powhatan.
Traditional allies at odds over charter schools
An unusual alliance between the Virginia Education Association and the McDonnell administration on education reforms has alienated some of the teachers group’s most loyal political supporters. And as the administration’s education agenda sails through the General Assembly—thanks in part to the VEA’s stamp of approval—the dismay is building.
Democrats press McDonnell to protect gay rights
General Assembly Democrats say Gov. Bob McDonnell isn’t going far enough to protect gay public employees—that he needs to put the law behind his promise to shield them from bias in the workplace.
Marsh stood in way of pro-gun legislation
With a newly elected Republican governor, a fortified GOP majority in the House of Delegates, and sympathetic rural Democrats in the Senate, proponents of expanding gun rights and the death penalty entered the 2010 General Assembly session with an ambitious agenda. Repeal the one-gun-a-month statute. Allow concealed guns in bars and in cars. Expand the death penalty to accomplices in capital murders. Prohibit public access to records of holders of concealed-handgun permits. Prohibit localities from…
Car-title lenders quietly regulate themselves; bill’s fate is up to governor
Restrictions on car-title lenders that limit costs for borrowers but preserve high interest rates are headed to Gov. Bob McDonnell, capping an under-the-radar campaign by lenders built on big-dollar donations and low-key schmoozing of lawmakers. A clampdown largely crafted by the industry, but nonetheless welcomed by consumer advocates as an improvement, won final approval yesterday in the Virginia Senate. Senate Bill 606, by Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, a business-friendly Democrat…
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Public News Service (National)
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