Creigh Deeds: Session report
We are near the crossover of the 2012 session. The session has moved by rapidly though many of the big issues remain unresolved. We are no closer on a budget compromise today than we were when the session started. We are still looking at a budget that makes deep cuts in human services, underfunds K-12 education, and puts enormous burdens on our local governments and their taxpayers. Read more
Ken Plum: Shortchanging the education of our children
Last week I addressed the House of Delegates to express concern that Gov. McDonnell’s proposed budget short changes the education of our children (http://youtu.be/-VbOv_uJXOU).
While the governor is claiming to provide about 500 million new dollars for public education, school boards and superintendents around the Commonwealth are talking about the cuts in programs and teachers they will need to make because of the loss of state aid in his budget. Read more
David Reynolds: The Virginia Reel
This is how it’s done. First, you take a short walk. Then you sashay, a step where the left moves off to the side, only to be chased by the right. Then you go in the opposite direction, with the right leading being chased by the left. Then you act like children, you do some skipping. First to the right, then left. This allows both sides to face one another, each backing off when one goes forward. Then everyone moves around in a big circle. Finally, both sides smile, join hands and return to their original position.
Ladies and Virginia gentlemen, this is how the Virginia Reel is conducted. It is also how the Virginia General Assembly conducts its own dance of legislation. Read more
Karen Kwiatkowski: Does Bob Goodlatte regret voting to fund Obamacare?
The buzz in conservative media is that former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, a Democrat, now regrets that she voted for Obamacare.
Dahlkemper is Roman Catholic, and she says she didn’t realize that Obamacare would force “all private insurers, including Catholic charities and hospitals, to provide free coverage of contraception, sterilization procedures, and the “week-after” pill.”
Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte, seeking his 11th term, voted several times to fund Obamacare, most recently last spring. Perhaps, like Democratic Congresswoman Dahlkemper, he didn’t read the bill he was voting to fund. Read more
Chris Saxman: Cold Fusion-Super Bowl Ads Edition
I had only three reasons to watch the Super Bowl this year.
1. It was the last football game until college spring games in April
2. Whether or not the score was going to be close to my prediction of 20-17 and well under the Over/Under Las Vegas put on the game of 54.5 points. I had NO idea or concern as to whether or not the Giants beat the Patriots or vice versa. In another battle of New York versus Boston, I choose C) None of the above.
3. The ads
Offering a Cold Fusion look at the ads, I will attempt to convey how I look at Super Bowl ads and frankly, advertising in general. Read more
Tyler Meurlin: Virginia traditions
Imagine for a minute that you are an avid golfer who is trying to spend time with, and pass along your love of golf to your children. You work Monday through Friday, spend Saturday watching your son’s soccer game in the morning, then your daughter’s field hockey game in the afternoon, and in the evening you attend the birthday party of a family friend. By all accounts, this is a busy but wonderful day for any family. Sunday’s schedule is open so the family wants to head to the golf course for a quick nine. Unfortunately there are no courses open in Virginia. There is a blue law that prohibits playing golf on Sunday. Sounds crazy, right? Read more
Robert Hurt: Fixing a broken budget system
At a time when we in the House have been waiting on the Senate to take action and join our focused agenda of enacting measures that would reduce our staggering $15 trillion debt, the Senate acted – but they acted in a way that was dismissive of their responsibility to the American people and in direct conflict with the necessary goal of passing a budget in order to restore our country to fiscal sustainability.
Though Congress is legally required to pass a budget each fiscal year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate would not allow a vote on a fiscal year 2013 budget resolution – marking the third straight year that the Senate has abdicated its legislative duties and not passed a budget. Read more
Creigh Deeds: Session Report
January has come and gone. Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow, and it appears that six more weeks of winter weather are ahead. We saw temperatures in the 70s in Richmond this week. Hopefully Phil is predicting six more weeks of this type of wintry weather.
Throughout this session, one thing that stands out for me is the apparent disconnect between my colleagues in the General Assembly and those who campaigned for office last fall. Last fall, candidates from both parties in every region of the Commonwealth were focused on the economy, and rightfully so. Read more
Chris Saxman: Cold Fusion-Dude? Was That You? Edition
On a crowded elevator turn to the friend next to you and say “Dude! Really? On an elevator? Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to apologize for my friend. I want to assure you that I will be having a man to man conversation about his behavior. Oh man, this is just awful! It’s not funny!”
Now, naturally at this point one’s friend is totally frozen and shocked at the false outrage OR he is convulsively laughing which doubles down on the situational humor. Read more
Ken Plum: Repeat of a sordid history
The Virginia General Assembly may be about to repeat an unfortunate chapter of its history by passing bills that will have the effect of suppressing voter participation. Although the bills are justified by the proponents as preventing voter fraud, no examples of voter wrongdoing have been shown.
At the turn of the 20th century Virginians were in the throes of fierce political upheaval. While the Civil War had ended decades before, fallout from Reconstruction and shifts in control of state government were still being felt. A new state constitution was intended to renew order to a state that had been accustomed to being governed by an aristocracy. That order was achieved by the imposition of a number of voter suppression measures that cut the state’s voter registration list in half and led to the state having one of the lowest rates of voter participation in the country. Read more
John Valentine: Focus on results
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s philosophy of “results-oriented conservatism” would greatly reduce the gridlock that has defined this Congress. David McCormick, a Republican running to be Virginia’s United States senator, has pledged to take this philosophy of governance to Washington.
He has stated that he will work with any congressman willing to put the interests of America ahead of their own re-election. That does not mean he will betray conservative principles, but that David will use those conservative principles to determine if legislation is in the best interests of Virginians. Read more
Latest AFP News
-
Heart health fair at Augusta Health - AAA: Demand down, crude oil prices down, but prices continue upward tick
- Gardner-Webb 77, VMI 61
- Poll: Santorum builds big, if brief, lead in GOP race
- W&L convention picks Romney as GOP presidential nominee
- Second-half run pushes #5 UNC over UVa.
- JMU holds off Towson, 58-56
- Bridgewater holds off W&L
-
Chris Saxman: Cold Fusion-Super Bowl Controversies Edition
Posted February 11, 2012
While 111.3 million people watched the actual game, 3 million more watched Madonna’s halftime show for a grand total of 114 plus or minus million people all tuned into the tube on Sunday night. Read more
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with catholics obama, chris saxman, clint eastwood, cold fusion, madonna, new england patriots, new york giants, super bowl, super bowl commercials