State Senate vote codifies adoption discrimination
The State Senate on Tuesday passed House Bill 189, which Virginia Democrats say will set the Commonwealth backwards by codifying and expanding the ability of state-funded child-placing agencies to discriminate against gay and lesbian Virginians seeking to adopt.
“We have been talking about conscience. But whose conscience are we talking about? My conscience is offended whenever the state sponsors discrimination. My conscience is offended when we discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. My conscience is offended when we deny a child a loving home,” Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) said. Continue reading “State Senate vote codifies adoption discrimination” »
Eminent domain constitutional amendment passes in Senate, House
A proposed constitutional amendment that would help protect private property rights cleared its next-to-last hurdle when it was passed by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. Now it awaits approval by Virginia voters in November.
The Senate version of the bill, SJ 3, passed 23-17, and HJ 3, the House version, was approved 80-18 late Monday.
“We can’t begin to say how pleased we are that this bill has passed the House and Senate for the second year in a row,” said Trey Davis, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation assistant director of governmental relations. “We are looking forward to putting this before the state’s voters in November.” Continue reading “Eminent domain constitutional amendment passes in Senate, House” »
House Dems denounce passage of ultrasound bill
On the final day for House bills to be considered before crossing over to the Senate, Republicans capped their divisive social-issue agenda by passing the physically intrusive HB462. The measure, sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), mandates women have an ultrasound performed – which includes the transvaginal procedure that requires a device to be inserted into the vagina – before they can undergo an abortion or medically-induced miscarriage.
“House Republicans have decided to pry even further into the private lives of Virginia women by requiring doctors to offer to perform an invasive medical procedure before they can exercise their constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy,” said Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria). “House Republicans can no longer call themselves the party of ‘small government’ with a straight face after the passage of HB462.” Continue reading “House Dems denounce passage of ultrasound bill” »
Senate passes bill allowing for adoption discrimination
The Senate on Thursday joined the House of Delegates in approving a bill that allows private state-licensed adoption and foster care agencies, many of which are faith-based, to discriminate against prospective parents based on sexual orientation, religion or other bases that may be contrary to the adoption agency’s religious tenets.
The Senate passed SB 349 on a 22 to 18 vote. The House passed HB 189, 71 to 28, on February 3.
“Virginia’s lawmakers are not only allowing private adoption agencies to discriminate against prospective parents, with the passage of this law they seem to be encouraging it,” said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis.
The legislative measure comes after the State Board of Social Services nearly put in place regulations that would have prohibited discrimination in adoptions and foster care placement, but decided against it when the Governor and anti-gay advocacy groups opposed the changes.
“Less than a year ago, Virginia was on the verge of adopting rather routine non-discrimination rules to apply to state-licensed adoption and foster care agencies,” added Willis. “Now we have turned 180 degrees and are actually enabling discrimination. Suffering most will be the many parentless children in state care whose likelihood of placement with caring families just dropped dramatically.”
Virginia has the second lowest rate of public adoptions in the nation. Currently, over 1,300 vulnerable children in Virginia are in need of homes. More than half of these children are of African-American heritage. This legislation will delay or deny permanency for some children because the state-contracted agency responsible for their placement can turn away qualified families for reasons unrelated to child welfare.
In October, the ACLU of Virginia submitted comments to the Board of Social Services stating that private adoption agencies, including faith-based groups, should not be allowed to discriminate when they perform governmental functions such as certifying adoptive parents or placing children with foster parents.
Crossover: Dems Repubs offer views on ’12 GA session
At a press conference in Richmond on Thursday, members of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses stood together to denounce the dozens of extreme, divisive bills passed over the first month of session.
Republican leaders then responded with a press event aimed at highlighting what they termed their “positive reform agenda.”
“Republicans are so focused on divisive policies that they are hindering our efforts at progress, putting our kids’ education at risk, and leaving them less prepared for the future,” said Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Donald McEachin (D-Henrico). “In the last four weeks, Senate and House Republicans have introduced hundreds of bills that target the poor, women, and immigrants, make it harder to vote, and discriminate against gays and lesbians. It’s time for Republicans to put divisive ideology and raw partisanship aside. Continue reading “Crossover: Dems Repubs offer views on ’12 GA session” »
Consumer groups comment on GA’s health exchange gamble
On Wednesday the Senate special subcommittee on health insurance failed to recommend any health exchange bills despite previously acknowledging the irresponsibility of waiting and denying months of work from the governor’s hand-selected health reform panel.
Subcommittee Chair Sen. Jeffrey McWaters moved to wait until after the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of certain provisions of the new federal health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court will begin arguments in March 2012 with a ruling expected in June. Continue reading “Consumer groups comment on GA’s health exchange gamble” »
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. Continue reading “Creigh Deeds: Session Report” »
Eminent-domain legislation clears hurdle
A state constitutional amendment to protect private property rights is one step closer to getting on November’s ballot.
Tuesday, the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 13-2 in favor of SJ 3 and sent the bill to the full Senate floor. The legislation tightens the definition of public use and requires just compensation for owners whose property has been taken using eminent domain. Continue reading “Eminent-domain legislation clears hurdle” »
Senate Democrats oppose voter suppression efforts
State Senate Democrats today joined members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and its chair, Sen. Mamie Locke, Congressman Bobby Scott, Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, Civil Rights Leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Brian Moran and other concerned citizens to stand in united opposition to ongoing state legislative efforts to deny Virginians’ their right to vote.
“These bills have been submitted under the guise of the fake problem of voter fraud,” said Sen. Janet Howell, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, “but their only effect would be to make it more difficult for African Americans, seniors, low-income Virginians, and Virginians with disabilities to vote.” Continue reading “Senate Democrats oppose voter suppression efforts” »
Creigh Deeds; Session report
The 2012 session of the General Assembly is moving by rapidly. Deadlines for the submission of bills and budget amendments have long passed, and both houses of the Assembly are in full swing. There were both good and bad signs of things to come this past week.
On the hopeful side, Democrats and Republicans worked together in many committees and on the floor of the Senate to find compromise and move a number of bills forward. Some bills I favored, others I did not, but divisions did not often break down along party lines. For example, the Senate advanced a bill allowing hunting on private property on Sundays. Continue reading “Creigh Deeds; Session report” »
Virginia Organizing calls on GA to move forward with health-benefits exchange
Several pieces of legislation on the creation of a Virginia Health Benefits Exchange will be considered in this year’s General Assembly session. The statewide grassroots organization Virginia Organizing is asking legislators to move forward on the creation of a consumer-friendly Health Benefits Exchange and supports several Exchange bills including: SB 383 (McEachin), HB 357 (McClellan) and HB 402 (Hope).
Health care reform advocates are concerned that Gov. Bob McDonnell has recently decided to suspend implementation of a Virginia Health Benefits Exchange in favor of waiting for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the health care law, expected this June. The federal government will set up Exchanges for states that cannot prove by January 2013 that they are able to run their own. Continue reading “Virginia Organizing calls on GA to move forward with health-benefits exchange” »
Creigh Deeds: Session report
Posted by afp on February 10, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with creigh deeds, state senate, virginia general assembly