Critics lambast House for rejection of judicial nominee
The Virginia House of Delegates is coming under intense criticism after the body refused to appoint Tracy Thorne-Begland as a Richmond General District Court judge because he is openly gay.
After receiving endorsements from the courts of justice committees in both the House of Delegates and the Senate, Thorne-Begland, who is currently chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney for the City of Richmond, appeared to have strong bipartisan support throughout the legislature.
According to news accounts, however, last-minute lobbying from the Family Foundation and Del. Robert G. Marshall, who expressed concerns that Thorne-Begland’s sexual orientation would influence his judicial decisions, turned the tide. Read more
McDonnell puts good spin on budget-amendment massacre
The Virginia General Assembly on Monday rejected 26 budget amendments made by Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose office tried to put a good spin on the development.
“While we were successful in seeing 72 percent of our amendments passed today, it is unfortunate that the General Assembly also rejected several important amendments that would have helped with our ongoing effort to control state spending and make state government more efficient and effective. We will continue to look for new ways to reform state government and make it work better for our citizens,” the governor was quoted in a statement in a press release from his office late Monday. Read more
Finally! Legislators agree on state budget
A day after deadlocking once again on the $85 billion spending plan for the 2012-2014 biennium, a sudden break by Democratic State Sen. Chuck Colgan from what had been unified Democratic Party opposition to the state budget led to its passage on Wednesday.
Colgan, D-Prince William, told reporters after the 21-19 vote in the Senate in which he was the lone Democrat to side with the 20 Senate Republicans in favor of the spending plan that he “didn’t feel very good about not having a budget.” Read more
Senate Dems reject latest budget proposal
State Senate Democrats voted Tuesday against the state budget conference report because they said it did not properly address funding for projects in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
“The issue here is the lack of transportation funding in two different regions of the state,” said State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax). “Rail to Dulles will be an economic bonanza because of the jobs it will bring the Commonwealth. And yet some do not want to fund this project properly. The state has only contributed $200 million. Currently $150 million is pledged, but there are all sorts of rules attached to it. The state must make a substantial contribution to this vital project.” Read more
House GOP urges passage of state budget
Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial vote on the Commonwealth’s Fiscal Year 2012-14 budget, House Republicans emphasized the importance of quickly passing Virginia’s biennial budget.
House and Senate Budget conferees agreed to the conference report on the $85 billion budget before the Easter Holiday and localities, agencies and schools across the Commonwealth are waiting for final passage before creating their respective budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Read more
McDonnell takes action on 2012 legislation
Gov. Bob McDonnell has taken executive action on legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2012 session.
McDonnell amended two pieces of legislation that were part of his “Opportunity to Learn” K-12 education agenda. Further, Governor McDonnell amended two key pieces of his transportation agenda – the Comprehensive Port of Virginia Promotion and Reform Bill (HB1183/SB578) and the Comprehensive Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority Promotion and Reform Bill (HB813/SB284). Read more
Ken Plum: General Assembly goes off a cliff
Posted by afp on May 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Pre-session survey and hearing results suggested that the session would be about traffic congestion relief, expanding job opportunities, and strengthening the economy. Instead, the expanded Republican majority in the House, a slim Republican majority in the Senate by virtue of the Lieutenant Governor being able to cast votes to break ties, and a Republican Governor set about a broad social agenda that consumed the time of the legislature that finally ended past midnight last Tuesday with the rejection of a judicial candidate because of his sexual orientation. I had to leave the session early because of illness and could not vote on any of the judges. As I had the Clerk record in the House Journal, I would have voted for Tracy Thorne-Begland had I been present. Read more
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