House Dems denounce passage of ultrasound bill

Chris Graham

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…

Dems critical of ‘personhood’ measure

Contributors

The Virginia House of Delegates voted Monday to advance HB1, a bill that confers legal “personhood” at the moment of conception. Without a subcommittee hearing, the bill emerged from the full Courts of Justice Committee late Friday night – the last possible time for new legislation to be considered during the current session. “Yet another…

Consumer groups comment on GA’s health exchange gamble

Contributors

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…

House Dems step up rhetoric on education funding

Chris Graham

Members of the House Democratic Caucus are vowing to protect school funding in the budget prior to next month’s vote. Education remains a point of contention in Gov. McDonnell’s 2012 biennium, with the overwhelming majority of new money going into Virginia’s retirement system instead of into the classroom. Del. Ken Plum (D-Fairfax) spoke on Monday…

House Dems call for government reform, budget transparency

Contributors

Today, the House Democratic Caucus’ newly installed Minority Leader David J. Toscano (D-Charlottesville), Caucus Chair Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax), and House Democratic leaders from across the Commonwealth released the House Democratic Caucus’ agenda on Government Reform and Budget Transparency for the 2012 Session. Constituents in Virginia have called for a state government that works more efficiently…

ACLU to represent magazine photographer arrested at Occupy Richmond rally

Contributors

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia will provide legal assistance to a photographer who was arrested for trespassing while taking pictures of the police during the recent sweep of Occupy demonstrators encamped at Kanawha Plaza in Downtown Richmond. Ian Graham, a photographer for RVA Magazine in Richmond, was attempting to document the removal of…