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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…
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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…
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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…
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That’s how I’m describing the budget-wrangling in Richmond that will effectively reduce state spending on K-12 education in Virginia. The moves – forced by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s push on funding for the Virginia Retirement System for public-sector employees – are forcing the hands of local decision-makers. Local government, of course, is where the rubber hits…
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In this column I made the assertion a couple of months ago that the Commonwealth of Virginia was shirking its responsibility in funding its share of public school K-12 budgets. I wrote that the state has a responsibility under the constitution to fund 55 percent of the cost of public schools but is providing only…
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In a recent column I questioned how Virginia could have hundreds of millions of dollars in budget surplus when the Commonwealth has “a responsibility to fund 55 percent of public education and is paying just 41 percent.” The Truth-O-Meter column of the Richmond Times Dispatch decided to check out my statement. It checked the report…
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Del. Ben Cline (R-24) today officially kicked off his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates this November with a focus on creating jobs and accelerating Virginia’s economic recovery. Del. Cline was joined by Congressman Bob Goodlatte as he toured three local manufacturers in the 24th House District. “It has been an honor for…
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Virginia created the problem. Isn’t it time the commonwealth solved it? No other state has small independent cities barely able to survive, but too proud to die. So they struggle with high taxes, marginal services and a check from Richmond to run the schools. Put it this way: Virginia’s independent cities with fewer than 25,000…
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Gov. Bob McDonnell has invited 57 school divisions that may have difficulty attracting, retaining and rewarding experienced, fully licensed teachers to participate in his Virginia Performance-Pay Incentives initiative for hard-to-staff schools. The initiative — which was approved by the 2011 General Assembly — is a centerpiece of McDonnell’s “Opportunity to Learn” education-reform agenda. It provides…
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As Virginians prepare for a 2011 campaign in which every state legislator is up for election, many are probably wondering what the real differences are between the two parties competing for their votes. Fortunately, state government provides a clear contrast between the divergent priorities of Democrats and Republicans in the commonwealth. Democrats believe that making…
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