War, economy, high gas prices? No, it’s the Second Amendment again

Chris Graham

The Politcs Beat column by Chris Graham [email protected] Why is Bob Goodlatte banging the drum on the Second Amendment? “You can count on me to fight to protect our rights,” Goodlatte wrote in a fund-raising letter dated May 16 that he began with mention of a case now in front of the United States Supreme…

Cline critical of governor on transportation

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] Rockbridge Republican Del. Ben Cline is “disappointed but not surprised” that Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine has proposed a series of small tax and fee increases to provide funding for transportation maintenance and funding. “As a member of the House Finance Committee, I have listened to Gov. Kaine ask time and…

Critics of Kaine roads plan coming out of woodwork

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] Perhaps Bob McDonnell missed something. “While I have worked closely and in agreement with the governor on many important reforms for our citizens, I cannot support the governor’s tax and spend philosophy as outlined in his transportation plan,” the presumptive 2009 Republican Party gubernatorial nominee said in a statement released…

Queen of the Queen City: Rita Wilson retiring after 16-plus years on Staunton City Council

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] She wasn’t trying to be Rosa Parks. “We were just tired of the separate-but-equal thing. Because it certainly wasn’t separate-but-equal,” said Rita Wilson, who is retiring from Staunton City Council on June 30 after 16-plus years on the job, and who a generation ago made her first foray into public…

Adjournment

Chris Graham

General Assembly Report column by Del. Ben Cline The adjournment of the 2008 General Assembly session came five days later than planned, but like all good things, it was worth waiting for. As I wrote last week, the session was extended by a few days to give our negotiators a little more time to work out the differences…

Kaine, lawmakers still working on budget, transportation fix

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine knows that Virginia lawmakers have a tough job. But … A deadline is a deadline is a deadline is a deadline. “We have a very short legislative session compared to most states. Most states have three-, four-, five-, six-month sessions, they’re in all year. The fact…

Our eighth week

Chris Graham

Column by Steve Landes Although there are just a few days remaining until the scheduled end of this year’s session of the Virginia General Assembly, events aren’t slowing down. This is the part of the session where delegates and senators meet to work out the final details on a wide range of legislation, and when…

Transportation shocker

Chris Graham

General Assembly Report column by Del. Ben Cline With the final week of the 2008 General Assembly session upon us, 100 delegates and 40 senators have begun to close up their Richmond offices and return to their homes, families, and communities to discuss the accomplishments of the past 60 days. But just as we began…

Is Virginia a step closer to nonpartisan redistricting?

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] He’s been down this road before. “It’s one of those situations where persistence pays off. This is an issue that I’ve worked on for a lot of years. It’s an issue where I’ve made very significant contributions. I picked up 10 more votes this year than I had last year…

The People v. Rick Krial: Staunton obscenity case has national attention

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The subject isn’t evolution, and the barristers aren’t William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. But the upcoming trial of a Staunton adult-video store owner on obscenity charges has some of that Scopes Monkey Trial flavor to it. Doesn’t it? I mean, on the one side, you have the fundamentalists who…