Andy Schmookler: I’m betting on Mark Obenshain acting honorably

AFP

Earlier this month, an alarm about Virginia’s razor-close Attorney General’s race sounded in some Democratic circles. Adam Swerver, in an article posted on the MSNBC website, declared that even if the defeat of Republican candidate Mark Obenshain is confirmed in a recount, he might still be able to have himself declared the winner.

Earth Talk: Navy sonar testing in oceans impacting marine mammals

Roddy Scheer

Active sonar is a technology used on ships to aid in navigation, and the U.S. Navy tests and trains with it extensively in American territorial waters. The Navy also conducts missile and bomb testing in the same areas. But environmentalists and animal advocates contend that this is harming whales and other marine wildlife.

ACLU: New Department of Taxation policy discriminates against LGBT Virginians

AFP

A Virginia Department of Taxation bulletin concerning treatment of legally married same-sex couples under Virginia’s tax laws is coming under fire from the ACLU of Virginia. According to the bulletin, the marital status of a couple for Virginia income tax purposes is based on whether the couple is considered married for federal income tax purposes.

Patrice McDermott: Farm Bill threatens our right to know

Letters

Families who live near or share waterways with large corporate farms or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have a critical need to know some basic facts about these operations. The public’s right to this information, however, could be stripped away by the Farm Bill currently under debate in Congress.

What happens when the Mark Herring-Mark Obenshain race goes to recount?

AFP

It’s almost dangerous to say this, but as of this writing, Republican Mark Obenshain has a 681-vote lead over Democrat Mark Herring in the too-close-to-call Virginia attorney general race. And now the focus shifts to the inevitable recount that is to come, even as the candidates jockey for position in the ongoing PR battle.

tim kaine

Tim Kaine comments on Senate GOP block on Pattie Millett judicial nomination

AFP

The Senate voted 55-38 on Thursday to proceed with a vote on the nomination of Pattie Millett to serve on the U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit. The weird way that things work in Washington, that majority wasn’t enough for the Senate to proceed with its consideration of the nomination to the court, which is down three judges currently.