Push on to limit interest rates on payday, car-title loans

Chris Graham

Former Gov. Tim Kaine signed a much-trumpeted reform of payday lending in 2008, but loopholes in the industry-written law were quickly exploited by lenders, who have since moved on to other high-interest loan products that have proven to be highly marketable in the midst of the ongoing economic slowdown. Staunton City Councilman Bruce Elder led…

Text of McDonnell budget speech

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell addressed the joint Senate Finance, House Appropriations and House Finance Committees in Richmond on Thursday. Below are the governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery. Thank you. Chairman Colgan, Chairman Putney, Chairman Purkey, members of the General Assembly money committees, ladies and gentlemen: good morning. As is the custom each summer, I come…

Ken Plum: Transportation progress?

Ken Plum

Column by Ken Plum www.kenplum.com   Gov. Bob McDonnell ran for office as the only candidate with a “transportation plan,” a multi-page, single-spaced document that was good for waving to political crowds but which critics who read its content said had little substance. A report from the governor’s office last month on the progress of…

WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: The Silence of the Brow

Contributors

Watching another recitation of the doofus that Michael Steele has allowed himself to become as head of the Republican National Committee, something occurred to me. Tim Kaine is still the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Not that you’d know that by the headlines, or lack thereof. The good news is that Kaine isn’t out…

David Reynolds: Standing for opportunity

David Reynolds

Column by David Reynolds Submit guest columns: [email protected]    “Where you stand depends upon where you sit,” has eight simple words which explain politics. But it need not. Stands have and will be taken during the discussions over where to cut our local school budgets in these tough fiscal times. Mostly they spring from where…

Discrimination: A competitiveness issue

Chris Graham

Report by Chris Graham [email protected]    Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a moral evil. Got that. Interesting approach from gay, lesbian and transgender activists in Virginia – playing not the moral but the economic-competitiveness card. “We want you to be sure you tell your employees that you’re bringing the facts of life…

Chris Graham: Breakfast is overrated, anyway

Chris Graham

   Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Leave it to people who call themselves conservatives to in one breath put school breakfast and lunch programs in the “not government’s responsibility” category and in the next bemoan the transfer responsibility from the public sector to the private the operation of a facility that happens to be in…

McDonnell: ‘Slight increase in incoming revenue for the year ahead’

Chris Graham

  Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The bad news: The state is facing down another massive budget shortfall. The good news: According to Gov. Bob McDonnell, the state can expect to see more revenues in the coming year with the improving economy. “I am pleased to report that the updated revenue numbers from the Department…