Ken Plum: Statesmanship prevailed

Ken Plum

During legislative sessions in Virginia there is far too much partisan bickering, currying to special interests and in recent years doing the things that appear on late-night comedy shows. These events tend to overshadow the amount of time that legislators work amicably together, regardless of political party and without personal gain, to solve complex problems to make the Commonwealth a better place to live. The negative forces at work in the legislature help to contrast the significant moments when statesmanship prevails.

Ken Plum: A breach of trust

Ken Plum

In a Tom DeLay, Texas-style move, Republicans in the Virginia State Senate redrew the legislative district lines without public notice or involvement. This action in the 20-20 divided body came on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday when Democratic Senator Henry Marsh, who is one of Virginia’s most prominent civil rights leaders, was away attending President Obama’s inauguration.