Deeds returns money from Australian company that had lengthy donor list

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Democratic Party gubernatorial-nomination candidate Creigh Deeds has authorized the return of $1,500 in campaign contributions from the U.S. subsidiary of an Australian toll-road company that recently broke ground on a HOT lanes project in Northern Virginia. Transurban Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of an Australian company and is thus not…

Whither speculation?

Chris Graham

Special Commentary by Chris Graham [email protected] I’m trying to make sense of why Senate Republicans have filibustered legislation that would rein in market speculators who have helped drive up the price of oil well beyond natural supply-and-demand forces. They do understand that it’s an election year, right? And that taking the side of Big Oil…

House passes homeowner-relief bill

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] The House of Representatives has passed back to the Senate a bill that would help homeowners caught up in the ongoing foreclosure crisis, even as a pair of Virginia congressmen facing re-election battles voted against the measure. “Congressman Goode is clearly out of touch with the honest, hardworking people of…

Winners and Losers: July 21, 2008

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] LOSER: Jim Gilmore and drilling “Someone has to do something for these people out there.” Don’t disagree in the slightest. But Jim Gilmore is trying to suggest that drilling in ANRW and offshore elsewhere around the continental U.S. is going to have an immediate impact on what we’re paying at…

Webb backing bills that could push gas prices down

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] Congress is continuing its efforts to dampen market speculation as a factor in raising crude-oil prices to what some economists feel are unnatural highs. U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., is sponsoring two pieces of legislation that would deal with the effects of speculation. S. 3134, proposed by Florida Republican Sen….

Shannon doing well in AG money race

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Democratic Party attorney-general nomination candidate Steve Shannon has outraised his two potential Republican challengers combined at this early stage in the 2009 campaign. Shannon had raised $297,923 for his campaign as of June 30, according to a report filed with the State Board of Elections this week. Shannon, a Northern…