tim kaine

Kaine meets with Pentagon officials to discuss budget issues

AFP

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Budget Committees, today met with top officials at the Pentagon, including Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, to discuss the impact of sequestration in Virginia. The discussions covered the 90,000 civilian employees at the Department of Defense who will be furloughed, reductions to military base operations across the Commonwealth and delays in training and deployments that could decrease readiness. Kaine also spent time talking with civilian employees at the Pentagon about the effects of announced furloughs.

Tort reform bills pass House committee

Chris Graham

The Virginia House of Delegates Courts of Justice Committee cleared a major tort reform package on Monday, sending six pieces of legislation to the floor of the House of Delegates for final approval. The legislative package represents a major compromise between the business, medical and legal communities and will make significant changes to key areas of Virginia’s tort laws. The measures will help reduce costly and unnecessary lawsuits, streamline the litigation process, protect the integrity of the tort system and reduce legal costs for Virginia businesses.

Creigh Deeds: Session update

Creigh Deeds

The 2013 Session of the Virginia General Assembly is moving rapidly toward the crossover, the date when each house has to finish work on its respective bills. The short, 46-day session does not leave much time for delay or maneuver. Things move fast, and many issues of importance have already come up for debate.