McDonnell sets moment of silence to commemorate Sandy Hook victims

Contributors

Two days after suggesting in a radio interview that he supports arming teachers as a way to prevent future school shootings, Gov. Bob McDonnell was back in political mourning mood on Thursday, announcing a statewide moment of silent to commemorate the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting exactly one week after the shootings occurred.

Compromise moving in direction of Kaine campaign proposal?

Contributors

President Obama has proposed allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire above $400,000 as part of negotiations to avoid the fiscal cliff. U.S. Sen.-elect Tim Kaine had suggested during his campaign allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire on income above $500,000 per year, a practical compromise between the position of Senate Democrats and President Obama and the position of House Republicans.

McDonnell: State will not pursue its own health benefits exchange

Contributors

The old saw about PR is that if you have news that you need to get out, but really don’t want getting out, you do it on a Friday, the later in the day, the better. In that context, then, we have the news release from the McDonnell administration issued at 4:35 p.m. Friday reporting that Virginia will not be pursuing a state-based health benefits exchange for 2014.

McDonnell proposes 2 percent pay hike for teachers

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell joined Del. Kirk Cox and former Secretary of Education Jim Dyke, leaders from the Virginia School Boards Association, Virginia Association of School Superintendents, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals and key business leaders on Thursday to announce part one of his 2013 K-12 education reform legislative agenda.