Building a new industrial sector in Waynesboro

Chris Graham

Special Report by Chris Graham [email protected]   Waynesboro was once the envy of Western Virginia for its manufacturing economy. As recently as 1990, almost half of the city’s workforce was employed in manufacturing, whose rate of pay has traditionally been at least 40 percent and some years approaching 50 percent higher than the median income…

Frank Nolen: Let the SCC set rates

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Column by Frank Nolen Submit guest columns: [email protected]   In 2007 the General Assembly passed legislation that greatly reduced the ability of the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to set just and reasonable electric rates. The result has been a 60 percent increase in the electric rates paid by customers of the Appalachian Power Company and…

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…

Lawmaker Dispatches: Monday, Feb. 15

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Featured: Mary Margaret Whipple, Rob Bell Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple: Crossover www.vasenatedems.com Tomorrow is “crossover day” down here in Richmond, meaning each chamber must act on all pending legislation if they want it considered by the other. Consequently, your Senate Democratic Caucus is working hard to pass our priority legislation and send it to our…

Valley gets $5M for green job training

Chris Graham

   Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University are among a group of Shenandoah Valley partners that will take part in a new program to train workers for jobs in the emerging green sector. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb on Friday announced a $5 million investment from…

Fifth District Report

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  Column by Tom Perriello www.periello.house.gov In this economy, every dollar counts — and so does a tax credit worth up to $5,657. Jan. 29 was designated by the Internal Revenue Service as Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day. More than 534,000 Virginia taxpayers took advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and received…

Richmond Reports

Chris Graham

Featured: Del. Bob Marshall, Sen. Robert Hurt, Sen. Walter Stosch Bob Marshall: Virginia, the president and Congress www.delegatebob.com Congress is attempting to make Virginia and other states mere administrative agents for dubious public policies that the Congress either lack the money to enforce or the authority to enact. Congress has seen states pay for the…

Letter | The pols and the BCS

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   Letter from Jack McClenahan, Lyndhurst Submit letters: [email protected] Well, it looks like the politicos in Washington are finally hearing the public outrage on a matter of significant importance. I am not talking about health care, record deficits, high unemployment nor an endless war in the Middle East. I read they are going to possibly…

Senate Democrats work through issues

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   Column by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple www.vasenatedems.com Greetings from Richmond! As the Senate Democratic Caucus begins another lively session of the Virginia General Assembly, we are reminded that every year presents its own challenges and opportunities, and this year should offer plenty of both. As we consider the many bills before us, know that…

The earnings report for Main Street

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   Column by Prakash Laufer Submit guest columns: [email protected] To add insult to injury to working America, in came the earnings reports from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. At these mega banks, balance sheets are healthy, profits are up and bonuses for top executives are bigger than ever. JPMorgan Chase just reported $11.7 billion in…