Was the PGI deal a good one?

Chris Graham

Special Report by Chris Graham [email protected]   How much did the economic-incentive package put together by the City of Waynesboro have to do with the ultimate decision of Polymer Group Inc. to expand its operations here and not in Mooresville, N.C.? The first question that I posed to PGI spokesman Cliff Bridges was the generic,…

GOP candidates press Perriello – and each other

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello is facing a full-court press from the Republicans gunning for the chance to knock him off in November. The press might work better if the GOP’ers weren’t trying at the same time to steal the ball from each other. “My opponent Jim McKelvey put…

New discrimination prohibitions include sexual orientation

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]    Gov. Bob McDonnell today issued an executive directive clarifying his administration’s position on employment discrimination that makes it clear that discrimination “based on factors such as one’s sexual orientation or parental status” will not be tolerated. “Discrimination based on factors such as one’s sexual orientation or parental status violates…

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…