Ken Plum: Busy time in Virginia politics

Ken Plum

The Virginia General Assembly session gets under way on Jan. 8, but a great amount of groundwork goes into preparing for it. Beyond taking care of our personal and family responsibilities in December, legislators are rushing to survey constituents on their issues and concerns, get bills drafted and move to Richmond for at least 60 days starting in January.

bob mcdonnell

McDonnell budget includes money for prisoner re-entry, restoration of rights

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell will recommend substantial new state investments in the areas of prisoner re-entry and restoration of rights when he puts forward his two-year spending plan for the Commonwealth next Monday. The governor has put a focus on the two policy areas over the last four years, establishing Virginia’s first-ever prisoner re-entry statewide plan.

bob mcdonnell

McDonnell proposes new funding to help efforts to reduce homelessness

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced that his upcoming budget will contain considerable new funding to support Virginia’s ongoing homelessness reduction and prevention efforts. The governor will call for over $9.5 million in additional funding for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, the Rapid Re-Housing Program, and efforts to further enhance data collection.

Eric Shinseki: What veterans deserve

Contributors

Last month, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to former Captain William D. Swenson, United States Army, for heroism and gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in the Battle of the Ganjgal Valley on Sept. 8, 2009. At the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), we are honored to walk amongst, as well as work with, such heroes every day.

tim kaine

Tim Kaine comments on Senate GOP block on Pattie Millett judicial nomination

Contributors

The Senate voted 55-38 on Thursday to proceed with a vote on the nomination of Pattie Millett to serve on the U.S. Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit. The weird way that things work in Washington, that majority wasn’t enough for the Senate to proceed with its consideration of the nomination to the court, which is down three judges currently.