McDonnell adds to roads plans

Chris Graham

A key part of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan to get Virginia transportation moving would rededicate a portion of sales-tax revenues from the pot of money used to fund schools and public safety to roads projects in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. McDonnell said today that he will back legislation to move about $140 million a…

Kathleen Rogers and Antonio Gonzalez: Seeking one principled person from each side of the aisle

AFP

On Sept. 17, 1787, a group of visionaries and leaders signed our Constitution. They were intent on creating a functioning government based on universal truths and extraordinary principles in an environment complicated by disparate regional economies and wildly divergent parochial interests. Back then, differing proposals for the shape of our government divided our country into…

McDonnell: Concerns over reliability of federal documents leads to suspension

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that the Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend acceptance of the federally-issued Employment Authorization Document (I-766) as proof of legal presence in the United States, a condition of obtaining a driver’s license or identification card in Virginia. The action, according to the governor’s office, is the result of concerns over…

Rights groups urge feds to reject 287(g)

Chris Graham

A coalition of faith groups, civil and human rights organizations, and government officials have asked the Department of Homeland Security to reject Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request to allow the Virginia Department of State Police to enter into a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A 287(g) agreement, named after a provision of federal…

DREAM Act rally to greet McDonnell

Chris Graham

Members of a Valley-based group will greet Gov. Bob McDonnell on his way to his town-hall meeting at James Madison University in Harrisonburg on Thursday to voice their disapproval of the Republican’s stance on immigration. “We believe that immigration is a federal issue, and that politicians such as Ken Cuccinelli and Gov. McDonnell should be…

Tom Perriello: Focus on job creation

AFP

My top priority as your representative has been finding ways to encourage job growth and economic recovery in Central and Southern Virginia. We have made smart, strategic investments in infrastructure and workforce that position our area to be leaders in alternative energy production, advanced manufacturing, and other industries of tomorrow. But while we are working…

Elias Feghall: Reform and recovery

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Column by Elias Feghali Submit guest columns: [email protected]   Fixing our broken immigration system is vital to America’s economic recovery. As our economy shrinks, state governments are desperate for revenue. Without additional sources of funds, they are increasingly making the decision to cut important social services, raise taxes, or even worse, lay off hard-working state…

Simon Cho: Bringing home the medal

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Column by Simon Cho Submit guest columns: [email protected]   Five years after leaving my hometown of Upper Marlboro, Md., I returned to my elementary school to speak about being an Olympian. Everyone knew I’d helped the United States speed skating team win a bronze medal in the 5,000-meter relay. But there’s another important part of…