McDonnell requests immigration powers for State Police

Chris Graham

After months of discussions, Gov. Bob McDonnell has formally requested that the Department of Homeland Security enter into a 287(g) agreement with the Virginia Department of State Police allowing certain Virginia troopers to perform certain functions of a federal immigration officer within the borders of the Commonwealth. “I have been a longtime proponent of allowing…

Webb: ‘Clarity’ needed on Afghanistan strategy

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said this week during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that, in its congressionally-mandated December report, Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan, the Obama administration “must provide us some clarity, not only as to specific programs, but as to what their policies are expected to accomplish in a larger…

McAuliffe: ‘I want to keep all of my options open’

Chris Graham

Is Terry McAuliffe running for something? Well, not technically, but he is traveling with the former executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Levar Stoney, who now works for him in a sort of nebulous role that doesn’t have Stoney as a political aide, per se, but … And McAuliffe didn’t begin his talk…

Aaron Dorfman: Healthy democracy needs philanthropy

Column by Aaron Dorfman Submit guest columns: [email protected]   When those who speak for regular folks – you, me and everyday working people – are outspent in Washington, even the most welcome legislation tends to serve the rich and powerful. As the country anticipates President Obama signing financial reform legislation, the scorecard is so starkly…

DREAM to reality

Chris Graham

Isabel wanted to create an impression on her visit to Washington, so she had members of the group there to lobby Sen. Mark Warner for support for the DREAM Act to wear their graduation caps. “We weren’t sure if we would actually be able to meet with him one-on-one,” she said. But the senator was…

Emergency food, shelter funding available

Chris Graham

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro have been awarded $53,842 in federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The selection was made by the National Board and is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red…

Virginia enters Wind Energy Consortium

Chris Graham

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Gov. Bob McDonnell signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and nine East Coast governors, to establish the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium. Through this consortium, Gov. McDonnell will encourage the environmentally-responsible development of wind energy, and other sources of renewable energy,…