Health commissioner urges parents to be prepared for increased flu activity

AFP

Parents of school-age children should prepare now for the possibility of increased flu activity as students return to class this fall. Virginia Department of Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., MBA, had that message for the Virginia Parents Teachers Association this past week when 600 members of the statewide organization were in Richmond for their annual…

The same old GOP shell game

Chris Graham

Republican Party gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell seems to agree now that Virginia needs to invest more in its transportation system. That’s good news. Two questions. One, can we trust somebody who has been a key player on the team that has been blocking substantive progress on transportation solutions to do what he is now saying…

Erik Curren | Religion and politics in the 20th District race

Chris Graham

“Almighty God hath created the mind free.” So Thomas Jefferson opened his Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. In that founding document of our Commonwealth, Jefferson went on to decry fallible religious or political leaders who would try to influence freedom of conscience through social or political pressure, begetting “habits of hypocrisy and meanness.”

Bolling camp corrects record on Opportunity Fund

Chris Graham

“During her trip to the Valley and as you reported during her stop in Waynesboro, Wagner accused the LG of only recently supporting the Governor’s Opportunity Fund. However, Jody Wagner is dead wrong.” That was the message to me from Randy Marcus, the chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, pulling double duty in…

Fellow Democrat raises issue with Curren’s faith

Chris Graham

“Do Augusta County Democrats have a death wish?” That was what greeted me to the desk this morning, an e-mail note from a friend and Democratic Party strategist with a link to a story in today’s News Leader discussing 20th District House candidate Erik Curren’s religious beliefs and criticisms from fellow Democrat Tracy Pyles to…

Mahlon G. “Lon” Anderson | Enough already

AFP

The shuttering of 18 rest areas along Virginia’s interstates overnight marks a new low point in Virginia’s transportation budget wars. We always knew that Virginia lawmakers’ budget feud and failure to fund transportation, even after being called into special session in 2008 and not appropriating an additional dime, would put motorists in their crosshairs. Today,…

Jay Speer | “Let them eat cake”

AFP

This is what is seems some legislators have been telling victims of predatory lending for years. Or put another way, if we take away payday and car title loans at 350 percent interest, where else will these people turn for help? Should we just “Let them eat cake”? Or are there other solutions?

Updates from The Hill

Chris Graham

Friday, July 24 – Senate bill includes proposal to add National D-Day Memorial to Park Service Thursday, July 23 – Perriello backs Pay-As-You-Go bill Wednesday, July 22 – Webb to chair hearing of Foreign Relations Committee Thursday Tuesday, July 21 – Perriello introduces rural-ed advisory initiative Monday, July 20 – Warner urges confirmation of Sotomayor…