Suffolk U.: Obama leads Romney by double digits

Chris Graham

President Barack Obama (47 percent) leads Republican Mitt Romney (37 percent) in a national general election match-up, with 7 percent saying they would vote for a third-party candidate and 7 percent undecided, according to a Suffolk University survey of likely general election voters of all parties. Obama led all GOP candidates: Romney by 10 points,…

Kaine campaign video puts spotlight on Allen spending record

The Tim Kaine Senate campaign released a web video on Friday highlighting opponent George Allen’s spending record. The video, “George Allen: Big Spender,” highlights the stark discrepancy between the fiscal message George Allen shares on the campaign trail and his long record of fiscal irresponsibility and big spending.  And no day better represents his term…

Ken Plum: Overreach

Ken Plum

If a single word or phrase can describe a General Assembly session, the 2012 meeting of the state legislature would be known for “overreach.” Governor McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bolling warned the Republican majority before the session got underway that there was a need for legislators to be careful to not overreach with their new-found…

DOJ clears Virginia’s redrawn congressional districts

The United States Department of Justice informed the office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on Wednesday that it had no objection to Virginia’s newly redrawn congressional districts, which were drawn by the General Assembly earlier this year. Virginia is one of 16 states required under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to pre-clear (get federal…

Senate passes watered-down ultrasound bill

Contributors

The State Senate voted 21-19 on Tuesday to pass an amended version of legislation mandating that women seeking abortions in Virginia first undergo an otherwise medically unnecessary ultrasound procedure. Critics called the original version of the legislation, which had mandated an invasive transvaginal ultrasound be performed, “state rape.” State Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, called the…

Court dismisses lawsuit over GA’s authority to draw congressional districts

Contributors

The Richmond Circuit Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by six Virginia residents that sought to have the court draw Virginia’s congressional districts for the upcoming elections. The court found that the 2012 General Assembly had the power to draw new congressional districts, and therefore, the plaintiffs’ suit had to be dismissed.

Republicans cave to pressure, block personhood measure in Senate vote

Contributors

Six Republicans joined Senate Democrats in effectively voting down legislation that would define “personhood” at conception and could in turn outlaw all abortions and some forms of FDA-approved birth control. A 24-14 Senate vote returned the bill to a Senate committee for consideration in the 2013 General Assembly session. The vote was another defeat for…

Ken Plum: The other bills

Ken Plum

By the time it adjourns in early March the General Assembly will have considered more than 2,500 bills and resolutions.  About half will have passed.  News sources will have focused on a dozen high priority issues that include restrictions on abortions, expanding gun rights, limiting access to voting, telling the schools what they must do,…