Tag: constitution
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
In the years after the U.S. Constitution was established, a Union of States entered into and a federal system of national government.
Virginia Constitution needs improving
The Virginia Constitution is three times as long as the U.S. Constitution (which is notably lacking any serious sections on oyster beds).
No, it’s NOT ‘the soldier’
Every Memorial Day, Americans are subjected to endless reruns of an “inspirational” poem by Charles Province: “The Soldier.”
Randy Forbes: The Tenth Amendment
A power struggle. That’s what our Founding Fathers foresaw between states and our federal government. So in 1787, they penned the Tenth Amendment.
Kaine urges VMI grads to uphold Constitution
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, delivered the 2016 commencement address at VMI.
Bob Goodlatte: Obamacare ruling a victory for the Constitution
There was a big victory for the United States Constitution in Washington this week.
Randy Forbes: Street signs and the Constitution
Along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, visitors and residents find their way to the sandy beaches and activities by street number.
Randy Forbes: The throwaway culture and our Constitution
I remember when the TV repair man used to come to our house. Daddy would answer the door, greet him by name and escort him to the family room where the wooden-encased television sat.
Free speech is social justice
A recent Pew Research Survey found 40% of Americans from ages 18 to 34 support the notion that the government should limit speech that is offensive to minorities.
Bob Goodlatte: A victory for the Constitution and the American People
Put down the pen and phone, Mr. President. That was the message from a federal appeals court just a few days ago. In a victory for the Constitution and the American people, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction preventing President Obama’s executive amnesty on immigration from being implemented.
Robert Hurt: We must return to the Constitution
In our U.S. Constitution, our Founders meticulously designed three branches of government so that too much power would not be concentrated in any one branch because they understood that if one branch possessed unchecked authority, that power would ultimately diminish the inherent rights of the individual citizen.
Robert Hurt: Constitution Day reminds us of our founding principles
Last week, we marked the 228th anniversary of the signing of our United States Constitution. As we paused to reflect on the meaning of this remarkable document, we were again reminded of its vital purpose and the nation that our framers envisioned.
Release Kim Davis: Destroy her power
Months after same-sex relationships were recognized as constitutionally protected by a Supreme Court decision, county clerk Kim Davis is refusing to do her job.
Randy Forbes: What America today can learn from the Preamble
The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States is a succinct introduction that establishes our framers’ goals for our government.
Finally! Supreme Court affirms constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling handed down on Friday, has declared that states cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions. The ruling extends marriage rights to gay couples in the 14 remaining states where same-sex marriage was previously prohibited.
Federal judge rejects Pittsylvania County effort to overturn ban on government sponsored prayer
In an opinion issued Friday in a case brought by the ACLU of Virginia, U.S. District Court Judge Michael F. Urbanski ruled that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ prior practice of reciting Christian prayers remains unconstitutional.
Democrats critical of GOP right to work constitutional amendment
This afternoon, Senate Republicans echoed their House counterparts and voted to enshrine “right to work” in the Virginia Constitution. Delegate Dickie Bell’s (R – Staunton) constitutional amendment, HJ 490, passed on a straight party-line vote.
Bob Goodlatte: Standing strong for the Constitution
A decision made by a U.S. District Court in Texas just a few days ago has had a major impact on President Obama’s recent executive actions to unilaterally change our immigration laws.
Birther now turning attention from Obama to Cruz, Rubio, Jindal
The last of the legal challenges to the eligibility of Barack Obama to be President of the United States was docketed by Tracy A. Fair at the United States Supreme Court today.
Del. Sam Rasoul calls for amending U.S., Virginia constitutions to limit corruption
Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke City) has announced that he will call for changes to the constitutions of both the United States and Virginia during the upcoming 2015 General Assembly session. Rasoul aims to restore fairness to elections and end gerrymandering via the legislation.
VCU researchers discover that schizophrenia risk is diminished by high IQ
High intelligence could protect against the development of schizophrenia in people who have a genetic predisposition for the disease.
Ken Plum: Saved by the Feds
As I wrote in a column several months ago, Virginia has historically ceded decisions to federal authorities on major issues on which the state had been unwilling to move forward, despite the Commonwealth’s historic antipathy toward the federal government.
Robert Sarvis becomes first in U.S. Senate race to embrace term limits
U.S. Term Limits, the nation’s oldest and largest term limits advocacy group, praised Virginia U.S. Senate Candidate Robert Sarvis for promising to support and co-sponsor an amendment to the U.S. Constitution limiting congressional terms.
U.S. Senate candidate Robert Sarvis on gay marriage ruling
Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Robert Sarvis made the following statement following the announcement Monday by the United State Supreme Court that it would not review pending decisions by lower courts regarding same-sex marriage.
ACLU of Virginia celebrates Supreme Court decision on gay marriage
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday denied review in all of the freedom to marry cases pending before it. As a result of the Court’s action, same-sex couples in Virginia will now be able to marry the partners they love and married same sex-couples will be able to have their marriages recognized in Virginia.
Tim Kaine statement on Supreme Court gay marriage ruling
Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision not to review same-sex marriage cases in Virginia and four other states, clearing the way for same-sex marriages to begin taking place in the Commonwealth.
Senate candidate Robert Sarvis introduces Bill of Rights scorecard
Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Robert Sarvis made the following statement in observance of Constitution Day, the day honoring the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
Robert Sarvis slams Mark Warner on vote on First Amendment issue
Following the cloture vote in the U.S. Senate on S.J. Res 19, the proposed constitutional amendment to amend the First Amendment, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Robert Sarvis released the following statement.
Robert Sarvis: New Ed Gillespie Senate TV ad is ‘classic misdirection’
Following the release of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie’s new “Blank Check” television advertisement, Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis made the following statement.
Glen Terrell: Article V Convention of States
Our best chance of reclaiming our country and reigning in our government is an Article V Convention of States.
Senate candidate Robert Sarvis on same sex marriage ruling
Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate Robert Sarvis released the following statement in response to the decision by a panel of judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond holding that Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional.
Rutherford Institute suit challenges laws favoring major party candidates
Alleging that Virginia’s signature and ballot placement election laws favor major party candidates for political office, while discriminating against minor party and independent candidates, The Rutherford Institute has filed a First Amendment lawsuit in federal district court against the State Board of Elections (SBE).
Bob Goodlatte: Maintaining protection of civil liberties
The USA FREEDOM Act increases the transparency of our intelligence-gathering programs. It protects Americans’ civil liberties by making clear that the government cannot acquire Americans’ records in bulk and puts real, effective limits on what information the government can gather.
Kaine urges President Obama for executive order protecting LGBT workers
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine joined more than 175 Senators and Representatives to write a letter to President Barack Obama calling on him to issue an executive order banning contractors from receiving federal government contracts unless they have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Across the board reaction to same sex marriage ruling
Groups on all sides of the political spectrum have been weighing in on the ruling of federal Judge Arenda Wright Allen that overturned Virginia’s ban on same sex marriage in the case of Bostic v. McDonnell.
Ken Plum: Virginia prefers to leave it to the feds
Despite Virginia’s historic antipathy toward the federal government, the Commonwealth has nonetheless historically ceded decisions to federal authorities on major issues on which the state had been unwilling to move forward.
E.W. Jackson: Mark Herring’s stance on marriage is anti-religious, racist
When liberals have an issue with, say, Phil Robertson speaking his mind on same sex marriage in an interview, conservatives get all up in a lather for attacks on “freedom of speech.”
Attorney General Mark Herring comments on same sex marriage case
Attorney General Mark R. Herring released a statement after oral arguments were heard Tuesday in Bostic v. Rainey, a challenge in federal court to Virginia’s ban on same sex marriage.
ACLU applauds attorney general’s conclusion on same sex marriage bans
The Virginia attorney general announced today that his office has concluded Virginia’s bans on same sex marriage are unconstitutional, and he will no longer defend legal challenges to the bans now pending in federal court.
Mark Obenshain statement on AG’s stance on marriage ban
State Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) issued a statement about Attorney General Mark Herring’s announcement that his office will not defend Virginia’s Marriage Amendment, and will be filing a brief asking the court to strike down a provision of the state constitution.
Attorney General: Virginia’s same sex marriage ban unconstitutional
Attorney General Mark R. Herring today changed Virginia’s legal position in Bostic v. Rainey, siding with the plaintiffs in the pending case challenging Virginia’s ban on marriage rights for same sex couples.
Bob Marshall: Gov. McAuliffe’s Executive Order No. 1 ‘lawless’
Gov. Terry McAuliffe has no legal or constitutional authority to add protected classes of state employees to the Virginia Human Rights Law, according to Republican Del. Bob Marshall, who is terming McAuliffe’s Executive Order Number One “completely lawless!.”
Karen Kwiatkowski: Congress is the problem
It occurs to me that Constitution isn’t the problem. The president isn’t the problem — or it’s always the same problem, depending on your perspective. No, the problem is a Congress that plays games all year long, partying and trading favors with special interests, with no idea of its constitutional responsibility or its duty to we the people.
Chris Graham: America, you need to get over yourselves
Poll: 71 percent think signers of the Declaration of Independence would not be happy with how America has turned out. Seriously – five in seven of you honestly think this?
ACLU suit challenges restrictions on begging on Charlottesville Downtown Mall
Lawyers for the ACLU of Virginia today filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court challenging a City of Charlottesville ordinance that unconstitutionally restricts begging on the city’s Downtown Mall. Passed in August 2010, the ordinance prohibits the soliciting of persons sitting in outdoor cafes or within 50 feet of the two streets that cross the […]
Kathleen Rogers and Antonio Gonzalez: Seeking one principled person from each side of the aisle
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 […]
The Rant | Watch what you say
Video Essay by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net You’d better watch what you say in Waynesboro, where the City Council doesn’t mind hearing from local citizens as long as it decides that what you have to say meets its approval. Funny thing, free speech, editor Chris Graham says in today’s Rant. It’s either free, or it’s […]
Sanford D. Horn | Founding Fathers spinning in their graves
Those gurgling, choking and gasping sounds followed by a loud thud you hear are James Madison, Patrick Henry, George Mason and John Adams collectively coming back to life then dropping dead all over again as they no longer recognize the out-of-control government that once knew its place in American society.
Sanford D. Horn | D.C. – First in War, First in Peace, Never in Congress
“If the District of Columbia deserves a member of the House of Representatives, they deserve two senators as well,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) earlier in February. I wholeheartedly agree with the former GOP presidential nominee. Now before those of you who know my staunch opposition to D.C. being awarded a voting member of Congress […]
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