Tag: General Assembly
House GOP kills its own bill allowing guns in churches
Following the release of a poll showing broad public support for reasonable gun reform measures, House Republicans today killed a bill that would have repealed a statutory prohibition on guns and other dangerous weapons in places of worship.
Ken Plum: Keeping tabs on the Commonwealth
Last week I attended my first meeting as a member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC).
Virginia Chamber of Commerce names Steve Landes Legislator of the Year
Del. Steve Landes was named Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for his work in the 2016 General Assembly session.
Ken Plum: Racial diversity in the Virginia justice system
The General Assembly continues to fail to appoint racially diverse judicial candidates.
Ken Plum: Reconvened Session 2016
The General Assembly met in a reconvened, day-long session to consider vetoes and amendments made by Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Ken Plum: A circus in Richmond
Ringling Brothers moved into the Richmond Coliseum at the same time last week that the General Assembly concluded its annual meeting.
General Assembly passes two-year state budget, adjourns ahead of schedule
Virginia House Republican leaders commented on the adjournment of the 2016 General Assembly session after lawmakers passed a two-year state budget.
Direct primary care agreements pass General Assembly
The Senate passed a blll that defines direct primary care agreements as medical service agreements outside the scope of state regulation.
Creigh Deeds: One week to go in Virginia General Assembly
With one week before the scheduled adjournment of March 12, the 2016 General Assembly is nearing completion on all major issues.
McAuliffe letter on the General Assembly budget proposals
Governor Terry McAuliffe has presented a letter to General Assembly money committee chairmen and the budget conferees.
Senate votes to raise felony larceny threshold
The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill to raise the threshold for felony larceny from $200 to $500.
Ken Plum: General Assembly session underway
After the usual business of organizing for a new legislative session, the General Assembly got underway without major incident.
Mark Obenshain: General Assembly update
Last Wednesday, on the coldest day in Richmond of the very New Year, the General Assembly began its 2016 session.
Creigh Deeds: Virginia General Assembly session over before it began
The 2015 Special Session of the General Assembly was over before it began.
Ken Plum: What else was done in the 2015 Virginia General Assembly?
Previous columns have focused on major legislation passed in the 2015 General Assembly session, but this column will describe other legislation that passed.
Ken Plum: Electricity will be cheaper and cheaper
Under a bill passed by the General Assembly in the 2015 session and signed by the Governor, the cost of electricity in Virginia will go down next month, and the base rate of electricity will be frozen for the next five years.
Creigh Deeds: 2015 General Assembly review
The 2015 Session of the General Assembly is history. While we passed over 1500 bills and resolutions, the Session will be remembered for a handful of things including reforming the transportation funding formula, adopting a new ethics bill that changes very little, and adjourning a day early.
Ken Plum: Behind a single vote
I have been pleased to work over many years to make the legislative process transparent in order that citizens can understand what is behind a single vote.
Mark Obenshain: 2015 General Assembly session review
The 2015 edition of the Virginia General Assembly came to end a day earlier than expected, with the Senate and House both adjourning Sine Die late Friday evening.
Creigh Deeds: Virginia General Assembly update
The 46-day General Assembly session is moving rapidly. Subcommittees and committees are meeting around the clock, which leaves little time for reflection.
The General Assembly is under way: The political posturing begins
The 2015 Virginia General Assembly is under way in Richmond. With legislative elections looming in November, will lawmakers achieve anything of substance, or will the session be about political posturing with control of the General Assembly the prize?
Mark Obenshain: The governor is at it again
Last night, both chambers of the General Assembly convened with other government leaders to hear the Governor deliver the annual “State of the Commonwealth” address.
Democrats win battles: But Virginia Republicans win the war
Watching the State of the Commonwealth address with the sound down, one thing was obvious during the cutaway shots on applause lines during Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s speech.
Ken Plum: Virginia General Assembly session under way
The General Assembly convened for its annual session on January 14. Although the session scheduled to adjourn at the end of February is termed “the short session,” it will have a full agenda of opportunities and challenges.
House Speaker Howell announces changes to standing committees of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) on Wednesday announced changes to the standing committees of the Virginia House of Delegates for the remainder of the 2014-2015 General Assembly.
Remarks by House Speaker Bill Howell on the 2015 General Assembly Session
Text of remarks from House Speaker Bill Howell on the opening of the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session.
Public notice ads are a thing of the past: And yet, they’re here to stay?
Legislation proposed by Staunton Republican Del. Dickie Bell would give local governments in Virginia flexibility in advertising public notices outside current requirements to pay to publish the notices in local newspapers.
Roanoke Del. Sam Rasoul introduces Truth in Donating Act
Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke City) has announced legislation that will protect Virginians from unknowingly donating to organizations posing as charitable groups.
Voters return convicted politician to House of Delegates
Rare bipartisan unity is breaking out in Richmond on the eve of the beginning of the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session in the wake of Tuesday’s surprise win for Joe Morrissey.
Support grows for Filler-Corn bill to combat campus sexual assaults
Support continues to grow for Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D-Springfield) bipartisan bill to combat campus sexual assaults with Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee, Delegate David Albo (R-Springfield), signing on as a chief co-patron.
Dan Moxley: Retirement of Walter Stosch leaves only one Medicaid-expanding GOP member in Senate
24th District State Senate Republican nomination candidate Dan Moxley responded to the news today from Richmond that State Senator Walter Stosch is retiring from the Virginia General Assembly after 33 years.
Farm Bureau to emphasize agriculture issues at Jan. 29 Legislative Day
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation volunteer leaders will speak with state legislators about issues of interest to the commonwealth’s farmers during the organization’s annual Legislative Day on Jan. 29.
Ken Plum: Legislative redistricting remains an issue
Just last month a panel appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to look at ethics issues in state government recommended that Virginia establish an independent redistricting commission to draw legislative district lines.
Governor McAuliffe announces veterans and military families legislation
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today a series of legislative proposals aimed at enhancing employment and educational opportunities for Virginia veterans as part of his ongoing effort to build a new Virginia economy.
What are the chances of a successful Bob McDonnell appeal?
Attorneys for former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell are saying they will appeal his convictions on 11 counts in a federal corruption trial that has him headed to prison on Feb. 9. But what are the chances that an appeal can be successful?
UVA report on school readiness finds some Virginia students lacking
A new study conducted by education researchers at the University of Virginia finds that about one-third of Virginia students lack at least one important element of readiness for kindergarten.
Governor McAuliffe announces education legislation at Norfolk Technical Center
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday a series of legislative proposals aimed at expanding economic opportunity across the Commonwealth by improving Virginia’s educational system and addressing issues ranging from daycare facilities to building a 21st century workforce.
Sen. Petersen, Del. Anderson propose limits on police data collection, regulation of license plate readers
For the 2015 General Assembly session, Senator Chap Petersen and Delegate Rich Anderson will introduce legislation to regulate License Plate Readers (LPRs) in the Commonwealth, specifically placing limitations on passive data collection and retention by police departments.
Equality Virginia responds to hateful anti-LGBT bill
In response to HB1414, a bill filed by Delegate Robert Marshall that would allow blatant discrimination against LGBT Virginians, the following statement can be attributed to James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia.
ACLU calls for defeat of bill licensing discrimination against LGBT Virginians
The ACLU of Virginia released the following statement attributed to Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, Executive Director, ACLU of Virginia regarding HB1414, a bill to license discrimination that was pre-filed for consideration in the 2015 General Assembly Session by Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas).
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.
Ken Plum: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
The editorial in the September 21, 1897 New York Sun, responding to a letter from eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon who had inquired about whether there was a Santa Claus, has become the most reprinted newspaper editorial, according to the Newseum.
Will Medicaid expansion issue push General Assembly into second overtime?
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is going to make a push for Medicaid expansion in the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session. Augusta Free Press editor Chris Graham joins host Jim Bresnahan on WREL-1450AM to discuss the impact that the Medicaid push may have on what promises to be a contentious winter in the state capital.
Charlottesville man receives right to vote, registers immediately at governor’s media conference
Davon Miller received his certificate showing his rights had been restored at a meeting with the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney.
Game on: What happens if colleges can’t rely on student fees to fund athletics anymore?
The dirty little secret of college athletics is that they don’t pay for themselves, even football and men’s basketball, and that any athletics department budget is balanced on the backs of kids who don’t play college sports, may not attend any games and have to borrow money and work part-time jobs for the privilege.
House Majority Leader Kirk Cox proposes caps on mandatory student athletic fees
Virginia House of Delegates Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) announced Thursday that he will propose legislation in the 2015 General Assembly session to cap student athletic fees at Virginia’s four-year public universities.
Ken Plum: On the agenda for the Virginia General Assembly
One of the most frequently asked questions of me this time of year is, “What will the General Assembly be doing when it meets?”
Virginia Organizing comment on Governor McAuliffe, Medicaid
Virginia Organizing applauded Governor Terry McAuliffe’s action on Medicaid expansion by including the item in his proposed budget amendments. Virginia Organizing Chairperson Sandra A. Cook issued the following statement.
Governor Terry McAuliffe remarks to the Joint Money Committees
Prepared remarks by Governor Terry McAuliffe to the Joint Money Committees in the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, Va., on Dec. 17, 2014.
VEDP is No. 2 in Top 10 state economic development organization ranking for 2014
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) received the No. 2 spot in The American Economic Development Institute and Pollina Corporate Real Estate’s Top 10 State Economic Development Organizations ranking for 2014.
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