Tag: reform
Warner, Kaine introduce Senate bill to require two-year federal budgeting
U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have introduced the bipartisan Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act of 2015 in an effort to reform Congress’ budgeting process.
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.
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.
Robert Hurt votes for House transparency legislation
Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 185, the Regulatory Accountability Act.
Bob Goodlatte: Stopping unconstitutional immigration actions
Congress has not yet agreed on how to reform the immigration system, but the president has decided to ignore the Constitution and alter the law without new statutes. This is a slap in the face of the American people, who voted on November 4th to change the way Washington operates.
House Republicans propose Classroom Success education reforms
House Republican leaders announced their education agenda for the 2015 General Assembly on a press conference call with reporters Thursday.
Virginia farmers to help shape national Farm Bureau policies
Virginia representatives will join more than 5,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation in helping shape policies important to farmers and ranchers Jan. 11-14 at the 2015 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.
Democrats: Too fat, too happy, doomed?
Republicans have been imploding for 15 years as their moderate and Tea Party wings have engaged in open warfare against each other. Looks like Democrats are about to do the same, with the centrist and liberal-progressive wings ready to claw each other to death.
No more tax break Christmas trees
Christmas came early this year to some of Washington’s biggest special-interest groups when Congress passed legislation that was laden like a decorated Christmas tree with some of the finest-looking and most expensive ornaments lobbyists can buy.
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.
House Speaker Bill Howell announces re-election campaign
Virginia House of Delegate Speaker and 28th District Delegate William J. Howell (R-Stafford) announced his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates in an online web video Thursday.
Bob Goodlatte: Countering Senate inaction
Due to Senate inaction, Congress was forced at the last minute to take steps to fund the government through the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2015.
Governor McAuliffe announces 95 Express Lanes open December 14
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that the 95 Express Lanes on I-95 in Northern Virginia are opening early and on budget.
UVA research finds academic ability of New York teachers has increased
A new study of New York State teachers shows that since 1999, the academic ability of both those certified to teach and those hired to teach has increased substantially.
Voters call for clarity: The IRS should listen
In November 2013, the IRS proposed a new definition of political activity that would have applied to 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations.
Tim Kaine: Progress against sexual assaults in the military, but work still to be done
Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Subcommittee on Personnel, noted the important steps that have been taken towards eliminating sexual assault within the military.
W&L President Ken Ruscio at White House college access event
Ken Ruscio, president of Washington and Lee University, will participate in the White House College Opportunity Day of Action Dec. 4 in Washington, D.C.
Harrisonburg women in D.C. to stand for immigration reform
Harrisonburg Virginia Organizing leaders Maria Peña and Maria Del Carmen Valdez attended a media conference in Washington, D.C. today to discuss how she and her family will be directly affected by the administrative relief offered by President Barack Obama’s recent executive action on immigration.
Farm Bureau sees no help for farmers in immigration initiative
The American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation’s largest farm organization, has voiced displeasure with President Obama’s immigration reform initiative.
Governor McAuliffe announces SOL Innovation Committee’s interim recommendations
Secretary of Education Anne Holton announced that the Standards of Learning (SOL) Innovation Committee has completed their first round of interim recommendations.
Bob Goodlatte: Secret Service reform needed
At a recent House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, Acting Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy called the security lapses that allowed an armed man to jump the fence and enter the White House “devastating.”
Randy Forbes: Response to the president on immigration
Last week, Americans watched as our President announced sweeping changes to our nation’s immigration system. The bottom line of his decision? Amnesty.
Sens. Petersen and Stuart propose gift ban for Virginia elected officials
State Sens. Chap Petersen and Richard Stuart have written the first gift-ban ethics reform bill for the 2015 General Assembly session.
UVA football honored by AFCA for graduation rate
The UVA football team was one of 61 institutions recognized this week by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for graduating at least 75 percent or more of their football student-athletes.
Bob Goodlatte: Unconstitutional actions must be stopped
I will work with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to stop the President’s unconstitutional actions from being implemented.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe on President Obama immigration executive order
Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement following President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
Sen. Mark Warner on Obama immigration announcement
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner released the following statement in support of the President’s immigration announcement.
Roundup of Republican responses to Obama immigration policy
Republican leaders are doing their best to sell the notion that President Obama has usurped the Constitution in his move to issue an executive order on immigration policy granting legal status to nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants.
Robert Hurt votes for EPA reform bill
Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released a statement after voting in favor of three bills to reform the EPA.
Congressman Robert Hurt statement on flood insurance hearing
Congressman Robert Hurt released a statement after attending a hearing held by the Financial Services’ Housing and Insurance Subcommittee on the flood insurance market.
Sens. Warner, Kaine sign onto legislation to create high-skill Korean visas
Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine signed onto bipartisan legislation to provide up to 15,000 visas annually for Koreans with specialized skills that are lacking in the U.S. labor market.
Remarks by President Obama in Burma
Remarks by President Obama after roundtable at Parliamentary Resource Center in Burma on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014.
The Dark Side of Political Life: Five ways to promote civil discourse
Do we have to continue with “I’m okay and you’re an idiot” in our political life? The short answer is no, but getting there will not be easy.
Riding the wave: Pressure is on Republicans, not Obama
The pundits have declared President Obama a lame duck in light of the wave that swept Republicans into power in the U.S. Senate this week.
Bob Goodlatte: A real economic recovery
Job creators in the Sixth District and throughout the nation have the drive and innovative ideas to grow the economy. They deserve a real economic recovery.
Compromise: A dirty word with the modern Republican Party
Never has “compromise” been treated as such a dirty word as by today’s Republican Party. Never has a party been less interested in working together to do the people’s business.
McAuliffe announces first meeting of government reform commission
Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government will convene its first meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 27 in House Room 3 of the state Capitol.
Progressives offer bipartisan plan for healthcare? Not quite
The Center for American Progress released a healthcare reform plan in Septebmer it claimed should draw bipartisan support because it includes Republican ideas. The first four words of an Associated Press article reporting on the plan were “Borrowing a Republican idea.”
Randy Forbes: What will history say?
For decades, we’ve been prepared. We’ve led. We’ve made innovative breakthroughs. We’ve made significant advances in trade, diplomacy, global trust, and modernization. We’ve protected the American way of life. But what will history say about our ability to take on the challenges of today?
Robert Hurt: President’s broken promises on healthcare continue to harm Virginians
The impacts of the President’s healthcare law were the top concern facing small businesses and their employees, as the law is hindering their ability to create more jobs and is harming their employees.
Robert Hurt: Reforming the tax code and allowing small business to grow
As I traveled along Route 58 recently, touring a variety of manufacturing companies, I talked with small business owners and working Virginians about the biggest issues for success in their businesses.
Partnership to improve mental health
Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the National Council for Behavioral Health, and the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards formed a joint partnership to help improve the quality of and access to mental health services across the Commonwealth.
ACC Council of Presidents sends forth initial priorities as part of the new autonomy structure
The Atlantic Coast Conference is submitting its initial priorities as part of the new autonomy structure that will help every student-athlete better achieve the kind of rewarding experience they deserve as part of the collegiate model.
Robert Hurt: Protecting Americans’ privacy on Healthcare.gov
Recently, a constituent contacted our office to express concern over the fact that he was unable to delete his profile from Healthcare.gov.
House Speaker, Senate Majority Leader on McAuliffe integrity commissionnnnn
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City) issued the following statement Thursday.
Senate Democrats praise McAuliffe for creating good government commission
This afternoon, Senate Democrats praised Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s creation of a new commission to propose ethics, transparency, and various other good government reforms.
Herring statement on new Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government
Attorney General Mark Herring issued the following statement regarding Governor McAuliffe’s creation of the Governor’s Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government.
Livestock producers urged to enroll in Disaster Assistance Program by Oct. 1
Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should do so as soon as possible.
Howell congratulates Virginia’s national award-winning Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) on Tuesday congratulated Virginia’s national award-winning Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Calling out the Republicans: Obama hasn’t, so we must
If Barack Obama had become president at a time of normal politics, with a normal opposition party, there’s no telling how much he could have accomplished.
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