AG McDonnell Live Blog here 8/29, 6pm

39 thoughts on “AG McDonnell Live Blog here 8/29, 6pm”

1. Attorney General McDonnell, thank you very much for answering our questions. I wanted to ask a quick question about the marriage amendment that will be on the ballot in November. What, if anything, will change because of this amendment? Will anything change in the way of domestic violence laws, private contract laws, hospital visitation rights, and (a new argument recently) common law marriages (between one man and one woman) recognized from other states?

   Thank you very much. I look forward to your answer

2. Mr. Attorney General,

   First of all, thank you for speaking at the conference in Martinsville this weekend and helping to make it the success that it was.

   At the conference, you spoke a bit about the Task Force focusing on gang violence that your office has worked with and how effective it has been. Do you feel there’s a way to build on this initiative? In the past weeks we’ve seen some troubling gang incidents and despite this program, many communities in Virginia feel the threat of gangs is greater than ever. What can our government and the citizens do to really put a lid on this violence?

3. Attorney General McDonnell: Thank you for being so accessible! At our August 1 event in Sterling, you mentioned that you would be meeting with Governor Kaine, the State Police and ICE about implementing the ICE 287(g) training in Virginia. My understanding is that Virginia localities can get some kind of “volume discount” if they can invite the ICE trainers in to train a bunch of people at once – presumably having the state sanction this would help achieve this discount on a state-wide level (and also add the imprimatur of the state government for the benefit of Sheriff’s and police departments that are on the fence).

   We had a meeting on August 15 with investigators from the Loudoun County Gang Intelligence Unit and they expressed the opinion they would be very much in favor of receiving such training if the “higher ups” would authorize it.

   (My understanding is also that they don’t so much need the “training” – because most of them know what to do – but rather the certification to be allowed to help with cases that involved immigration law enforcement).

   Can you provide any update on where those negotiations stand?

4. Attorney General McDonnell: I hear you and other proponents of the Marshall/Newman amendment posture on and on about protecting marriage. What exactly does my 22-year heterosexual marriage need protecting from? How exactly should my marriage be feeling threatened by the existence of my best friends’ over 20-year homosexual marriage? Finally, what do you suggest homosexuals who fall in love and want to build a life in Virginia together to include the possibility of raising children, owning a home together, providing for their children, and supporting and caring for their family through sickness and death do should this amendment pass?

5. Attorney General McDonnell: Which blogs do you read? What do you think of them? What role will the online community play in the next governor campaign?

6. AG – How can we encourage more minorities to seek elected office at the local and state levels so that we can have a government that mirrors our population?

7. How’s Jeanine and do you wish it was October?

8. Attorney General McDonnell: I have to ask the million dollar question….So, what office are you running for next? Governor, Lt. Governor or Something Higher?

   P.S. I already suspect that your answer is going to be…”I’m just focusing on the AG’s office now and am trying to do the best job for the people of Virginia.” 🙂

9. Great Seeing you Saturday in Martinsville.. With the recent deaths of dedicated police officers.. What can be done to Protect our Law Enforcement Officers, who are out protecting us.. and can we pass a mandatory sentence for anyone who kills a law enforcement officer.

10. Attorney General McDonnell: I know it’s early in their work, but what can you report on the Regulatory and Government Reform Task Force?

11. Mr. Attorney General, why does the proposed constitutional amendment which is Ballot Question #1, the so-called “marriage” amendment, extend to STRAIGHT people the existing prohibition in Va. Code § 20-45.3 of SAME-SEX civil unions and domestic partnerships and other legal recognition of a legal relationship of unmarried individuals which imitates marriage? No one seems to be talking about the fact that the only SURE change which the amendment would make to Virginia law would be to apply that prohibition against civil unions and domestic partnerships to 100% of the population, rather than just the 5-10% of the population (gays and lesbians) to which it applies right now, but that expansion seems to me to be a rather huge piece of social engineering, in terms of regulating straight people’s personal choices on how to lead their private lives, don’t you agree?

12. Mr. McDonnell,
    No question. Just a warm thank you for your presence in Martinsville.

13. Mr. AG,

    A few minutes ago the Washington Post began reporting that Governor Kaine was considering banning smoking in all state buildings and cars. Do you support such an effort?

    From the WaPo:

    RICHMOND, Aug. 29 — Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) said Tuesday that he is “actively considering” ordering a ban on smoking in state government buildings and vehicles, a move that would affect 100,000 employees and inch the Commonwealth closer to a growing national consensus about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

14. Welcome to all. The AG should be here momentarily.

15. Hey guys, sorry for the delay, a few technical difficulties here in the office, but we are here now and ready to start. Looking forward to it.

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