Category: Local

ALERT: Help kill water-damaged car bills

The Senate Transportation Committee will take up House Bill 392 and Senate Bill 539 at its meeting on Thursday at 2pm. These bills will raise, from $1,000 to $5,000, the amount of water damage that a vehicle can sustain before it is required to be disclosed to the buyer. Water damage to a vehicle can … Continue reading ALERT: Help kill water-damaged car bills →

“Guns in every bar”

The Virginian-Pilot has another funny editorial today, this one with the title above. Tackling a serious subject with humor and satire is a new twist for the Pilot's editorial board, making for interesting reading. I'm betting I know which one of the board's writer's wrote this - and an earlier, equally funny - editorial. Of … Continue reading “Guns in every bar” →

Sen. Lucas on International Paper

Remarks offered by Sen. Louise Lucas on the floor of the Senate Tuesday regarding the visit by Gov. Bob McDonnell

Interesting vote on asbestos bill

As The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday, a bill designed to benefit one company was engrossed by the House of Delegates Monday. (The Pilot reported that the bill had passed on Monday - according to the Legislative Information System, that is not the case.  Engrossed, according to this definition, simply means that the bill is ready to … Continue reading Interesting vote on asbestos bill →

Quick look at bills of local legislators

Here's a quick look at a few bills from legislators in Hampton Roads: HB570 related to real estate assessments, HB207 related to rules for lineups and SB185 related to menhaden fishing. More below the fold. HB 570 - Del. Sal Iaquinto (R-84th) - This bill changes the burden of proof for real estate assessments from … Continue reading Quick look at bills of local legislators →

Quayle votes with Dems against discrimination

The Virginia Senate voted 23-17 to pass Sen. Donald McEachin's SB66 Monday afternoon. The bill prohibits discrimination in public employment and includes sexual orientation. Senator Fred Quayle of Suffolk broke ranks with his Republican colleagues and joined the Democratic majority to pass this bill. According to The Virginian-Pilot, Quayle voted yea for a rather simple … Continue reading Quayle votes with Dems against discrimination →

AP/VP: Oops

The headline was right, but there was a little problem with the score. Colts 31, Saints 17 I wish! The story was from the AP so I don't know whether it was wrong in the story or whether somebody at the Virginian-Pilot messed up. In any case, it's not Dewey defeats Truman but close 😉 … Continue reading AP/VP: Oops →

Time for electronic filing of all campaign reports

Virginia's campaign financing rules are pretty loose - pretty much anyone can donate to whomever they choose without limitation. Disclosure of the contributions and expenditures is supposed to be enough. The problem is the form that the disclosure takes. The State Board of Elections provides, for free, software that allows candidates to file electronically. Such … Continue reading Time for electronic filing of all campaign reports →

Opinion, please: radar detector ban

Virginia is alone is banning radar detectors in vehicles. House Bill 674 would change that. The bill reported out of committee Friday morning, by an 11-10 vote, and now heads to the House floor. Simple question: do you support this bill? Vote in the poll and leave your comments below.