Three years ago, I wrote about how to navigate the Virginia budget. Although the screens have changed, the process is still about the same. Unfortunately, as I was watching the live stream Saturday of the last day of session, the conference report was neither available online nor had been incorporated into the budget. We now … Continue reading Medicaid expansion: it ain’t done
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian Pilot Thursday. In it, I discuss the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a part of history that temporarily remains as an effort to keep discriminatory voting practices from occurring. Section 5 of the VRA is being challenged in the Supreme Court, in the case Shelby County … Continue reading ICYMI: Fending off discriminatory voting practices
Sequestration, that is. Despite recent efforts to sound the alarm on its effects in Hampton Roads and Virginia, including a letter from Gov. Bob McDonnell, I doubt Congress will do its job. Forget the blame game - both sides agreed to this mess because it wasn't supposed to happen. And now I hear folks saying … Continue reading It’s coming
In what is hardly a surprise, a rural newspaper in Farmville has put their articles and editorials behind a paywall. The paper itself has been available online for about two years. I was looking for an article and when I clicked the link, a "Subscription" page came up. I have had my problems with them … Continue reading Farmville Herald, rural paper – is behind a paywall
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. I don't often write about the politics of taxation but in this case, I felt like something needed to be written. I've had far too many folks - students, family, friends, former clients - who don't get the connection between Congressional action on the fiscal … Continue reading ICYMI: Another delay rolls down Capitol Hill
From The Virginian-Pilot: Every year, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, a state watchdog agency, puts out a report comparing the Old Dominion to the rest of the nation on a wide variety of measures. The 2013 edition is out, and it provides relevant background for some of the major debates of this year's … Continue reading How does Virginia stack up?
It's been seven years today since I started this blog. The last two have not been nearly as much fun as the first five. I've had a lot of challenges in my life over the last couple of years, which has made blogging as much as I would like difficult. When you add on the … Continue reading Seven years
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Friday. The topic was, of course, the decision by Speaker Bill Howell to rule the Senate changes to the HB259 non germane. There is some sanity in Richmond. Maybe not as much as I'd like, but some. My column appears in The Virginian-Pilot on Thursdays. You … Continue reading ICYMI: The integrity of the institution
Audience Urged to Bring Smart Phones to Next Virginia Beach Forum Event…and Use Them March 13 Political Talk Show Will Feature Larry Sabato, Other Noted State and Local Pundits, and Comments Tweeted In From the “Peanut Gallery” When the final Virginia Beach Forum event of the 2013 season begins at 7:30 pm on March 13 … Continue reading Save the date: March 13 live political talk
Speaker of the House William Howell ruled today that the Senate amendments to House Bill 259 were not germane, thus killing the bill. The ruling came after the speaker gave some history on the concept of germaneness, explaining it as a basic parliamentary principle. The speaker referred to a predecessor of his who interpreted the … Continue reading Re-redisctricting bill: not germane
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 