By Steve Vaughan The House of Representatives just got through wasting time debating the repeal of last year's health care reform bill. To no great surprise, the repeal bill passed the GOP-controlled House, 245-189, with every Republican and three Democrats voting to repeal it. The debate and vote were largely symbolic. Democrats control the Senate. … Continue reading Okay, now can we get down to business?
Category: Politics
Opinion, please: would you sign this pledge?
Mike Gruss of The Virginian-Pilot reported on a 32-word civility pledge sent out by a group to all of the members of Congress plus all of the governors. The pledge: I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior. I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them. I will … Continue reading Opinion, please: would you sign this pledge?
Interesting combination
Senators Don McEachin and Chap Petersen along with Delegates Bob Marshall and Robin Abbott held a press conference Monday morning about proposed legislation on foreclosures, including the bill I mentioned earlier. The combination of legislators raised a few eyebrows. Strange bedfellows indeed. House bills were heard Monday afternoon at the meeting of subcommittee #2 Civil … Continue reading Interesting combination
I can’t believe I’m saying this…
... but I agree with Rep. Bob Marshall. In a op-ed published in The Virginian-Pilot today, Marshall discussed the need for his bill, HB1506. Most of you are familiar with some of the issues in related to foreclosures. Part of the problem relates to the difficulty in determining who actually holds the mortgages. Marshall explains: … Continue reading I can’t believe I’m saying this…
One Bad Bill
By Steve Vaughan With the General Assembly in session again, easy targets for the political commentator abound. I usually do a story for the Gazette on silly bills filed each year. I'll get to that soon. But a bill that's not so much silly as just bad has captured my attention. Sen. Steve Martin (R-Chesterfield) has … Continue reading One Bad Bill
Don’t surrender to violence
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in Wednesday's Virginian-Pilot. How many of these kinds of events have we political junkies attended? There but for the grace of God go I. That was one of the many thoughts I had in my head as I watched the coverage of the massacre in Tuscon. And I'll bet … Continue reading Don’t surrender to violence
A win for the citizens of Norfolk
Developer, Norfolk abandon deal: Faced with certain defeat, developers withdrew their request to the City Council on Tuesday for additional incentives to construct a $32.7 million office tower in a low-income neighborhood. [...] ... council members said the public reacted sharply once word of the proposal broke Monday, showering City Hall with e-mails and telephone … Continue reading A win for the citizens of Norfolk
Webb at Norfolk Forum
Senator Jim Webb was the second speaker in this season's series of The Norfolk Forum. The Senator discussed three broad themes in his remarks: Reorienting U.S. national security Restoring economic fairness and social justice Reinstituting accountability in government In the context of these themes, the Senator discussed how legislation that he has supported have moved … Continue reading Webb at Norfolk Forum
Sharon McDonald needs to go
So says The Virginian-Pilot: McDonald, elected in 2009 to a fourth four-year term, is either defiant or oblivious to the wishes of her constituents to a degree unprecedented in recent memory. Or she just doesn't care enough to do the right thing. Or she thought nobody would notice. Regardless, the only conclusion that reasonably follows … Continue reading Sharon McDonald needs to go
Why the rush?
With the announcement of the retirement of Del. Tom Gear and the Governor's setting of the date for the special election for March 8, one would expect that the contest for the Republican nomination would be around mid-February. Not so. The party-run firehouse primary is set for next Tuesday, January 18. What, exactly, is the … Continue reading Why the rush?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 