Category: Politics

VB Clerk looking out for taxpayers

Virginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk Tina Sinnen is looking out for taxpayers in the city.  According to this article, she is charging the grantor's tax, collected when a property is sold, based on the sales price and not on assessed value. Her rationale for not following the 2007 law, which says that taxes should be … Continue reading VB Clerk looking out for taxpayers →

Spruill on redistricting: right and wrong

The blogosphere is all abuzz about the comments made by Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. regarding redistricting. Republicans have reacted with glee and Democrats with disdain. My sense is that both sides are unwilling to acknowledge that Spruill is both right and wrong. Spruill is right when you consider the historical treatment of blacks at the … Continue reading Spruill on redistricting: right and wrong →

Regent Democrats

No, that's not a misprint. Regent University, home of Pat Robertson, has an official student Democratic club. Will wonders never cease?

State will not allow SPSA to fail

I guess I didn't read Kaine's letter (pdf)to Suffolk Mayor Linda Johnson closely enough. While I focused on the potential threat to the state's bond rating, I overlooked this important part (which the Pilot reported on today): To avoid a call on the Commonwealth's moral obligation pledge I am prepared to autohorize payments that are … Continue reading State will not allow SPSA to fail →

Moran’s Homeowners’ Bill of Rights

Gubernatorial candidate Brian Moran made the news Friday with the announcement of his Homeowners' Bill of Rights. UPDATE: If you see a white space below, the video is down. You can view it here. The entire press release is below the fold. Moran Proposes Homeowners' Bill of Rights ~ Bold Reform to Protect the American … Continue reading Moran’s Homeowners’ Bill of Rights →

The American Form of Government

This is an interesting video. (If the video does not display properly, you can watch it here.) Thoughts?

HB1687 stalls

Thanks to everyone who responded to Wednesday's alert about HB1687.  As the Virginian Pilot reports, the bill passed but with a re-amendment clause, which means it has to pass again next year in order for it to become law. I had the opportunity to briefly discuss this bill with a several members of the House … Continue reading HB1687 stalls →

SPSA’s troubles affecting VA bond rating?

It seems possible, according to this article from the Suffolk News-Herald (emphasis mine): City Councilman Charles Parr requested that a letter from Gov. Timothy Kaine be read into the record. The letter expresses the governor's concern that a SPSA default could potentially affect the commonwealth's bond rating, in addition to that of the member communities. … Continue reading SPSA’s troubles affecting VA bond rating? →

Moran Health Care plan

Here is the video from Brian Moran's announcement of his health care plan. Note: if you are getting posts through a feed reader, please visit my blog to view the video.

ALERT: Help kill HB1687

HB1687 will be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee Thursday afternoon. Consumer protection activists need your help in defeating this bill. On the surface, the bill appears benign. Here is the changed text: If a dealer exercises his statutory or contractual rights to cancel a purchaser's contract to buy a vehicle before [ title to … Continue reading ALERT: Help kill HB1687 →