Friday, September 7, 2012
Chairman York offers an alternative proposed to studying toll changes: ‘condemn it.’
As the Loudoun Board of Supervisors ponders whether to press state legislators to continue to fight for a study of distance pricing on the Dulles Greenway, the proposal seems to be going nowhere fast. As Patch previously reported, no wants to pay what could be a high cost to study distance pricing — which would mean users would not have to pay the full toll regardless of their entry and exit points as is currently the case. Tom Sines, a Dulles Greenway representative, said it’s a risky endeavor for Greenway owners Macquarie Group. The equipment alone would cost $6.5 million, Sines said last year, and if the higher revenues are not generated Macquarie could stand to lose money on an asset intended to provide a profit. On Wednesday, County …
Friday, February 10, 2012
After a Senate committee held it up last year, the proposed constitutional amendment may die in a House committee this year.
RICHMOND (Capital News Service)—Like other members of the National Guard, chaplains enter war zones and risk death on the battlefield. But at least two characteristics set these men and women apart from other members of their units. First, instead of guns, chaplains are armed largely with prayers and comforting words for their compatriots. And second, they don’t receive the tuition assistance that other members of the National Guard enjoy. That’s because, under the constitutional principle of separation of church and state, Virginia won’t pay for chaplains’ religious education. Del. Thomas “Tag” Greason (R-32) wants to change that. For the second consecutive year, he has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow the state to provide …
Monday, February 6, 2012
Legislation aims to permit home-schooled children to participate in local school sports.
The Virginia House of Delegates is preparing to vote on a bill that would require public schools to allow the participation of home-schooled students before joining any organization that governs interscholastic programs. The Washington Post posted a story about the legislation — gaining attention at “the Tebow bill” after Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow— as well as a feature. Tebow was home-schooled, but participated in local high school sports, which is allowed in Florida. Three members of Loudoun's delegation to the General Assembly are on the House Education Committee that supported the bill and sent it to the full chamber floor. Dels. Thomas A. "Tag" Greason (R-32) and James M. LeMunyon (R-67) supported the bill, while Del. Thomas…
Friday, February 3, 2012
Loudoun Senate delegation splits on bill to require procedure prior to receiving an abortion.
RICHMOND (Capital News Service) – The Virginia Senate has passed a bill requiring the use of ultrasound testing prior to the performance of an abortion. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester) now goes to the House of Delegates. If passed – a likely prospect in the Republican-controlled House – the measure will be sent to Gov. Bob McDonnell to be signed into law. The Senate voted 21-18 in favor of Senate Bill 484 on Wednesday. The bill would require the use of ultrasound testing before an abortion. The woman would then have the option to view the sonograms before terminating her pregnancy. Loudoun’s delegation to the Senate split on the vote along party lines, with Sen. Richard H. Black (R-13) supporting Vogel’s bill…
Monday, January 30, 2012
If enacted, the legislation would reverse 2007 law requiring girls to receive vaccination before 6th grade.
RICHMOND (Capital News Service) – The Virginia House of Delegates has voted to repeal the law requiring girls to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine before entering the sixth grade. On a 62-34 vote Friday, delegates passed House Bill 1112, which would rescind the state law mandating the HPV vaccine. Sixty Republicans and two Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while 30 Democrats and four Republicans opposed HB 1112. Loudoun’s entire delegation voted in support. Lynchburg Del. Kathy Byron (R-22) — who opposed Virginia’s 2007 HPV vaccination law and has campaigned to overturn it — sponsored the measure. She said that the vaccine has not been adequately tested and that the General Assembly acted hastily in passing the requirement. …
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Tax breaks proposed for people who are planning to send their remains into orbit, or even outer space.
RICHMOND (Capital News Service) – For the average person, the sky is no longer the limit, but you just might have to be dead first. Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, is proposing legislation to provide tax breaks to Virginia residents who send their cremated remains into outer space. Under House Bill 19, Virginians would get an income tax deduction if they entered a prepaid contract with a commercial space flight entity “to place the taxpayer’s human cremated remains into earth or lunar orbit from a spaceport facility operated by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority.” The tax break would be in effect from 2013 through 2020. Eligible taxpayers could deduct from their taxable income up to $2,500 in any one year and up to $8,000 …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New delegate lays out some legislative goals.
RICHMOND – In recent years, Loudoun County has faced public controversies over water protection and hospital construction, arguments over school funding and economic development, and budget cuts and tax increases in local government. Delegate J. Randall “Randy” Minchew of Leesburg, who was sworn in Sunday, hopes to address those issues as a member of the Virginia General Assembly. Minchew, a Republican, represents the redrawn 10th House District, which includes parts of Loudoun (including Leesburg and parts of Ashburn), Clark and Frederick counties. He won the open seat in November against Democrat Dave Butler by taking 58 percent of the votes. The 10th District had been located in southwestern Virginia and was represented by Delegate Ward…
Monday, January 9, 2012
The delegate volunteers to take a smaller salary less as example of fiscal responsibility; do you support the idea for other legislators?
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Delegate-elect David Ramadan (R-87th) announced today that he has requested a 20 percent reduction in his Virginia General Assembly salary because he wants to demonstrate his intent to share the pain as lawmakers look to trim state spending. “As I take office at the start of a new legislative session, I confront the stark reality of many budget challenges that must be offset by deep spending cuts to achieve a constitutionally mandated balanced budget,” said Ramadan. Ramadan, who takes office Jan. 11, proposed during his campaign an across-the-board cut to targeted programs to fund local and state transportation improvement priorities. “You can’t ask others to do what you’re not willing to do yourself. That’s not leadership; it’s …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
All the races that touch Ashburn are listed, with links to stories, websites and web pages.
- ELECTIONS
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Elections for state and local officials are Tuesday, Nov. 8. Here’s your complete guide to who’s running to represent Ashburn. For all of our election stories from this year, go to ashburn.patch.com/topics/participate. For additional information about elections and candidates, check out the Leesburg Today 2011 Election Guide. Due to statewide redistricting, some voters may be going to a different polling location than in past years, even if the voter has not moved. All registered voters should have received a new Voter Card with that information. However, you also can find out which districts serve you and where to vote here. Algonkian District Ashburn District Blue Ridge District Broad Run District Dulles District Chairman, At …
Monday, August 22, 2011
On Tuesday, parties will select candidates for the General Assembly elections this fall.
After redistricting, voters just may want to double-check the new boundaries to see who your candidates are this year. The new lines take effect once new candidates elected this fall are sworn in next year. In Ashburn, three of the five General Assembly districts representing the area have Republican primaries Tuesday, Aug. 23, to select nominees for the November election. By now all registered voters should have received new Voter Cards that indentify which districts serve you, the name of the voting precinct you are in and where you should go to vote. Below you will find links to the new district maps as well as information about all of state districts that include parts of Ashburn. While the information includes all five districts – two…
Concerned_Citizen9
1:12 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Do not think for a minute the SCC will help. ~5 years ago I went through a number of email sessions and phone calls with SCC personnel regarding the fees on the Greenway. I was disturbed by how 'loosely' written the requirements were, which dictate what steps the Greenway owners must go through in order to increase their fees. The requirements are a joke. Take 10 minutes and contact the SCC and … more ›