Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The former LCDC member filed paperwork to seek the delegate’s seat as an Independent.
Ashburn resident and former member of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee Elizabeth Amy Miller this week formalized her challenge to Republican Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason for the House of Delegates 32nd District. Miller said in an interview Tuesday that could not fathom the idea of Greason not facing a challenger for a second straight election. Greason first won office after defeating then-incumbent David Poisson. “I am constitutionally opposed to him running unopposed for a second time,” Miller said, specifically pointing to Greason’s support of a bill that requires women seeking an abortion to first undergo an ultrasound. “It’s unacceptable that he has no challenger, so I’m stepping up.” Miller, the wife of former county Supervisor…
Monday, May 20, 2013
A Sterling reader questions the delegate’s response to not declaring trip.
Dear Editor, Delegate David Ramadan (R-87) maintains he wasn't required to officially disclose a recent the trip, but the Virginia code appears to state otherwise. "A key point of the code pertaining to financial disclosures states 'gift' means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts of transportation, local travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.” I am writing in response to the story on David Ramadan's trip to Taiwan published online on Friday the 17. I am perplexed why Ramadan simply did not follow the financial …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
"No officer, I was just typing directions into my GPS…"
Texting while driving is dangerous, but some people do it anyway. This year, Virginia's General Assembly passed a measure that increased the fine to $125 (it was $20) for the first infraction and $250 for the second. But Virginia legislators did not pass a hands-free measure like they have in the District, and as such enforcing the law could prove difficult. The problem: Using cell phones to dial a number or setting the phone GPS is legal. “Distracted driving is a big problem, but it’s bigger than just phone use,” said Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, to the Washington Post. “Even if a law were successful in stopping phone use and texting, it wouldn’t eliminate distracted driving.” Northern Virginia Del. Scott …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Final budget amendments include $3.4 million to add 1,700 in-state undergraduate seats at Virginia universities.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, February 25
By Jessica Dahlberg, Capital News Service As the 2013 legislative session came to a close, the Virginia General Assembly approved amendments to the state’s two-year budget Saturday that included expanding Medicaid and spending more money on education. The amendments were passed by both the House (on an 83-17 vote) and the Senate (31-8) after tense discussions over Medicaid, which provides medical care for low-income residents. Legislators agreed to expand the program if certain reforms are made. Loudoun's General Assembly delegation split on the vote, with most of the more conservative legislators opting against it. Both Democrats joined the moderate Republicans in the county. See vote tally at bottom of story. The reforms will make …
The organization representing county businesses laud ‘courage’ of legislators who supported the bill.
The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce over the weekend offered praises to members of the Virginia General Assembly who supported a package to fund transportation needs in the state. Attempts to infuse additional cash into the system have failed over the years, making the new bill the first serious infusion of transportation revenue for the state since 1987. General Assembly members who represent Loudoun were divided in their votes. Only two Democrats representing Loudoun now supported the bill. Republicans were divided on the issue, but overall, the majority of Loudoun’s delegation voted for the bill. Here’s how they voted: In favor Opposed The Loudoun Chamber’s statement: The President of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce today …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Senators representing Loudoun split on the vote, with Democrats supporting the bill and Republicans opposing it.
By Stephen Nielsen, Capital News Service A divided Virginia Senate on Saturday passed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s signature issue of the 2013 legislative session – a bill to overhaul the state’s system for funding transportation. Just hours before the session’s end, the Senate voted 25-15 for House Bill 2313, which will raise about $880 million a year more for roads and mass transit by increasing sales taxes while lowering the fuels tax. The debate over how to increase revenue continued right up to the vote. Vienna-area Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston) supported the legislation; Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) voted against it. “This isn’t any bill. This is the only bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment (R-Williamsburg). He said it’s the …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Bill would impose harsher penalties, make texting while driving a primary offense.
A bill that would impose tougher penalties on those convicted of texting while driving cleared the state Senate on Tuesday and now heads to the desk of Gov. Bob McDonnell. The bill increases the fine to $250 — up from $20 — for the first texting-while-driving offense and $500 for each subsequent conviction. It also makes texting while driving an aggravating circumstance to reckless driving, and so anyone convicted of such would face a mandatory minimum $500 penalty if they were texting while they were driving recklessly. Texting while driving would also become a primary offense, which means police can stop someone on the suspicion that a driver is texting; current law allows police to charge someone with texting while driving only if they'…
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Vienna Sens. Chap Petersen, Janet Howell vote against measure aiming to thwart voter fraud, joining critics who say it will make it harder for residents to vote.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, February 14
By Michael Schuster, Capital News Service The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee has approved a bill supporters say would help thwart voter fraud — but the proposal's opponents claim it would only make it harder to vote. The committee voted 8-6 along party lines Tuesday for a bill that would limit the number of acceptable forms of voter identification – the types of documents someone must present in order to cast a ballot. Currently, voters can identify themselves by presenting a voter registration card, a driver’s license or various other documents. House Bill 1337, proposed by Delegate Mark Cole (Fredericksburg) would remove utility bills, bank statements and paychecks from the list of documents that would be accepted at polling …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The young writer points to a friend, and son of a former NFL pro, who would like to participate in public school sports.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, February 13
Hello, My name is John LaRock. I am 11 years old, and live near Leesburg where my parents home-school me and my brothers and sisters. I love sports. My friend Jay (who is also home-schooled) and I play lots of football. We both would love to play in college and even in the pros someday. That may sound pretty far off but Jay’s dad, James Thrash, played in the NFL and Jay would like to follow in his footsteps. Home-schooling is not for everybody. It takes a huge commitment of time, patience and other resources. (Thanks Mom and Dad). Public schooling is not for everybody either, and yet those parents who choose a different educational environment for their children still pay hard earned dollars for public education. My Dad calls that “…
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Politicians point to work accomplished during the General Assembly session.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, February 12
By Katherine Johnson Capital News Service RICHMOND – House Republicans celebrated the success of their education reforms in the first half of the General Assembly session during a press conference Monday. Republican delegates and party leaders discussed legislation that passed in the House of Delegates before crossover on Feb. 5. Crossover marks the point in the session when a bill is declared dead if it hasn’t been passed by the House or Senate. “Our priorities during the session were economic development, K-12 education reform, transportation and crafting a smarter state budget and a smarter state government,” said Speaker William Howell of Fredericksburg. “I think we’ve passed legislation that fits this agenda.” Del. Chris Jones of …
Ellie Lockwood
3:22 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
@Richard Hardin. Terry McAuliff's entire career had been one ethics investigation after another. Not hard to find information on $50M union pension fund loan for FL real estate deals, or the huge windfall from Global Crossing, or the sweetheart deals to Democrats that nearly bankrupted his Federal City Nation Bank. These are some of the issues that came to the attention of the DOJ and Dept. of … more ›