Legislative Black Caucus says first half of session was attack on poor, elderly, women, minorities

Assessing the General Assembly session at the midway point members of the Legislative Black Caucus said Wednesday that contrary to GOP counter claims this year has indeed been dominated by social issues they have had to spend a good deal of their time fighting and explaining to the public the full implications of voter ID bills, gun rights legislation and measures on women's reproductive rights.

Earlier in the day, the Republican House Caucus trotted out a chart showing that the majority of legislation passed in the House of Delegates this session has been focused on jobs, education, government reform and public safety.

Speaker of the House William Howell, R-Stafford, said less than 2 percent of Republican legislation this year has focused on what he considers social issues - which he defined as gun and abortion legislation.

But Black Caucus chair Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, asserted that claims there hasn't been a policy shift in the General Assembly session are full of hogwash.

"One has to wonder what planet they're on, or if indeed marijuana was legalized without our knowing," Locke said.

Black Caucus member Del. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, said many of the high profile bills coming out of the House, such as repealing the one-hand-gun-a-month purchasing limit, requiring women to receive an ultrasound before an abortion, defining life as beginning at the moment of conception and voter ID laws, are measures that "will turn back the clock" in the commonwealth.

"On the House side we can't stop a lot of these bills - we've never been able to stop a lot of these bills - but we will shine a spotlight on these bills that will have a negative impact on our communities, on other minority communities and on the community as a whole," McClellan said. "And if House Republicans get upset with that I'm sorry. But with power comes responsibility. And if their not going to do their job to address the unintended consequences of these, somebody's got to do it." 

What becomes of the broken hearted?

If it's both crossover day and Valentine's Day in Richmond, you can turn your broken heart into a political statement.

That's what Virginia Organizing did Tuesday - the day both the House and Senate must have everything but budget and revenue bills passed and sent to the other chamber - to protest what the nonpartisan, nonprofit progressive political activist group  says focused on issues like restricting women's reproductive rights, suppressing voter participation, loosening gun restriction and targeting immigrants rather than legislation that would create jobs, strengthen the economy and strengthen the state's public education system.

The Charlottesville-based group brought in more than a hundred activists from around the commonwealth to hand out heart-shaped Valentine's Day candy boxes to all 140 members of the General Assembly.

Rather than a tasty chocolate treat to celebrate the holiday, lawmakers found an empty box save a note that read, "Disappointed? So are we."

They then lined the lined the walk between the General Assembly Building and the Capitol holding broken hearts signs that listed what they wanted versus what they feel they got. The signs included one that read, "We wanted: jobs for people. We got: personhood," referring to Del. Bob Marshall's, R- Prince WIlliams, measure that defines life as starting at the moment of conception.

The group's treasurer Jay Johnson, of Newport News, said this year's General Assembly broke her heart with the voter ID measure, the bill requiring women to recieve an ultrasound before recieving an abortion and the repeal of the one-handgun-a-month purchasing limit.

"Why you need enough guns to have an arsenal, I don't know," Johnson said.

Reverend Jennifer Ryu, who leads the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalist congregation, said she's concerned that many of these issues aren't on the minds of Virginians.

"I know my congregants are concerned about these issues, we just don't seem to get a lot of attention," she said.

She said the voter ID bills have been the biggest heart break for her.

"On the front of it this seems like very rational legislation, but then if you start thinking about the history it all starts to become clear what the bigger impact is," Ryu said. "That's a lot of this legislation - you just have to think about the larger impact."

Tim Kaine on Navy decision to keep aircraft carrier in Hampton Roads

The news came Monday as part of President Barack Obama's budget announcement that the U.S. Navy would not be moving one of its Norfolk-based aircraft carriers to Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

Fromer Gov. Tim Kaine, who is running for the Democratic nomination to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jim Webb, issued the following statement on the decision:

“When the Navy announced in 2008 that it intended to relocate an aircraft carrier away from Hampton Roads, I immediately worked with our bipartisan congressional delegation, including Senators John Warner, Jim Webb, and then Senator-elect Mark Warner, to express our serious objection to the ill-conceived move. For the remainder of my gubernatorial term, I worked closely with Virginia’s delegation to press for more evidence to justify the Navy’s decision. During these tight fiscal times, I believe the Navy cannot make a compelling national security case that justifies the incredible expense associated with relocating a carrier to Naval Station Mayport in Florida. I am glad the Navy heeded this advice and today announced they would drop the carrier relocation plan. Because of strong Virginia leadership, thousands of military men and women and associated jobs will remain in Virginia where they belong.

"Today's decision is a reminder of how closely tied Virginia's economy and military installations are to the federal government. That's why I have called for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that emphasizes both new revenues and significant cuts. An 'all cuts' approach to deficit reduction, like the one championed by George Allen, could have an adverse affect on our economy and seriously jeopardize investments in education, Medicare, defense and other programs that matter to Virginians. As the Pentagon moves forward with future cuts, I encourage them to make the same sensible decisions that they did today by keeping Virginia's carrier fleet intact."

George Allen on Navy decision to keep aircraft carrier in Hampton Roads

The news came Monday as part of President Barack Obama's budget announcement that the U.S. Navy would not be moving one of its Norfolk-based aircraft carriers to Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

Former U.S. Senator and Gov. George Allen, who is running for the GOP nomination to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jim Webb, issued the following statement on the decision:

“Common-sense has prevailed with the Navy cancelling plans to move a nuclear carrier group to Florida.  Today’s announcement is a victory for the Hampton Roads region and the Virginia military families that depend on the thousands of jobs that the carrier supports.  I commend the hard work of Congressman Randy Forbes, Congressman Rob Wittman, and Congressman Scott Rigell. 

“Our military is facing the prospect of devastating cuts because of Washington’s inability to do its job and control spending.  For the U.S. Navy to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to update a base in Florida when it is strategically unnecessary would have been an irresponsible waste of taxpayer dollars for purely political purposes.  National defense is and must be the top priority of the federal government, and Virginia is blessed to have significant bases for all branches of our military, including the largest Naval base in Norfolk, the CIA and the Pentagon.   Washington’s focus should be ensuring that our men and women in uniform have all the resources they need to defend our country and keeping our promises to the veterans who have bravely served.”

Sen. Locke, U.S. Rep. Scott on Obama "Truth Team"

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, and Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott will be members of the Virginia version of President Barack Obama campaign's "Truth Team" designed to counter claims made by Republicans during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Obama campaign representatives said the "Truth Teams," which the campaign is rolling out in states nation wide, are designed to counter "unfounded attacks" by GOP presidential candidates and their surrogates on Obama's record and to challenge Republican candidates on claims about their own records.

"Never one to let facts get in the way, Mitt Romney has been caught lying about everything under the sun - distorting the president's strong record on the economy, his approach to foreign policy and a number of other critical, decisive actions the president has taken to move our country forward," Locke said at a press conference announcing the team. "And Mitt Romney has nothing to offer America's working- and middle-class families but the same failed policies of the past. So he's not just launching false attacks against the president, he's lying about his own record too."

The campaign effort also includes a national website, www.barackobama.com/truthteam, where the general public can "have access to facts about the President’s record, as well as the tools to share that message with other voters," campaign representatives said in a press release.

The Virginia "Truth Team" includes Virginia Democratic Party chairman Brian Moran, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, Sen. Donald McEachin, Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Louise Lucas, Sen. Adam Ebbin, Del. David Toscano, Del. Scott Surovell, Del. Charnelle Herring, Del. Jennifer McClellan, Del. Mark Keam, Hampton Democratic Committee chair  and first vice-chair of the DPVA Gaylene Kanoyton, second vice-chair of the DPVA Fred Hudson, Fairfax Democratic Committee chair Cesar del Aguila, Montgomery County Democratic Committee chair Steve Cochran, former-Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple and former-Del. Paula Miller.

House votes to do away with teacher tenure

New teachers in the commonwealth would no longer be able to gain tenure in the public school system starting in July 2013 under a measure passed Monday by the House of Delegates.

Under the measure, which passed by a vote of 55-43, teachers who currently have continuing contract status, or tenure, would continue under that system. Newly hired teachers and principals would have three-year contracts after a mandatory five-year probationary period.

At the end of the three-year contract teachers and principals could be let go from their positions without cause.

Del. Jeion Ward, D-Hampton, who works with teachers who are placed on improvement plans due to bad evaluations, urged her colleagues to vote "no" on the measure because there is already a process to get rid of ineffective teachers.

"Any issue that comes up it is recognized, and it is possible to terminate a teacher right now," Ward said. It is not a difficult thing, and I know it when I have to say good bye to so many of our teachers who are not performing on level. And It is not anything that causes me any trepidation, because we are trying to make sure we keep the very best and brightest teachers for our children."  

Kaine calls for broader religious exemption on contraception rule; Allen fights hypocrisy charge

Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said Tuesday that while he agrees with a recent White House decision that would require health insurance plans to offer contraceptives to women for free, he believes the rule should have a broader religious exemption.

Kaine was in Newport News on Tuesday speaking with a group of veterans gathered at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 176.

"The Affordable Care Act requires coverage of women's preventive health care services and the decision that that would include FDA approved birth control. I'm a supporter of that," Kaine said. But he added, "It is important to respect religious doctrine.That's an incredibly important religious liberty principle and so you need to have a religious employer exemption that is broad."

Kaine, who is a practicing Catholic, said that he has spoken with the White House and expressed his concerns. "It appears to me from what I'm hearing, they are looking for ways to find a solution."

Kaine's likely opponent this fall, former Governor and Senator George Allen, railed against the Obama administration's decision while stumping in Gloucester County Tuesday.

"This is just a shredding, shredding of the First Amendment and religious freedom in our country," Allen said.  Allen said the latest decision was another reason why he would vote to repeal the health reform law Congress passed in 2010.

On Tuesday, the Democrat-leaning blog Blue Virginia accused Allen of hypocrisy, citing a bill he signed into law in 1997 that would supposedly mandate all insurance policies purchased by employers in Virginia to offer contraceptive care, with no exemption for religious institutions.

However, the blog post seems to quote only a summary of the bill listed on the code's website from when it was introduced. 

The text of the bill that was signed into law is substantially different, saying that health insurance companies must "offer and make available coverage thereunder for any prescribed drug or device approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use as a contraceptive."

On Wednesday the Allen campaign pushed back at Blue Virginia's post.

"There is no mandate in this law," said Katie Wright, a spokeswoman for Allen's campaign, referring to the bill Allen signed in 1997.

 The Allen campaign ironically pointed to information on the NARAL Pro Choice Virginia website that says, "Virginia law requires that insurance companies offer employers a plan that covers contraception, but the law does not mandate that employers purchase these more equitable plans for their employees."

Sen. Northam gets smoking bans through committee

Smoking would be banned in all state government buildings and in the buildings and grounds of all K-12 public schools in the commonwealth under two measures passed Tuesday by the Senate Local Government Committee.

The sponsor of both proposals Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, said he was following up on an executive order issued by Gov. Tim Kaine to ban smoking in all of the state's executive offices and trying to keep children from "taking that first puff."

Under the measure to prohibit smoking in state-owned buildings, local governments would have the option of banning smoking in their offices and buildings.

The ban in goverment buldings passed the committee on a vote of 11-4; the ban on school grounds passed 12-3.

While Northam scored a victory on his quest to protect people from the effects of second-hand smoke, two similar messures were killed in the House of Delegates General Laws Committee earlier Tuesday.

Gov. McDonnell weighs in on voter ID bills

Gov. Bob McDonnell neither confirmed nor denied whether he will sign either version of the voter ID bills passed by the House of Delegates and Senate, but did say he felt protecting the integrity of the voting process was important.

McDonnell said Tuesday that before he signed a bill requiring voters to present valid identifications at the polls or cast a provisional ballot he would vet it to make sure it was "legally sound" and would pass muster under the federal 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The Senate passed a voter ID bill Monday and the House passed one last week that would differ over how provisional ballots cast by voters without ID would be counted. The Senate measure would give the voter six days to present an id to the registrar or state board to have the provisional ballot counted. It also expands what can be used as identification including a utility bill, a government issued check, a paycheck or a student ID card from one of the state's four-year universities. Under the House proposal the provisional ballot would be counted the day after the election unless someone specifically objects to that specific ballot.

Opponents say voter ID laws suppress and dilute the vote among minority groups, the elderly, the poor and students. They also question whether the type of voter fraud supporters contend makes the measures needed actually exists.

Supporters say even though there may not be significant evidence of voter fraud, just the chance that it could happen means it needs to be protected against to insure the integrity of the vote.

The U.S. Justice Department must approve any changes to voting laws in Virginia under the Voting Rights Act, and in December shot down a voter ID law in South Carolina.

"I can't speculate on what Justice Department may do," McDonnell said. "Particularly this Justice Department that's got a series of challenges with there operations. What I will say is voter integrity is very important. Voter integrity is the essence of of Democracy. You're entitled to one person, one vote - not two or three. And not none.

So it is a delicate balance to make sure no one is effectively or actually deprived of the right to vote, but to make sure that every vote that is cast is actually cast by a legal voter. So conceptually I understand what we are trying to do is to make sure that every person who votes is actually the person who is registered in the poll book, and is actually the person who is who that they say that they are.

I have not examined the details of those bills. I know there's been some changes that have been made in the House and the Senate. But I want to make sure we have absolute integrity in our voting system. Before I comment on any of those bills or decide on any signature I'm going to have a full review done by the Attorney Generals Office, like I do on all bills - but particularly on ones where we might have conflict with federal Voting Rights Act or anything like that. I want to make sure they are legally sound before I make my final policy decisions."

 

 

Senate approves research and development credits for utilities' renewable energy portfolios

The state's energy utilities would be able to use investments in research and development to get credits for their voluntary renewable energy portfolios under a measure passed by the Senate Monday. 

The proposal, which is part of Gov. Bob McDonnell's energy agenda, would allow utility companies to meet up to 20 percent of their voluntary renewable energy goals by investing in research and development projects. The utilities get a bonus from the state for meeting their portfolio goals.

The bill's sponsor Sen. Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment, R-James CIty County, said the measure should encourage to invest in more renewable energy projects in the commonwealth.

"(Previous legislation) allowed the investor-owned utilities to actually purchase these RPS credits and they did not have to purchase these credits in Virginia," Norment said. "What we found isthat some of these investor-owned utilities were actually purchasing these renewable portfolio standard credits on out-of-state projects like a hydro facilty that was quite old."

Opponents like the Sierra Club say because utilities like Dominion Power are able to recoup those investments in their renewable energy portfolios from consumers there are better ways to encourage research and development by those companies within the state.

Glen Besa of the Sierra Club said last week after the measure was approved by a Senate committee that  Dominion bought approximately $2 million dollars in credits to meet its goals. That cost was passed on to rate payers, while the utility garnered a $76 million dollar bonus from the state over a two-year period.

He also noted that, while well intended, research and development investments do not put "one electron" of renewable energy onto the state's electric grid. Besa suggests scrapping the entire voluntary portfolio process because it's "enriching" Dominion at the expense of consumers.