Archive for January 2007
Expanding kindergarten
The House Education committee tabled Del. Jennifer McClellan’s HB 1636 this morning, a bill to expand kindergarten elibility.
Senate opposes gerrymandering
The Senate of Virginia passed Sen. Creigh Deeds’ SJ 352 today, sending his independent redistricting measure to the House on a 23-17 vote (pending a correction request from Sen. Chichester).
We’ve had some technical difficulties with the streaming video, but hopefully will be able to post the floor debate later this afternoon.
Raising teacher salaries
Fortunately, Del. Frederick’s boys didn’t block our camera for the entire Education committee meeting this morning – here are some highlights from the testimony on Del. Moran’s HB 2847, which would raise Virginia’s average teacher salary to the national average (the committee voted to refer the bill to Appropriations).
“We’ve gone too far… to go back now”
Del. Brian Moran also spoke on the transportation plan today, specifically on his concern with adequately funding education.
Ward Armstrong on transportation
Del. Ward Armstrong addressed the Republican transportation plan on the House floor today. You can listen to his full speech here. (MP3 file, right-click to download)
Jeff Frederick, hard at work
The House Education Committee heard some important bills today – Del. Jones presented a bill to waive college tuition for the families of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty, and Del. Moran spoke on his measure to make sure teacher salaries never drop below the national average.
Del. Jeff Frederick, on the other hand, decided he’d rather play with our camera than participate in the debate. Enjoy:
Full floor debate
For the full debate on HR 48, including an impressive assault on open government from Republican leader Morgan Griffith, just click here. (MP3 file, right-click to download)
GOP upholds gerrymandering (again)
After rejecting Del. Amundson’s proposed constitutional amendment to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission last week, the Privileges and Elections committee considered a number of other ideas on the issue this morning. Here’s a montage of HR 2599 (Plum), HR 2070 (Brink), HJR 718 (Barlow), and HJR 719 (Moran) being summarily killed by Republicans.
HR 48 defeated
Del. Plum’s HR 48, a measure to require all subcommittee votes to be recorded, was just defeated in a 59-39 vote on the House floor. Audio clips from the debate will be posted this afternoon.
UPDATE: The amended vote is 57-41; Dels. Johnson and Phillips signed slips to change their initial vote after mistakenly voting against the resolution.
GOP vs. absentee voting (part 2)
The subcommittee also tabled Del. Brink’s HB 2072, which would allow pregnant women to vote absentee.
GOP vs. absentee voting
In a predawn subcommittee meeting this morning, House Republicans killed several measures relating to absentee voting. Among the victims was Del. Bob Brink’s HB 2069, which would allow persons performing volunteer service on Election Day to vote absentee. Motion to pass by indefinitely made by Del. Melanie Rapp; substitute motion to report made by Del. Jim Scott.
Transportation response
Floor Leader Frank Hall and Democratic leaders respond to the Republican transportation proposal released this afternoon.
HB 1916 passes the House
Del. Jeion Ward’s important HB 1916, which would require instruction on dating violence to be incorporated into family life education curriculum, passed the House of Delegates and moved on to the Senate this afternoon.
Disappointingly, 14 legislators voted against the measure – all males, all Republicans. Nine of them did the same during Monday’s committee vote.
Del. Ward spoke on HB 1916 during its second reading yesterday; you can hear her full speech here.
Transportation rumors
On the House floor today, Del. Kris Amundson expressed her hope that House Republicans may indeed have come to their senses on transportation, at long last.
More on accountability
Del. Ken Plum appeared on Charlottesville – Right Now with Coy Barefoot this afternoon to discuss HR 48, his resolution to require recording subcommittee votes. You can listen to the full interview on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network.
Del. Jones on upcoming legislation
Del. Dwight Jones, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, comments on the caucus’ 2007 legislative package.
Del. Spruill on upcoming legislation
Del. Lionell Spruill discusses the 2007 agenda of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
Legislative Black Caucus press conference
Earlier today, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus held a press conference to unveil their agenda for the 2007 session of the General Assembly. Here are some clips:
Hargrove’s explanation
On the House floor, Del. Hargrove fails to apologize, accuses Englin of oversensitivity.
