Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
House Republicans Reject $125M in Federal Stimulus Funds
Earlier this evening, House Republicans rejected $125 million in federal stimulus money for expanded unemployment benefits, ensuring that Virginians’ share of the stimulus will be sent to other states instead of families here in the Commonwealth.
Shortly before the vote, Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong took to the floor to express how badly his district needed the support – last month, the unemployment rate in Martinsville hit 20.2 percent.
GOP: Hate the stimulus, love the money
In response to Republican attacks on the federal stimulus package signed into law this week, Del. Ward Armstrong took to the floor yesterday to question the consistency of those speaking against the stimulus who nevertheless plan to take full advantage of its extra funding boost. “When it comes to economic stimulus,” Armstrong said, “I think that all the ideas that have come from the other side of the aisle would fill a thimble.”
House Republican Leader Morgan Griffith’s response?
“Clearly, it would be foolish when the check arrives to say ‘No thank you, give my money to California, they’re bankrupt and we’re not.’ That would be foolish.”
House GOP finishes off electoral reforms
Last month, the House Republican majority made short work of a number of initiatives aimed at easing voter access to the polls – for example, allowing early in-person voting and expanding absentee voting. They were swiftly killed (along with several redistricting reform bills) in a predawn subcommittee meeting that fell on the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
Today, the House GOP killed Senate versions of the same legislation. Sen. Janet Howell’s SB810 would have allowed registered voters to vote absentee for any reason, Sen. Louise Lucas’ SB819 would have allowed early, in-person voting beginning two weeks before Election Day, and Sen. John Miller’s SB1010 would have allowed registered voters over the age of 65 to vote absentee.
Sen. George Barker’s SB1230 would have provided for a court-ordered extension of polling hours in emergency situations.
Finally, Sen. Creigh Deeds’ SB926 would have established a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission.
While most passed the Senate by sizable margins (Sen. Deeds’ redistricting bill passed unanimously), all were killed this morning on party-line votes, with Republicans John Cosgrove, Chris Jones, Steve Landes and Jeff Frederick voting against Democrats Rosalyn Dance and David Englin.
Happy birthday, Abraham Lincoln!
Today marks the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the “Great Emancipator” and first Republican president of the United States. Oddly, Republican Party of Virginia chairman Jeff Frederick chose to commemorate the occasion by launching a random attack on Charles Darwin.
The motion to adjourn in President Lincoln’s honor was instead made by Democratic Delegate Jennifer McClellan, who noted that Lincoln gave his life so our nation “shall have a new birth of freedom.”
Incidentally, House Republicans made international news two years ago by defeating legislation to help with Lincoln bicentennial celebrations.
House GOP kills nondiscrimination measure… again
House Republicans in a General Laws subcommittee last night killed Del. Adam Ebbin’s HB2385, which would prohibit discrimination in public employment based on sexual orientation. A majority of the House Democratic Caucus co-patroned the bill, while GOP Del. Todd Gilbert argued that the measure “may not be in the best interest of our society.”
Video of the vote is below:
Republicans killed an identical bill from Del. Ebbin last year.
Del. Ken Melvin on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
As the nation observed the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, Del. Ken Melvin of Portsmouth spoke about his own journey in the House – and the journey our new president begins tomorrow.
House GOP Refuses to Seat Charniele Herring, Day 3
The 46th House District faced its third day without a representative today, as the House Republican majority again denied a seat to Charniele Herring, certified winner of Tuesday’s special election. Shortly after the vote, House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong filed a request for an official opinion from Attorney General Bob McDonnell on the matter.
Saxman’s Stunt Falls Flat
Del. Chris Saxman (R-Augusta) was caught off guard when asked to explain one his own bills this afternoon. Saxman’s HB1634 would restrict members of the General Assembly from attending various events during the General Assembly session, and Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) was curious exactly what kind of “events” the ban would cover. Saxman didn’t seem to know, but we assume he would make an exception for John McCain rallies.
GOP Again Refuses to Seat Herring
The House GOP majority has again refused to seat duly-elected Delegate Charniele Herring, denying Alexandria and Fairfax voters a representative in the Assembly for the second day in a row.
Republicans block health insurance expansion
The environment wasn’t the only victim of yesterday’s veto session – House Republicans also squashed funding for a public-private partnership that would have helped provide health insurance to low-income workers employed by small businesses.
In the video below, Del. Brian Moran explains how the pilot program would have helped lower insurance costs for all Virginians.
The amendment was defeated by a 43-53 vote.
Bill Howell: Above Politics?
As embattled House Speaker Bill Howell clings tenuously to his shrinking majority, he has attempted to lay preemptive blame for Virginia’s transportation crisis on Democrats – before a plan has even been introduced.
You’ll excuse us if his complaints ring hollow, since Bill Howell is no stranger to playing politics when he lacks the will to offer a solution.
Bill Howell on fixing transportation:
“‘It makes you wonder if, in fact, this is all to put it off to the 2009 election’ and try to use the issue to attack GOP House candidates, Howell said.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/3/08]
Bill Howell on property tax relief:
“House Speaker Bill Howell admitted to Chamber of Commerce leaders last month that a plan to discount property taxes would penalize Virginia’s businesses and harm its communities. In the same breath, however, Howell said he would do nothing to stop a bad idea from becoming law. His reasoning: ‘My guys are up for election next year.'” [Virginian-Pilot, 2/10/08]
“Republicans would not stand in the way of the proposal, Howell said, because doing so would be used against by political opponents. ‘You’ve got to look at the politics of it,’ he told a crowd of about 250 gathered at the Library of Virginia. ‘My guys are up for election next year.'” [Sun Gazette, 1/25/08]
“The Speaker of the House came to us and said, ‘We’d like you to kill this bill in the Senate.’ There was a bill in the House as well. One of my guys stood up and said, ‘You’re going to kill it in the House too, right?’ ‘Oh, no, we’re up for re-election in 2009, we can’t vote against a tax cut.’ And sure enough, they passed it.” [Sen. Tommy Norment, Virginia Gazette, 3/22/08]
The Floor Flipper Phenomenon
This year’s increased scrutiny of committee meetings has created an interesting new creature in the House of Delegates – the “Floor Flipper.”
Floor Flippers vote for a bill in committee (often overwhelmingly), but later vote against the same bill when it arrives on the House floor.
That’s what happened last week to Del. Chuck Caputo’s HB 1876, a bill to ban teenagers from talking on their cell phones while driving. As The Washington Post noticed, 11 Republicans who voted to report the bill from the House Science and Technology committee later voted with Republican Leader Morgan Griffith to table it.
So what gives? The Post reports that Griffith denies any partisan motives, but there seems to be a trend developing:
13 Republicans who voted for Del. David Bulova’s HB 2485 in the House General Laws committee voted to send it off to Appropriations once it arrived on the House floor.
Earlier, Del. Dave Poisson’s HB 1808 narrowly survived its second reading (five Republicans floor-flipped), only to be sent back to the Transportation committee when eight Republicans floor-flipped. It had initially passed with a 17-5 vote.
And Del. Kris Amundson’s HB 2837 was referred to the Rules committee on an unrecorded voice vote, despite eight Republicans on the Education committee who initially voted for it.
Currently, Dels. Gear, Saxman, and Hugo lead the Floor Flippers with three flips each (since they twice voted to send back HB 1808 after first supporting it in committee). Dels. Cosgrove, Rapp, Reid, Crockett-Stark, Rust, Ed Scott, Welch, and Fralin are close behind at two flips each.
Stem cell research defeated
The Health subcommittee also sent two bills authorizing stem cell research at Virginia universities – Del. Shuler’s HB 1768 and Del. Moran’s HB 2857 – to indefinite limbo in the Stem Cell Research Commission, which AP writer Bob Lewis points out is “unlikely to take it up in time to pass this year.”
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.
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.
HR 48 coverage
News and commentary on Del. Plum’s resolution to require recorded subcommittee votes:
The Roanoke Times
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
Associated Press
7 West (Del. Kris Amundson)
Bearing Drift
Brian Patton
Not Larry Sabato
The Virginia Progressive
Vivian Paige
Waldo Jaquith
Assembly Access 