Virginia Politics Blog Archive: General Assembly 2009
McDonnell asked to lift a ban on State Police troopers referring to Jesus in public prayers
Activists across the state are asking Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) to reverse a policy that bans Virginia State Police troopers from referring to Jesus Christ in public prayers. Donald Blake, president of Virginia Christian Alliance, said he spoke to McDonnell about the change at a recent fundraiser at the governor's mansion and at a private meeting with McDonnell's chief of staff Martin Kent. "It is important to a lot of people of faith in Virginia,'' Blake said. "When you change tradition it bothers a lot of people." Other groups, including the Family Foundation of Virginia, also support a change and have been lobbying for one. The governor's office has received a handful of letters, faxes and emails in support of a reversal. In September 2008, Col. W. Steven Flaherty, the State Police superintendent, told chaplains to offer nondenominational prayers at department-sanctioned public events in response to a recent federal appeals...
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Anita Kumar
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April 26, 2010; 2:07 PM ET |
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| Tags: Bob McDonnell, Jesus, Virginia State Police
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Updated: Virginia governor's mansion to be a new venue for fundraisers
Last year, then-Gov. Tim Kaine abruptly canceled a Democratic fundraiser at the Executive Mansion in part because of concerns that it was to take place at a once-sacred venue. Traditionally, Virginia governors have not used the mansion to raise money, though no state law prohibits it. But just last week, Gov. Bob McDonnell held his first fundraiser at the mansion, hosting a reception for the 40 or so people who pledged $1,000 or more to Richmond's soon-to-be-opened charter school. (The school picked up the tab.) Clearly, the goal was different -- Kaine canceled a reception after he discovered that the event's organizers were advertising it as a fundraiser for the Farm Team, a political action committee formed to help Democratic women seek elected office, while McDonnell was helping Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, a nonprofit organization he strongly supports. But the question remains: Will the mansion be a...
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Anita Kumar
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April 7, 2010; 1:22 PM ET |
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Va. legislators accepted more than $250,000 in gifts last year
Lobbyists, companies and trade associations last year gave Virginia legislators trips, meals and tickets to University of Virginia and Redskins football games, NASCAR races and Wolf Trap concerts, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a non-partisan tracker of money in politics. In all, the 140 members of the General Assembly accepted hundreds of gifts worth about $250,000 in 2009, according to data released this morning. Many of the gifts were offered during last year's 45-day legislative session, when donors often lobby lawmakers after treating them to dinners, receptions and goody bags. Overall, the value of the gifts was down 25 percent compared to 2008. That's because many of the legislators were new and because of the sharp downturn in the economy....
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Anita Kumar
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February 10, 2010; 12:00 PM ET |
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McDonnell drops Hall from ABC Board
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell has removed former Democratic Del. Frank Hall from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, several sources tell us. Hall was informed of the decision before McDonnell was inaugurated Saturday, and left office Friday despite asking repeatedly to be reappointed. Former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine appointed Hall to the commission in April after serving more than three decades in the House. The three ABC commission jobs are widely considered some of the most plum posts in all of state government. The two remaining commissioners -- Susan Swecker, former campaign manager to state Sen. Creigh Deeds, and Bill Pantele, a former Richmond City Council member -- are still at ABC for now. Both Democrats appointed by Kaine and could be removed at any time as McDonnell gets the board ready to make good on a campaign promise to privatize liquor stores. The governor's press office did not answer...
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Anita Kumar
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January 21, 2010; 9:00 AM ET |
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| Tags: ABC Board, bob mcdonnell, creigh deeds, frank hall, tim kaine
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Recession may have dampened but did not halt lobbying expenses
Spending by Virginia lobbyists dropped by 25 percent this year from last, according to an analysis by the Virginia Public Access Project, a non-partisan tracker of money in politics. According VPAP, lobbying expenses reported on financial financial disclosure forms covering the period from May 2008 through April 2009, show lobbying expenses dropped to $14.95 million from $19.84 million in 2007-2008. But the reason for the drop is not entirely clear. Surely, the recession played a role, limiting the amount lobbyists could spending wining and dining and wooing Virginia lawmakers on behalf of their clients. Entertainment expenses by lobbyists dropped from $1.13 million to $793,000....
By
Rosalind Helderman
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December 16, 2009; 2:16 PM ET |
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Sensing big gains, Republicans make late donations
From the Virginia Public Access Project comes some fascinating new numbers that show Republicans are making a late play for some seats in the House of Delegates where they were once thought to have little chance for pick-ups. The late donations, from Republican Party of Virginia, Dominion Leadership Trust and candidate committees for Speaker William Howell and Del. Morgan Griffith, is a sign that Republicans are hoping a tidal wave of a win Tuesday could pull even more delegate candidates into the winner's column than they had once thought. It's a stunning turnaround in a year when Democrats had once talked about regaining control of the House for the first time since 1999. Per VPAP, here are late donations from Republican to House candidates just since Friday:...
By
Rosalind Helderman
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November 2, 2009; 4:29 PM ET |
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Election 2009
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Rosalind Helderman
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