During the 2019 General Assembly session, lawmakers headed off a list of alterations to rectify the woeful conditions within the Commonwealth’s foster care network.
Tim Kaine Brings Out Bill Banning High-Capacity Magazines
Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine sets forth legislation abridging the Second Amendment.
Democrats Shut Down Bipartisan Investigation of Fairfax Accusations, Silence Victims of Sexual Assault
Days before the legislature adjourns, Democrats rejected calls for a bipartisan panel to investigate two claims of sexual assault against Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax. The eleventh-hour move would run out the clock, depriving the General Assembly of an avenue to investigate the claims.
Limited No-Excuse Early Voting Approved By General Assembly, To Be Enacted In 2020
With absentee voting beginning 45 days before an election, new bipartisan, bicameral legislation would create a seven-day window for in-person, no-excuse absentee voting.
Hopewell Delegate Riley Ingram Gives A Colorful, Folksy Farewell Address After 26 Years In Richmond
From dancing at the “Holiday Inn on Franklin Street” to “having a toddy on the floor,” Delegate Riley Ingram’s retirement speech is one for the books.
Virginia General Assembly Passes Measure To Study And Help Reduce Maternal Mortality Rates
A maternal mortality review team within the Virginia Department of Health will be created to study the causes behind pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths in the Commonwealth.
Northam Cancels First Stop On ‘Reconciliation Tour’ After VUU Backlash
With students voicing their disgust with Governor Ralph Northam, the first stop on his “reconciliation tour” at Virginia Union University has been cancelled.
More Studies Instituted To Research How To Pay For I-81 Corridor Improvements
After backlash from tolling proposals, the newly-formed Interstate 81 Committee will study what drivers will tolerate when it comes to paying for roadway improvements.
Republican Derails Democrat’s Raucous Racism Rant Over Sanctuary Cities Bill
A bill banning sanctuary cities in Virginia caused fireworks on the floor of the House of Delegates today after a Democratic lawmaker charged the GOP-led bill’s directives as “dog whistle politics.” The contention led to a top Republican legislator unequivocally charging the Democratic Caucus to “clean up their own house first” if they “want to talk about racism.”
The situation comes as both Governor Ralph Northam (D) and Attorney General Mark Herring (D) are battling against calls for their resignation after appearing in “blackface” decades ago.
The legislation taken up during Tuesday’s session involved S.B. 1156, patroned by State Senator Dick Black (R-Loudoun), which would prohibit any locality from adopting any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The measure, which would outlaw the establishment of sanctuary cities in the Commonwealth, is identical to last year’s H.B. 1257, which failed to become law.
Black’s bill passed the House with a 51-47 vote, but its fate remains uncertain after Governor Northam vetoed the similar measure after the end of the 2018 General Assembly session.
Though, the legislation is not the highlight of this story.
Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington) rose to make a point about the bill banning sanctuary cities.
“Let’s be clear. Let’s be very clear,” he said shakily. “This bill is really about dog whistle politics, created to stoke fear of ‘the other.'”
Delegate Lopez said the Republican legislation would “send the worst kind of message about Virginia.”
Responding to the seemingly-uncalled-for remarks, House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) spoke to the implication that he said “many of us have grown tired of.”
“Just because we favor something as simple and clear as the rule of law – that we are racist – that was just what was uttered on this floor with the term ‘dog whistle politics,'” he said.
“For the last week,” Gilbert continued, “we have heard, by implication, suggestions that [Republicans] are racist, in some respect or another, and I am tired of it.”
Pointing to the left-leaning side of the aisle, the majority leader charged, “If our friends in the Democratic Caucus want to talk about racism, they need to clean up their own house first…and we’re waiting for you to do that.”
GOP’s Overperformance in House Special Election Could Spell Trouble for Democrats in the Fall
The Democratic candidate lagged past results by double digits, suggesting that scandal and controversy have taken their toll on the party. Democrats are worried that this underperformance foreshadows problems in the fall elections, despite their expected win tonight.