VaNews
February 18, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** Donnie Ratliff, Commonwealth Connections, Inc.
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A consulting company promoting Economic Development, Public Policy and Governmental Affairs for our folks in the Great Southwest. In Memory of Richard Settle.

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Top of the News


** VPAP Visual Prison Inmates and Redistricting ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Legislation advancing in the General Assembly would assign state prison inmates to their last known address instead of where they are incarcerated. VPAP has produced maps showing location of current prison headcount and charts that calculate which legislative districts would stand to lose population after the 2020 Census if the bill were to become law.
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** Ban on assault weapon sales dies in Va. Senate committee ([link removed])
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By LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Democrats who won control of Virginia's legislature on the promise of sweeping gun control lost a battle over assault-style weapons on Monday, handing Gov. Ralph Northam a big defeat and giving a rare win to Second Amendment activists in a newly blue Capitol.
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** Senate seeks to link minimum wage increase to regions' median income ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

State Democrats want to raise the minimum wage, but how much should they increase it? And should the state impose the same increase everywhere, from rural Southwest Virginia to booming Northern Virginia? As the General Assembly wrestles with those questions, it’s moving toward using a regional approach to increasing the minimum wage
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** Virginia Republican announces gubernatorial run ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

A Virginia Republican state senator says she’s running for governor next year as an unabashed conservative whose top priority will be to promote gun rights. Sen. Amanda Chase announced her candidacy Monday to a crowd of about 100 outside the Capitol on Monday
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** Virginia State Police say electronic ticketing system will save time and lives ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The average length of time it takes a Virginia state trooper to write a ticket on the side of a road has been cut from 26 minutes to 10 minutes using an electronic summons system, according to the findings of a pilot project in Northern Virginia.
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** Increased competition coming for residential broadband service in the Roanoke Valley ([link removed])
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By MATT CHITTUM, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

If you have home internet service in the Roanoke Valley, chances are you have only one choice of a service provider. You’re about to have others. The Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority is launching a “game-changing” effort to connect residences in the region to high-speed internet via fiber optic lines direct to their homes.
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** Virginia wants to boost bluefish by slashing the number anglers can keep ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

It fights hard and it’s good to eat, but the bluefish has become just a little too popular for its own good. So the state’s fisheries regulator is proposing a sharp cut in the number anglers can keep. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission wants to limit recreational fishers to three per day
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The Full Report
28 articles, 14 publications

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** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** Senate committee says no to Democrats’ assault weapons ban ([link removed])
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By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The final and most controversial of Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control bills that would have stopped the sale of assault weapons and banned people from having 12-round magazines has been tabled for the year.
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** Virginia Senate panel puts off assault weapons ban until next year ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Legislation to ban assault weapons under an expanded definition won’t advance out of the General Assembly this year, a win for gun rights advocates and a setback for Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control agenda. Four Democrats joined Republicans to defeat the measure Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee
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** Sen. John Edwards, 3 other Democrats join 6 Republicans to stop assault weapons bill ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday halted for the year a highly controversial bill to ban the sale or transfer of assault weapons and the possession of “high capacity” magazines of 12 or more rounds. The Democratic-controlled committee voted 10-5, with four Democrats — Sens. John Edwards of Roanoke, Creigh Deeds of Bath, Scott Surovell of Fairfax County and Chap Petersen of Fairfax City — joining Republicans
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** Virginia lawmakers reject assault weapon ban ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s push to ban the sale of assault weapons failed on Monday after some of his fellow Democrats balked at the proposal. Senators voted to shelve the bill for the year and ask the state crime commission to study the issue, an outcome that drew cheers from a committee room packed with gun advocates.
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** $15 minimum wage, paid sick days hang in balance as Democrats debate labor priorities ([link removed])
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By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

CNBC named Virginia its top state for business last year — an honorific lawmakers have recited so many times that, were it tied to a drinking game, everyone would have been carted out of the General Assembly Building with alcohol poisoning by now. Republicans have invoked the cable-news survey results mostly to warn colleagues what’s at stake if a raft of worker and union friendly reforms are allowed to advance. Democrats bring it up, too, but more often to make the point that the state has also recently been ranked worst for workers. But for all the dire talk, labor groups aren’t exactly having the banner year some might have expected under Democratic rule.
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** Another consumer protection bill for lenders clears a key hurdle ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

A second major protection for borrowers who get in over their heads cleared a key General Assembly hurdle Monday as the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved a measure to regulate debt settlement companies. It’s an effort that Attorney General Mark Herring and consumer advocates have been pushing for years,
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** Northam highway safety bill finds new life in House ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan for improving highway safety has been revived in the House of Delegates after a near-fatal experience in the Senate. A House Transportation motor vehicles subcommittee voted 4-2 Monday to approve a new version of Senate Bill 907, proposed by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
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** VTLA puts 3 atop list for appeals judgeship ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association deems three candidates as “highly qualified” for the vacant seat on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. The VTLA’s top candidates are Fairfax Circuit Judge David Bernhard, Virginia Workers Compensation Commissioner Wesley G. Marshall and former state Solicitor General Stuart A. Raphael.
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** Virginia moves toward banning conversion therapy ([link removed])
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Associated Press

The Virginia General Assembly is moving to ban the discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ children. Conversion therapy is a practice used to try to change sexual orientation or gender identity. The Virginia Senate voted Monday to ban licensed therapists and counselors from subjecting minors to the practice.
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** VA House Weighs Possible Release for Sick and Disabled Prisoners ([link removed])
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By SANDY HAUSMAN, WVTF

In most states prisoners with a terminal illness can be freed early, but Virginia only considers inmates with less than three months to live. Now, the legislature may change that, making several thousand prisoners eligible for compassionate release.
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** Gun-Toting Hopewell GOP Chair Protests Outside Delegate’s House ([link removed])
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By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE

A Democratic lawmaker who is leading an effort to ban assault weapons in Virginia has asked local prosecutors to consider pressing charges against a gun-toting Republican Party chair who protested outside his home on Saturday. Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) said Brandon Howard, chair of Hopewell County’s Republican Party and head of the gun group Right to Bear Arms Virginia , may have violated Virginia statutes related to intimidation and harassment.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Chase is first up for GOP governor nomination ([link removed])
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By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)

State Sen. Amanda F. Chase officially launched her bid for the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nomination Monday afternoon, vowing to turn the tide of the majority Democrats’ “liberal agenda” and adding she will make gun rights the cornerstone of her campaign.
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** Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase announces run for governor ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Amanda Chase, the gun-carrying Republican state senator from Chesterfield County, is running for governor. The second-term senator cited Democratic gun control proposals as the reason for running for statewide office.
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** Trump-supporting senator announces 2021 run for governor ([link removed])
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By LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

State Sen. Amanda F. Chase, a Trump-style Republican at odds with both parties in Richmond, announced on Monday that she will run for governor next year as a Republican — and failing that, as an independent. “I can’t take it anymore,” Chase (Chesterfield), said, referring to “the liberal, socialistic agenda that has taken control of the Capitol.”
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** Justin Fairfax’s Next Act ([link removed])
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By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE

The 1,500 or so guests at Virginia Democrats' largest fundraiser were digging into their salads when Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax strode onstage at Main Street Station on Saturday. Despite tepid applause and a boycott from a couple dozen women, it was a comeback of sorts for Fairfax. A year ago, many politicians in the room had called for his resignation after two women came forward with accusations of sexual assault. Now he was back at what he saw as his rightful place at the podium.


** FEDERAL ELECTIONS
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** Republican senate candidates outline visions at Liberty University ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Four Republicans vying to take on U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., this fall outlined their competing visions at Liberty University on Monday. In a candidate forum that stretched a little more than an hour, Daniel Gade, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel; Alissa Baldwin, a public school teacher; Omari Faulkner, a U.S. Navy reservist; and Thomas Speciale, a U.S. Army reservist, each described why they are the best candidate


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** BWXT awarded $1 billion contract for naval reactor components ([link removed])
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By RACHEL SMITH, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

BWX Technologies announced Monday that the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has awarded subsidiary BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. new contracts with options totaling approximately $1 billion for the manufacture of naval nuclear reactor components.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Proposal would wipe out mine reclamation funds ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Coalfield Progress

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget, which would take effect in October if approved, calls for elimination of the federal abandoned mine land reclamation grant program. ...Less than a week earlier, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that more than $3.56 million of federal abandoned mine land reclamation grant funds will be provided to Virginia in the current federal fiscal year.


** LOCAL
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** Loudoun County supervisors push for better relationships between communities, businesses ([link removed])
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By NATHANIEL CLINE, Loudoun Times

Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors are aware of the differences that separate the growing eastern part of the county from the rural west, but they say they don't want those differences to lead to divisiveness. On Friday, the east-west divide was touched on at the Loudoun Chamber’s annual breakfast
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** General Assembly Set To Approve New Residency Rules For Richmond City Council ([link removed])
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By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE

Virginia lawmakers are backing a change to Richmond’s charter requiring City Council members to live in their district throughout their entire term in office. A Senate committee voted unanimously on Monday to advance the charter change being sponsored by Del. Dawn Adams (D-Richmond). The bill has already passed the House with unanimous support. Richmond City Council asked the General Assembly to clarify the residency rules after Councilman Parker Agelasto was sued for moving outside of his district last year.
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** Regional party officials to supervise Henrico Democrats after elections dispute ([link removed])
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By C. SUAREZ ROJAS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Henrico County Democrats will operate under the supervision of regional party officials over the next year after activists appealed a recent committee election. In what was an unusually competitive election last December, a slate of progressive party members seeking to retool the local party machine collectively fell short of winning
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** Some Virginia Beach council members question plan to prioritize flood control projects ([link removed])
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By PETER COUTU, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

As Virginia Beach engineers start to assess thousands of flood control projects for at-risk areas, some members of the City Council are questioning their priorities — specifically, why sea level rise issues aren’t getting more attention. C.J. Bodnar, a public works engineer who is helping lead the effort, told City Council last Tuesday that projects to fix areas currently at risk of flooding would be prioritized over safeguards against future problems caused by sea level rise.

Today's Sponsor:


** Donnie Ratliff, Commonwealth Connections, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------

A consulting company promoting Economic Development, Public Policy and Governmental Affairs for our folks in the Great Southwest. In Memory of Richard Settle.


** EDITORIALS
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** Charting Virginia’s energy future ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

On Monday last week, Dominion Energy committed itself to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The next day, on Tuesday, the global oil giant BP (that stands for British Petroleum) outdid every other major oil with a similar promise. It will, by 2050, eliminate or offset “all of the planet-warming emissions from its operations.” Something is going on here and it obliges some measured thought.
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** Flu is the known threat — and it should be taken seriously ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

As headlines and daily media briefings keep circulating about the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, a common infection continues to sweep its way across the commonwealth. On Feb. 11, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported the state’s first pediatric death for this flu season.
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** Virginia steps up to protect migratory birds ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia offers some of the best birding in the United States, especially for migratory birds. So we were relieved last week when Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced plans to create new habitat for about 25,000 seabirds that have lost their longtime nesting site to expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel


** OP-ED
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** Campbell: Hurst made right decision on Long ([link removed])
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By H. GREGORY CAMPBELL, JR., published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The op-ed written by attorneys Branscom, Rogers, and Turk titled “We Support the Reappointment of Judge Long” published Feb. 8, 2020 is an effort by good lawyers to create a narrative that supports their position. I have practiced law in Blacksburg for forty-two (42) years. I know and respect the authors, but their narrative skirts the main story which is Marc Long’s judicial evaluation.

Campbell is an attorney in Blacksburg.
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** Pratt: Gun control measures go too far for Virginia ([link removed])
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By ERICH PRATT, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam and Democrats in the General Assembly are ignoring the hornet’s nest of opposition they have stirred up across Virginia. In their rush to pass gun control, Democrats are marching in lockstep with their campaign benefactor, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who dumped $4 million in recent elections in the Old Dominion

Erich Pratt is the senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, a national firearms advocacy organization located in Springfield
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** Minor: Early education must be a top priority for all ([link removed])
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By GIL MINOR, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The workforce pipeline begins with quality early education. Sadly, this fall, according to the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP), 44% of Virginia’s children entered kindergarten not ready in one or more critical areas of literacy, math, self-regulation and social skills. That number is even higher for children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Gil Minor is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Owens & Minor Inc, a Fortune 200 company serving the health care industry. He has served as chairman of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
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