VaNews
March 4, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** G. Paul Nardo
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Wishing my friends at VPAP and colleagues in the House Clerk’s Office and around Capitol Square good health, happiness and RELIEF as session winds down!

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Top of the News


** From VPAP 'Super Tuesday' Results ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

VPAP has results of yesterday's Democratic presidential primary in Virginia, complete with maps and precinct analysis.
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** Biden easily wins Virginia Democratic primary, cementing comeback after early losses ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Former vice president Joe Biden won Virginia's Democratic primary contest by a large margin Tuesday, with exit polls showing that voters chose mainly based on who they thought had the best chance of beating President Trump this fall.
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** Voters in Democratic strongholds of Roanoke, Blacksburg cite differing motivations for primary choices ([link removed])
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By MATT CHITTUM, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

After nearly 50 years of watching from the sidelines, Harold Jennings got in the game. At 65, he voted for the first time. Animated by what he’s seen from President Donald Trump, he showed up at Roanoke’s Lincoln Terrace Precinct Tuesday morning to vote for Mike Bloomberg in Virginia’s Democratic primary
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** Virginia Democratic primary turnout highest on record, surpassing 2008 ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

More than 1.3 million Virginians voted in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, breaking the record set 12 years ago when Barack Obama faced Hillary Clinton, according to unofficial results. More than 23% of registered Virginians cast ballots Tuesday,
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** Virginia lawmakers vote to prohibit landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers ([link removed])
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By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

Landlords who lease more than four units will no longer be allowed to refuse perspective tenants solely because they rely on government subsidies to pay their rent under legislation that has now cleared both chambers of the General Assembly.
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** Instead of Jefferson, Charlottesville now officially celebrates enslaved population 'getting their due' ([link removed])
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By TYLER HAMMEL, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A gleeful crowd of about 100 people marched down University Avenue and West Main Street Tuesday to commemorate the date when more than half of the populations of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were freed from enslavement. This year’s Procession of Freedom was the first to be celebrated as an official local holiday following a Charlottesville City Council vote last year to designate March 3 as Freedom and Liberation Day and a paid day off for staff, in lieu of Thomas Jefferson’s April 13 birthday.
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** Lingering grudges, obscure protocol and a classic General Assembly judge fight ([link removed])
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By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

A Republican senator is accusing Democratic leaders in the House of Delegates of blocking a bi-partisan pick to fill a district court judgeship because the candidate opposed former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s blanket restoration of felon voting rights in 2016.
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The Full Report
34 articles, 17 publications

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** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** Northam signs bill banning conversion therapy ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia is set to become the first state in the South to ban conversion therapy on minors. Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday signed a bill outlawing the practice, which seeks to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill bars such efforts by medical professionals, but doesn’t apply to pastoral counseling.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** Over the objections of religious groups, Virginia is poised to mandate nondiscriminatory care for transgender patients ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

In a year when the General Assembly passed sweeping LGBTQ-friendly legislation, it’s a relatively low-profile health bill that has opponents questioning whether the state is going too far in its protections for transgender Virginians. The Senate Commerce and Labor committee voted 12-2 on Monday to report a bill from Del. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, that would ban health insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage based on a patient’s gender identity or transgender status. The legislation, which passed the House 54-41, is expected to clear the Senate in a similarly party-line vote.
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** Lawmakers Act to Correct Racial Disparity in Maternal Mortality Rates ([link removed])
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By MEGAN PAULY, WCVE

The governor and lawmakers are working to address racial disparities in Virginia’s maternal mortality rate. Right now, Black women in the commonwealth are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.
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** Virginia bill could help fund Metro service increases ([link removed])
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By ALEX KOMA, Washington Business Journal (Subscription required for some articles)

Northern Virginia localities could soon have the ability to spend more money on Metro service increases after state lawmakers approved a bill that tinkers with the dedicated funding agreement for the transit agency.
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** Prosecutors face tough questions on impartiality ([link removed])
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By MAURA MAZUROWSKI AND PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

Of the 29 judicial candidates interviewed at the General Assembly Feb. 21, one in four was a prosecutor. Five were elected commonwealth’s attorneys. During interviews held by the combined House Courts and Senate Judiciary committees, the heavy tilt toward the prosecution was a tipping point for some legislators.
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** Insurers hail defeat of higher auto limits plan ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

A proposal to increase the minimum auto liability limits in Virginia that gained solid support in the state Senate was killed on a close vote in a House committee. Facing opposition from the insurance industry and taxicab companies, Senate Bill 664 was rejected on a 10-9 vote in the House Labor and Commerce Committee.
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** 'It has not operated that way for decades:' Middleburg seeks to amend town charter ([link removed])
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By KAREN GRAHAM, Loudoun Times

Legislation to amend Middleburg's town charter appears poised to pass Virginia's General Assembly. Senate Bill 541, introduced by local state Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Va.-27th), passed the Virginia Senate Feb. 2 by a vote of 40-0 and passed the House Subcomittee on Counties, Cities and Towns by a vote of 22-0 on Feb. 28. It is awaiting a full House vote. Middleburg Town Administrator Danny Davis said the small Loudoun County town requested a charter amendment to clarify the roles of the mayor and town administrator
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** Combined-sewer cleanup deal for Richmond on way to Northam ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Richmond would have to start working on a short-term plan and long-term fix for city sewage flowing into the James River during heavy rains under legislation headed to Gov. Ralph Northam.
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** Hudson's council salary limit bill dies in Senate committee ([link removed])
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By NOLAN STOUT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A Virginia Senate committee has killed a bill by Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, to remove salary limits on city councils statewide. Last week, the Senate Committee on Local Government had a tie vote on the bill, HB 1108, effectively killing it.
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** House rejects amendment for Wise plant ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a legislative amendment to extend the life of a Southwest Virginia power plant.
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** Criminal discovery plan advances at Assembly ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

New Virginia criminal discovery rules are set to go into effect this summer, but if they don’t, the General Assembly has a back-up plan. A measure now making its way through the state Senate would put criminal discovery procedures in the state code if the Supreme Court’s approved rule package does not become effective as scheduled
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** General Assembly elevates Petersburg's top two prosecutors to judgeships in 11th District ([link removed])
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By MARK BOWES, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Petersburg’s two top prosecutors with more than 45 years of combined experience will take the bench as judges in Virginia’s 11th Judicial District later this year after winning the approval of the General Assembly.
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** Roanoke judgeship remains in dispute ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The General Assembly elected a handful of judges for Western Virginia on Tuesday but held off picking someone to fill a vacant seat on the Roanoke Circuit Court at the center of a dispute among legislators. The divide among the Roanoke Valley delegation has made it difficult to elect a judge to succeed Judge William Broadhurst, who retired effective Sunday.
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** Assembly privately winnows SCC candidates from six to two ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Six people formally expressed interest in serving on the State Corporation Commission, but General Assembly committees have only interviewed two publicly. Jehmal Hudson, director of governmental affairs at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Sam Brumberg, counsel to the Virginia-Maryland-Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, appeared before the House Labor and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Monday ...


** FEDERAL ELECTIONS
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** Biden runs away with Virginia's Super Tuesday primary ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, MICHAEL MARTZ AND JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Former Vice President Joe Biden easily carried Virginia’s Democratic primary Tuesday, where his pitch for moderate politics delivered a swift victory. Biden, bolstered by a sweeping win in South Carolina over the weekend and endorsements from high-profile Virginia Democrats in the days leading up to the primary, more than doubled the vote for his nearest rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
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** Biden wins Virginia Democratic presidential primary ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Former Vice President Joe Biden decisively won Virginia’s Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, reaffirming the state’s preference for moderate candidates over more progressive ones.
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** Virginia Polls: Who Different Groups Supported ([link removed])
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New York Times (Metered Paywall - 1 to 2 articles a month)

The numbers on this page are preliminary estimates from exit polls and reflect the responses of 2,184 voters. They will eventually be adjusted to match the actual vote count.
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** Bernie Sanders wins city vote in Democratic primary ([link removed])
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By BRIDGET MANLEY AND ANDREW JENNER, Harrisonburg Citizen

While the state of Virginia was called as soon as precincts closed for former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won the Harrisonburg vote in today’s Democratic primary, according to unofficial results tallied at the city registrar’s office. Sanders, who was leading the delegate count heading into Super Tuesday, earned 2,590 of the 6,474 total votes cast. Biden finished second with 2,090 votes, while Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren finished third with 1,386 votes.
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** Super Tuesday, through local voters' eyes ([link removed])
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By ROBYN SIDERSKY, SALEEN MARTIN, GORDON RAGO, MATT JONES, KATHERINE HAFNER AND STACY PARKER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Nikki Kilgore and Avi Santo, both 45, brought their children to the polls at Sherwood Forest Community Center in Norfolk early Tuesday morning. “We vote every election cycle,” Kilgore said. “This is more important than ever. We have to be engaged because of the person that’s in the White House and just choosing someone that we feel like is going to be better for our country.”
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** Spanberger endorses Biden amid Virginia primary victory ([link removed])
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By TAL AXELROD, The Hill

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) endorsed Joe Biden for president Tuesday night as the former vice president won Virginia’s primary race. Spanberger, a swing district Democrat who flipped a GOP-held seat in 2018, cast Biden as a champion who “will work” for vulnerable Americans.
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** Campaign staffer for former Rep. Scott Taylor pleads guilty in petition scandal ([link removed])
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By JANE HARPER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

A former campaign staffer for ex-Congressman Scott Taylor pleaded guilty this morning to a misdemeanor election crime and was fined $1,000 for her part in a 2018 scandal that likely contributed to the congressman losing re-election that year. Lauren Creekmore Peabody pleaded guilty to willful neglect of an election duty, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Former Colortree building gets new owner, 239 jobs ([link removed])
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By GREGORY J. GILLIGAN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The vacant Colortree Group printing plant in Henrico County, which abruptly closed in June, soon will come back to life. A Tulsa, Okla.-based provider of direct-mail marketing envelopes and flyers plans to invest more than $31 million to take over the former plant at 8000 Villa Park Drive, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Judge: Clerks must allow prompt access to new suits ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

A Virginia federal judge says the public and press have a constitutional right to inspect newly filed lawsuits within a day of filing. The decision by U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan Jr. is a win for a national news service that said its reporters were unable to review fresh filings at two Virginia courthouses.
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** Risk low for coronavirus in Dan River Region; 'We're more worried about the flu,' says paramedic ([link removed])
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By QUASHON AVENT, Danville Register & Bee

While fears continue to grow about the coronavirus moving across the country, local emergency medical personnel see everything as business as usual when it comes to taking precautionary measures. “We’re more worried about the flu,” said Tommy Pruett, a paramedic with the Danville Life Saving Crew.


** LOCAL
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** Pushback continues over Henrico school redistricting ([link removed])
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By C. SUAREZ ROJAS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Henrico County school redistricting committee members say the School Board exerted undue influence last month after publicly asking them to make special considerations for vocal constituents. Ahead of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday where the latest redistricting proposals will be presented to the public, the School Board continued to hear complaints that the redistricting committee and a hired consultant are neglecting their objections.
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** Campbell County backs militia, pursues legal action against Region 2000 ([link removed])
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By SARAH HONOSKY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

After more than 200 people gathered at Timbrook Park on Saturday, many armed with AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles, uniting in defiance of gun control legislation moving through the statehouse, the Campbell County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution backing the militia at its Tuesday night meeting.

Today's Sponsor:


** G. Paul Nardo
------------------------------------------------------------

Wishing my friends at VPAP and colleagues in the House Clerk’s Office and around Capitol Square good health, happiness and RELIEF as session winds down!


** EDITORIALS
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** The People Spoke With a Mighty Roar ([link removed])
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Danville Register & Bee Editorial

Late Monday night, the voice of the people was finally heard in the House of Delegates. After weeks of debate, lobbying by supporters and subterfuge by opponents, the House Privileges and Elections Committee passed, on a bipartisan 13-8 vote, Senate Joint Resolution 18 which would amend the Virginia Constitution to take redistricting power from the General Assembly and create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. All that awaits now is a vote by the full House, and if that succeeds, Virginians will have the final say on the proposed amendment in November.
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** A common sense gun bill that didn’t pass ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

In their haste to enact far-reaching gun control legislation, the new Democratic majority in the General Assembly inexplicably failed to advance a bill this session that would have increased jail time for people who use a firearm during the commission of a felony.
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** Early release correct obvious injustice ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The cause of justice was served in February when a 29-year-old Norfolk man named Travion Blount walked out of the Greensville Correctional Center near Jarratt. When he committed the crimes that landed him in prison, Blount was a 15-year-old boy. When he went to trial, he was 17. His sentence of six life terms plus 118 years may be the harshest ever imposed on an American teenager for crimes not involving murder.
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** Keep our Minor League Baseball teams alive ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

This past fall, the Washington Nationals captivated fans with a thrilling run to their first World Series title. It’s a shame that the Major League Baseball (MLB) offseason was clouded by controversy. Championships should be driven by clutch plays, not cheating.
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** It's time for the House of Delegates to vote yes on redistricting reform ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Despite attempts by leadership to bottle the bill, the full House of Delegates should finally be able to vote on the proposed redistricting amendment. It’s about time. Thanks to four House Democrats who chose to side with good government, the House Privileges and Elections Committee on Monday voted 13-8 to approve Senate Joint Resolution 18 ...


** COLUMNISTS
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** Schapiro: With big Biden win, Virginia reverts to form ([link removed])
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By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia — where Democrats prefer that their politicians be boldly cautious — was true to form on Super Tuesday, delivering a lopsided win for Joe Biden, embracing a comparative centrist who could hold this suburban-dominated state for the presidency and perhaps save congressional incumbents in Trump-carried districts.


** OP-ED
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** Hicks: Include nuclear in Virginia’s energy future ([link removed])
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By TOM HICKS, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

In September 2019, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order establishing ambitious statewide goals and targets for clean energy deployment to expand upon the commonwealth’s commitments to reduce our environmental impact, mitigate the impacts of climate change and boost the clean energy economy in Virginia.

Tom Hicks, a resident of Montpelier, is a former nuclear submarine officer and a consultant to Dominion who worked on the North Anna 3 license application.
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** Sullivan: Virginia's steps toward a renewable future are welcomed ([link removed])
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By TIM SULLIVAN, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Ensuring our children and students have a healthy planet to call home is of the utmost importance. We all know this to be true, but intent is only as good as the actions matched with it. For this reason, I’m proud of the tangible steps Virginia is taking to move toward increased use of renewable energy to create a brighter future for generations to come.

Tim Sullivan served as president of the College of William & Mary from 1992 to 2005 and dean of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary from 1985 to 1992.
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