State and National Government
MGN
A virtual mini-series designed to educate people on cannabis policy reform ahead of the upcoming General Assembly Session begins tomorrow. WFIR’s Ian Price has more on “Legalize It”
Photo: AOC.gov
WASHINGTON (AP) — A state panel in Virginia will soon make a decision about the replacement for Virginia’s Robert E. Lee statue at the U.S. Capitol.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Commission For Historical Statues In The United States Capitol is expected to make its recommendation on Dec. 16.
The recommendation will be made to Virginia’s General Assembly.
Virginia picked Lee, the Confederate general, for one of its statues in 1909. The eight-member commission voted earlier this year to take down the Lee statute.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has been researching potential replacements while receiving suggestions from the public. The department is helping develop a list of five finalists for the panel’s consideration.
Names have been mentioned most often include former Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense George C. Marshall. Another is civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill Sr.
(campaign press release) Norfolk, Virginia —Norfolk City Councilmember Andria McClellan announced today that she is officially entering the Democratic race to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. An experienced public official, businesswoman, community leader and University of Virginia graduate, McClellan believes that every Virginian deserves equal opportunity for a safe, equitable, and prosperous future.
“The last four years have seeded a divide in our country and in our Commonwealth. Every day more families in Virginia are hurting from the physical, emotional and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, we are on a new path to bring our country together and rebuild our economy in a way that works for everyone, not just a select few. That same hope for opportunity for all must be a top priority in Virginia,” said McClellan. “We need a Virginia that provides access to opportunity for everyone — no matter the color of your skin, your zip code, who you love or how you identify. This is why I am running to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.”
An attorney for President Donald Trump’s post-election legal bid to remain in office said yesterday that UVA alum Chris Krebs, the former head of U.S. cybersecurity, should be “shot” for going against the president’s claims of voter fraud and declaring the 2020 elections as secure. During an appearance on the Howie Carr podcast Trump campaign lawyer Joe DiGenova, said this (see link below) when asked about allegations of voting irregularities in Virginia. That comment has drawn criticism from Outgoing 5th District Republican US Congressman Denver Riggleman, who called on Americans to condemn directed threats and stop the spread of disinformation. Krebs said this morning on NBC’s Today Show he may pursue legal action against DiGenova for that comment, which he called “dangerous.”
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today released the Administration’s report on the impact of legalizing adult-use marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The report is the final product of the Virginia Marijuana Legalization Work Group, and it results from a diverse, stakeholder-driven process that involved community leaders, healthcare professionals, policy experts, and government officials. This months-long effort was a key part of marijuana decriminalization legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, and follows Governor Northam’s recent announcement that he intends to advance marijuana legalization in Virginia.- Social equity, racial equity, and economic equity. Marijuana prohibition historically has been based in discrimination, and criminalization laws have disproportionately harmed minority communities. Legislation should focus on undoing these harms by including initiatives such as social equity license programs, access to capital, community reinvestment, and sealing or expunging records of past marijuana-related convictions.
- Public health. Legislation should include substance abuse prevention efforts in schools and communities.
- Protections for young people. As a pediatrician, Governor Northam will require any legislation include protections for Virginia’s youth, including age limits, mandatory ID checks, and education campaigns.
- Upholding the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act. Legislation should be aligned with the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act prohibiting indoor tobacco use, which Governor Northam championed as a state Senator.
- Data collection. Legislation should ensure Virginia collects appropriate and ongoing information on safety, health, and equity.
MILWAUKEE (AP)– Election officials in Wisconsin’s largest county accused observers for President Donald Trump on Saturday of seeking to obstruct a recount of the presidential results, in some instances by objecting to every ballot tabulators pulled to count.
Trump requested the recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties, both heavily liberal, in hopes of undoing Democrat Joe Biden’s victory by about 20,600 votes. With no precedent for a recount reversing such a large margin, Trump’s strategy is widely seen as aimed at an eventual court challenge, part of a push in key states to undo his election loss.
A steady stream of Republican complaints in Milwaukee was putting the recount far behind schedule, county clerk George Christenson said. He said many Trump observers were breaking rules by constantly interrupting vote counters with questions and comments. “That’s unacceptable,” he said. He said some of the Trump observers “clearly don’t know what they are doing.”
Tim Posnanski, a county election commissioner, told his fellow commissioners there appeared to be two Trump representatives at some tables where tabulators were counting ballots, violating rules that call for one observer from each campaign per table. Posnanski said some Trump representatives seemed to be posing as independents.
A lawyer for the Trump campaign denied the allegations that the observers were acting in bad faith. “I want to get to the point of dialing everything down… and not yelling at each other,” said lawyer, Joe Voiland, according to the AP.
Governor Northam says the recently-passed revised state budget will restrict evictions and prohibit utilities from cutting off power, gas and water as long as a COVID-related state of emergency remains in effect. The intent is to help Virginians struggling with their own personal budgets during the pandemic. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
RENTERS: Among other things, landlords must serve tenants who don’t pay a written notice of the state’s rent relief program, and evictions are not permitted unless the tenant refuses to apply or otherwise cooperate.
UTILITIES: The utility shutoff ban remains in place until economic and public health conditions no longer make it necessary – or 60 days after the current state of emergency ends, whichever is sooner. Utilities facing insolvency could cut service for unpaid bills, but only if they first petition the state for an exemption.
General Assembly Republican leaders say Governor Northam acted too hastily when he issued new statewide COVID-19 restrictions Friday — and they go beyond what is needed to keep the Virginia case numbers in check. Those rules include a halt to alcohol sales in restaurants at 10:00 pm, restaurants most close by midnight and all public and private gatherings are now limited to 25 people. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more: