State and National Government
Gov. Ralph Northam is pushing to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Virginia, which could be the first Southern state to make the drug legal for recreational use. Northam announced his support for legalization Monday, saying he wants a responsible approach that promotes racial equity and preserves youth safety. The Democratic governor says he’s going to propose legislation to start the process of legalizing the drug during next year’s legislative session. He acknowledges the process could take up to two years. But he says he’s certain the drug will eventually be legal for personal use.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Virginia House will again conduct its work remotely when it convenes in January. That’s according to an announcement from Democratic House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn on Monday. The House also conducted its work virtually during the special session that concluded earlier this month. Lawmakers are scheduled to convene Jan. 13. A news release from Filler-Corn’s office said the decision was made after conversations with the Clerk of the House and experts at the Virginia Department of Health. Her announcement comes as both cases and hospitalizations of COVID-19 are increasing in Virginia and around the U.S. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday announced substantial new restrictions statewide that took effect Monday
Photo: Virginia House GOP
A likely Republican candidate for Governor next year is criticizing Governor Northam’s latest COVID-19 restrictions that take effect midnight Sunday. Delegate Kirk Cox, a former Speaker of the House, says Northam’s announcement comes just days after saying he would not impose any new restrictions, and he did so late on a Friday afternoon without holding a news conference or answering questions. Cox called it a “ham-handed” announcement and a “serious failure to lead”.
NEWS RELEASE: COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Delegate Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) released the following statement on the new COVID-19 restrictions announced by Governor Ralph Northam via video late Friday afternoon.
“Late this afternoon, Governor Ralph Northam announced new COVID-19 restrictions. The Governor expanded his mask mandate and lowered the limit on in-person gatherings to 25 people.
“The Governor made this announcement just days after telling the public he would not impose any new restrictions in Virginia. And he did it late on a Friday afternoon without holding a press conference or answering any questions. At the time of his announcement, a copy of his new executive order was not even available for the public to review.
“This is exactly the kind of ham-handed announcement we’ve come to expect from this administration. Governor Northam seems to change his mind more than a kid in the candy aisle. It is yet another serious failure to lead at a time when Virginia desperately needs steady guidance.”
Del. Sam Rasoul
Roanoke Democratic Delegate Sam Rasoul — who is running for the party’s Lt. Governor nomination — says now that the election’s over he hopes everyone will take COVID-19 seriously. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
You can hear the full interview with Del. Sam Rasoul below:
Farida Jalalzai- VT photo
A woman of color on the Biden-Harris ticket – and the Trump administration’s approach to the coronavirus were most likely major factors when women voted for President says a political science professor at Virginia Tech. She spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
The Director of Polling at Roanoke College says after two presidential election years of polls that were consistently well off the actual vote, his colleagues have a big task in determining how to poll more accurately. Professor Harry Wilson says there is one thing he can say without reservation: pollsters do not attempt to slant their product to favor any particular candidate. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
Del. Sam Rasoul
We told you first here on WFIR three weeks ago that Roanoke Delegate Sam Rasoul is running for Lt. Governor when the Democratic party puts up a new gubernatorial candidate for the 2021 race. Rasoul said the campaign will be entirely funded by individual donors Rasoul also says in a campaign video posted this morning that this is how he explains his role in public service:
Joe Biden is the President-Elect but some supporters of the Democratic Presidential ticket that’s poised to enter the White House are more excited about Number two on that team – Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. What one local expert on women and minorities in politics has to say from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
This week’s vote to change Virginia’s redistricting process will be very difficult to alter in the future — because it becomes part of the state’s Constitution. Advocates for the change are voicing approval, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports: