State and National Government
The two-year state budget that was passed just a few weeks ago is already billions of dollars out of balance, the result of the coronavirus-related economic slowdown. Virginia’s constitution requires the state budget to be balanced, and former Delegate Greg Habeeb, a Richmond-based Partner with Gentry Locke attorneys, says it’s back to the drawing board in the General Assembly. He spoke with WFIR’s Evan Jones:
Governor Northam says state education officials are working with the federal government to make sure disruptions to standardized testing do not impact the ability of high school seniors to receive their diplomas. Schools are closed right now, disrupting both SOL preparation in class and SOL testing schedules.
Northam says his administration has not yet decided whether to extend the mandated closure of all Virginia K-12 schools beyond the current ordered date of March 27, which is a week from Friday.
Rep. Morgan Griffith
9th District Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith says he favors federal assistance to those losing their jobs over coronavirus impacts — like people working in restaurants and retail businesses that have closed for now. But Griffith voices concerns over much broader proposals like President Trump’s call to send federal checks to almost all Americans as quickly as possible:
Griffith spoke live Wedbesday morning on the Roanoke Valley’s Morning News, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
While coronavirus dominated, the conversation also dealt with other matters that include Major League Baseball plans to close many minor league teams — and Griffith’s own re-election plans. Here is the full conversation:
Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner delivered a coronavirus update, ahead of COVID-19 legislation getting a look today in the Senate. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Sen. Mark Warner
Senator Mark Warner made it official today: he will seek a third term in office. But Warner is postponing his planned five-day statewide announcement tour in light of growing coronavirus concerns. Warner was first elected to the Senate in 2008 after serving a term as Virginia governor.
NEWS RELEASE: Senator Mark Warner today formally filed his required ballot qualifying petitions with 33,275 signatures, more than triple the 10,000-signature requirement, in his re-election campaign for the U.S. Senate. He also announced that he will postpone his planned campaign announcement tour out of an abundance of caution for public health and will instead continue to focus on the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
“In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, what we need is straight talk, less partisanship, more science, and a coordinated response,” said Warner. “So while I am proud to file for reelection today, my number one concern is the health and safety of my constituents. I have decided to postpone my announcement tour across the Commonwealth to be where Virginians need me most, serving them in my capacity as their United States Senator.”
A team of volunteers has collected signatures from every part of the Commonwealth. Virginia candidates for the United States Senate must submit 10,000 total signatures to the State Board of Elections by the end of March to qualify for the ballot, with at least 400 signatures collected from each congressional district.
Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden had another big showing last night, capturing delegates from four states including Michigan. A showing that reflects one of Virginia’s exit polls from last week, as WFIR’s Ian Price reports:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic legislators in Virginia have dramatically reshaped the state in two months, sweeping aside many of the state’s old business-friendly and socially conservative laws and replacing them with a broad, progressive policy agenda.
Lawmakers wrapped up this year’s session Sunday — apart from passing the state budget — after advancing the South’s strictest gun laws, broadest LGBTQ protections and some of its loosest abortion restrictions. Democrats had not had full control of the legislature for more than two decades, and their years of pent-up frustrations yielded one of the most consequential sessions in Virginia’s history.
Some of Virginia’s scores of Confederate monuments could soon be removed under legislation state lawmakers approved Sunday. The Democratic-led House and Senate passed measures that would undo an existing state law that protects the monuments and instead lets local governments decide their fate. The bill’s passage marks the latest turn in Virginia’s long-running debate over how its history should be told in public spaces.
Virginia lawmakers have also approved a broad expansion of gambling options in a state that’s been largely loath to embracing new betting options in the past. Lawmakers gave final approval Sunday to legislation to allow voters in Bristol, Danville, Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth to hold local referendums later this year on whether to approve casinos. Legislators also have approved the expansion of slot-like machines and signed off on online lottery sales and sports betting. Gov. Ralph Northam still needs to give final approval before the legislation can become law.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers approved a proposed change to the state’s constitution on Friday that supporters said would curb political gerrymandering, prompting an outcry by some Democrats who called it harmful to African Americans.
The state House narrowly voted to approve the proposed constitutional amendment that would task a bipartisan commission made up of lawmakers and citizens with drawing new congressional and legislative maps every 10 years. The measure, which critics called deeply flawed, passed last year with broad bipartisan support now heads to voters for a final decision in the fall.
Virginia lawmakers also gave final passage Friday to a sweeping energy bill that would overhaul how the state’s utilities generate electricity, a measure environmental groups and other renewable energy advocates considered a historic step toward addressing climate change.
The state Senate advanced the Virginia Clean Economy Act on a vote of 22-17, sending the bill to Gov. Ralph Northam a day after the House passed it. The measure was a top priority of leaders of the new Democratic majority that took control of the General Assembly in last fall’s elections.