Commerce and Labor turns to state's rights

Having already passed what was likely their toughest test in the democratically-controlled Senate, three bills taking aim at federal mandates on health insurance continued their march through the General Assembly Tuesday.

The bills cleared the House Commerce and Labor Committee on a 16-5 vote, and will now pass on to the Republican-controlled full House.

The bills, SB283, SB311 and SB417, all state that no one can be forced to purchase health insurance. It’s a reference to a provision in the federal health care bill currently under discussion that would impose a penalty on people who don’t have health insurance, except in cases of financial hardship.

Sen. Fred Quayle, a Suffolk Republican who’s sponsoring one of the bills, called them an effort to ensure that if Congress passes the legislation, “it would not affect the citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia.”

The committee took a second stand for state’s rights Tuesday afternoon when it also cleared a bill from Del. Mark Cole stating that Congress has no power to regulate goods and services produced in Virginia that stay in Virginia.

Calling it another “get Washington off our backs” bill, the Spotsylvania Republican said the Constitution only gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce -- not commerce that stays within a single state.

“I think it’s a statement that is timely and needs to be made,” he said.

Del. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, said the bill raised constitutional questions, and that it’s the job of the judicial branch to settle disputes between states and the federal government.

“A no vote does not mean you are anti-freedom,” she said.

The committee approved Cole’s bill, HB 18, on a 16-3 vote.

--Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer

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GOP takes on snow

Follow this link to one of the latest YouTube videos from the Republican Party of Virginia.

The clip, "12 Inches of Global Warming," targets Virginia Democratic congressmen Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher for votes they cast last summer on an energy bill the GOP claims would cost the state scores of jobs. Its underlying message is that all the recent winter precipitation shows global warming theories may be flawed.

Following the snow storm that visited much of Virginia in December, then Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli struck a similar chord in an e-mail he sent to supporters about the winter weather and global warming.

-- Julian Walker

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Working on a snow day

The Capitol is basically empty this morning, but a handful of Senators did meet at 9 a.m., just as a formality.

In Julian Walker’s story today, he explains more fully, but the gist of it is that the House's interpretation of the state Constitution allowed it to take today off, while the Senate's interpretation required it to meet, at least briefly.

So Senators Tommy Norment, Ryan McDougle, and Henry Marsh, all from nearby districts, gamely trooped in for a session that had, as Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar said, three speaking parts.

Marsh presided over the session. McDougle waived the reading of the journal. And Norment moved to adjourn.

It was all over in less than five minutes.

“We need to let Henry preside more often,” Norment said. “That was the quickest we’ve ever gotten through it.”

“You can make that happen, you know,” Marsh responded.

--Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer

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Snow day in Richmond

Virginia legislators are taking a day off Friday because of a foul weather forecast.

With the second Friday snowstorm in as many weeks forecast for Richmond, the House of Delegates is taking the rare step of canceling all committees and its floor session.

Senate Majority leader Dick Saslaw of Fairfax County said senators would do the same.

Last weekend, when nearly a foot of snow covered the capital region, some out-of-town legislators stayed put rather than risk being unable to return Monday.

House and Senate officials said they did not know the last time legislative sessions were canceled.

--Bob Lewis, The Associated Press

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Shucet briefs Hampton Roads legislators

New Hampton Roads Transit chief Philip Shucet told a group of local lawmakers he hopes to have "firm" figures on total project costs and a timetable for completion of Norfolk's light rail line within about two weeks.

Shucet's message Thursday was similar to what he told The Virginian-Pilot for an article appearing in today's paper.

The light rail project has been plaugued by months of delays and millions in cost overruns. Those problems led to turnover at the top of HRT that paved the way for Shucet's hiring.

"We are taking steps to get our arms around the light rail costs to complete," added Shucet, who declined to offer final project projections.

Shucet, a former state transportation official, also pledged more "openess and transparency" at the transit agency so it can get back to its core mission of moving people throuoght the region.

Officials from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility also visited with Hampton Roads leaders Thursday to brief them on upcoming launchees at from the outpost Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he wants to see become a top commercial spaceport.

Joining them was retired Commander Susan Kilrain of Virginia Beach, a former astronaut with two space missions on her resume, who handed out autographed photos to legislators.

-- Julian Walker

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Family Foundation, GOP lawmakers cry foul over abortion bill

Legislation that would make it a criminal offense to force an individual to have an abortion sparked a rules fight in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee Wednesday.

An interpretation of Senate procedures on which committees have dominion over abortion-related measures was at the center of a dispute over the bill being carried by Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Roanoke.

Democrats successfully sent it to the Education and Health Committee, the panel that typically considers abortion bills.

But some Republicans argued it should remain in Courts of Justice because it involved the potential imposition of a criminal penalty.

Here's an edited (and somewhat grainy) clip of the exchange in the Senate committee Wednesday posted to the YouTube page of Virginia's Family Foundation, a social conservative advocacy group.

Following the debate, Smith's bill was sent to the health committee on a 9-6 party line vote. Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Henry, broke ranks with fellow Democrats, stating he felt the legislation had properly progressed through the courts committee.

Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, suggested that Democrats were trying to send the bill to another committee where they have the votes to defeat it.

(The Senate health committee has 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans. The ratio is the same on courts.)

Below are excerpts from the 2010 Senate Rules spelling out which committees have jurisdiction over bills based on subject matter.

18 (c). A Committee for Courts of Justice, 15 Senators, to consider matters relating to the Courts of the Commonwealth and the Justices and Judges thereof, including the nominations of such Justices and Judges where provided by the Constitution and statutes of Virginia; and all matters concerning the criminal laws of the Commonwealth; together with all matters concerning contracts, domestic relations, eminent domain, fiduciaries, garnishments, homestead and all other exemptions, immigration (with the exception of matters relating to the powers of the Governor or education), magistrates, mechanics' and other liens, notaries public and out-of-state commissioners, property and conveyances (except landlord and tenant and condominium matters), wills and decedents' estates. It shall report to the Senate the names of such persons as it shall find qualified for election as a Justice or Judge of the Commonwealth. Senators, all or part of whose Senate Districts are within the Circuit or District for which a Judge is to be elected, shall jointly nominate a qualified person for such election. If such Senators are unable to agree on a nominee, a Senator shall only nominate a person deemed qualified by the Committee for Courts of Justice for any judicial position. Whenever a vacancy in the office of a justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the Court of Appeals is announced, the Chairman of the Committee for Courts of Justice shall establish a date certain by which any Senator may forward the name of any potential nominee for such office to the Chairman.

18 (d). A Committee on Education and Health, 15 Senators, to consider matters concerning education; human reproduction; life support; persons under disability; public buildings; public health; mental health; mental retardation and health professions. 

-- Julian Walker

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A conservative agenda

A group of state delegates and senators who comprise the Virginia Conservative Caucus rolled out a legislative agenda at a Thursday morning news conference.

The package of 53 bills being championed by the group include proposals to lower business taxes, tougher criminal penalties and pro-life bills, among others. (The concepts behind several of those measures are supported by Gov. Bob McDonnell.)

“Virginia conservatives are putting forward a positive agenda that sheds light on the needs of the working individuals and families across the Commonwealth,” Del. Ben Cline, R-Amherst, said in a statement. “This past fall, Virginians stated that they wanted to see more jobs created by business, lower taxes, and commonsense efficient government. We know that real solutions are what Virginia families are demanding from their government, and that is reflected in our agenda.”

-- Julian Walker

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Budget rhetoric intensifies

On the subject of Virginia's recession-racked budget, any bipartisan pretense has officially vanished.

Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, was the latest legislator to jump into the fray Thursday with a blistering speech on the Senate floor targeting Gov. Bob McDonnell's approach to reducing state spending.

Houck hammered McDonnell for not yet revealing his proposed cuts to offset an estimated $4.2 billion shortfall Virginia faces.

"Where is the plan?" Houck asked rhetorically. "Where is our governor's plan?"

McDonnell has said he will make amendments to the introduced budget to balance state spending, but so far has not provide much public insight about what steps he'll take.

One budget idea he and fellow Republicans have rejected is former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's plan to repeal state car tax subsidies to localities and replace them with an individual income tax hike.

Houck would rather the state keep the roughly $2 billion in car tax money than be forced to make even deeper funding reductions to education, health care and public safety than those already proposed.

"I'll take the political lashing," he said. Houck also said the state needs to reexamine its revenues.

Responding, Harrisonburg Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain said he and his GOP colleagues believe most Virginians don't want and can't afford to pay a higher levies.

Legislators must rise to the challenge of "growing Virginia's economy and not raising taces on working Virginians," Obenshain said.

Flourishes of political theatrics have been commonplace in the Senate this week, beginning with floor speeches from Sen. Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, and other GOP legislators urging support for McDonnell's job growth agenda.

The administration has put a $50 million price tag on that package of new spending intended to bring the economy towards recovery.

McDonnell, who has held meetings with key legislators since taking office earlier this month, is scheduled to meet with ranking Democratic leaders over breakfast at the Governor's Mansion Friday morning.

-- Julian Walker

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A SportsCenter moment

Gov. Bob McDonnell's twin 18-year old sons not only made it home in time to watch ESPN's SportCenter highlight show following his response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Wednesday night, they also made the show.

During the opening of his 12-minute address Wednesday evening, McDonnell joked that the short duration of his remarks were to benefit sons Bobby and Sean so they could view the sports program on television.

"It’s not easy to follow the President of the United States," the governor said during the speech. "And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter."

As it turns out, video of those McDonnell comments were incorporated into the opening segment of the nightly sports highlight show that aired Wednesday.

McDonnell's sons were back in the Governor's Mansion watching the program at 11 p.m. Wednesday and saw the clip.

Almost immediately after it aired, their cell phones were flooded with congratualtory text messages from friends who'd also seen it, McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said Thursday morning.

-- Julian Walker

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Select few get prime seats near McDonnell

When Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) delivers the response to President Barack Obama's (D) State of the Union in the House of Delegates chamber inside the State Capitol, realtives, cabinet members and supporters are among thsoe who will have prime real estate near the governor.

Here a list of the the folks who'll be seated near McDonnell provided by his aides:

- Glen Booker is a 10th grade student at Elijah House Academy in Richmond

- Jim Cheng is the Secretary of Commerce and Trade

- Sergeant Donald Childs was the helicopter pilot who was involved in the incident in Appomattox last week

- Jacoray Coleman is an 8th grade student at St. Joseph School in Petersburg

- Sean Connaughton is the Secretary of Transportation

- Marla Decker is the Secretary of Public Safety

- Judy Ford Wason led the Virginians for McDonnell effort in 2009 and Virginians for Mark Warner in 2008

- Todd Haymore is the Secretary of Agriculture

- Lisa Hicks-Thomas is the Secretary of Administration

- Janet Polarek is the Secretary of the Commonwealth

- Harold Pyon Board member of the Korean-American Community Service Center in Northern Virginia

- Diane Reynolds-Cane is the former President of the Virginia Board of Medicine

- Gerard Robinson is the Secretary of Education

- Karen Stanley is the head of the Healing Place in Richmond

- Staff Sergeant Robert Tenpenny will be in Class A Army uniform. He served with Jeanine McDonnell, the Governor’s daughter, in Iraq

- Carmen Williams is a Board Member of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

- Chuck James is the Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia

- Paul Galanti is a former Vietnam Prisoner of War and decorated hero

- Lori Ann Miller is an active member of her Alexandria community and has a son, age 1

OTHERS OF NOTE

- Former Democratic Attorney General Steve Rosenthal who served as Chief Deputy Attorney General Mary Sue Terry

- Delegate Ron Villanueva (a Virginia Beach Republican) the first Filipino American elected to the General Assembly

- Sheila Johnson is the CEO of Salamander Hospitality, a company she founded in 2005

- Cailin McDonnell is the Governor’s middle daughter

- Maureen McDonnell is the First Lady of Virginia

- Jeanine McDonnell, the Governor’s oldest daughter

- Sean McDonnell, the Governor’s son

- Bobby McDonnell, the Governor’s son

- Delegate Kirk Cox is the Majority Whip for the House of Delegates

-- Julian Walker

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