Virginia Senate Republican Caucus

On Tuesday, voters in Virginia's 8th Senate District elected Jeff McWaters to the Senate of Virginia with nearly 80% of the vote.  Less than 24 hours thereafter, McWaters was in Richmond taking his oath of office and starting his Senate career.

"It is an honor to be a part of this esteemed body," McWaters remarked.

Learn more about Jeff McWaters

Born in Paducah, Kentucky, September 6, 1956; educated at University of Kentucky (accounting); retired CEO & Chairman of the Board of AMERIGROUP CORPORATION; member: Trinity Church; Member of Senate: 2010-.

Contact Information:

Mailing:
1207 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Phone: (757) 965-3700
Fax: (757) 802-9899

Email:
info@jeffmcwaters.com

Website:

Visit His Website

The following are articles from newspapers, blogs, and other news sources throughout the Commonwealth and the country featuring members of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. 

• Multiple Members
  • Students go on the “Road to Richmond” – William & Mary News - The day began in the cold, wee hours of a January morning outside the Sadler Center.
  • Chamber of Commerce members support business-friendly proposals – WHSV-TV – The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce made its presence known in Richmond Wednesday at the annual Virginia Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Day at the Capitol.”
  • Education secretary discusses charter schools, pre-k – Virginian-Pilot & Ledger-Star – Virginia's new secretary of education, Gerard Robinson, fielded questions from lawmakers Wednesday on pre-kindergarten programs, charter schools, and lengthening the school year, among other topics.
  • Lawmakers look to keep APCo rates in check – Lynchburg News & Advance - State lawmakers are looking into ways to keep Appalachian Power Co. rates in check.
  • Senate clears way for easier absentee voting – WY Daily – It would be easier to vote absentee in Virginia under a bill approved by the Senate.
• Sen. Harry Blevins
  • Seatbelt bill “clicks” with Senate – Gainesville Times – The Senate has passed a bill making failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense in Virginia.
• Sen. Emmett Hanger
  • Senate tax bill targets short-term rentals – Harrisonburg Daily News Record – A bill designed to allow counties to levy a transient occupancy tax on single-family homeowners who rent their homes or rooms for short periods of time passed the Senate on Thursday. Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, introduced the bill, which now goes to the House of Delegates.
• Sen. Robert Hurt
  • Hurt co-sponsors legislation to prevent U.S. government from interfering in state issues – Franklin News-Post - State Sen. Robert Hurt has co-sponsored two bills in the General Assembly that incorporate Tenth Amendment issues and are supported by Tea Party activists in Virginia.
  • Senator Robert Hurt’s weekly update – Martinsville Chronicle - The first full week of the 2010 General Assembly here in Richmond has now concluded.  The week began with the Governor McDonnell’s first State of the Commonwealth address and the ended with committees getting fully underway in reviewing and taking action on individual legislation.  In addition, because of the recent special elections of two new senators, Senate committee assignments were completed. 
• Sen. Ryan McDougle
  • Buckle up for new zero tolerance, zero discretion – Newport News Daily Press – Barry Fletcher had just purchased a '93 Chevy van and was on his way to get it inspected when he hit a routine traffic stop in Saluda in Middlesex County, just up the road from the courthouse.
• Sen. Steve Newman
  • Newman’s speed limit bill again ok’d by committee – Lynchburg News & Advance - Even a second trip through a Senate committee wasn’t enough to slow down a 70 mph speed-limit bill sponsored by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg.
  • Measure would oppose Soering transfer to Germany – Roanoke Times – The Virginia Senate could soon join Gov. Bob McDonnell in formally opposing the transfer of convicted double-murderer Jens Soering to a prison in his native Germany.
• Sen. Tommy Norment
  • Students try luck at lobbying – The Flat Hat – While most of the campus slumbered early Tuesday morning, a group of College of William and Mary students braved the cold and headed to Richmond to lobby Virginian politicians.
• Sen. Mark Obenshain
  • VA Conservative Caucus details agenda – Richmond Times-Dispatch – They call themselves the Virginia Conservative Caucus -- they're essentially Republicans in Republican clothing.
  • Conservative Caucus announces 2010 agenda – Rockbridge Weekly & Alleghany Journal – The Virginia Conservative Caucus, a group comprised of conservative legislators from the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, held a press conference this afternoon to announce their legislative agenda for the 2010 General Assembly session.  The Conservative Caucus, co-chaired by Delegate Ben Cline and Senator Mark Obenshain, approved an agenda Tuesday morning that outlines their position on priority legislation introduced this session.
  • Faith and Freedom: “In God We Trust” License Plates – Family Foundation Blog – Last year, pro-life Virginians won a tremendous victory when the General Assembly passed legislation creating “Choose Life” license plates. This year, there is opportunity to create  an “In God We Trust” license plate.
  • Budget rhetoric intensifies – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot – 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.
• Sen. Fred Quayle
  • Hampton Roads lawmakers oppose tolls on 2 bridge-tunnels – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot – Most Hampton Roads lawmakers didn't take too kindly to the proposal from a Northern Virginia colleague to put tolls on two Hampton Roads bridge-tunnels.
  • Richmond’s detour over health care – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot - Congress is clearly capable of mucking up efforts to reform the country's health care system without assistance from state legislators in Virginia.
  • Put all options on the menu – Roanoke Times – Under a bill that passed the Virginia Senate this week, counties would be permitted to levy a meals tax in an amount local leaders think appropriate.
• Sen. Frank Ruff
  • Farmers ask legislators to support property rights, oppose estate tax – Mechanicsville Local – More than 100 Virginia Farm Bureau Federation leaders asked their representatives to oppose reinstating Virginia’s estate tax, to oppose any legislation that would limit property rights and to support animal care that is science-based and allows production agriculture to remain in business.
• Sen. Ralph Smith
  • Smith calls for 72-hour budget review – Bearing Drift Blog – State Senator Ralph Smith (R-Botetourt) has introduced legislation (SB5) that would require the budget to be posted online for 72 hours before a vote could be taken.
• Sen. Jill Vogel
  • Republicans defend health care freedom bill – NBC 29 News - The state Senate could vote as early as Friday to make federally-mandated health insurance illegal. 
  • Bills on guns, seat belts, schools – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot – A bill that would allow school divisions to start classes before the Labor Day holiday squeaked through a Senate committee Thursday on an 8-7 vote.
  • The Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing . . . – Loudoun Times-Mirror – OK, let’s get a couple of things straight about Frank Wolf. The GOP Congressman from the 10th Congressional District is a veritable legend. In a time where politics is viewed as a fulcrum for inaction and sclerosis - Wolf delivers, and does so with magnanimity, dignity and respect. Perhaps, the best Virginia Congressman in our lifetime.
• Sen. John Watkins
  • Report: Big job growth needed to reverse recession – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot – Virginia must add nearly 12,800 jobs per month for the next two years to return to pre-recession employment levels, a Richmond think tank projected in a report released Thursday.

The following are articles from newspapers, blogs, and other news sources throughout the Commonwealth and the country featuring members of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. 

• Multiple
  • State senate defies health care reform – Roanoke Times - The Virginia Senate took a stand against a key provision of a proposed federal health care overhaul Monday, passing legislation declaring that state residents cannot be forced to buy health insurance.
  • News in Brief: February 2 – The Flat Hat – The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that would privatize the state’s government-owned liquor stores.
  • How the historic Senate vote on health care freedom happened – Family Foundation Blog - It’s not hyberbole to say this afternoon’s Senate vote was historic. The legislation it passed in three identically worded bills – SB 283, SB 311 and SB 417 – guarantees Virginians the right to freely choose their health care options irregardless of federal government mandates. It also asserts a notion long ignored but firmly ingrained in the U.S. Constitution. It also shows, from a political perspective, that there are Democrats who understand the small government movement isn’t limited to “swastika-wearing” thugs as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would have us believe.
  • Democrat-controlled VA Senate approves measure opposing federal health care reform mandate – AP - Five Democrats broke with their party Monday to endorse measures that would ban government health care mandates like the one being debated in Congress.
  • Five Democrats help pass proposals to outlaw mandated health insurance – Richmond Times-Dispatch - Breaking with their party and president, five Democrats yesterday helped push through the state Senate a Republican measure allowing Virginians to just say no to compulsory health insurance.
  • Five Democrats join Republicans in voting against mandated health insurance purchases – Washington Post Blog – The debate on the Senate floor today over three measures that would each prohibit requiring Virginians to purchase health-care insurance was vigorous. In the end, five Democrats joined 18 Republicans in supporting the measure.
• Sen. Jeff McWaters
  • Bills would let military members in uniform use HOV lanes – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot - Two local lawmakers are working to give military personnel unrestricted access to high-occupancy-vehicle lanes in Hampton Roads.
• Sen. Steve Newman
  • 70 mph speed limit bill gets early OKs – Norfolk Virginian-Pilot - Lead-foot drivers can start flexing their muscles. A proposal endorsed by Gov. Bob McDonnell to raise the speed limit on Virginia interstate highways to 70 mph won preliminary approval Monday in the House and Senate.
  • Infant homicide bill OK’d with changes – Danville Register & Bee - A bill that would allow infant deaths similar to one in Campbell County to be prosecuted as homicides emerged from its second round in a Senate subcommittee Monday.
• Sen. Tommy Norment
  • Bills on starting the school year earlier dealt blow – Richmond Times-Dispatch – For another year, it looks like high school students might punch a clock instead of boarding a school bus before Labor Day.
• Sen. Mark Obenshain
  • ABC Stores to Vanish? – Richmond.com - One of the issues Gov. Bob McDonnell used to woo November’s voters was the privatization of liquor sales in Virginia. A bill that would accomplish that very feat, Senate Bill 443, was offered on Jan. 13, 2010. On Jan. 22 it passed, 15-0, in the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee and was referred to the Finance Committee.
  • Ag changes eyed – Harrisonburg Daily News Record - Two Rockingham County legislators are pushing to make Virginia's agriculture department only responsible for farm issues, directing the other needs of consumers to the attorney general. Del. Matt Lohr, R-Broadway, and Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, say their effort not only will simplify state government, but will put the commonwealth in line with most other states.
• Sen. Fred Quayle
  • Conservative resistance to health reform infects state legislatures simultaneously – The Examiner - Conservative Republicans across the nation moved Monday to pass legislation which guarantees citizen's health insurance premiums will continue to skyrocket. In a coordinated move, designed to delay and defeat any federal action, Conservative state legislators in thirty states introduced bills which would exempt their constituents from any future federal mandate requiring all persons buy health insurance.
  • Bill would assist landing-field fight – Richmond Times-Dispatch - Lawmakers are considering legislation that could give residents of southeast Virginia a significant boost in their fight against the proposed construction of a Navy outlying landing field.

The following are articles from newspapers, blogs, and other news sources throughout the Commonwealth and the country featuring members of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus.

• Multiple
  • Democrats in Va. Senate vote down two budget-related bills backed by governor – Richmond Times-Dispatch - Senate Democrats are directly challenging Gov. Bob McDonnell over the budget, denying him a bigger say in spending and rejecting as "fantasy" the prospect of reaping cash for roads from offshore drilling.
  • Va. Senate committee approves concealed-guns legislation – The Richmond Times-Dispatch - Virginia's drinking establishments soon may be open for business to a new clientele -- people carrying concealed guns.
  • Lawmakers Green Light Gun Law Bills – NBC29.com - State lawmakers have given the green light for several controversial firearm measures. They are measures that were vetoed in years past. But with a new governor, there is a good chance they will become law.
  • Key Senate committee passes bills to allow concealed guns in Va. Bars – Canadian Business - Gun owners could take concealed guns into more places, including bars, and renew their permits by mail under bills that passed a key Senate committee on Wednesday.
  • State Senate defeats bills on offshore drilling, changing budget timeline – Richmond Times-Dispatch - There were two major setbacks today in the Virginia Senate for Gov. Bob McDonnell, with the Democratic majority defeating legislation endorsing offshore drilling for oil and gas and changing the budget timetable to give McDonnell a freer hand in spending.
• Senator Emmett Hanger
  • State senate passes bill that would require online retailers to charge 5 percent sales tax – wtkr.com - Some Virginia lawmakers want you to pay taxes when you buy online.  They say they want to level the playing field for businesses in Virginia.  With a vote of 14 to 1 the State Senate Finance Committee passed a bill that would require certain online retailers to collect the sales tax on purchases made in the commonwealth.
  • Va. Senate panel OKs move to tax online shopping – The Virginian-Pilot - A Virginia Senate panel clicked "send" on legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax on in-state transactions by affiliated online merchants.
• Senator Robert Hurt
  • Hurt Sponsors Jobs Bills – ResistNet.com - Vowing to work with Gov. Bob McDonnell and state legislators to promote economic development in Southside Virginia and across the state, State Sen. Robert Hurt has sponsored a major business facility job tax credit bill that is part of McDonnell's legislative package.
• Senator Jeff McWaters
  • Milestone for McWaters – PilotOnline.com - Freshman Sen. Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, got a small thrill and a round of applause Wednesday when he watched fellow senators pass his first bill out of the chamber.
• Senator Steve Newman
  • Newman sponsors McDonnell education bills – News & Advance - Gov. Bob McDonnell announced legislation Wednesday that would create charter schools and two other new ways to educate children, with Sen. Steve Newman sponsoring them in the Senate.
• Senator Tommy Norment
  • Bill banning cell phones while driving goes to Virginia House – 7Bends - Every day, you look around and see people driving vehicles while on their cell phones, not paying attention. It’s not just a few drivers here or there, but the rule rather than the exception.
• Senator Mark Obenshain
  • Virginia looking at Obenshain’s proposal to privatize liquor stores – 7Bends - Last year, Virginia celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of its state-run liquor stores, called “ABC stores.”  This week, a bill (SB 443) introduced by Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) designed to privatize Virginia’s ABC stores was passed by indefinitely by the Senate Finance Committee to provide more time to work with the Governor to refine the proposal.
  • The slow slog toward school choice – Tertium Quids - Gov. McDonnell and a host of notables gathered yesterday to introduce his package of education reforms. They center on making it somewhat easier to create charter schools in the commonwealth, a remedy for the current, counter-productive, charter law.
  • Bill to Give Voter Rolls to Comm. of Revenue Advances – wsvaonline - A bill introduced by Harrisonburg Senator Mark Obenshain that gives commissioners of the revenue access to voter rolls for determining residency for personal property tax purposes has passed the Senate and will move on to the House of Delegates.
• Senator Frank Ruff, Jr.
  • From the Desk of state Sen. Frank Ruff – The News & Record - As the 2009 session began the news media reported that Chesterfield County Schools would have to layoff about 500 employees if the state didn't give them more money.
• Senator Richard Stuart
  • Bill to raise fees for suits advances – The Free Lance-Star - The Senate Finance Committee has approved Sen. Richard Stuart's bill to increase court fees to raise revenue for sheriff's departments and commonwealth's attorneys.
  • Wood waste bill dies in Senate – Biofuelswatch.com - On a vote of ten to four, the Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources committee of the Senate has declined the bill which was suggested for putting a cap on the total number of wood chips & similar lumber waste which power companies were allowed to burn as fuel and add towards their renewable portfolio standard.
• Senator Frank Wagner
  • Virginia Senate kills bill on offshore-drilling profits – The Virginian-Pilot - The Democratic majority in Virginia's Senate killed for the year legislation from Virginia Beach Republican Sen. Frank Wagner that would dedicate future offshore drilling royalties to the state general fund, a coastal energy research consortium and to localities for transportation fixes.
  • Senate Dems kill Va. gov's proposal to divert offshore drilling royalties to state services – The Washington Examiner - The Virginia Senate on Wednesday killed Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposal to allocate royalties from possible offshore oil and gas drilling to pay for Virginia's government services, calling it a "fantasy."
  • Va. Senate Kills “Royalties for Roads” Legislation – Bearing Drift - Yesterday, there was a heated debate in the Virginia State Senate about legislation that would decide how the Commonwealth would spend the royalties from drilling offshore for oil. SB 601, patroned by Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach), was killed by the Senate in a party line vote and was referred back to committee until next year.
• Senator William Wampler, Jr.
  • Bills would ban discounts on noncovered dental work – The Virginian-Pilot - If you're at the dentist and your insurance won't cover a procedure, you might not get a discount, either.
  • Creative Budgeteer Boosts Va Spaceflight – Spaceports blog - Virginia State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr. (R-Bristol) has offered a state budget amendment to dedicate prospective sales and or corporate income tax revenues that may result from the sale of human spaceflights or commercial spaceflight training in the state to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (VCSFA) for operations and educational space flight simulation activities.
  • Bill advances to curb forced dental discounts – The Roanoke Times - Legislation prohibiting dental insurance companies from demanding discounts for procedures not covered by a patient's policy passed in the General Assembly on Wednesday with broad support.

Article Content

The following are articles from newspapers, blogs, and other news sources throughout the Commonwealth and the country featuring members of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus.

• Senators Emmett Hanger, Jr., and Stephen Martin
  • Virginia Greenlights Tax Credits For Environmental Jobs – ipolitics.com - The Virginia Senate just passed Senate Bill 623, providing a $500 tax credit to businesses that create green jobs. Businesses will be eligible to claim the credit for the next 5 years for up to 350 new green jobs.
  • Virginia Senate OKs tax credit to create green jobs – Richmond Times-Dispatch - Virginia senators unanimously approved a bill yesterday that would provide a tax credit to businesses that create green jobs.
• Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr.
  • Online sales in Virginia could face sales tax – Daily Press - The state Senate Finance Committee agreed that the state should get a piece of the online shopping pie.
  • Concealed Weapons Bill Jumps Major Hurdle – WTVR.com - Gun rights advocates have long fought for the right to carry concealed weapons into bars and restaurants. Governor Kaine single-handedly stuffed the measure in the past, rejecting the bill twice.
• Senator Jeffrey McWaters
  • The states go marching in – Pesky Emotional Republican - While health reform switches to the slow track in Washington, states are moving full-steam ahead on the issue, with more than half of them seeking to pre-empt any proposed federal health reform mandates, such as requiring residents to purchase health insurance.
• Senator Stephen Newman
  • Legislation seeks to help students succeed – Gainesville Times - Gov. Bob McDonnell says charter schools, online educational programs and college partnerships can boost the performance of Virginia’s public school students – especially those at risk or in underperforming districts.
  • Measure opposing Soering transfer moves ahead – GoDanRiver.com - A resolution urging the federal government to leave convicted murderer Jens Soering in a Virginia prison instead of transferring him to Germany was approved by a Senate committee Friday, but only after two new items of information were disclosed.
• Senator Tommy Norment
  • O! Say Can You See? – The General Assembly Grapevine - “The most transparent administration in our nation’s history” says it is about to engage in “unprecedented” televised negotiations over health care reform.  Remember how candidate Obama promised C-SPAN would be there for it all? Well, how brightly is the sun shining in Richmond on state government these days?
  • Gloucester '40' stood up for citizen's rights, honored as Daily Press Citizens of the Year – Daily Press - A constitutional right is the muscle of democracy — stronger, healthier for being exercised.
  • OUR VIEW: Cell phone ban: Now hear this – SWVAToday.com - Talk is cheap and possibly dangerous – at least so say some Virginia senators who passed a bill on Monday that would keep motorists from using their cell phones unless they had a “hands-free” device.
• Senator Mark Obenshain
  • Senate panel defeats death penalty expansion – The Richmond Times-Dispatch - The Senate Courts of Justice Committee this morning voted down a bill that sought to expand eligibility for the death penalty.
  • Privatization in VA: Not as easy as ABC – The Business Art - As I wrote back in November at the Objective Standard’s blog (my colleague Ivan Osorio also wrote about the topic here), Virginia’s new governor Bob McDonnell showed a very promising inclination toward free markets and privatization, though his rhetoric on the subject may have left something to be desired. Specifically, he floated the idea of privatizing the 300+ state-run liquor stores in order to pay for his transportation plan.
• Senator Frederick Quayle
  • Legislators, advocates rally for child safety online –The Commonwealth Times - Legislators and child safety advocates rallied at the Capitol Wednesday seeking funding for programs that protect children from online predators.
• Senator Frank Ruff, Jr.
  • Senate committee OKs recognition of tribes – fredericksburg.com - A Senate committee yesterday passed three resolutions granting state recognition to Indian tribes, despite protests from members of the Virginia Council on Indians, which said the state was undermining the very process for which it established the council.
• Senator Ralph Smith
  • Bill to help Roanoke Co. Police with Regional Jail killed in State Senate – WSLS - A State Senate committee killed a bill sponsored by Roanoke County State Senator Ralph Smith (R-22nd) on Friday, that would have allowed jail officers with the same training as sheriff deputies to perform some of the same legal functions.
• Senator Jill Vogel
  • OBAMACARE NULLIFICATION: VIRGINIA HEALTHCARE FREEDOM ACT – The PPJ Gazette - The Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act Wins in Both Houses. Twenty-four hundred citizen grassroots activists made their voices heard at the state capitol bell tower on January 18th and the Virginia legislature listened.
• Senator William Wampler, Jr.
  • Deficit-driven budget battle continues in Richmond – Times News - Legislation that would adversely impact the coal surface mining industry will likely get stripped of any traction in the Virginia General Assembly, utilities may soon have to pay consumers back all of their interim rate increases, and the deficit-driven budget battle continues in Richmond, state Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, reported on Friday.
• Senator John Watkins
  • Bills would shift fee collection to retailers – The Free Lance-Star - If you use prepaid cell phones, you may soon see a change in the fee charged for E-911 services.

Article Content

The following are articles from newspapers, blogs, and other news sources throughout the Commonwealth and the country featuring members of the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus.

• Senators Emmett Hanger, Jr. and Steve Martin
  • Va. Senate OKs sales tax bill for online retailers – Associated Press - A bill that would require global online shopping giants such as Amazon to start collecting and paying Virginia sales taxes won easy Senate passage Tuesday.
• Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr.
  • Senate OKs 'Amazon' Sales Tax Bill – The Associated Press - Virginia's Senate has approved a bill that would require global online shopping giants such as Amazon to start collecting state sales taxes.
  •  ‘Amazon’ sales tax collection bill clears Senate – Richmond Times-Dispatch - Legislation requiring online retailers to collect Virginia's 4.5 percent sales tax -- the so-called "Amazon Bill" -- easily cleared the Virginia Senate this morning and is headed to the House of Delegates, where opponents hope it falls prey to that chamber's hostility to taxes.
  • Virginia lawmakers aim to loosen firearm restrictions – The Washington Post - A little more than a year ago, Virginia gun owners joined millions of Americans who began stockpiling weapons for fear that Barack Obama would win the White House and push for new gun controls.
  • Save the CCCA - for the kids – Augusta Free Press - God forbid, next winter I slip on the ice, bang my head, and sustain major injury. Our rescue squad right away gets me to Stonewall Jackson Hospital which provides immediate initial care. But the damage is too great for SJH to handle.
• Senator Jeffrey McWaters
  • Bills would move military on HOV lanes – WVEC.com - State lawmakers are considering a bill to let active duty military use the HOV lanes to and from the bases, no matter how many people are in their vehicles.
• Senator Steve Newman
  • Bill to prosecute mothers in infant deaths advances – The Lynchburg News & Advance - The House of Delegates gave second-reading approval Monday to a bill, sponsored by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell County, that would allow prosecution if someone kills an infant while its umbilical cord and placenta are still attached to the mother.
  • Talk of Charter Schools Raises Questions, Criticism – ABC 13 - Governor Bob McDonnell's proposal to bring more charter schools to Virginia is drawing criticism from area educators.
• Senator Tommy Norment
  • VIRGINIA SENATE CONSIDERS “HISTORICAL RACING” BILL – Virginia Thoroughbred Blog - The Virginia Senate will consider a bill to allow historical racing, or Instant Racing as it is known at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
  • Death penalty expansion had momentum but now lost in limbo... – The Shad Plank - For years Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was the only one standing between the General Assembly and a broader death penalty for Virginia criminals.
• Senator Mark Obenshain
  • Senate panel votes against repealing ‘triggerman rule’ – Richmond Times-Dispatch - The Senate Courts of Justice Committee yesterday defeated a bill it had approved in previous years that would expand eligibility for the death penalty.
• Senator Ralph Smith
  • Watered-down ethics bill heads to Va. House – The Washington Examiner - A significantly watered-down bill to prevent companies from filling campaign coffers while seeking major state contracts passed unanimously in Virginia's Senate on Monday.
• Senator Richard Stuart
  • Court fee bill to help funding for sheriffs – fredericksburg.com - The Senate yesterday passed a bill that significantly raises civil court filing fees, an effort to mitigate the effect of state budget cuts on sheriff's departments.
• Senator Jill Vogel
  • Editorial: Time for Civil Redistricting – McLean Connection - The U.S. Census is underway, an every-10-year process that attempts to count every single person in the United States at their home address. From the results of the count come a nearly infinite number of critical decisions.
• Senator William Wampler, Jr. 
  • VA Lawmakers and Residents Speak Out Against Anti-Coal Legislation – Federation for American Coal Energy and Security - Virginia lawmakers and residents vocally opposed the so-called Stream Saver Bill (Virginia SB564) at a committee hearing in Richmond.

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