Free Republic

In all, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia worked to defeat ten anti-choice bills and four budget amendments that threatened access to reproductive health care, prevention services and the perennial attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. This was an especially challenging General Assembly session. For the past several years, Planned Parenthood has been able to prevent anti-choice measures from passing. However, because anti-choice members of the General Assembly thwarted the democratic process they were able to pass two bills that were part of their anti-choice, anti-women’s agenda. The first bill that passed was SB 924, which included an amendment to unfairly target...

RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Bob McDonnell has vetoed the legislative redistricting plan passed by the Virginia General Assembly. The bill outlines new district boundaries for both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The Republican governor said Friday he has concerns about the Senate plan, which he said failed to receive bipartisan support. The Democrat-controlled Senate passed the measure on a party-line vote. The governor also said the proposed Senate districts are not compact as required by law, and that they do not properly preserve locality boundaries and communities of interest. He said he's concerned the Senate plan may also...

Blacksburg, VA, April 11 – Long time New River Valley native Joseph Yost announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination to Virginia‟s 12th District House of Delegates seat. Yost is a dedicated Republican and has been an active member of the Montgomery County Republican Party since 2009. During that time, he has served in various leadership positions including secretary of the Party, precinct captain during the last two election cycles, and Parliamentarian. He also serves as Chair of the Roanoke/New River Valley Young Republicans. When asked what issues he sees as the forefront of his campaign, Yost said, “the needs...

Va. black caucus pushes for second minority districtBy: David Sherfinski 03/22/11 8:05 PM The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus wants the state to draw a second high-percentage minority congressional district -- a move that could throw a proposal to protect all 11 House incumbents into chaos. There is currently one majority-black congressional district in Virginia -- the 3rd District, held by Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott -- that encompasses part of Richmond and runs down into Hampton Roads. For a state with a 20 percent black population to have one black member of Congress is "not representative," said state Sen. Mamie Locke,...

Take Action! Ask Gov. McDonnell to VETO SB 924, Targeted Regulations for Abortion Providers As you know, the Senate passed historic legislation several weeks ago that is more vague and egregious than any other legislation of its type in the country. SB 924 will have a drastic impact on access to first trimester abortion across the Commonwealth. This dangerous legislation is the result of members of the legislature playing politics with people's lives. TAKE ACTION NOW! Ask Gov. McDonnell to veto SB 924.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2011 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Darin Miller, (866) FRC-NEWS FRC Action PAC Endorses Bryce Reeves for State Senate March 09, 2011 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today FRC Action PAC, the political action committee connected to Family Research Council Action, the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, endorses Bryce Reeves for Virginia State Senate District 17. Bryce Reeves is taking on Sen. Edward Houck, a 26-year incumbent who is out of touch with the values of Virginia State Senate District 17. Last year Senator Houck voted against a measure that prevented taxpayer funds from being...

The Virginia General Assembly last week gave its first approval to a constitutional amendment restoring the sanctity of private property in the commonwealth. The measure was made necessary by the reckless 2005 Supreme Court decision Kelo v. New London, which gave towns and cities free rein to grab land for the use and benefit of well-connected developers. At issue is the power of eminent domain, under which landowners are forced to sell property to the government for public use. Over the years, the Supreme Court has expanded the scope of government takings by redefining “public use.” Originally, the term was...

Dear Friends, Today, a long, hard-fought battle for women's health and dignity has finally been won in the State Senate! Just this afternoon, the Democrat controlled Virginia State Senate passed a bill which will require abortion clinics to meet hospital-style safety standards. This will mean that any abortion clinic which performs more than 5 abortions in a month will need to meet safety standards comparable to any other clinic which performs out-patient procedures. For over 25 years, Virginia abortion clinics have not been held to minimal health and safety standards. As a result, women who walk into these clinics are...

Victoria Cobb, President Thursday, February 24, 2011 Victory Alert: Abortion Clinic Safety Passes Senate!! In a historic vote, the state Senate today approved legislation that requires the Board of Health to create regulation for abortion centers in Virginia! After over two decades of hiding behind a veil of political secrecy, abortion centers in Virginia will now face greater scrutiny and better health standards. After a long and passionate debate on the Senate floor, the vote was 20-20 with Lt. Governor Bill Bolling casting the deciding vote in favor of the bill! We will provide more information on this tremendous victory...

Victoria Cobb, President Thursday, February 17, 2011 Information Alert: Life Bills Killed Despite Overwhelming Evidence In the Virginia Senate Education and Health committee this morning, The Family Foundation was reminded that we can have logic and reason, statistics, public polling, the US Supreme Court, and science on our side, but that has no influence with members of that committee committed to the abortion industry. Four important bills (HB1419, HB1428, HB1440, and HB2147) died at the hands of the committee this morning. Stay tuned to The Family Foundation’s YouTube site for videos of the debate. The first bill heard was HB...

A longtime northern Virginia political figure has decided to calls it quits. In an emotional speech on the Virginia Senate floor, Alexandria Democrat Patsy Ticer told her colleagues, "I have finally come to the end of the line." Ticer's 30th senate district covers Alexandria and parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties. She's been a fixture in local politics since 1982 when she was first elected to Alexandria's City Council. She became the city's first female mayor in 1991 and held that position until she was elected to the state Senate in 1995. As Alexandria mayor, Ticer helped lead the high...

Virginia passes bill imposing up to $2500 fine and possible jail time for boulevard stops. The Virginia House of Delegates and a state Senate committee approved legislation that would make a rolling right-hand turn on a red light a reckless driving offense. On Thursday the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill introduced by Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen) which the lower chamber had approved by a 67 to 31 margin on February 4. "Any person who drives a motor vehicle in violation of Section 46.2-833 is guilty of reckless driving," House Bill 1993 states. Under current law, Section 46.2-833,...

Check out this website listing of bills they support and oppose...... http://www.ppav.org/keyissues/2011billchart.html

The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill authorizing the use of deadly force against an intruder who enters a home and threatens to injure the occupant. The bill, HB1573, introduced by Del. Bill Cleaveland, R-Botetourt County, would put the so-called "castle doctrine" into state law. It would allow a home's occupant to use "any degree of physical force, including deadly physical force," if an intruder commits an overt act toward the occupant that he reasonably believes would put him in imminent danger of bodily injury. The bill makes the occupant immune from a lawsuit for any...

There are three bills pending in the Virginia Senate that are on Equality Virginia's positive legislative agenda for this year that are scheduled for a vote in the full Senate this week. Please take a minute right now to let your Virginia Senator know that you support this important legislation: SB 747 (McEachin) would codify protections against discrimination for all state employees (including college faculty), including protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. SB 1121 (Herring, McEachin) would change state law to allow local governments the freedom to establish personnel policies and procedures and to offer benefits...

<p>RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia would have to establish and fully fund its own independent militia if it wanted to ban gays from its National Guard force, Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli says.</p> <p>Cuccinelli issued an advisory opinion earlier this week at the request of Del. Bill Janis, R-Henrico, who asked whether the legislature can order the Virginia National Guard to continue the"don't ask, don't tell" policy recently repealed by Congress.</p>

The Virginia National Guard could still exclude gays from service once federal regulations repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy are issued, but it would likely lose its lifeline of federal funding, according to an opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. The opinion, released Friday, came in response to a request by Del. William R. Janis, R-Henrico, and on the heels of House Bill 2474, submitted by Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, that would keep in force the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the Virginia National Guard. Cuccinelli issued another opinion Friday advising that two...

Virginia state Sen. Emmett Hanger is pushing a measure that would allow for the castration of sex offenders. The controversial proposal passed the Virginia General Assembly four years ago, but then-Governor Tim Kaine vetoed it. The bill would require the state to study the use of physical castration as an alternative to civil commitment for those deemed sexually violent predators. Now, the Commonwealth pays to detain and treat sex offenders after they served their prison sentence. Hanger acknowledged that castration isn't the answer for all offenders, but said studies have shown it to work on many. He said Virginia must...

Hello All, I just wanted to drop you all a note to let you know that we will be having our official announcement entering the race for the 38th District State Senate seat at 10:30am on 7 Feb 11 at SVCC. Congressman Griffith will be there for the announcement, and it would mean a lot to me if all you could be there as well. Please be discrete with this info, since we want plenty of media coverage. Please take note of this new email address, and feel free to contact me on it with regard to political matters. Of...

Today, the Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1438 (HB1438), the Intrastate Commerce Act. The bill, “Provides that all goods produced or manufactured within the Commonwealth, when such goods are held, retained, or maintained in the Commonwealth, shall not be subject to federal law, federal regulation, or the constitutional power of the United States Congress to regulate interstate commerce.” The vote was 65-33. For decades, using a tortured definition of “interstate commerce,” Congress has claimed the authority to regulate, control, ban, or mandate virtually everything – from wheat grown on one’s own land for personal consumption, to weed...