Recent Articles from Virginia Business
Smoking with child in car won’t be outlawed in Va.
RICHMOND State Sen. Ralph Northam’s effort to outlaw smoking in a vehicle with a child present was decisively snuffed out today. The Norfolk Democrat, a pediatric neurologist, wanted to protect children from the dangers of second-hand smoke, which he said increases the risk of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments.
Virginia General Assembly: The score at halftime
The dark clouds that hung over the General Assembly and threatened to rain on partisan compromise cleared as the session crossed its midway point this week. But that doesn't mean lawmakers are ready to sit in a circle and sing Kumbaya.
Virginia AG Cuccinelli’s book targets feds, Obama
RICHMOND If Virginia's ultra-conservative attorney general needs to appeal to moderate Republicans in his campaign for governor, his new book probably isn't going to help.
Va. workers’ part-time hours capped due to health law
RICHMOND Thousands of part-time state workers, including many in Hampton Roads, are being told they'll be allowed to work no more than 29 hours a week going forward. The reason: The federal Affordable Care Act requires that employees working 30 hours a week or more receive health care benefits - which would cost Virginia tens of millions of dollars a year.
Va. bill aims to help patients victimized by doctors
RICHMOND A bill on its way to passing the General Assembly would bench for a longer period physicians who engage in inappropriate sexual conduct with their patients.
All eyes on Va. Senate as it weighs budget, Medicaid
RICHMOND Democrats delivered an ominous sign about the prospects of passing a Senate budget this week when the party’s five senators on the Finance Committee voted against the bill Sunday. Their stated beef was the Medicaid expansion amendment in SB 800 that Democrats saw as foot-dragging rather than forward-looking to move Virginia toward implementing a key component of Obamacare.
Virginia’s Medicaid expansion plan moves forward
RICHMOND The most significant development Thursday at the State Capitol wasn't that both General Assembly chambers passed plans to tailor Virginia's $86 billion two-year budget. It was the near serenity in the Senate.
Bills to reduce Virginia menhaden catch progressing
RICHMOND Bills to reduce the number of menhaden fish that may be caught each year are progressing in the House of Delegates. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources this afternoon unanimously approved HB2254, which would reduce the annual menhaden catch by 20 percent and gives the Virginia Marine Resources Commission some authority to manage the oily bait fish.
Va. House speaker disallows Senate redistricting plan
RICHMOND A controversial plan to tilt state Senate districts in Republicans’ favor died at the other end of the Capitol today, thanks to a procedural move by Republican House Speaker William Howell.
GOP Senate redistricting plan killed by House speaker
RICHMOND A controversial plan to tilt state Senate districts in Republicans' favor died at the other end of the Capitol on Wednesday, thanks to a procedural move by Republican House Speaker William Howell that could restore a spirit of cooperation to a sometimes fractious General Assembly.