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Bills advance to protect state employees who access medical cannabis
RICHMOND, Va. — State lawmakers have advanced bills that would allow public sector employees to use medical cannabis without losing their job. House Bill 149, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, extends to state public employees rights that already exist in the private sector. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a 78-20 vote. Helmer […]
Bills to cap rent increases don’t advance this session
RICHMOND, Va. — State lawmakers did not advance legislation this session that aimed to slow rising rent prices, although affordable housing remains a big concern for constituents. Two proposed bills would have allowed localities to adopt anti-rent gouging provisions, prevent landlords from increasing rent without at least two-month notice, and set an annual allowance […]
After long delay, Va. lawmakers appoint two SCC judges
The Virginia General Assembly unanimously elected two attorneys to fill two vacancies on the Virginia State Corporation Commission on Wednesday, after more than a year of understaffing and partisan battles. State senators and delegates voted 40-0 and 98-0, respectively, to approve the nominations of Kelsey Bagot, a former legal adviser with the Federal Energy Regulatory […]
FAA probes Boeing’s possible role in 737 Max 9 cabin blowout
Nearly a week after a four-foot wall panel blew out of a Boeing plane cabin midair, exposing Alaska Airlines passengers to open air at 16,000 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration formally notified the Arlington County-based aerospace giant Wednesday that it will investigate the company’s potential role in the incident and whether it failed to ensure […]
Coming into focus
In 2016, amid concerns over how the Virginia Economic Development Partnership was being run, the General Assembly directed Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to examine VEDP’s organizational management and performance. “There was a perception, at least publicly, that [VEDP] was a fairly good organization that was successful in bringing in business,” says Hal [[...]
Government | Politics 2023: MARK WARNER
Like his junior colleague, Tim Kaine, Warner served as governor of Virginia before being elected to the U.S. Senate. He is now in his third term as Virginia’s senior senator. A moderate Democrat, Warner chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and is vice chair of the Senate Democratic caucus. He also serves on Finance subcommittees that […]
Government | Politics 2023: TIM KAINE
A Democratic leader who has served as Richmond’s mayor and Virginia’s lieutenant governor and governor, Kaine has been the state’s junior U.S. senator since 2013 and is running for a third term in 2024. He came to national prominence in 2016 as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in her unsuccessful presidential campaign. Kaine grew up in […]
Government | Politics 2023: ROB WITTMAN
Elected to Congress in 2007, Republican Wittman represents parts of Richmond’s suburbs, as well as the Peninsula and regions east of Fredericksburg on the Chesapeake Bay. As of January, he chairs the House Armed Services Committee, and serves on the Natural Resources Committee. Although Wittman has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation (such as a workforce training bill […]
Government | Politics 2023: ABIGAIL SPANBERGER
Redistricted into a new Congressional district that includes Fredericksburg, Caroline County and part of Prince William County, the moderate Democrat won her third term in November 2022 against GOP challenger Yesli Vega. A former CIA officer and U.S. Postal Inspection Service law enforcement officer, Spanberger in 2018 narrowly defeated incumbent Dave Brat in a longtime […]
New federal per diem rates provide bump for hotels
The federal government’s fiscal 2024 per diem reimbursement rates — released Aug. 16 by the General Services Administration — will largely benefit Virginia’s hotels, but not necessarily its restaurants. The continental United States (CONUS) rates — dictating lodging allowances and meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) for federal employees while traveling — will be effective[...]
‘A generational shift’
Updated June 29 Politicians like to suggest every new election is the most important of our lifetimes, but Virginia’s off-off-year state legislative elections in 2023 might actually live up to the billing for once. In November, voters will elect representatives to all 140 seats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, in the first […]
