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Today's Sponsor:
Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia – Elected to Serve
Commissioners, Deputies, and Friends from across the Commonwealth prepared and donated 10,000 meals to the Stop Hunger Now Organization while attending their annual conference. www.vacomrev.com
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
McAuliffe on Trump: "I know Donald very well."
Would Gov. Terry McAuliffe consider leaving his job to join a presidential administration? Conservative radio show host John Fredericks asked McAuliffe the question on Friday morning when the governor went on "The John Fredericks Show."
McAuliffe: 'I agree with Donald Trump' on Republican primary oath
Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Friday that he shares Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s dislike for the oath the Republican Party of Virginia plans to require voters to take before participating in the GOP’s presidential primary. In an interview with conservative talk-radio host John Fredericks, who supports Trump, McAuliffe said politics should be about “addition,” regardless of party.
Coalition gets Gov. McAuliffe's ear on Virginia offshore oil and gas drilling
In a hotel conference room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a delegation of more than a dozen business and environmental leaders tried this week to convince Gov. Terry McAuliffe to join them in opposing oil and gas drilling off Virginia’s coast. They won a pledge that he’d take a hard look at their concerns – but no indication that the governor will switch from the pro-drilling side. Still, the drilling opponents said they appreciated the opportunity to make their case. The meeting Thursday afternoon was their first significant sit-down with the governor.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Light 'em if you got 'em: Senate panel OKs bill legalizing fireworks sales
Despite concerns about fire safety, a Senate committee has recommended approval of a bill to legalize the sale of fireworks in Virginia. The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 8-5 in favor of the legislation proposed by one of its members, Sen. Thomas Garrett, R-Hadensville. He said the bill could generate millions of dollars in sales taxes on a product he says is used illegally throughout the state anyway.
Va. real estate tax pays for rural roadwork
A little-known law that routes a portion of real estate taxes to work along U.S. 58 would eventually be used to help build a new interstate through western Virginia under pending legislation. Senate Bill 197 would earmark $40 million a year from the state recordation tax on deeds and mortgages for the proposed interstate, which would run in Virginia from Martinsville to Roanoke.
Legislation would restrict use of e-cigarettes in restaurants
State lawmakers will tackle at least one proposal during this General Assembly session to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes in some public places such as restaurants. Smoking conventional cigarettes has been prohibited inside Virginia restaurants since 2009, with an exception for eateries that allow smoking only in separately enclosed and ventilated rooms. A bill introduced by Sen. John C. Miller, D-Newport News, would expand that prohibition to include electronic cigarettes, the battery-powered devices that some smokers use as an alternative to conventional cigarettes.
Bill Relaxes Cap On Alcohol Sales
Virginia restaurants may be able to push booze a little harder next year. Two Republican lawmakers from Virginia Beach — Sen. Bill DeSteph and Del. Scott Taylor — have proposed changing the requirement that restaurants and caterers cap liquor sales at 55 percent of their total revenue. Beer and wine sales are not accounted for in the ratio.
Legislation could mandate elected police chiefs in Va. counties
Might Arlington voters someday elect their chief of police, just as they currently do their sheriff? That could be the end result of legislation patroned by Del. David Albo (R-Springfield) and currently sitting in the House Committee on Privileges and Elections. The measure would require any county with a police force to begin electing the police chief no later than Jan. 1, 2018.
McQuinn looks to raise city council salary caps for large cities
The Richmond City Council will have a shot at boosting members’ salaries because Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, filed state legislation that would authorize raises of up to $10,000 for councils in large cities. Late last year, a council-appointed committee recommended increasing Richmond’s $25,000 salary, which would require changes to state law that sets pay ranges for localities.
STATE ELECTIONS
Campaign Finance Reports Released
Her next re-election bid would not be for four more years, but 27th District Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Upperville, started 2016 with nearly $70,000 in her campaign chest. She ran unopposed in November, securing her third term.
Sen. Favola leads local delegation in cash on hand
They won’t have to face the voters again for a while, but members of Arlington’s legislative delegation all have some cash in their respective kitties. The amount of cash on hand, however, varies widely, according to figures reported by the State Board of Elections and the Virginia Public Access Project.
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Virginia Beach Sheriff Stolle urges Forbes drop thoughts of running for 2nd District
Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle urged U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes on Friday to abandon any consideration of switching districts to run for election in the 2nd Congressional District. Forbes, a Chesapeake Republican, has been speaking with Virginia Beach political leaders and others about possibly giving up his seat in the 4th District after a recent redrawing of boundary lines changes his current district from a strong GOP district to one that leans Democratic.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Virginia settles mortgage securities lawsuit
e state has settled a lawsuit against nearly a dozen of the country's biggest banks, which it accused of defrauding Virginia's employee retirement fund with mortgage-backed securities. The settlement totals about $63 million, Attorney General Mark Herring announced Friday. The state had sought as much as $1.15 billion when it announced the suit in 2014.
Eleven banks to pay $63 million to Virginia to settle fraud allegations
Eleven banks have agreed to pay a total of $63 million to settle allegations they defrauded the Virginia Retirement System during the real estate bubble that led the nation into an economic recession. Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring’s office announced the settlement Friday and said it was the largest non-health care-related recovery ever obtained in a suit alleging violations of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act.
TRANSPORTATION
I-64-U.S. 29 interchange overhaul ranked near bottom of state priorities
A $146 million project to rebuild the interchange of U.S. 29 and Interstate 64 at Exit 118 has been ranked close to the bottom of a list of Virginia’s transportation priorities. The interchange has multiple safety hazards, including an incomplete “cloverleaf” design that requires northbound traffic on U.S. 29 to cross the southbound lanes before it can gain access to the westbound ramp to I-64.
Corps of Engineers considering new Route 460 plan
Officials from the town of Windsor and Isle of Wight County hope that a revised U.S. Route 460 project that is under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is killed one way or another before it becomes a reality. The Virginia Department of Transportation submitted a Route 460 revision to the Corps in November 2015, according to Alice Allen-Grimes, who works in the Corps' regulatory department.
HIGHER EDUCATION
'Phishing' scam exposes UVa employee data
Personal information for 1,400 employees at the University of Virginia became vulnerable after a “phishing” email scam was sent to the several U.S. colleges and universities. The FBI recently notified UVa of a data exposure following an extensive law enforcement investigation. The FBI said the suspects are in custody.
Information from 1,400 U.Va. employees accessed in data breach
Private information from around 1,400 University employees was accessed in a recent data breach, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As a result of an extensive investigation which involved several other colleges and universities in the U.S., the FBI said the information was accessed as part of a “phishing” email scam, according to a news release from the University Office of Communications.
‘Phishing’ hack at the University of Virginia compromises employee computer records
Hackers accessed numerous computer records containing personally identifiable information belonging to University of Virginia employees, part of a “phishing” scam that also included some bank records, school officials announced Friday. An FBI investigation into data exposure at several U.S. colleges and universities found that overseas hackers, who are now in custody, gained access to records for 1,400 U-Va. employees, including W-2 tax forms from 2013 and 2014, U-Va. officials said in a statement. The direct deposit bank records for 40 employees also were stolen, U-Va. officials said.
VIRGINIA OTHER
Mountain Valley secures new pipeline partner and customer in Con Edison
The list of partners in and customers for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline grew this week with the addition of Consolidated Edison Co., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies. Mountain Valley announced Friday that Con Edison, through subsidiary Con Edison Gas Midstream, will acquire a 12.5 percent ownership interest in Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC.
Deer Harvest On Rise
The number of deer killed by Virginia hunters this season is on track to surpass last year’s count, according to state game officials. Matt Knox, deer project coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, said hunters checked in 167,736 deer online this year, which is an increase of 12 percent over last year. Online check-ins account for roughly 80 percent of all deer check-ins in the state, he said.
Hunters, landowners comment on deer-hunting report
As part of its regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Thursday morning publicly revealed its study on deer hunting with dogs. More than 200 men, women and children wearing camouflage gear and blaze orange hats were in the board room to show support for the long-standing tradition of deer-dog hunting, while another 200 or so were forced to brave the cold and stand outside the offices in Henrico — thanks to the county fire code.
LOCAL
‘Love locks’ still allowed in Norfolk – but only in Ghent
The city is fine with the hundreds of “love locks” on the Hague footbridge in Ghent – at least for now. But it’s not OK with the love spreading elsewhere. City staffers recently removed four padlocks that had been bolted to a footbridge a few miles north, not far from the Virginia Zoo.
Effort to recall Norfolk Treasurer Anthony Burfoot taking shape
A former president of the Norfolk branch of the NAACP plans to lead the effort to recall Treasurer Anthony Burfoot, who is facing charges he took almost a half-million dollars in kickbacks and bribes. John Wesley Hill – who has a history of trying to get Burfoot removed from his job – announced Friday he was finalizing the petition paperwork and planned to start collecting signatures next week.
Today's Sponsor:
Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia – Elected to Serve
Commissioners, Deputies, and Friends from across the Commonwealth prepared and donated 10,000 meals to the Stop Hunger Now Organization while attending their annual conference. www.vacomrev.com
EDITORIALS
Change the law that cost Augusta $30K
This time last year Augusta County was preparing for its first special election in at least a decade. If you do not recall this, rest assured you are not alone. On Dec. 31, 2014, health problems forced Clerk of Court John B. Davis to retire a year before his term expired. His assistant Carol Brydge was named interim clerk, and to avoid the $30,000 expense of a special election so close to the November 2015 regular election, the county board of supervisors petitioned Circuit Court Judge Victor Ludwig to waive the special election.
Pay data helps citizens buy in
Nothing is more fundamental to the public's right to know than keeping track of how government money is spent — and who is gaining from it. But that right is threatened by legislation in the General Assembly that would severely limit public access to salaries paid to public workers in Virginia.
COLUMNISTS
Thomson: I-66 vote to put Virginia legislators on HOT seat with commuters
Even as some members of the Virginia General Assembly attempt to block the plan to create high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 66, the state is about to hold hearings on the inside the Capital Beltway design. The bill introduced by Del. Jim LeMunyon (R) and backed by House Speaker William J. Howell (R), says this: “No toll shall be imposed or collected for the use of any existing component of Interstate 66 east of mile marker 67,” a point inside the Beltway.
OP-ED
Banks: Keep the Surry nuclear power station operational
Dominion Virginia Power says it plans to seek permission from federal regulators to operate both reactors at its Surry nuclear plant for another 20 years. If approved, this would be the second time the Surry units would have their operating licenses renewed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. And it would mark the first time in America that an electricity company would be allowed to operate a nuclear plant for a total of 80 years.