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A daily compilation of newspaper articles about Virginia politics and government.
VPAP Whipple Report - February 22, 2012
Today's Sponsor: Psychiatric Society of Virginia
Advocating for mental health issues, the advancement of psychiatry, and service to communities.
Compiled by Paul Brockwell, Jr
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
MCDONNELL SHIFTS ABORTION-BILL STAND
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell is backing off his unconditional support for a bill requiring women to have an ultrasound before an abortion, focusing new attention on one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Virginia’s General Assembly this year.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
GOP: DEMOCRATS HOLDING UP SENATE PROGRESS
When Republicans seized control of the evenly divided Virginia Senate last month, Democrats accused their counterparts of making a heavy-handed power grab with the aid of Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's tie-breaking vote.
VA. SENATE DEMOCRATS TRY TO LEVERAGE BUDGET FOR MORE POWER
As they threaten to hold up the state budget, Senate Democratic leaders are pushing for a deal to reclaim some of the power that Republicans assumed early this session in the evenly split chamber.
SENATE GOP REJECTS DEMS BID FOR COMMITTEE SHUFFLE
Chances for a bipartisan accord on a Senate version of the budget by Thursday's deadline grew bleak Tuesday after Senate Republicans dismissed a Democratic proposal to reshuffle Senate committees in exchange for the necessary votes.
VIRGINIA SENATORS RENEW FIGHT OVER EQUALITY
Senate Democrats, who lost a battle for control of the Senate after last November's elections split the Senate 20-20, are still seeking more equality on Senate committees. But there's disagreement on whether they're holding the Senate budget hostage to get it.
DEMS' LETTER TO NORMENT DOESN'T MENTION BUDGET; NORMENT SAYS THERE IS A LINK
Senate Democratic Caucus chair Sen. Donald McEachin said Tuesday that Minority Leader Sen. Norment was disingenuous in linking Democrats complaints over the makeup of committees in the evenly-divided chamber to their threats to hold up the budget over substantial policy issues.
VIRGINIA ASSEMBLY ALTERS PRE-ABORTION ULTRASOUND BILL
In the face of widespread public criticism, some General Assembly members say they are working behind the scenes to "soften" a controversial bill that would require women to undergo an ultrasound examination before having an abortion.
HOUSE AGAIN PUTS OFF ULTRASOUND VOTE
For the second day in a row, the House of Delegates on Tuesday delayed final votes on a number of issues, including a bill to require women to undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion.
GA TO VOTE ON INVASIVE ULTRASOUND MEASURE
The Virginia House of Delegates is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a bill to amend Virginia's current law regarding informed consent for abortions. In addition to the existing prerequisites, the bill would add the requirement that any woman seeking an abortion have an ultrasound 24 hours beforehand — a wait that's reduced to two hours if she lives more than 100 miles away from the health care facility.
SENATE BACKS ADOPTION 'CONSCIENCE CLAUSE'
The Virginia Senate on Tuesday approved the House of Delegates' version of a bill that would allow faith-based adoption and foster-care organizations that use state funds to deny services to parents or children who do not share their religious beliefs.
SENATE APPROVES ADOPTION 'CONSCIENCE CLAUSE' BILL
Private child placement agencies are close to gaining legal protection to reject would-be adoptive and foster care parents, including gays, whose lifestyles conflict with their beliefs.
SENATE SENDS 'CONSCIENCE CLAUSE' ADOPTION BILL TO GOVERNOR
Religious-based adoption and foster care agencies that receive state funding would be able to deny placing children with gays or lesbians under a measure passed by the Senate Tuesday and sent to the governor.
BILL TO END HPV VACCINE REQUIREMENT ADVANCES
A bill to end Virginia’s requirement that girls receive a cancer-preventing vaccine — except when their parents object — was approved Tuesday in a Senate subcommittee. Like every other General Assembly vote on Del. Kathy Byron’s human papillomavirus bill, its fate was decided on party lines. The panel’s three Republicans supported it, while two Democrats voted no.
LABOR PACT FOR DULLES METRORAIL OPPOSED
A Northern Virginia delegate has inserted language into the House’s proposed budget to effectively negate a proposed incentive for firms bidding on Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail project to use a labor agreement that many say favors unions.
HOUSE PANEL APPROVES DRUG TESTING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS
Even though the House of Delegates version of the measure didn't make it to the chamber floor due to costs, The House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee passed a Senate bill that would require drug testing for welfare recipients.