It’s one of the most powerful posts in Virginia politics — chair of the House of Delegates Commerce and Labor Committee — and if Democrats take control of the chamber, it will almost certainly go to one of the quietest and well-liked Virginia legislators: Jeion Ward, who represents Hampton (and as she likes to joke, 10 houses in Newport News).
It’d mark the first time in 23 years that a Democrat has been chair of the committee that’s the gatekeeper for laws on employment, workers compensation, utility regulation, telecommunications, insurance and financial services (though in 1998 and 1999, there were Democratic and Republican co-chairs).
More to the point, it’d be the first time anyone can remember that a labor union officer leads that committee. Ward is president of the Hampton Federation of Teachers. To say unions are excited is what we call an understatement.
So, bet on some changes. As one committee member puts it: “She’ll put the labor back in Commerce and Labor.”
Ward supported measures to increase the minimum wage and to allow cities or counties to set their own minimum wages, but couldn’t convince a majority of the Commerce and Labor subcommittee that killed those measures to go along.
She was the lone voice last year supporting bills that would bar employers from firing employees who file or are likely to file claims for workers’ compensation for on-the-job injuries, that say workers comp should cover on-the-job injuries when a Virginian is hurt out of state and that workers comp ought to pay when police officers and firefighters suffer from PTSD.
Like many of her Democratic colleagues, she opposed a law (heavily lobbied by Dominion Energy) that allows electric utilities to retain excess earnings to finance improvements to the electric grid and renewable energy facilities, instead of returning that money to ratepayers.
She’s also backed efforts by Peninsula colleague, Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, to tighten regulation of payday lenders and other high interest rate finance firms.
One other way Ward could break tradition is political.
Running Commerce and Labor means a lot of attention — that is, donations to your campaign fund — from special interests. C&L chairs have long been important sources of money for other members of their caucus. The post can be kind of a way of spreading good will, first to a key player in the General Assembly and then by allowing the C&L chair to generate his or her own good will among the legislators who have the ultimate say on whether a bill makes it or not.
Ward, however, has never been a particularly big fund-raiser and she doesn’t play the spread-the-goodwill-around game. Watch for change in the money in politics dynamics, if a change in control of the House brings her to the committee chairmanship.
Shad Plank is the Daily Press blog that tracks Virginia politics. It takes its name from the traditional Shad Planking political get-together, though hopefully it is tastier than the roasted fish featured at that Sussex County event. To contact Dave Ress with tips or questions, call 757-247-4535 or email dress@dailypress.com.
