Top stories for Wednesday
Here are the top political stories from around Virginia.
Welcome to Wednesday! Here are the top political stories for today.
Governor Northam issues new executive order to address unemployment backlog and potential tax penalties on businesses - Virginia Scope
Governor Ralph Northam announced on Monday that he is making temporary changes to the Commonwealth’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The Governor issued an Executive Order that requires the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to protect businesses from the UI experience rating tax by not penalizing them for lay-offs that occurred during the pandemic.
Next year, businesses would have been facing a payroll tax penalty for each employee that was laid-off this year. However, this new order will protect employers if the employee was laid off between April and June.
Virginia Republicans file several bills ahead of the General Assembly session - Virginia Scope
The General Assembly’s legislative session begins on January 13th and legislators from across the Commonwealth have filed bills that they hope to pass. Republicans have already vowed to limit the session to just 30-days by not agreeing to vote to extend it, but that has not stopped them from filing several bills ahead of the short session.
Virginia Democrats are backing off a ban on the new sale of assault weapons, at least for now - WRIC
by Jackie Defusco
Virginia Democrats appear to be backing off a ban on the new sale of assault weapons — at least for now — but that won’t stop Second Amendment supporters from rallying in Richmond come January.
At the beginning of 2020, a slew of gun control bills brought thousands to the State Capitol in protest, drawing national attention and criticism from President Donald Trump. The ban was arguably the most controversial in a package of eight proposals pushed by Gov. Ralph Northam in response to a mass shooting in Virginia Beach in 2019.
Health officials brace for COVID-19 surge post-holidays as Virginia records 15K new cases since Friday and traveler numbers peak - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Sabrina Moreno
With Virginia’s percentage of positive COVID-19 tests climbing toward 12% and more than 4 million travelers passing through U.S. security checkpoints since Friday, health officials say the surge post-Christmas could bring hospitals to a breaking point.
“That is a huge area of concern for us, even more so than any other holidays of this past year,” said Dr. David Lanning, interim chief medical officer at VCU Medical Center. “We’re still seeing some of the effects from the Thanksgiving holiday, and now this may be an additional risk.”
Va. judge rules Black defendant can’t get a fair trial in courtroom largely featuring portraits of White judges - Washington Post
by Justin Jouvenal
A Fairfax County judge has ruled that a Black defendant can’t get a fair trial in a courtroom decorated overwhelmingly with portraits of White judges and has ordered the paintings to be removed for the man’s upcoming legal proceeding.
Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard wrote in an opinion issued late Monday that the portraits of past judges from the Fairfax County Circuit Court could create the impression that the court is biased. Bernhard wrote that he won’t allow any portraits to be on display for any trial he presides over.
Michele Bachmann to lead Regent University’s school of government, wants to expand ‘biblical worldview’ - Virginian Pilot
By Ana Ley
VIRGINIA BEACH — Tea Party firebrand and 2012 presidential contender Michele Bachmann will soon lead Regent University’s school of government, where she said she plans to expand the Virginia Beach-based Christian university’s “biblical worldview.”
She begins as dean of the Robertson School of Government Jan. 1.
Judge Hicks recuses self from Morrissey's criminal case after questions of possible conflicts arise - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Ali Rockett
A Richmond judge recused himself from a criminal case involving state Sen. Joe Morrissey after the lawmaker’s support of the judge’s reappointment raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in Virginia’s system for appointing judges.
Judge David Hicks serves as chief of Richmond’s General District Court overseeing the Marsh courthouse in Manchester, and is up for reappointment to a second six-year term. On Tuesday, he said he has recused himself and the entire Richmond bench from Morrissey’s case and has asked the Virginia Supreme Court to appoint another judge for the upcoming Jan. 8 hearing.
Endorsements and more from statewide races:
23 Chesapeake Republican Leaders Endorse Kirk Cox for Governor
Twenty-three Republican leaders from Chesapeake endorsed Kirk Cox for Governor on Tuesday, including Former Congressman Randy Forbes and Shirley Forbes, Delegate Jay Leftwich, Delegate Barry Knight, and Mayor Rick West.
“I’m thankful to receive the support of Chesapeake’s strongest conservative leaders,” said Cox. “It’s truly an honor to see Republicans across the Commonwealth coming together to rally behind our campaign from Southwest Virginia to Hampton Roads, from Southside to Northern Virginia. Virginians from every corner of the Commonwealth have a voice in this campaign.”
“I’ve had the honor of knowing Kirk Cox since we served in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1990,” said Congressman Randy Forbes, who represented Chesapeake in the House of Delegates, State Senate, and Congress. “He is a man of deep and abiding faith, defends conservative values, and leads by example. It’s time for our party to rally with Kirk so we can win our first statewide election in over a decade. I believe Kirk can get it done.”
Terry McAuliffe Releases Food Security Plan to Ensure Virginians Have Access to Regular Nutritious Meals
Terry McAuliffe today released his plan to ensure Virginians have access to regular nutritious meals as part of his bold agenda to create an equitable post-COVID economy. As governor, Terry will expand participation in federal child nutrition programs, grow access to local foods, strengthen "food as medicine" programs, and establish a Food Security Council for the Commonwealth. Terry and Dorothy McAuliffe also volunteered today at a local Manassas Food Bank and thanked frontline workers helping Virginians during the pandemic.
“For too many Virginia families, food insecurity affects all aspects of life, including the education of our children. That's why I made sure to include nutrition as part of my bold plan to ensure every Virginia child has access to an equitable, world-class education,” said Terry McAuliffe. “Today, I am announcing another plank of my COVID recovery plan to address food insecurity. This recovery can’t be about just getting back to where we were before. We've got to build a post-COVID economy in Virginia that leads the nation and lifts up all Virginians so they can grow, achieve and thrive. That starts with ensuring no Virginian goes hungry.”
Delegate Rob Bell, Former GOP Candidate For Attorney General, Supports Miyares for AG
The campaign of former Virginia Beach prosecutor and current State Delegate Jason Miyares today announced its first round of endorsements for his Republican nomination for Virginia Attorney General next year against liberal Democrat Mark Herring.
Delegate Rob Bell (R-58) [Counties of Albemarle (part), Fluvanna (part), Greene, and Rockingham (part)]
Senator John Cosgrove (R-14) [Cities of Chesapeake (part), Virginia Beach (part), Counties Isle of Wight (part), Southampton (part), Franklin City (part), Portsmouth City (part), Suffolk City (part)]
Dennis Free, Chair, 2nd District Republican Committee
Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-1) [Counties of Lee, Scott, and Wise (part); City of Norton]
Louise D. Hartz, Former President, Virginia Society for Human Life
Delegate Matt Fariss (R-59) [Counties of Albemarle (part), Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell (part) and Nelson (part)]
Bill Curtis, Chair, Virginia Beach Republican Committee
Delegate Margaret Ransone (R-99th) [Counties of Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland]
Senator Bill DeSteph (R-8) [City of Virginia Beach]
Delegate Mark Cole (R-88) [Counties of Fauquier (part), Spotsylvania (part), and Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part)]
“Now more than ever, we need a strong voice of reason as Virginia’s chief law enforcement officer, and Jason Miyares is the right conservative for this job,” said Delegate Bell. “For two terms, Mark Herring has used the Attorney General’s office to be an activist that creates law; we must get back to having an Attorney General that enforces the law.”