Speak Out: Senate Dems Block Budget

Lawmakers say it's a way to gain more balanced membership on committees, but tell us: Was it a smart strategy or a harmful tactic?

Democrats blocked the state Senate's version of Virginia's two-year, $85 billion budget proposal Thursday in an effort to pressure Republicans into giving them more power in the chamber's committees. After a motion from Senate Democrats to reconfigure the makeup of committees was rejected, the party's legislators threatened to hold up the budget if Republicans continue to refuse. The spending plan failed 20-17 on Thursday. The Democrats first asked Republicans to consider sharing chairmanships after the November election left the chamber split evenly, with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) as the tie-breaking vote. The Republicans rejected the idea and instead stacked the Senate committees with legislators of their own party, giving them not just …

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Senate Defeats Party Affiliation Bill

Sen. Chap Petersen speaks out against change he says would hurt Vienna, other localities

Candidates running for office in Vienna and Fairfax County will continue to appear without a party affiliation next to their names on local ballots. Virginia's senate voted 25-14 against a bill by Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) that would have required candidates nominated by a party to identify with that party on Election Day ballots. Virginia law enforces ballot party tags for candidates running only in statewide, federal or General Assembly races. The Fairfax County School Board, by law, must be a non-partisan race, though no candidate has ever won a seat without a political endorsement. Ballots for local races — including those for Vienna Town Council and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors — are party-free. Vienna Mayor Jane …

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General Assembly Roundup: Week Three

Sunday hunting bill makes its way through the state Senate

Five bill proposals from the state senators representing Vienna passed through their own chamber last week and await consideration from the House of Delegates. The General Assembly began its fourth week of the 60-day legislative session on Monday. Sen. Chap Petersen The Senate approved a bill that would allow hunting Sundays on private property (SB 464) with a 29-11 vote. The legislation, which had Sen. Chap Petersen's bill (SB 173) on the issue rolled into it, was introduced by Sen. Ralph Northam (D-6th District). Petersen (D-34th District) had another victory on the Senate floor when his proposal that would require state buildings to follow Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards (SB 160) passed on a 26-14 vote. Petersen…

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Residents Ask Petersen, Keam About Transportation, Budget

After their second week in session, Sen. Chap Petersen and Del. Mark Keam meet with constituents

Funding transportation projects and Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposed budget were at the top of residents' concerns Saturday at a town hall meeting with Sen. Chap Petersen and Del. Mark Keam. Despite a morning with snowy and icy conditions, more than 50 residents came to the American Legion in Vienna, from as close as five minutes down the road to the far-reaching part of Petersen's district in Centreville, to hear about the legislators' plans, ask questions and offer suggestions. Petersen (D-34th District) and Keam (D-35th District) both said they were optimistic about Virginia, its budget and its future. Petersen said the General Fund Revenues for FY 2012 are projected to fall in line with what they were in 2008, shortly before the recession…

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Erica R. Hendry

9:03 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012

Thanks George.   more ›

General Assembly Roundup: Week One

Republicans seize power in the Senate; legislators receive committee assignments

Last Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly convened for its 2012 legislative session. Though much of the first week is routine — swearing in legislators, assigning lawmakers to committees — this year's start had a spark to it, as the Republicans used Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's role as Senate president to seize control in an evenly split chamber, despite protests from the Democrats. The Republicans, led by majority leader Thomas Norment (R-3rd District), stacked the Senate committees with legislators of their own party, giving them not just all the chairmanships but also majorities in 10 of the 11 committees — despite Senate rules that call for committees to reflect the party proportions. The committee shakeup had a direct effect on one of …

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District 34

Video: Petersen, Culipher Talk Business, Silver Line, Death Penalty

Candidates for the 34th District Senate seat answer resident questions at Vienna debate

The Silver Line was one issue on which Incumbent State Sen. Chap Petersen (D) and Republican challenger Gerarda Culipher couldn't agree Thursday night, in one of the first debates of the 34th District Senate race. The debate at Vienna's American Legion gave the more than 60 residents that filled the hall an early glimpse of the candidates' positions on roads, businesses, jobs and taxes. Culipher said she'd would work to triple the number of parking spaces allocated for stations on Silver Line, which would make Metro a more accessible option for commuters from Chantilly and Centreville, she said. "Inadequate Metro parking is the single reason people do not use it," Culipher said. "I hear [that] time and again from the voters." In regards to…

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Mike Kane

9:40 am on Thursday, September 29, 2011

I watched both these candidates last night, and I must say Culipher sounded like the better candidate. Chap peterson refused to cut taxes and spending   more ›