Openly gay judical nominee targeted

MoonHowler

Openly gay judicial nominee Tracy Thorne-Begland who currently serves as a  well-respected deputy prosecutor,   has been targeted by legislators and conservative groups simply because he is gay.  Tracy Thorne-Begland  is currently a deputy prosecutor in Richmond.

From the Washington Post:

Thorne-Begland, the deputy commonwealth attorney for Richmond, has been nominated to serve as a judge for the city’s 13th General District Court.

On Friday, the Family Foundation of Virginia issued a statement opposing his appointment, arguing that his public work on behalf of gay rights makes him unsuitable for the impartial role of judge.

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Good news/Bad News: But boys don’t get pregnant!

MoonHowler

Governor Robert “Ultra-sound” McDonnell has replaced a much needed several hundred million dollars into Virginia higher education.  According to the Washington Post:

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell issued a news release Monday trumpeting the $230 million in new state funds for higher education.

With that new funding in mind, the release said, McDonnell sent a letter to Virginia college presidents and boards, asking them to keep increases in in-state tuition in line with the rate of inflation.

The Consumer Price Index for the last 12 months was up 2.7 percent, while average in-state tuition went up 9.7 percent for the 2011-2012 school year, the release said.

“I remain very concerned about the affordability of post-secondary education for the young people of Virginia,” he wrote.

Good for the governor.  College costs across the nation are skyrocketing.  McDonnell’s ceiling on rise in costs can’t come at a better time.  However, there is a slight problem that puts Virginia ladies at a severe disadvantage.  Boys don’t get pregnant.  Girls do.

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Speaker Howell: I guess I’m not speaking in little enough words for you to understand.

MoonHowler

From the Women’s Strike Force:

      The Women’s Strike Force condemns Speaker Howell’s demeaning and condescending rhetoric aimed at Anna Scholl, executive director of ProgressVA.  During an exchange captured on video, Scholl questioned Howell’s dissatisfaction with a ProgressVA report. As usual, Speaker Howell’s offensive attitude towards women surfaced.  Howell’s remark to Scholl that “I guess I’m not speaking in little enough words for you to understand” is demonstrative of the legisltature’s outrageously offensive attacks on women’s rights. 

 

            The Women’s Strike Force applauds Scholl’s response to Howell, Scholl responded “I’m a smart girl, actually. I went to the University of Virginia; I benefited from public education; I think words with multiple syllables would be just fine for me.”

Why would speaker Howell address anyone like that?  Anna Scholl was being perfectly polite to him.  He simply must just be a rude pig.  There is no other explanation.  He owes Anna Scholl an apology and he needs to disassociate himself with ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council.

The smug look he carries around on his face says it all.

http://www.progressva.org/

Continuing Contract safe for another year

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s bill to eliminate tenure-style job protections for public school teachers died Thursday at the hands of the Republican-led Senate.

After delaying a decision on the contentious bill for eight days straight, the Senate voted 23 to 17 to send it back to committee, effectively killing it for the year.

Three Republicans joined all 20 Democrats in voting to recommit the bill, which has been vigorously opposed by the Virginia Education Association.

The move was a political defeat for McDonnell, who had made overhauling teacher contracts a key part of his education agenda.

“This bill does nothing but kick teachers in the teeth,” said Sen. Philip Puckett (D-Russell), a former teacher and principal.

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Bob McDonnell, VP (That’s Vaginal Probe, not Vice President)

MoonHowler

 

According to pundits like Larry Sabato, McDonnell has pretty much cratered any chances of obtaining the Vice Presidential nomination.  Others agree.  Stick a fork in him, he’s done.  The stupid part is, he knew better and his advisors knew better than to sign the bill he is about to sign.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Being the anti-birth control party is really not the way to win elections.  The Blunt Amendment was defeated in the Senate today.  The Democratic controlled Senate didn’t have to allow the bill to come to a vote, but…why not let folks shoot themselves in the foot if that is what they want to do.

McDonnell back-pedals on the ultrasound bill

MoonHowler

Richmond Times Dispatch:

After days of unrelenting criticism, the House of Delegates today passed a weakened version of the ultrasound mandate after consultation with Gov. Bob McDonnell, amending it so that women could reject a procedure if it must be done vaginally

The bill would still require that all women having an abortion undergo an ultrasound to determine the gestational age, but women subject to a transvaginal procedure would be able to decline.

Oftentimes, the procedure must be performed that way, versus on the abdomen, early in a pregnancy.

Because the House made changes to a Senate measure — Senate Bill 484, sponsored by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier — it must go back before the Senate with the changes.

But this afternoon, Vogel indicated she will try to strike her bill.

Apparently Del. Vogel felt the altered bill made things even worse.  This was abviously a bill that should have never been.  Make no mistake, it wasn’t about informed consent.  It was about guilting women not to have an abortion.  The hope was that if the woman seeking an aborton saw the ultrasound, she would change her mind.

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Todd Gilbert: Lifestyle convenience???

MoonHowler

Deputy House Majority Leader C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) said Tuesday night that he “regretted” his “insensitive comments”earlier in the day about abortion being a “lifestyle convenience.”

“Abortion is a sad and deeply serious occurrence,’’ Gilbert said in a statement. “Individuals on both sides of this issue agree that it is tragic for all involved. I recognize that few women undergo the procedure lightly. It leaves scars, both mental and physical, that can last forever. I regret that my comments earlier today on the House floor were insensitive to that reality.’’

What was that Elena said about a war on women?  What further proof do we need?  How dare this arrogant man speak of “Lifestyle Convenience?”   How  dare he! 

I feel so betrayed tonight.  My grandfather’s family were Virginians back in the mid-1700’s.  My grandmother was a member of the DAR, her family were Virginians.  My people were here before there was a United States.  Yet tonight I sit here, as a grandmother myself, wondering what has happened to my state.  Who are these men who came marching in here and decided what they thought was best for the women of Virginia?  These dumb asses will be vanquished.  Sic semper tyrannis

 

Virginia now wants to penetrate your body without permission

MoonHowler

Governor McDonnell has said he will sign the ultra sound bill.  That doesn’t sound like a real good idea if he wants to be considered for vice president.  See the bill in full text.

Meanwhile Rachel Maddow discovered Bob Marshall.  She is horrified and pointed out how Colorado and Mississippi rejected a similiar bill by double digits.  What are our Virginia legislators doing to us?  We have become the laughing stock of America.  We have become the anti birth control state.  I am mortified.

Meanwhile, make sure you don’t swear in Bob Marshall’s district.  I hope he listens in.  He will get an earful. 

Meanwhile, the women of Virginia have to flood the governors office and tell him not to sign either of these bills should they pass the legislature.  Gov. McDonnell’s number:  (804) 786-2211

contact via email:  https://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

Enough big government intrustion into personal matters.

 

 

Virginia General Assembly thinks up new ways to screw Virginia teachers

MoonHowler

The Virginia legislators seem to be running a contest to see who can think up the most ways to screw Virginia public school educators.  Currently, Virginia teachers, after a 2 year probationary period, become eligible for a continuing contract.   Teachers still can be fired on continuing contract but not without an administrator dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s.  The due process is very specific.  Of course there are other ways to instantly remove a teacher for criminal activity or fiduciary impropriety. 

The Richmond Times Dispatch reports:

RICHMOND, Va. —

The House of Delegates today passed 55-43 an overhaul of the public school teacher and principal contract and evaluation system.

The plan would phase out a tenure-like system in favor of term contracts.

The measure would make it easier for school divisions to fire teachers. The plan, which was a centerpiece of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education agenda, drew opposition from advocates for teachers.

Those not familiar with how evaluation in public school works might be misguided and think that this is a good thing.  No.  Not really.  Nothing is more subject  to politics than public education and teacher evaluations. Kissing the right asses is always important on the job but for teachers it will become critical.   Throw in the fact that seasoned teachers are more experienced and therefore cost more  and you have a very dangerous situation for veteran teachers.   If a jurisdiction needs to save money, fire all the expensive veteran teachers.  It won’t matter in the long run because the parents can all be duped into thinking that experience and know-how really don’t matter. 

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Amazon slips through the tax loophole

MoonHowler

 

From Roanoke.com:

When Virginians make purchases from Amazon.com they are not paying sales tax on that item (unless the consumer reports it on their taxes).

The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill to change that.

The bill clarifies the current law, which says that any retailer with a physical presence in Virginia must collect and remit the 5 percent sales tax. Amazon, which has two facilities in Virginia,  hasn’t done that.

Apparently a 2007 ruling from the state tax department said that Amazon isn’t required to collect and remit sales tax because its facilities in Virginia don’t handle sales.

To add to the story, it was announced last month that Amazon would receive more than $4.3 million in financial aid and other incentives from the state to build two fulfillment centers outside of Richmond. Those centers would bring 1,350 jobs to the area. Amazon is investing $135 million in the buildings.

The retail community has voiced its displeasure with the loophole.

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Eliminating Teen Pregnancy Prevention Intiative: Pure Stupidity

MoonHowler

Why is it that people who want to knock giant holes in abortion rights also want to knock out programs that exist to reduce unintended pregnancy?  Governor Robert McDonnell seems to be jumping on the stupidity bandwagon on this very subject.

According to the Washington Post:

McDonnell (R) wants to eliminate funding — $455,000 — for pregnancy prevention programs across the state that offer sex education and birth control to teenagers.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative funds programs at schools and clinics in seven health districts, including Alexandria, which have the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the state. 
McDonnell’s administration says that the money is being discontinued because the initiative has not worked — and that the localities continue to experience pregnancy rates above the state average.

Although Virginia’s teen pregnancy rate is below the national average, 28 cities and counties are above the national average. In 2010, 10,970 teen pregnancies were reported in Virginia.

“The elimination of this long-standing health program could have serious consequences for women and girls’ health,” said Katherine Greenier, director of the Patricia M. Arnold Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU of Virginia. “Teens need good information and services to make informed, healthy choices. To ensure a decline in teen pregnancy rates continue we must provide teens with the necessary information, education and resources.’’

The program worked with 4,642 teens in fiscal 2010, including those at the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, which serves youths 12 to 19.

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Governor to propose ending continuing contracts for teachers and principles

MoonHowler

From newsadvance.com in Lynchburg:

Teacher contracts and uranium mining will get Gov. Bob McDonnell’s attention during this General Assembly session.

McDonnell said he will ask legislators to require all teachers undergo performance reviews every year, and “remove the continuing contract status from teachers and principals.”

Instead, annual contracts would be offered to teachers, McDonnell said.

“This will allow us to implement an improved evaluation system that really works, and give principals a new tool” for managing schools, McDonnell said during his State of the Commonwealth speech to the Senate and House of Delegates.

Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County, said he expects to support many of the governor’s education-reform proposals, but the continuing-contract idea was a new one.

I don’t see doing away with continuing contracts as “teacher reform.”  In the first place, principals aren’t on continuing contracts as principals.  They are on continuing contract as teachers.  Why does McDonnell think that yearly evaluation will make better teachers?  A full evaluation, usually done triennially for continuing contract teachers is very time consuming on the part of the teacher and the evaluator.  Why would  taking away the aspect of a continuing contract make for better teachers?  I say it would not.

 

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The Tea Party: Is it a political party or isn’t it?

MoonHowler

From the Daily Press:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jaime Radtke and roughly 30 of her Tea Party supporters stood outside the Capitol on Wednesday to protest Radtke’s exclusion from a debate featuring former Govs. Tim Kaine and George Allen.

Democrat Kaine and Republican Allen were the only two candidates for the Senate seat being vacated by Jim Webb to meet the qualifications laid out by event organizers, the Associated Press and the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association. To get an invite candidates must have averaged at least 15 percent in published polls and raised at least 20 percent of the amount of money raised by their party’s front runner.

In addition to Radtke, this left out Tim Donner, E.W. Jackson and David McCormick who are running for the GOP nomination, and Julien Modica and Courtney Lynch on the Democratic side.

Radtke consistently complained that limiting the debate to the two big-name former governors was a circumventing of the primary process and an attempt by the “mainstream media” to pick the Republican and Democratic nominees.

I am still trying to figure out if the Tea Party is a political party or not.  If not, what are they?  Is it just a descriptor? Right now, it seems like the old Republican Party has a push me/pull me relationship with people espousing TP state of mind.  On the one hand, the R’s seem to want to use them in their mix and on the other hand, they seem to feel that undo influence and pressure is coming from that wing of the party. 

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McDonnell squawks on CNBC

MoonHowler

Governor McDonnell squawked loudly for Virginia and crowed about lower unemployment numbers and Virginia’s growth. VRS compares very favorably to most other pension plans but needs some tweaking to stay solvent, according to McDonnell.

McDonnell needs to be reminded that the VRS is not the state’s personal ATM. It was very solvent for many years, since 1908 to be exact. Funny how the Republicans discover its woes after all these years. Could it be that Mrs. Cantor wants to shift the burden of payment off the state and and the localities? Isn’t that the Republican way? Maybe the state should keep paying and the employee chip in a little more. That would should good faith. I sure don’t want to hear the Republicans chest thumping about how much money they saved the state in a few years.

New Laws go in to effect July 1 in Virginia

MoonHowler

The Richmond Times Dispatch has posted the new laws that will go in effect July 1.

ABC

Drinking and driving: Teens who drink and drive will face harsher penalties, including loss of their license for a year and either a $500 minimum fine or 50 hours of community service. Currently, the punishment is loss of license for six months and a maximum fine of $500.

On Friday, some Virginia restaurants will have the option of going BYOW — bring your own wine.

It’s just one of nearly 900 bills — out of 2,968 proposed — that passed during this year’s winter General Assembly session. Most of the new laws take effect July 1.

The wide array of new laws ranges from an expansion of the availability of protection orders to new measurement standards for selling shelled oysters. Here are some of the highlights.


Booze towns: Residents of towns with a population of more than 1,000 will now be able to vote on whether their county should allow the sale of mixed drinks. Previously, town residents could not vote in such county referendums. The law is meant to address situations where a “dry” town is located in a “wet” county, or vice-versa.

Bring your own wine: A new law will allow restaurants to permit patrons to bring their own wine. The catch? The restaurants will be allowed to charge a “corkage” fee for the privilege.

Underage drinking: Anyone who purchases alcoholic beverages for or otherwise helps someone who they know or have reason to believe is younger than 21 obtain or consume alcohol is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. Current law does not address consumption or “reason to believe” that the person is underage.

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