Virginia Viewpoint – May 12, 2022 – May Days

Legislative update:

Special Session….. continues. There are some reports that we are near a deal on the state budget so our long wait may finally be over. Reminding legislators of his priorities, this week the Governor has called for legislators to act on the proposed 90-day gas tax holiday. Democrats are still proposing a one-time $50 payment to all car owners as a better option.

We expect House Democrats to vote on a new leadership team when they are back in town to vote on a budget. Del. Marcus Simon (Fairfax) and Del. Rip Sullivan (Arlington) are considering putting their names in the hat for Minority Leader. Former Speaker Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (Fairfax) and former Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (Alexandria) have not ruled out running for positions.

Executive actions:

Governor Youngkin has revised the state’s telework plan and is requiring state workers to come back to the office by July 5, if not sooner. Current worker telework arrangements must be reviewed and employees can apply for options under the new policy. News Release.

Election update:

Not only has Del. Danica Roem (Prince William) announced a run for the new 30^th Senate district, she has recently published her memoir titled Burn the Page. This seat currently is an open seat with only one Republican running.

Virginia Congressional mid-term elections look to be exciting this Fall. One firehouse primary on May 21 will decide a Republican candidate for the 10^th district while other incumbents are facing primary challenges in conventions scheduled for June 21:

• 2^nd Congressional district – 4 candidates vying to be the Republican challenger to Democrat incumbent Elaine Luria, including state Senator Jen Kiggans (VA Beach);
• The 5^th Congressional district has Incumbent Bob Goode is facing a primary challenge as well as a Democrat opponent;
• Early primary voting has begun in the 6^th Congressional district. Incumbent Ben Cline is up against Merritt Hale. The 6^th encompasses most of the Shenandoah Valley;
• The 7^th Congressional district – a 7 person lineup of Republican challengers to oppose Democrat incumbent Abigail Spanberger including state Senator Bryce Reeves;
• 8^th District – 5 Republican challengers are vying for a chance to run against Democrat incumbent Don Beyer, Jr. (who also faces an intra-party challenge);
• In the new 11^th District (most of Fairfax County), Republican Jim Myles won the primary to run against Democrat incumbent Gerry Connolly;
• 11 Republicans in the 10^th Congressional district will run in a firehouse primary on May 21 to nominate a candidate against incumbent Jennifer Wexton (D). This district now includes Fauquier County.

Newsclips:

Youngkin plans to end most remote work for state employees

By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Gov. Glenn Younkin is ending remote work for state employees, bringing workers almost entirely back to the office by July 5. The administration formally announced the policy in a news release on Thursday evening, unveiling a new state telework policy updated “for the first time in more than a decade,” according to a statement from the governor. The release did not include a copy of the new policy, and it’s unclear how it’s been changed from earlier versions.

Youngkin shuts down telework policies, calls for in-person return by July 5

By LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall – 3 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is ending the liberal telework policies that have been in place for employees since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, billing the move as a way to make the state government more innovative and customer-friendly. All employees will be expected to return to in-person work full-time by July 5, unless they’ve been granted an exception for health or other reasons.

Del. Simon Mulls Richmond Leadership Slot

By NICHOLAS F. BENTON, Falls Church News-Press

Marcus Simon, Falls Church’s representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, may become the new minority leader of his fellow Democrats there when the matter comes to a vote of his colleagues later this month. Simon, 51, who was first elected in 2014 as the state delegate from the 53rd district that covers the City of Falls Church, is one of the only names being put forward to replace Del. Eileen Filler-Corn as his party’s leader in the House.

Youngkin, Hogan ask Justice Dept. to halt protests at justices’ homes

By LAURA VOZZELLA , ERIN COX AND DAN MORSE, Washington Post (Metered Paywall – 3 articles a month)

The Republican governors of Virginia and Maryland, where the homes of Supreme Court justices have become the targets of protests, are demanding that Attorney General Merrick Garland enforce a federal law that forbids demonstrations intended to sway judges on pending cases. Demonstrators have gathered over the past week at the homes of several conservative justices, spurred by the leak of a draft opinion suggesting that the high court is preparing to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision guaranteeing access to abortion nationwide.

Sen. Joe Morrissey lashes out at his radio producer when pushed on abortion position

By WHITTNEY EVANS, WCVE-FM

Last week on Democratic Sen. Joe Morrissey’s talk radio show, The Fighting Joe Morrissey Show, Morrissey sparred with a new producer on the program who pushed him to take a position on abortion. . . . “So in a roundabout way of saying, you’re for overturning Roe v. Wade?” the producer asks. The question, suggesting Morrissey didn’t clearly state his position on the issue, caused Morrissey to get agitated. “Don’t ever tell me what a roundabout way I’m doing. Do you understand that?” Morrissey shouts before going to commercial break. Once off the air, a now-deleted Facebook live video shows the heated verbal altercation continue inside the studio. At one point, a woman in the studio tries to restrain Morrissey.

Virginia early voting, GOP conventions: What you need to know

By MEAGAN FLYNN, Washington Post (Metered Paywall – 3 articles a month)

Early voting is underway in Virginia ahead of the June 21 primaries in congressional races, while Republicans in several districts get ready to select their nominees later this month. Considering that redistricting shuffled voters around in a newly drawn congressional map this year — and that the parties are using different mechanisms to select their nominees — it isn’t the simplest election season for voters. But in a midterm election year where Virginia Republicans are trying to flip several districts — contests that could have national implications as the GOP seeks to take control of Congress — the stakes are high in this year’s primaries.

Dominion asks for $9 increase to customer bills

By PATRICK WILSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall – 7 articles a month)

Dominion Energy on Thursday asked for permission to raise Virginia residential customer bills by about $9 a month to account for rising fuel prices, saying the costs could be even higher if the State Corporation Commission doesn’t approve the plan. The request is a significant increase in a state that already has high electric bills, according to federal data. Virginia’s largest electric utility cited dramatic increases in fuel prices stemming from the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine as reasons it needs to charge more to cover what’s known as the “fuel factor” component of its electric rates

Kaine, Warner announce $393K in federal funding for Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

By STAFF REPORT, Amherst New Era Progress

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., recently announced $393,193 in federal funding for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to accelerate the region’s economic recovery after the pandemic. Specifically, the funding will engage community leaders in all 12 Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway counties and associated independent cities to establish a strategic plan to enhance tourism, outdoor recreation, and economic development

Boeing will move its headquarters to DC area from Chicago

By DAVID KOENIG AND SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press

Boeing Co. said Thursday it will move its headquarters from Chicago to the Washington, D.C., area, where company executives would be closer to key federal government officials. The company said it will use its campus in Arlington, Virginia, as the new headquarters, and it plans to develop a research and technology hub in the area. . . . The move marks a win for Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who campaigned last year on a promise to bring new businesses and jobs to the state.

Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears: Education, opportunity spur better business

By MATT WELCH, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall – 5 articles a month)

Education and opportunity are important factors in building better business in Virginia. That was the message Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears shared while speaking Tuesday to business leaders with the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber at Shenandoah University. Earle-Sears, a Stephenson resident, said business initially brought her family to Frederick County as her husband took a job in the region while working for the Virginia Inland Port.

Share

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin