Recent Mentions on Blogs

bearingdrift.com: Transportation, trust and taxes

May 8, 2008
Lots of focus on this in today?s Virginian-Pilot. Kerry Dougherty leads with a Bearing Drift hat-tip, citizens at a General Assembly public hearing give many ideas, and General Assembly Democrats finally assert themselves as the preeminent tax increasers in Virginia. ?Turns out that buried deep in that CNU study are few startling nuggets. So far, it?s only attracted the attention of bloggers at Bearing Drift.? ?Math isn?t my strong suit, but it seems as if 78 percent of us believe politician...

bearingdrift.com: Senate Dems setting new standards for ethics

May 2, 2008
Boy, the new VA Senate majority is setting new standards for ethics. Low ones. Sen. Yvonne Miller is having fun deadlocking judicial appointments in cities where she doesn?t live, blocking the unanimous choice of the elected officials of both parties who actually live there. Sen. Creigh Deeds handed a judgeship to a $2500 donor. Now, Sen. Louise Lucas is wrapped up in the money tree in Portsmouth. Sen. Lucas has a $65 million hotel project pending before Portsmouth City Council. Councilman Ch...

bearingdrift.com: McDonnell: merit-based judicial selection is the best course

April 28, 2008
It should come as no surprise to any of us who have followed politics for a number of years that Attorney General Bob McDonnell from the time he was a delegate has been a strong proponent of merit-based judicial selection. Back in 2000, it was McDonnell who proposed a 27-member panel that would conduct evaluations of judges, ensuring accountability and objectivity in the re-appointment and selection process. In 2004, McDonnell strongly advocated again for the evaluation process when Del. Bria...

bearingdrift.com: Bolling reacts to judicial appointment ethics questions

April 28, 2008
After learning this weekend that Sen. Yvonne Miller has hijacked the judicial appointment process in Norfolk and Virginia Beach and Sen. Creigh Deeds accepted campaign money from an appointee?s law firm (where she is one of two partners) before he strongly advocated for her selection, we asked Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the presiding officer of the Senate, his thoughts on how these Senators were behaving. Bolling wrote Bearing Drift: ?Unfortunately, I don?t really think this situation is that un...

bearingdrift.com:

April 28, 2008
There are over 500,000 people in the commonwealth that live in the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach ? all of them are being held hostage by the wishes of one Democratic Senator who wants to get her way on judges?Sen. Yvonne Miller. At the beginning of this session, with the Democrats now in the majority following the 2007 election, the Virginia Beach delegation approached Sen. Dick Saslaw (D), majority leader, to see what the process would be for selecting judges to fill judicial vacancies...

Recent Mentions in the Media

The Virginian-Pilot: Legislators reach some consensus on roads plan

May 7, 2008
?We have to tell ourselves the truth,? said Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk. ?You cannot fix transportation without a huge infusion of funds.

Alva Review Courier: Sterling Recalls DC White House Visit to See Pope

May 7, 2008
By Yvonne Miller Never did Julie Sterling, a lifelong Catholic, dream that she?d get to stand on the White House lawn among well-known Washington ...

Daily Press: Search dailypress.com Web enhanced by

May 3, 2008
Senate Transportation Chairwoman Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk, said lawmakers must tackle the maintenance problem before going local. "No matter how much money ...

Land Line Magazine: Virginia port drivers to form coalition

April 28, 2008
Also attending the meeting were Jim Stewart of the Teamsters Union?s port division, and Yvonne Miller, Virginia State senator and chair of the state?s ...

The Virginian-Pilot: Norfolk big loser on judge showdown

April 24, 2008
Hampton Roads bears the brunt of this meltdown in large part because of a standoff between Republicans and Sen. Yvonne Miller. The Norfolk Democrat has been ...

• SB11
  Introduced: December 05, 2007
  Status: Stricken at request of Patron in Transportation (15-Y 0-N)
  
  : Rail Enhancement Fund; allows Director to waive certain requirements regarding project funding.
• SB27
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Stricken at request of Patron in Rehabilitation and Social Services (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); time limit on receipt thereof.
• SB28
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety
  
  : Child-friendly visiting rooms; state correctional facilities may provide.
• SB43
  Introduced: December 20, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0473)
  
  : Environmental impact reports; requires county, city, or town to submit report on highway projects.
• SB44
  Introduced: December 20, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0455)
  
  : At-risk students; local school boards may establish after school programs.
• SB45
  Introduced: December 20, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0337)
  
  : Charter; City of Norfolk.
• SB182
  Introduced: January 07, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0093)
  
  : Insurance company investments; preferred stocks.
• SB251
  Introduced: January 08, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0564)
  
  : Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); waiver of ineligibility period.
• SB465
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529)
  
  : Port Authority; police officer to provide security beyond locality where property is located.
• SB466
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0621)
  
  : Port Authority; encourages employees thereof to save for retirement.
• SB467
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0622)
  
  : Port Authority; establish trust to help offset its postemployment benefits liability.
• SB512
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: Incorporated by Finance (SB116-McDougle) (16-Y 0-N)
  
  : DMV fees; surcharge of issuance of any driver's license other than commercial driver.
• SB659
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: Stricken at request of Patron in General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Gang-related activities; Office of Commonwealth Preparedness to identify links between terrorism.
• SB660
  Introduced: January 09, 2008
  Status: Stricken from Senate calendar (40-Y 0-N)
  
  : Hampton Roads Transportation Authority; power to enter into design-build contracts.
• SJ7
  Introduced: December 05, 2007
  Status: Continued to 2009 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)
  
  : Constitutional amendment; restoration of civil rights for certain felons (first reference).
• SJ11
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ11ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Rosa Bernice Cannon Boush.
• SJ12
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ12ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Marilyn L. Jones.
• SJ13
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ13ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Sara Hamburg Tonelson.
• SJ14
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ14ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of William H. Wright.
• SJ15
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ15ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Geraldine Evans Bond.
• SJ16
  Introduced: December 17, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ16ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of the Reverend Dr. Willie R. Ponds, Sr.
• SJ20
  Introduced: December 28, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ20ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Charles E. Flowers.
• SJ21
  Introduced: December 28, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ21ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Dr. Lorenzo Pharr Archer.
• SJ22
  Introduced: December 28, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ22ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Willie Etta Fayton.
• SJ23
  Introduced: December 28, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ23ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Herbert M. Collins, Sr.
• SJ25
  Introduced: January 02, 2008
  Status: Failed to pass in Senate
  
  : 65 percent Solution; General Assembly recognize problems with and implications thereof.

• SB47
  Introduced: December 28, 2005
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)
  
  : Kinship Care Program; created.
• SB585
  Introduced: January 11, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)
  
  : Kinship care; allows caregivers access to all foster care services.
• SB618
  Introduced: January 13, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Child-friendly visiting rooms; state and local correctional facilities required to provide.
• SB742
  Introduced: October 30, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0540)
  
  : Overweight permits; exempts fire & emergency apparatus from weight limits on bridges & culverts.
• SB744
  Introduced: November 15, 2006
  Status: Assigned Education sub: Public Education
  
  : Childhood obesity; Board of Education to establish standards to prevent and reduce thereof.
• SB747
  Introduced: November 21, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0143)
  
  : Workers' compensation; occupational disease presumption for police officers of Norfolk Airport Auth.
• SB754
  Introduced: December 07, 2006
  Status: Left in Militia, Police and Public Safety
  
  : Child-friendly visiting rooms; state correctional facilities required to provide.
• SB773
  Introduced: December 18, 2006
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
  
  : Child-friendly visiting rooms; state and local correctional facilities required to provide.
• SB863
  Introduced: January 08, 2007
  Status: Rereferred to Finance
  
  : At-risk students; after school programs.
• SB864
  Introduced: January 08, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
  
  : Presidential elections; agreement among states to elect by National Popular Vote.
• SB865
  Introduced: January 08, 2007
  Status: Tabled in Health, Welfare and Institutions
  
  : Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); time limit on receipt thereof.
• SB1005
  Introduced: January 09, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0239)
  
  : State Corporation Commission; fees charged by clerk for copies of Uniform Commercial Code.
• SB1073
  Introduced: January 09, 2007
  Status: Impact statement from DPB (SB1073)
  
  : Occupational safety and health; penalty for violations.
• SB1107
  Introduced: January 09, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Transportation
  
  : License plates, special; issuance to members of Fraternal Order of Police.
• SB1113
  Introduced: January 09, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0157)
  
  : Surplus lines insurance; alien insurer must maintain certain amount in irrevocable trust fund.
• SB1374
  Introduced: January 17, 2007
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)
  
  : Health and Human Resources, Secretary of; coordinate disease prevention activities of agencies.
• SJ15
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Constitutional amendment; restoration of civil rights for certain felons (first reference).
• SJ307
  Introduced: August 28, 2006
  Status: Left in Privileges and Elections
  
  : Constitutional amendment; restoration of civil rights for certain felons (first reference).
• SJ308
  Introduced: September 25, 2006
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : Health insurance; joint subcommittee to study costs for state and local early retirees.
• SJ309
  Introduced: October 24, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ309ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Phyllis S. Taylor.
• SJ310
  Introduced: October 30, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ310ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Robert H. Armstrong.
• SJ311
  Introduced: October 30, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ311ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Bishop Lewis E. Hines.
• SJ312
  Introduced: November 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ312ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Leonia Jackson Russell.
• SJ313
  Introduced: November 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ313ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Janett Flood Williams.
• SJ314
  Introduced: November 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ314ER)
  
  : Commending Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.
• SJ315
  Introduced: November 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ315ER)
  
  : Commending Hortense Williams.
• SJ316
  Introduced: November 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ316ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Levi Edgar Willis III.
• SJ318
  Introduced: November 21, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ318ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Queenie Jane Greene Barton.
• SJ325
  Introduced: December 18, 2006
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : Electoral College votes; joint subcommittee to study method of allocating.
• SJ348
  Introduced: January 08, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : K-12 education, public; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study cost thereof.
• SJ349
  Introduced: January 08, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : 65 percent Solution; General Assembly to recognize problems with and implications thereof.
• SJ383
  Introduced: January 09, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : '65 Percent Solution'; General Assembly to recognize problems with and implications thereof.
• SJ419
  Introduced: January 15, 2007
  Status: Referred to Committee on Rules
  
  : Gang prevention activities; joint subcommittee to study availability and efficacy thereof.
• SJ472
  Introduced: January 31, 2007
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ472ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of the Honorable Joseph T. Fitzpatrick.

• SB31
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Stricken at request of Patron in Transportation
  
  : Ignition interlock system; exemption for persons with medical condition.
• SB32
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Left in Appropriations
  
  : Social services; time limit on receipt of TANF.
• SB47
  Introduced: December 28, 2005
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)
  
  : Kinship Care Program; created.
• SB48
  Introduced: December 28, 2005
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)
  
  : Kinship foster care; social services to seek thereof.
• SB49
  Introduced: January 03, 2006
  Status: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (13-Y 0-N)
  
  : Intestate succession; increases the amount of the surviving spouse's share.
• SB585
  Introduced: January 11, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 0-N)
  
  : Kinship care; allows caregivers access to all foster care services.
• SB586
  Introduced: January 11, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0329)
  
  : Insurers; change of domicile.
• SB587
  Introduced: January 11, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0505)
  
  : Business entities; renewal application of reservation of name.
• SB618
  Introduced: January 13, 2006
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Rehabilitation and Social Services (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Child-friendly visiting rooms; state and local correctional facilities required to provide.
• SB661
  Introduced: January 18, 2006
  Status: Stricken at request of Patron in Finance (15-Y 0-N)
  
  : Income tax, corporate; employer-provided commuting benefits tax credit.
• SB662
  Introduced: January 18, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0921)
  
  : Minority Business Enterprise, Department of; certification of small, woman- or minority-owned.
• SB663
  Introduced: January 18, 2006
  Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0508)
  
  : Transportation needs of populations with limited mobility; specific mobility goals to be addressed.
• SJ15
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Continued to 2007 in Privileges and Elections (14-Y 0-N)
  
  : Constitutional amendment; restoration of civil rights for certain felons (first reference).
• SJ16
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ16ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Drucilla T. Carter.
• SJ17
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ17ER)
  
  : Commending Saran Bell-Day.
• SJ18
  Introduced: December 22, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ18ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Richard Arnold Wilson.
• SJ19
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ19ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Dr. B. J. Tucker.
• SJ20
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ20ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Georgia B. Rimple.
• SJ21
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ21ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Dorothy J. Price.
• SJ22
  Introduced: December 22, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ22ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of George Calvin Duggins.
• SJ23
  Introduced: December 20, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ23ER)
  
  : Commending participants of the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
• SJ24
  Introduced: December 21, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ24ER)
  
  : Commending Dr. Marie V. McDemmond.
• SJ33
  Introduced: December 28, 2005
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ33ER)
  
  : Commending the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, Inc.
• SJ34
  Introduced: December 30, 2005
  Status: Left in Rules
  
  : Children; need to address issues relating to care thereof.
• SJ5035
  Introduced: June 06, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5035ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Officer Seneca B. Darden.
• SJ5038
  Introduced: June 19, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5038ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Clarence V. Cuffee.
• SJ5050
  Introduced: August 28, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5050ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Master Chief Carl Maxie Brashear.
• SJ5058
  Introduced: September 27, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5058ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Lambuth Clarke.
• SJ5059
  Introduced: September 27, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5059ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Mary Magdalene Powell.
• SJ5060
  Introduced: September 27, 2006
  Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ5060ER)
  
  : Celebrating the life of Clyde McDaniel.