http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/ Daily news about Virginia politics and Virginia politicians. en-US Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:39:16 -0500 http://www.typepad.com/ shad_plankhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/8PMCXMpsABA/the-shad-plank-has-moved.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/the-shad-plank-has-moved.html Looking for The Shad Plank political blog? It's moved to a new home, which you can get to by clicking here (www.shadplank.com will get you there soon). Please check out, and bookmark, the new page. And thanks for reading! DailyPress.Com Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:39:16 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/the-shad-plank-has-moved.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/gEllLUp4_H0/us-senate-honors-big-e.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/us-senate-honors-big-e.html The U.S. Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb Thursday honoring the service of the Norfolk-based U.S.S. Enterprise, which was decommissioned last month after 51 years of service. More than 100,000 sailors served on U.S.S. Enterprise, the Navy's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, during its years of service. “I am proud to salute the officers and crew who served on U.S.S. Enterprise since her commissioning more than five decades ago,” Webb said. “As a result of their dedication and sacrifice during peace and war, the 'Big E' answered all bells and sustained the rich legacy forged since the Revolutionary War by the seven namesake ships that preceded her. Bravo Zulu.” “I am proud to help commemorate more than fifty years of... Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:45:42 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/us-senate-honors-big-e.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/JMEUQKNvt5w/mcdonnell-declares-2013-year-of-the-teacher.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/mcdonnell-declares-2013-year-of-the-teacher.html In conjunction with his education reform agenda Gov. Bob McDonnell proclaimed 2013 as the "Year of the Teacher" Thursday. “Virginia’s teachers demonstrate selfless leadership day after day in classrooms across the Commonwealth,” McDonnell said in a press release. “Everyone knows a teacher who's stayed after school to support students; who's buying their own supplies; who's grading homework until 10, 11, or 12 at night then getting up early to put together the next day’s lesson plan. This is amazing dedication. We must do more to recognize and appreciate these professionals. Teachers are charged with the responsibility of passing on traditions, knowledge and character to the next generation. They instill a love for learning, a respect for fellow mankind and a belief that the American dream... Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:33:21 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/mcdonnell-declares-2013-year-of-the-teacher.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/E7rny9SgGns/video-kaine-thanks-supporters-ahead-of-swearing-in.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/video-kaine-thanks-supporters-ahead-of-swearing-in.html Soon to be U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine released the following video thanking supporters just two hours before his swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Thursday: Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:20:27 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2013/01/video-kaine-thanks-supporters-ahead-of-swearing-in.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/c6_IQQ8v_ow/virginia-joins-nation-in-moment-of-silence-for-sandy-hook-victims.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/virginia-joins-nation-in-moment-of-silence-for-sandy-hook-victims.html Flags flew at half mast on state buildings and the bell in the bell tower on the Capitol grounds tolled twenty-six times at 9:30 a.m. Friday as Virginians joined people across the nation in a moment of silence to remember the victims of last week’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Gov. Bob McDonnell – like many in the gathered crowd – was teary-eyed as he reflected on the tragedy that took the lives of 20 young children. "I ask you to gather here this morning to stand in solidarity with the people of Connecticut, particularly the heartbroken town of Newtown," McDonnell said. "What happened last Friday at just about this time was something that was unfathomable I think in most of... Todd Allen Wilson Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:25:41 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/virginia-joins-nation-in-moment-of-silence-for-sandy-hook-victims.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/sCw8SHpb-o4/house-gop-looks-to-expand-school-resource-officer-grant-program.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/house-gop-looks-to-expand-school-resource-officer-grant-program.html In light of last week's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. members of the House of Delegates Republican Caucus said Thursday it would seek to add more money to the state budget during the upcoming General Assembly session to add police officers to elementary school in the commonwealth through the school resource officer grant program. "Today, we are announcing our intent to expand funding for a school resource officer grant program to encourage the creation of school resource officer positions in Virginia elementary schools," said House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford in a press release. "This is a critical step toward making sure all of our schools are as safe as possible." The GOP caucus has not yet proposed a specific... Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:13:27 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/house-gop-looks-to-expand-school-resource-officer-grant-program.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/lL3w2kiehwE/sen-dems-start-anti-arming-school-officials-petition.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/sen-dems-start-anti-arming-school-officials-petition.html In repsonse to Gov. McDonnell's comments on Washington D.C.'s WTOP 93.5 FM Monday that it is time to have a discussion about allowing pu lic school officials to carry guns on campus, the state Senate Democratic Caucus began an online petition Thursday opposing the idea. "Governor Bob McDonnell says we should consider arming educators to defend our schools against gun violence," Senate Democratic Caucus chairman DOn McEachin wrote to supporters in an email. "You and I know that's the wrong answer. Giving teachers weapons and turning schools into armed camps is not the solution." Click here to view the Senate Democrats petition. Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:53:57 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/sen-dems-start-anti-arming-school-officials-petition.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/YwSURbLjU1Q/house-dems-to-push-for-medicaid-expansion-state-run-health-care-exchange.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/house-dems-to-push-for-medicaid-expansion-state-run-health-care-exchange.html Members of the House of Delegates Democratic Caucus said they plan to push for Medicaid expansion and a state-run health care exchange in the upcoming General Assembly session despite Gov. Bob McDonnell's reluctance. House Democratic Caucus chairman Mark Sickles of Fairfax said at a press conference Thursday complying with these two provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act "should be at the top of the agenda" during the upcoming session. Last week McDonnell opted to go with a federal-based rather than a state-based health care exchange saying their were two many unanswered questions for the state to go it alone. The governor has also said he does not want to go with an optional expansion of Medicaid to 138 percent of thepoverty level because he... Todd Allen Wilson Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:41:33 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/house-dems-to-push-for-medicaid-expansion-state-run-health-care-exchange.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/eJyzxcYFyoI/kaine-sees-fiscal-cliff-discussions-moving-his-direction.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/kaine-sees-fiscal-cliff-discussions-moving-his-direction.html U.S. Sen.-elect Tim Kaine saw the fiscal cliff negotiations between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, move his way Tuesday as Obama put forward his first serious compromise position. Obama campaigned on and has long insisted that the President George W. Bush-era tax cuts expire on yearly incomes over $250,000. It was widely reported Tuesday that the resident has softened his position and put forward a plan that would allow the tax cuts to expire for incomes over $400,000. Kaine, who campaigned on letting the cuts expire for annual incomes over $500,000, saw that as a victory for compromise. "For more than a year I have called on Congress to find a balanced approach of cuts and revenues to help get our... Todd Allen Wilson Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:46:10 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/kaine-sees-fiscal-cliff-discussions-moving-his-direction.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/zyKIHMWE2L4/audio-mcdonnell-calls-for-discussions-on-arming-school-officials.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/audio-mcdonnell-calls-for-discussions-on-arming-school-officials.html On Tuesday Gov. Bob McDonnell said there should be discussions on arming school officials in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. during his weekly chat on Washington, D.C.'s WTOP 93.5 FM's weekly "Ask the Governor" radio show. To hear the WTOP audio click here. To read the whole story visit www.dailypress.com. Todd Allen Wilson Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:45:36 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2012/12/audio-mcdonnell-calls-for-discussions-on-arming-school-officials.html