http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/Daily news about Virginia politics and politicians.enTue, 01 Dec 2009 13:08:16 PSTTypePad http://www.typepad.com/http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/xLKquaRHvk0/partisans-predicting-2010-and-2012-in-washington-this-week.htmlKimball PayneTue, 01 Dec 2009 13:08:16 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875fac93f970cNational political guru and partisan cheerleaders are sitting down in Washington on Thursday to breakdown the lay of the land as lawmakers across the country prepare for the 2010 midterm elections. Hosted by the University of Virginia and the site POLITICO, the event features some important movers and shakers sounding off on panel discussions and speeches from Democratic National Committee Chairman Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Jon Cornyn, a Texas Republican. And of course the event will also feature the predictions of Prof. Larry Sabato the director the UVA's Center for Politics. The discussion is going to focus on the looming 2010 midterm congressional elections, which represent a major hurdle for President Barack Obama and a major goal for...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/12/partisans-predicting-2010-and-2012-in-washington-this-week.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/c2CFL1mK51A/virginia-elections-pulled-in-50-million.htmlKimball PayneTue, 01 Dec 2009 10:12:32 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875f91c64970cWhen lawmakers and local leaders start howling about looming Virginia budget cuts, voters should remember the mounds of money that went into the November election. According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Virginia general election candidates raised upwards of $50 million this year with June primary victims racking up another $14 million in campaign cash. In all we're talking about somewhere in the neighborhood of $65 million raised and spent on the Virginia campaign trail - a truly astonishing figure. Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli would probably agree that the outcome was worth the investment, thanks to the GOP statewide sweep. But it is an astounding amount. In all McDonnell raised a little more than $21 million while his opponent,...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/12/virginia-elections-pulled-in-50-million.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/Y--sf656dyQ/gov-kaine-plans-smoking-ban-events.htmlKimball PayneMon, 30 Nov 2009 12:46:39 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875f350b1970cWith smoking in bars set to be banned when the clock hits midnight, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's office has set up a series of events to commemorate the day Virginia went smoke-free. Kaine will tour a series of bars and restaurants in Charlottesville, Alexandria and Richmond to celebrate the fact that non-smokers can eat and drink without a side order of secondhand smoke. Kaine's office says the governor wants to encourage Virginians to support their local smoke-free eateries. Kaine starts his day at Hamilton's At First and Main in Charlottesville at 11 a.m., then his Chadwick's in Alexandria at 2 p.m. and end his mid-afternoon pub crawl at the Home Team Grill in Richmond at 4 p.m. So far there has been some grumbling from...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/gov-kaine-plans-smoking-ban-events.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/9lv5js0haLA/the-republican-advance-comes-to-williamsburg-this-weekend.htmlKimball PayneMon, 30 Nov 2009 09:37:30 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875f23e69970cVirginia Republicans are going to extend their victory party and bring the fest to Williamsburg this weekend for the Republican advance. For newcomers and neophytes, the GOP advance is the annual gathering where state Republicans get together for workshops and brainstorming sessions with statewide leaders and political insiders. The partisan huddle starts Friday afternoon and runs all day on Saturday and it's called an "advance" because Republican hate the word "retreat." This year the GOP huddle is taking place in Williamsburg with Republicans fresh off a statewide sweep by Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli. U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Richmond, is the keynote speaker at Saturday nights banquet. Saturday's sessions tackle a wide array of issues including "new...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/the-republican-advance-comes-to-williamsburg-this-weekend.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/PlPrCRpwADk/speaker-howell-releases-one-paragraph-ethics-inquiry-into-del-hamilton-.htmlKimball PayneTue, 24 Nov 2009 09:16:21 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875d152a6970cHouse Speaker William J. Howell released today the results of the House Ethics inquiry into Del. Phil Hamilton's effort to land himself a $40,000 a year job at Old Dominion University while sponsoring the budget amendment that created a $500,000-a-year teaching center at the school. The report is essentially a single paragraph letter that states that the investigation is over because Hamilton is no longer a member of the House - so the panel no longer has jurisdiction. Hamilton resigned early last week after losing his re-election bid in early November. Here's a link to the letter sent to Howell from the ethics panel looking into Hamilton.. The letter from the ethics panel is dated Nov. 16, a day after Hamilton resigned his seat. Howell...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/speaker-howell-releases-one-paragraph-ethics-inquiry-into-del-hamilton-.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/3Rh9LkyQR6w/leading-lawmakers-already-talking-about-overtime-in-richmond-in-2010.htmlKimball PayneMon, 23 Nov 2009 12:44:32 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875cc055a970cLawmakers always start taking about overtime in Richmond. Sometimes folks use it as a threat, suggesting that they could drag their feet on purpose to build pressure. Sometimes, state legislators simply need more time to hash through their differences, especially on state spending. But this year the early overtime warning award goes to House Appropriations Chairman Lacey Putney, one of the state's most powerful lawmakers who holds significant sway over state purse strings. Putney is already floating the idea that Virgina lawmakers might not be able to accomplish their work in Richmond on time this year, suggesting that the state legislature might need overtime to build federal health care reform into the state spending plan. Here's the information from Adam Rhew over at NBC 29...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/leading-lawmakers-already-talking-about-overtime-in-richmond-in-2010.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/jd3ocVUThSI/federal-officials-search-capitol-for-evidence-on-hamiltons-odu-job.htmlKimball PayneWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:29:38 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875b4165d970cDel. Phil Hamilton’s resignation from the House of Delegates might have snuffed out a state ethics probe, but it appears that federal investigators continue to dig for information about the once influential lawmaker’s $40,000-a-year job at Old Dominion University. House Clerk Bruce Jamerson told the Washington Post that federal investigators came to the capitol in Richmond and served him with a subpoena searching for Hamilton’s detailed financial filings, travel vouchers and other documents related the Old Dominion educational center. Hamilton, a powerful Newport News Republican who lost his re-election bid to Democrat Robin Abbott, became embroiled in scandal last summer when e-mails showed that in 2007 Hamilton was negotiating a $40,000-a-year salary at the state-supported college even as he was carrying an amendment to secure...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/federal-officials-search-capitol-for-evidence-on-hamiltons-odu-job.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/0hdA6BuJEuE/president-obama-considering-not-running-for-reelection.htmlKimball PayneWed, 18 Nov 2009 12:29:21 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e20120a6b10be1970bIn an interview from China, President Barack Obama talked openly about the idea that he might not run for re-election in 2012. Obama, speaking with CNN on a wide range of topics - including Sarah Palin'snew book, said that he realizes he is already making difficult decisions about the future of the United States, and that could hurt his prospects in 2012. Here's the full quote for context: But when it comes to the 2012 race, Obama didn't discount the possibility he may sit out on a reelection bid. "You know, if - if I feel like I've made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/president-obama-considering-not-running-for-reelection.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/svuYeaxr4RU/michelle-obama-visits-virginia-elementary-school.htmlKimball PayneWed, 18 Nov 2009 10:14:37 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875b2c83a970cFirst Lady Michelle Obamatoured an Alexandria elementary school on Tuesday to meet with faculty and student and present the school with an award for a healthier school environment. The event was designed to promote a more active student body to help cut down on childhood obesity, and the school is getting the award in part for - GET THIS - lengthening recess. Here's the report from Hill Reporter Walter Alarkon, it's written in the choppy succinct style typical of pool reports, but you'll get the idea. And remember FLOTUS is one of the nicknames for Michelle Obama: Update: The visit comes as Rasmussen polling finds the Michelle Obama's approval rating at 62% The First Lady met with faculty members and students at Hollin Meadows Elementary...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/michelle-obama-visits-virginia-elementary-school.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/dailypress/the_shad_plank/~3/gH5lWAMUlo4/webb-and-warner-pen-note-to-fema.htmlKimball PayneTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:19 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451d73669e2012875ad5cbe970cVirginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner are pressing federal officials to release disaster aid in the wake of last week’s powerful nor’easter that rocked Hampton Roads. In the letter, dated Nov. 16, Webb and Warner urge the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to speed up the review the storm damage on the Peninsula and in south Hampton Roads and release money for victims. “These areas experienced significant damage due to the combination of severe rainfall, winds and flooding,” the senators wrote in the brief note to administrator W. Craig Fugate. “The situation has strained our local authorities.” Federal disaster teams began sifting through the wreckage of the storm today, in an effort to gauge the total cost of the damage. Along the...http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/webb-and-warner-pen-note-to-fema.html