Yes, Virginia, the State Government Might Shut Down…and it’s Bad News EitherWay
5/20/2026 — General Assembly leaders are threatening to bring a government shutdown to the Commonwealth, a scenario much more reminiscent of Capitol Hill than Capitol Square. Despite unified Democrat control of state government, the General Assembly adjourned in March without sending a budget to Governor Spanberger’s desk. Virginia Scope’s Bradon Jarvis reported that Senators are considering returning to Richmond […]
After the Vote, What’s Next for Virginia’s New Rigged Maps?
4/30/2026 — Between Friday March 6th and Tuesday April 21st, a narrow majority of Virginia voters went to the polls (or to their mailboxes) and voted in favor of the disenfranchisement of rural Virginia, as part of a national effort to make New York Representative Hakeem Jefferies the Speaker of the House next year. Of course, without […]
The Legislature Strikes Back: It’s Not Good for Virginia
4/27/2026 — One of the most striking themes from last Wednesday’s reconvened session was the widespread rejection of Governor Spanberger‘s recommendations. Legislative Information Services shows that of 180 bills amended, the legislature adopted 137, placing those bills straight into law without returning them to her desk. For the first time in decades, the General Assembly […]
Governor Spanberger Must Veto or Admit She’s Not in Charge
This session, the General Assembly sent over 1,000 bills to Governor Spanberger for her signature. She signed 852 into law, vetoed 8 and proposed amendments to 180. Even though some of her amendments were little more than window dressing (see article on Paid Family and Medical Leave) and a few were substantive, the General Assembly […]
Spanberger Proposes Radical Rewrite on Energy Regulation, Challenging Leaders of Her Own Party and Dominion
Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) has proposed that the General Assembly return to the misguided practice of dictating by law a utility profit margin, overturning a bipartisan reform approved just three years ago. It is no different than her effort to end the bipartisan reforms against political gerrymandering and again put politicians in charge of that. A profit cap on Dominion Energy Virginia is one of […]
Governor’s Paid Leave “Fix” Leaves the Biggest Problems Untouched
Earlier this year, I warned that Virginia’s proposed Paid Family and Medical Leave Act would create one of the most expansive and expensive paid leave programs in the country. I had hoped the Governor’s new amendments issued just before midnight last night would fix those concerns. They don’t. The legislation would still establish a statewide insurance system funded by mandatory payroll contributions from workers […]
Is Union “Dues Skim” Coming to Virginia?
There are many reasons why Governor Abigail Spanberger should veto the collective bargaining bill headed to her desk, a bill requiring local and state governments to bargain with union bosses even if less than a majority of public employees want the union or the bargaining. There is the fact that it will force major spending […]