House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement: “I cannot fathom the reasoning behind the Governor’s announcement today. Families have sought this information — information they could use to protect their loved ones from a lethal threat — for months. Now, after the body count in nursing homes reaches 1,000, the Governor has reversed course. “If it is legal … Read More
House GOP Leader Gilbert: Governor Northam Should Follow the Data, Allow Phase 3 to Begin Friday
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement: “When Governor Northam laid out the criteria for reopening Virginia’s economy, he said the process would be led by science, data, and testing. Yet after two additional weeks of falling case numbers and a continual drop in the percentage positive of tests, Governor Northam called an audible yesterday and said Phase … Read More
House GOP Leader Gilbert Statement On Governor’s ‘Defund the Police’ Comments
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement: “Respectfully, Governor, the effort to “defund the police” is about more than ‘semantics.’ It’s a clear attempt to punish all law enforcement officers for the actions of a few, rather than providing them with the resources they need to keep our communities safe — a task made more difficult by your … Read More
House GOP Leader Gilbert: Release of Martin Before OSIG Investigation Completion Shows Northam Administration is No Friend to Law Enforcement
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement: “In 1979, Vincent Martin executed Richmond Police Patrolman Michael P. Connors. When Martin was initially granted parole several weeks ago, law enforcement organizations roundly condemned this decision. The process leading to his release was so flawed, and potentially illegal, that it sparked an investigation by the state Office of Inspector General. … Read More
House GOP Leader Gilbert: Governor Northam Must Condemn Calls to ‘Defund the Police’
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement: “As national, state, and local Democrats across the country have begun to acquiesce to calls to ‘defund the police,’ it is crucial that Governor Northam and Virginia Democrats condemn this destructive position. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers are men and women of good character who put their lives on … Read More
Statement of General Assembly Republican Leaders on Governor Northam’s Response to Protests and Riots
House Republican Leader C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and Senate Republican Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City) today issued the following statement: “Today, Governor Northam faced the people of Virginia for the first time since four days of protests, looting, and vandalism struck our cities. Hundreds of people were arrested after rioters did untold amounts of damage to homes, businesses, … Read More
House Republican Leadership Statement on Governor Northam’s Mask Edict
Governor Northam announced today that Virginians over the age of 10 will be required to wear a face covering in order to enter a myriad of establishments. This announcement comes over 10 weeks since Governor Northam declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19. House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, House Republican Caucus Chair Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, and House Republican … Read More
Governor Northam Listens to Local Governments Regarding Beaches — Sort Of
House Republican Leader Todd Gilbert issued the following statement regarding Governor Northam’s decision to allow Virginia Beach to open on Friday: “We’re finally seeing movement in the right direction, but there is still a disappointing lack of trust in people and local governments to be able to use what we know about this virus to be able to open as … Read More
House Republican Leader Statement on Atlantic COVID-19 Testing Story
“Today’s story in the Atlantic amplifies what the Richmond Times Dispatch had already reported: Doctor Northam and his team are committing malpractice with Virginia’s testing program. The Governor recently stated that ‘Virginia is in a good place.’ The Atlantic’s report contradicts that claim and undermines any faith in what’s been communicated to Virginians about testing in the Commonwealth. “In times … Read More
General Assembly Republicans Call for Moratorium on Release of Violent Felons
House Republican Leader C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and Senate Republican Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City), and the immediate past chairmen of the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees, Delegate Robert B. “Rob” Bell (R-Albemarle) and Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R-Rockingham), today issued the following statement calling on Governor Ralph S. Northam (D) to institute a moratorium on … Read More