On Sunday, the Richmond Times Dispatch published a column by Speaker Kirk Cox where he discussed the need for affordable education that leads to a good-paying job in a growing economy. The full column is below. Kirk Cox column: Build a bridge from schools to jobs I am proposing a new partnership for Virginia’s future: A partnership with business, education, and … Read More
Delegate Margaret Ransone introduces bill to guarantee nonpartisan administration of elections; address concerns found in recent JLARC report
Delegate Margaret Ransone on Tuesday filed legislation that reforms the State Board of Elections to guarantee the nonpartisan administration of elections in the Commonwealth. Addressing concerns of political bias found in a recent JLARC report, House Bill 1620 increases from three to six the number of members on the Board, requiring three to be from the party that won the most recent … Read More
ICYMI: Governor Northam flip-flops on redistricting being a “Legislative process”
Just last week during an appearance on WTOP’s “Ask The Governor” segment, Governor Northam said redistricting was a “legislative process.” However, when it appeared Republicans may garner bipartisan support for a fair and constitutional map, Governor Northam announced he no longer believes redistricting should be left up to the legislature, rather he wants federal judges appointed by President Obama to … Read More
House leaders respond after Northam shuts door on bipartisan collaboration in pursuit of Democratic majority
Less than six hours after Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox issued a call to reconvene the House of Delegates to continue to work toward a bipartisan redistricting proposal, Governor Ralph Northam shut the door on bipartisan collaboration and said he would veto House Bill 7003, no matter what it looks like. The governor’s public statement stands in contrast … Read More
House of Delegates to reconvene Special Session on October 21st
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) announced on Tuesday plans to reconvene the House on Sunday, October 21st at 5 p.m. to take up House Bill 7003. Cox says he expects the House of Delegates to also convene again on Monday morning. “I am reconvening the House of Delegates on October 21st to fulfill our constitutional … Read More
ICYMI: House Appropriations Committee Cites Cox’s 2015 Higher Education Affordability Legislation as Reason for Lower Student Fees
A presentation on Monday to members of the House Appropriations Committee credited Speaker Kirk Cox’s 2015 legislation capping student athletic fees with slowing the growth of athletic fees at all public higher education institutions. Tony Maggio, a fiscal analyst with the House Appropriations Committee, offered a table (below) to show student fee growth in the context of HB1897. During … Read More
Speaker Cox and House Republicans release politically neutral, race-blind remedial redistricting map
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox announced on Tuesday that Delegate Rob Bell has filed a politically-neutral, race-blind remedial redistricting map as House Bill 7002. The map, drawn without the use of any racial data, remedies the constitutional deficiencies, both general and specific, identified by the Eastern District of Virginia by altering 30 House districts, including the 11 … Read More
Only one-third of Virginians support Governor Northam’s Tax Plan
A poll released Wednesday by POOLHOUSE and Cygnal shows that only one-third of Virginians support Governor Northam’s new tax plan, which will lead to higher taxes for middle-class families. The poll found Virginians overwhelmingly support the Republican plan to protect middle-class families from a tax hike by allowing them to continue to itemize their deductions. From the poll: “60%, … Read More
Speaker Cox files response to Attorney General Herring’s motion, announces P&E meeting for September 27
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox, in his capacity as Intervenor-Defendant in Bethune Hill v. Virginia, filed with the Eastern District of Virginia Wednesday a response to Attorney General Herring’s motion from Monday to expedite the remedial phase of ongoing redistricting litigation. The filing outlines a series of detailed, specific and to-date private steps that have been taken … Read More
ICYMI: 2018 legislation from House Republicans would have reformed elections oversight
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission staff presented a report on Monday on the operations and performance of Virginia’s Department of Elections. The devastating report confirmed political bias and aimless leadership under the McAuliffe administration and highlighted a disproportionate number of political appointees at the agency. Highlights from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A legislative review of Virginia’s Department of … Read More