Politics

An amendment to Virginia’s constitution that would redefine eminent domain and give extra protection to property owners has passed in the state Senate and House of Delegates, and, if the both houses approve each other’s identical bills, the measure will be placed before voters this November.

Consistency isn’t seen as a virtue by members of the Progressive Caucus of the General Assembly, at least when it comes to the performance of the legislature during the first month of the 2012 session.

Just as when Bill Bolling began his first term as a state senator in 1996, the Senate now is split 20-20 between Democrats and Republicans.

Efforts by local governments across Virginia to save a few bucks through the elimination of legal-advertising requirements have died in Richmond.

County Manager Barbara Donnellan has proposed a 3-percent rise in the minimum hourly rate paid under the county government’s “living wage” ordinance.

Ron Bookbinder and James Fisher knew they weren’t going to get what they had come seeking, but they came anyway.

Local residents are likely to have at least one more opportunity to shape the state government’s thinking on the future of Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway and surrounding roadways.

Is Arlington’s attempt to paint itself as a world-class community being tarnished by roads that might make some Third World countries blush?

They weren’t exactly beating down the doors to get in, but absentee voting began Feb. 10 for the County Board special election, slated for March 27.

The county government’s desire to be what it considers socially responsible is coming into conflict with economic reality.

Absentee voting begins today for the March 27 County Board special election.

General Assembly legislation that would have allowed local governments to prohibit smoking in public parks died an quick death once taken up in the House of Delegates.

Legislation to allow some undocumented students access to in-state tuition rates at Virginia’s public colleges and universities has gone down to defeat in the House of Delegates. But so, too, did legislation that would have prevented undocumented students from attending public institutions of higher education at all.

County Board members on Saturday will for the second time in recent months attempt to referee a dispute between a developer and owners of nearby homes in Leeway Overlee, with the outcome potentially setting a precedent for deciding how construction on “pipestem lots” will be handled in the future.

Legislation introduced in the House of Delegates to permit no-excuses absentee voting met the same fate as similar legislation in the state Senate.

The Arlington County government on Feb. 7 refinanced $106 million in existing debt to cash in on lower interest rates.

News and views across the political scene in Arlington.

Arlington Young Democrats will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) conference center, 4301 Wilson Blvd.

State Sen. Barbara Favola apparently had second thoughts about her proposal requesting a study that might have led to Virginia’s community colleges granting baccalaureate degrees.

Republican Patrick Murray is moving forward on his second quest to unseat U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th).

County Board members on Feb. 11 are expected to formalize the transfer of the government’s cultural-affairs staff and budget from the Department of Parks and Recreation to Arlington Economic Development (AED).

A House of Delegates subcommittee has killed a proposal from Del. Alfonso Lopez that would have required Virginia governments, including those of local governments and public colleges and universities, to adhere to green-building standards on construction of new buildings of more than 7,500 square feet.

It was introduced at the behest of Alexandria officials, but legislation patroned by Del. David Englin could – if approved – wind up helping Arlington and Fairfax County pay for the proposed Columbia Pike streetcar system.

Who says political odd couples can’t achieve success in Richmond?