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Annotations & Elucidations 

In Transition

Not missing a beat, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell has gone into transition mode and all seems hunky-dory — Governor Tim Kaine has pledged to cue him in on the budget and give him “some breathing room” on the needed cuts so his successor won’t have to make many crucial decisions so soon. It’s a quirk in Virginia’s budget cycle that the outgoing governor submits the new two-year budget. The new guv has to deal with it. Changing that, and perhaps moving the legislative session to start in February to give the new guy some “breathing room” might be  good places to start for the reform minded in the General Assembly and the new administration.

So, as you can guess, it’s mostly transition news today, but we also have comment from McDonnell’s campaign chairman, Ed Gillespie, in the Washington Post, wherein he relates lessons learned. Meanwhile, the AP offers analysis on who did not vote and why not. In National News, homosexual groups are steamed at . . . Barack Obama . . . for its huge setback and humbling loss in liberal Maine’s marriage amendment referendum. (What’s the record now? 0-32? The homosexual lobby was losing long before Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator.) The Post and FoxNews.com have that fun little spat.

News:

McDonnell team rose to challenge in darkest hour (Washington Post)

Va. Republicans pledge to steer toward center (Washington Post)

McDonnell announces transition committee (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Capitol Square in transition (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

McDonnell plans transition, says Obama called him (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Governor-elect McDonnell: Putting his plan in motion (Roanoke Times)

New Va. governor begins transition (Washington Times)

Kaine reflects on losses, plans to stay at DNC (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

GOP gains at least five Virginia House seats (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Valentine concedes to Garrett; low turnout, LU voters helped deliver election (Lynchburg News & Advance)

Hamilton’s defeat a major blow to Peninsula’s influence (The Daily Press)

Palin bringing book tour to Roanoke (Roanoke Times)

National News:

Gay groups say loss won’t alter strategy (Washington Post)

Gay Leaders Blame TV Ads, Obama for Loss in Maine (FoxNews.com)

Analysis:

Young voters sat out contests (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Commentary:

Lessons from Virginia for the GOP (Ed Gillespie/Washington Post)

Thursday, we let you know about three important proposed constitutional amendments that passed the House and now are on the way to the Senate. You never know about the pace of the General Assembly, especially right after crossover, so guess what? All three of those CAs incredibly important reforms are on the docket tomorrow, at 4:00 p.m. in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. 

Please contact members of the committee and voice your support for these constitutional amendments (see committee here), as soon as possible, up to early afternoon tomorrow. Remember, if these proposed amendments fail, it may be another two years before we can even get the process going again.

All three of these proposed amendments to Virginia’s Constitution have something in common: Protection. Protection from eminent domain, the government taking your or a friend’s private property, whether commercial or residential; protection from profligate government spending — a taxpayers’ bill of rights, so to speak (necessary when Virginia’s budget has grown 80 percent during the last 10 years); and protection from mismanagement of our dedicated transportation funds.

Here’s a summary of the three:

HJ 725, patroned by Delegate Rob Bell (R-58, Albermarle) would provide protection from the government’s power of eminent domain, and protect the 2007 law protecting private property rights from tampering by future General Assemblies. That law was a reaction to the deplorable U.S. Supreme Court Kelo decision, which allowed a local government to take private property and give it to developers. Just as the Marriage Amendment was needed to protect Virginia’s marriage statutes, the 2007 private property law needs constitutional protection. This session alone has seen two bills (HB 1671 and SB 1094) that would have weakened it (we were able to amend them into acceptable bills). So it is obvious this constitutional protection is needed.  

HJ 789, patroned by Delegate Manoli Loupassi (R-68, Richmond) would limit spending to the preceding year’s total appropriations plus an amount equal to the percentage increase of inflation plus population growth. It makes exceptions to provide tax relief, deposits to the “Rainy Day Fund” and nonrecurring capital projects. With state spending increasing more than 80 percent over the last 10 years, we need this constitutional protection from the big spenders in Richmond. What family budget has grown that much that fast?   

HJ 620, patroned by Delegate Glen Oder (R-94, Newport News), is another protection against greedy government big spenders. It would put all tax revenues designated by law for transportation in a “lock box” so that they cannot be spent on earmarks, pork or for other areas of the budget, only for the big spenders to claim they need more money for transportation. When campaigning for governor, Governor Tim Kaine said he wouldn’t raise taxes until the “Transportation Lock Box” was in place. Of course, he rescinded that promise only a few hour after being sworn in.       

So, please contact the committee members as soon as possible and ask them to vote for these constitutional amendments tomorrow in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee.