Wilder says King holiday
'overdue'
Former Gov. L. Douglas
Wilder, a Democrat, applauded his Republican successor, Jim Gilmore,
for proposing a separate state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. "It's good as well as overdue," Wilder said of the proposal
Gilmore unveiled in his State of the Commonwealth speech, according
to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Virginia currently has a holiday – to be observed Monday – simultaneously
honoring King and Confederate icons Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall"
Jackson.
African American lawmakers
have started preparing a bill to create a holiday in memory of King,
The Washington Post reported.
After a meeting of the Legislative Black Caucus, Del. William P. Robinson
Jr., D-Norfolk, said his proposal would establish a holiday on a Monday
or a Friday near the birthday of the slain civil rights leader.
Let areas raise gas tax,
panel says
With voters' approval,
regions of Virginia would get to raise gasoline taxes for specific
transportation projects under a plan endorsed Thursday by a bipartisan
group of legislators, The
Virginian-Pilot reported. The Commission on the Future of Transportation
in Virginia said its idea would address traffic congestion in Northern
Virginia, Hampton Roads and other areas.
Official calls SOL critics
'vocal minority'
Opponents of the state's
Standards of Learning test represent "a vocal minority" of Virginians,
Secretary of Education Wilbert Bryant told the Senate Education and
Health Committee. "I believe there is a silent majority of Virginians
who support our educational reforms," Bryant said, according to The
Roanoke Times. Democrats scoffed at his statement, saying SOL
critics represent a grass-roots movement of parents and teachers.
