Produced
by VCU's
Legislative
Reporting
students

A daily roundup of media coverage of the Virginia General Assembly
Updated by noon each weekday by a student in Mass Comm 375 at Virginia Commonwealth University
:: today's editor ::
> Laura Davis

:: verbatim ::

"What we do to poor women is the worst of all possible worlds. We say, 'Yep it's cancer, but we can't do anything.'"

- Del. Kristen J. Amundson, D-Fairfax, referring to the current cancer screening program available for low-income, uninsured women. She and other lawmakers are proposing legislation to pay for cervical and breast cancer treatment for these women diagnosed through a state-screening program. (Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch)


:: on deck ::

At 4 p.m. today, the Senate Education and Health Subcommittee on Public Education meets in the East Conference Room on the third floor of the General Assembly Building.

At 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, the House Transportation Committee meets in House Room C of the General Assembly Building.


:: bookmark this! ::

> State Board of Elections

… view electronically filed campaign finance reports, search the Political Action Committees directory, find out candidate information and more.


:: recess ::

Tired of looking at your boring cursor? Download fun, free cursors such as cartoons and animals at Comet Cursor.


:: feedback ::
> Suggestions, ideas,
tips for coverage? Tell us!

:: mega-donors ::

> During the 1999 elections, members of the General Assembly received more than half their money from 150 groups and individuals.

Here are the top donors, and how they fared during the 2000 legislative session.

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001

House speaker delays re-election of state auditor

House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins Jr., R-Amherst, known for playing hardball politics, hindered the expected re-election yesterday of the General Assembly's chief accountant, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

He did so in apparent retaliation on the auditor, who exposed questionable spending by Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore on such programs as the no-car-tax plan.

Although Wilkins never said whether he was motivated by partisan revenge, other Republicans said the speaker was showing his dislike of embarrassing investigations by Auditor of Public Accounts Walter J. Kucharski.


Gilmore sends 500 e-mails for car-tax support

Five hundred e-mails in support of the car-tax cut were sent out the other day from Gov. James S. Gilmore III to his most faithful supporters around the state, and eventually the message reached delegates and senators, according to The Washington Post.

"Right now, Virginia legislature is preparing to break the promise they made to the people of Virginia to fully phase out the car tax," read part of the note that came from Ray Allen, the Republican governor's main message man. Allen, a Richmond-based consultant, runs media and direct-mail campaigns for GOP politicians.

The e-mail repeated all the important things Gilmore has been saying: that the budget had money to cut the car tax and that the General Assembly was spending billions of dollars in taxpayer money. "Let's remind them that it's our money they're spending and we want them to keep their promise to give us a little bit back," Allen said in the e-mail.


Drunk-driving opponent arrested for DUI

State Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. of James City County, a legislator who has cracked down on drunk driving throughout his career, was arrested for driving under the influence early Tuesday morning, according to the Daily Press of Newport News.

Police stopped him when he headed back to his Capitol office after he had "a couple of drinks" with friends during dinner. The 54-year-old Republican Senate leader expressed embarrassment during a short interview with the Daily Press on Tuesday.

He didn't deny the allegations and offered no excuses. "I'm very regretful about what has happened and intend to accept the responsibilities for it," he said.

 

:: links ::

> Home page for MASC 375, the Legislative Reporting course
at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Mass Communications

> Hotlist of newspapers covering the General Assembly

> Other online resources for legislative reporters