Va. House passes series of conservative legislation
RICHMOND – In addition to meat-and-potatoes tasks like trying to fix Virginia’s decaying transportation system, the state House of Delegates has found time to opine on national and international — some would say esoteric — topics.
Near the end of a marathon, nearly 12-hour session Monday, the House’s Republican super-majority pushed through a series of declarative resolutions sure to please the GOP’s most conservative adherents.
The chamber’s minority Democrats could only look on helplessly as the measures sailed to passage on largely party-line votes with little or no debate.
Del. Scott Lingamfelter’s HJ654 takes aim at Agenda 21, a nonbinding plan for worldwide sustainable development adopted at a United Nations conference 20 years ago. The resolution brands Agenda 21 a “radical plan” that threatens “infringement on the American way of life and individual freedoms and ability to erode American sovereignty.”
Lingamfelter, R-Prince William County, is seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
Agenda 21 has become a popular target for many on the right including talk-show host Glenn Beck, who has published a fictional book under that title. In the book, all citizens are confined to ubiquitous concrete cubicles; food, water and energy are strictly rationed; and babies are taken from their mothers at birth.
The House also OK’d another Lingamfelter resolution, HJ653, asserting states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution “in the face of a continuing assault on the rights of the people” by the federal government.
In addition, the chamber embraced Del. Bob Marshall’s measure (HJ590) authorizing a $17,440 study of whether Virginia should establish a “metallic-based” alternative currency in case the Federal Reserve system suffers a major meltdown.
But apparently there are limits to the House’s full-throated expressions of conservative ideals.
Marshall’s measure (HB2340) aimed at undermining proposed new federal gun-control laws, which reached the House floor 10 days ago, appears about to die a quiet death.
The bill would bar state agencies and employees from assisting federal authorities in enforcing any new restrictions on gun ownership or private sales.
Over the objections of Marshall, R-Prince William County, the measure was shunted to the Appropriations Committee by the House leadership, presumably for examination of its potential fiscal impact.
But that committee has no more meetings scheduled before tonight’s deadline for House action on House bills.
- Bill Sizemore, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pil0t
February 5, 2013 - 10:51 AM
“Conservative legislation” = pointless wingnuttery.
Brilliant Kristen!!! SHU-WEE, you got us….that was a great zinger!!! +1 points…keep the m r smart thinking.
Just a little nugget of truth from Kristen, Jason.
“…infringement on the American way of life and individual freedoms and ability to erode American sovereignty.”
I’m having a hard time making sense of what that means. Is the ability to erode American sovereignty being infringed? Not clear.
The first thing anyone always says about an idea he doesn’t like is that it will infringe our “freedoms.” Del. Winganutter is maybe not aware that Agenda 21 is *non-binding*.
Putting Virginia back on the Gold Standard, now there’s a real great idea. Geez why didn’t they think of that before. The $17000 would be better spend on dry-erase markers for K12 teachers.
The fact is that states rights have indeed been eroded by an ever expanding and authoritarian Federal Govt. It’s the united STATES of America,remember?
No. 5, we will be forever in conflict over whether “United” or “States” is the most important part of our name. Vague statements about “authoritarian Federal government eroding states right” (paraphrasing your remarks) without further specification are particularly suspect, however, when coming from southern states whose credibility on the “states rights” issue suffered lasting damage some time ago.
Thanks Comrade gdad for the clarification.