2009.02.01
Discuss Trejbal's column on the NRV's lawmakers
New River Valley lawmakers get busy
By Christian Trejbal
The General Assembly is back in Richmond. A fresh session of gridlock, partisan sniping and the rest of the people's business has begun.
That means it is time to check in on the New River Valley's delegation. Three delegates and two senators speak for the valley.
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It never ceases to amaze me how every gets into a snit over national elections, or state elections, but then collectively go to sleep when the actual work is being done. State and local politics have a much greater impact on our daily lives, yet everyone seems content to keep their head in the sand during the sessions and come up for a look see when it's all said and done. This allows so many useless, ill-thought bills to float while other valid items die quietly in committee. And then there's the budget, education and transportation which have been eroding for years not getting enough bi-partisan attention. What's the old saying about getting the government you deserve? Wake up SWVA. Wake up NRV.
Comment by NRV Reader — February 1, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
" vapidly conservative"
Kinda like a vapidly written editorial.
Comment by Henry — February 1, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
"Kinda like a vapidly written editorial."
The RT has been known to put out that kind from time to time. Thankfully, this is not one of them.
Comment by Ed H — February 1, 2009 @ 10:37 pm
It's just more of Christian's preaching. Every conservative gets taunted, the NRV is racist, we're a bunch of tooth-sucking hillbillies. It's the same stuff his predecesors wrote.
I was hoping for change.
Comment by Henry — February 2, 2009 @ 6:33 am
Henry, you are a gem: Every Liberal gets taunted, the RT and bloggers who disagree with you are all a bunch of Godless, immoral, anti-American, politically correct, socialists, but you don't throw stones. We got it.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — February 2, 2009 @ 8:44 am
" the RT and bloggers who disagree with you are all a bunch of Godless, immoral, anti-American, politically correct, socialists"
You are very astute although I doubt that the RTEB agrees with your statement. Just keep believing.
Comment by Henry — February 2, 2009 @ 9:18 am
"The duo also sponsored bills to clarify that college students may register to vote where they attend schools. That might create more work for registrars, but some -- Radford's, for example -- need to hear that students have rights."
Hey Trejbal, I thought that the hallmark of good editorialism is checking of facts? Of course I suppose that if the facts were ACTUALLY checked it wouldn't be as easy to be so snide and self righteous huh?
Senator Ralph Smith's Bill, SB829 was introduced at my request. It was written in such a way as to avoid the Domicile issue all together, unlike Senator Edward's bill that presumes domicile.
Delegate Shuler's Bill had my full support, and the delegate and I had several phone conversations concerning it's introduction. I wrote on it's behalf to the House P&E committee, prior to it's being incorporated into the Attorney General's election reform bill. That Bill (hb1878) only changes legal language and STILL WOULD NOT ADDRESS STUDENT residency. As a matter of FACT the bill that passed the House Subcommittee, cops out on the student residency issue and allows the State Board of Elections, a politically appointed body of 3, the ability to make or change policy. They've already shown they are willing to change any policy that a lawyer complains about, how can we get any positive change with THAT sort of track record?
As a matter of FACT, I travelled to the Gen. Assembly on Wednesday to speak directly to the Sub-committee at Senator Smith's request and supported BOTH Smith's and Edward's bills. Both of these bills will be before the full Committee today. I was the only stakeholder to speak for or against either bill. No students were there, the lawyers who threatened all of the lawsuits weren't there, it was just me.
I have been working to get the General Assembly to address the Student residency issues since 1993, (I have a copy of a 1993 HJR)
I have been quoted many times as stating everyone has a right to vote, but current VA law needs to address the residency of students.
This year the VA general assembly MAY just do that. Why are they doing it? Because I followed the law as written! So yes students have rights, They have the same right as you and I, as current law is written they have the right to vote in the precinct of their permanent home, as we are asking the general assembly to address the law for them to have the right to call their residence at school their voting residence.
You see I don't just pick and choose the laws that I follow within my office, I follow them as written and continue to catch grief from the ignorant for doing it.
Yes we all have rights, you have the right to print rubbish from your bully pulpit, and I have the right to show that maybe someone knows more about the issue than you.
Tracy Howard,
general registrar of voters
City of Radford
Comment by Tracy Howard — February 3, 2009 @ 9:46 am