On Saturday, January 4, the Northern Virginia Delegation to the General Assembly convened its annual, non-partisan public hearing at the Fairfax Government Center. Most Northern Virginia elected representatives attended for at least part of this session, which ran for about five hours. More than 70 speakers pressed the delegation to […]

In my previous column, I outlined my plan to tackle gaps in Virginia’s statutory constraints on “influence peddling” by elected politicians and government employees required to file financial disclosures. I apologize if this blunt characterization offends, but there is no doubt that influence pedaling is what the public and the […]

“You can’t trust my opponent, and here’s why” is the most universal, pervasive theme in politics, not “You can trust me, and here’s why.” If you are paying attention to the political ads in the Virginia Governor’s race, you know what I mean. Negative ads are like drugs of choice […]

For nearly three months, the tawdry spectacle of Governor Bob McDonnell’s eroding political credibility has been overshadowing the real work of governance in Richmond and diverting attention from the upcoming November election, which certain to have national ramifications. Many of my fellow Democrats have been outspoken in their criticism of […]

The General Assembly officially adjourned one month ago, and most Virginians have stopped thinking about the 2013 session. The issues raised and votes cast in Richmond are history; now we are focusing on the political future. Many Virginia politicians prefer this focus, because the future is more about promises and […]

Last Thursday afternoon, I had a troubling experience. I sat for nearly four hours in an extremely hot, crowded room jammed full of people who were afraid– afraid that a stranger might violently attack them and the their loved. Afraid that a democratically elected government might turn on them. So […]