This Sunday I had the pleasure of hosting the Late Autumn Launch of the Blue Wave, a coalition of grassroots activist groups who dedicated themselves to changing the composition of the House of Delegates in the 2017 election. They succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations by electing so many new Delegates that […]

As a member of the Joint Health Care Commission, I requested a two year study on the Medical Aid in Dying legislation being adopted by a notable number of states across the country. My question was: What has been the outcome of this legislation? Is this a step that we […]

I frequently contact elected officials urging action on issues that I believe are important to all of us. Here is an example: Dear Mr. President: I am writing to respectfully urge you to resettle at least 75,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2019. The United States is a generous country with […]

Friends, I have recently searched the Constitution of Virginia for any language describing a Virginian”s right to clean air and unpolluted water. Here is what I found (it may be dense, but definitely worth wading through): “Article XI.Section 1. To the end that the people have clean air, pure water, […]

I have joined Virginia Interfaith Power and Light in their letter-writing campaign urging our Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the State Air Pollution Control Board to deny issuing the air pollution permit for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) Buckingham County/Union Hill compressor station. The proposed 54,000+ horsepower ACP […]

While we all are celebrating the passage of the new state budget which expands Medicaid eligibility to an estimated 400,000 uninsured working Virginians, and thus allows us to increase funding in education and mental health, while raising the salaries of teachers, first responders and state employees with the resulting savings. […]

I begin this column with a quote from the inspirational leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “The time is always right to do the right thing.” This is never more true than it is today. Advocacy is not a single effort, but a consistent effort over time. Let your opinion […]

Mass shootings are all too common in our country, and have become part of our national lexicon. We have become inured to the horror and tragedy of a mass shooting, failing to recognize these murders as the crises that they are. “No more thoughts and prayers — we need immediate […]

The General Assembly session will adjourn on March 10, as determined by the Commonwealth Constitution. In my time in the House of Delegates, we have gone into special session a few times — but that is not the norm. However, this year, the House budget and the Senate budget are […]

We are nearing Cross-Over (Feb. 13), the day upon which all bills passed by the House and/or Senate must be sent over to the other body for its deliberation. In other words, each body must complete its voting on all legislation submitted by its own members by Feb. 13. Approved […]