Gov. Ralph Northam issued a statewide order to protect the health and safety of Virginians and reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Executive Order Fifty-Three orders the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. Governor Northam is also urging all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home, if and when possible. This order goes into effect at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will remain in place until 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 23, 2020.
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Although Democrats dominated the recently-completed legislative session, state Sen. Amanda Chase was in favor of some bills that passed and wait Gov. Ralph Northam’s signature. Chase, a second-term legislator, co-sponsored a bill — SB 95 — that requires “balanced emergency billing.” The bill, she explained, will require insurance companies to work together to ensure that patients don’t get stuck paying for out-of-network doctors. Chase said that sometimes a person goes to an in-network hospital emergency room, but gets treatment from out-of-network medical service providers, which can result in financially devastating bills. The Chesterfield County Republican said she also supported a…
Although a compromise was offered to get through a disagreement over appointment of two judges to Chesterfield courts, the effort failed last week before the Legislature finished its session. Joe Morrissey, a Democratic first-term state senator who represents eastern Chesterfield County, said that he and six other legislators agreed to replace retired Circuit Court judge T.J. Hauler with Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Jayne Pemberton and appoint Travis Williams, a black attorney, to fill Pemberton’s seat. Williams is a Chesterfield resident and has served 17 years as a substitute judge in Chesterfield General District Court, Morrissey said. The compromise…
Although eight of 10 members of Chesterfield County’s delegation in the General Assembly reached an apparent consensus in January on the nomination of a replacement for Circuit Court Judge T.J. Hauler, two state delegates who did not participate in the process may thwart the majority. According to a Feb. 24 report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Dels. Dolores McQuinn (D-Richmond) and Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) support two black persons for positions on the Chesterfield Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts, Chesterfield General District Court Judge Pamela O’Berry and private attorney Curtis Hairston. McQuinn told the daily that she is “deeply concerned…
Sen. Amanda Chase greets voters at Ecoff Elementary last November.
Second-term senator says she may run as an independent She was first out of the gate. Chesterfield County’s second-term state senator announced a run for governor in 2021 on Presidents Day, Feb. 17, and was the first person to do so. Sen. Amanda Chase, a Republican who decided not to caucus with her party this year due to reservations about Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment of Williamsburg, had earlier said she planned to run in 2025. She decided to move forward with the campaign four years early because some constituents asked her to do so. Chase has been relegated to…
By Del. Carrie Coyner Committee meetings this week were lengthy as bills were pushed through subcommittees in order to allow time for the bills to be vetted in full committees and on the House floor. I presented in seven committees, on the House floor and advanced four of my bills successfully. Of particular note was HB 925, which passed unanimously (22-0) out of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and will be on the House Floor for vote by the full membership this week. HB 925 is a bill that requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to work with…
By Del. Carrie Coyner This week I will be highlighting bills that I am patroning in the General Assembly. You can follow these and other bills by visiting lis.virginia.gov. My proposed bills are: HB924 Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; threats, penaltyHB825 DMAS; steps to facilitate transition between two programsHB926 Income tax, state; credit for employers contribution to Virginia College Savings Plan accountsHB927 transparency in cost of specific college programsHB928 Establishment of a substance abuse recovery high school, Chesterfield County and Region 1HB929 Subdivision platsHB930 (now HB 967) Military service members and veterans; expediting the issuance of credentials…
Morrissey would have liked second-term senator getting more Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase was given only one committee assignment last week by the Democratic Party caucus, which sets the rules for the body that it controls 21-19. Although Chase said on Facebook that she would be sitting in numerous committee meetings, she would not be doing it as an official member of the committees. On his WJFN radio show Friday, Jan. 10, state Sen. Joe Morrissey — a Democrat who represents eastern Chesterfield County — said he opposed limiting Chase to one committee assignment. He said he spoke out against…
By Del. Carrie Coyner Wednesday, January 8th was a historic day for our commonwealth as Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn gaveled the House of Delegates into session as the first woman and Jew to be Speaker of the House, and Charniele Herring became the first African American woman to serve as Majority Leader in the House. 2020 is a historic year for all women as we celebrate the centennial of women’s right to vote, and women have the highest state elected representation in history with 41 total females. These first few days of session have been chaotic with so many changes in leadership,…
“Milestone” reached for issuance of credential allowing air travel, access to secure federal facilities The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued more than one million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. Beginning Oct. 1, Virginians who want to use their state-issued driver’s license or identification card to board a domestic flight will have to present a REAL ID-compliant credential, displaying a small star in the upper-right corner, when passing through Transportation Security Administration screenings. Several other forms of ID, including a U.S. passport, a passport card, and some military IDs, will also be accepted for federal identification.…