IN THE NEWS:

Solitary Fail: Advocates who want to ban solitary confinement were hopeful they were finally going to see a victory when Republican Delegate Glenn Davis signed on. The bill sailed through committees and reached the House floor--but Davis then substituted a version that stripped out the maximum of 15 days in solitary confinement.

Playing the Odds: Virginia's betting and casinos are currently overseeen by a patchwork of agencies--an approach that has some lawmakers bothered. A new bill would lay the groundwork for creating a Gambling Commission that would oversee all gambling instead of the patchwork approach.


At the Watercooler:

• Virginia says ‘human’ error led to $200 million shortage in local school funding – The Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)
• How Delegate Holly Siebold deftly handled her hazing during her first bill through the General Assembly.

Trivia: Our first episode was titled “ERA, Guns and Marijuana.” Who was the FIRST GUEST?

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State Senator John Bell of Loudon County joins Thomas and Michael to discuss the complex topic of casinos--Virginia is set to develop its fifth casino in the state, but the details are still up in the air. Richmond voters rejected the casino, but Petersburg may want it. Senator Bell explains the economic and social thinking behind the state's casino legislation as well as his pragmatic approach to the question of state-regulated gambling.

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IN THE NEWS:

Return of the Payday Lenders: A new app allows users to get quick cash based on hours they've already worked, and the emergence of this new financial technology is leading lawmakers in Richmond to start thinking about state regulations for this growing market. But some worry that earned wage access looks a lot like a loan, and may get consumers caught in a debt trap.

Ending Solitary Confinement: Republican Delegate Glenn Davis and Democratic House Leader Don Scott are working together to ban solitary confinement at state prisons. They say it'll improve the lives and mental health of people who are incarcerated--though it may face difficulties as it moves forward through the House Appropriations Committee.

Thermostatic Politics: People who have smart thermostats in Virginia can sign up for a rebate program that allows them to save money if they allow utility companies to reduce the drain on the power grid during the hottest part of the summer. Some lawmakers are looking to prohibit utilities from making any adjustments.


At the Watercooler:

• Not an anomaly: 2020's red states have higher murder rates (axios.com)
• The latest on the effort to build another casino somewhere in Virginia--and what casinos mean for the local area.

Trivia: What is the origin of Virginia's lynch law?

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Harry Godfrey of Advanced Energy United--and Pod Virginia's favorite energy guy--joins the show this week to break down the energy and utility regulation bills working their way through the General Assembly this session. The first: the Affordable Energy Act, which would restore utility oversight and regulation abilities to the State Corporation Commission. The second, and more controversial: the Phase II Energy Bill, which would allow utilities to add certain line-items to base rates, as well as other changes opposed by AEU.

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IN THE NEWS:

During the pandemic, election officials started making ballot drop boxes available to make voting easier. Now those drop boxes are an object of suspicion. Voting advocates say the recent updates to election laws make Virginia a leader in easy and convenient voting, despite its past history of voter restriction.

The cost of maintaining a line of communication to people behind bars in Virginia prisons can be burdensome for many families. Companies that provide vending services for telecommunications contracts make millions of dollars while the families of people who are incarcerated suffer.

At the Watercooler:

• Alexsis Rodgers is running for the seat that will be vacated by Senator Jennifer McClellan when she is elected to Congress on Feb. 21
• Democrats have a blue wall that is standing in the way of any changes to abortion rights. Last week, a Senate subcommittee rejected a 15-week ban, a 24-week ban and a total ban. Plus they rejected a resolution saying life begins at conception.
• Delegate Danica Roem and Senator Chap Petersen are working together to keep data centers out of Prince William County. They say these things are a drain on the power grid, a serious problem for stormwater management and an eyesore next to Civil War battlefields.
• In his State of the Commonwealth Address, the governor talked about throwing the book at people who witness an overdose. The idea is to go after drug dealers. But the way it would actually work is that people won't call for help because they’ll be afraid of being charged with felony murder.

Trivia: How many Indian tribes does Virginia have?

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If you're in Richmond TONIGHT--Thursday, January 19th, 2023--, check out Michael's speech on the Byrd Machine in Virginia--6 PM at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. And pick up a copy of The Byrd Machine in Virginia.

Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg joins the show this week to discuss what he knows best--history and government. In this case, the histoy of machine politics in Virginia from Reconstruction through the modern dark, including the multiracial Mahone Machine and the Readjusters, the Martin Machine of the early 1900s, and the eventual shift into the famous Byrd Machine that operated Virginia politics for half a century. What is a political machine and how does it maintain power? Do we see any echoes of it in the modern day?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

If you're in Richmond this Thursday, check out Michael's speech on the Byrd Machine--6 PM at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

IN THE NEWS:

The Manchurian Candidate: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin used his State of the Commonwealth speech as an opportunity to take aim at China, saying he wants to see lawmakers to prohibit foreign entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing Virginia farmland. But Thomas and Michael discuss how this is a smokescreen and a bad move for Virginia's social and economic future.

Virginia's Budget: With the state government divided between Republicans and Democrats, the 2023 budget is going to require compromise. There's some room for bipartisanship, especially with the push to double the standard deduction, but Democrats are ready to put up a fight against corporate tax cuts and other proposed measures.

At the Watercooler:

• Senator Joe Morrissey is back in the limelight after his wife alleged infidelity and manipulation--read more with Brandon Jarvis' Tweet
• A portrait of Harry Byrd in the state Capitol has been quietly replaced by one of Pocahontas; it seems the former Governor has been effectively banished from the halls of Richmond.

Trivia: When was the Senate of Virginia created?

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As the 2023 General Assembly kicks off, Senator Scott Surovell joins Thomas and Michael to discuss Governor Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address--covering his comments on a range of topics including inflation, education, energy, taxes, and even foreign policy.

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia

FLASHBACK: Thomas and Michael take a look back at the 1998 standoff in the Virginia House of Delegates to elect a new Speaker--involving shouted objections, day-long voice votes, and the occasional quote from The Wizard of Oz.


IN THE NEWS:

"Make Virginia Home" -- That's the message from Governor Glenn Youngkin, who says he's concerned that Virginia is adding half as many residential units as were constructed 20 years ago. That's why he wants lawmakers to consider legislation to get rid of what he calls unnecessary regulation. Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson says all those permits are there for a reason, and short circuiting requirements might end up being counterproductive.


At the Watercooler:

• Rumors around Richmond that Representative Jennifer McClellan may not endorse Lamont Bagby to replace her state Senate seat--but instead support activist Alexsis Rodgers.
• Delegate Wren Williams of Patrick County has been acquitted of the misdemeanor assault charge brought against him by Delegate Marie March (see our episode here)
• Tomorrow is the special election in Virginia Beach, where voters will be selecting a replacement for Jen Kiggans, who was elected to Congress in November. Democrats are hopeful they can flip the seat with Aaron Rouse, a member of the Virginia Beach City Council who is a former NFL football player. Republican Kevin Adams is a retired lieutenant commander in the Navy and a small business owner.

Trivia: Virginia’s early governors were elected by the General Assembly, not by voters. What year was the first time actual voters got to choose the governor of Virginia?

Tanner Long (@TannerLLong) answered our latest trivia question correctly-- “Richmond got its name from William Byrd after he saw the James River from what is now Libby Hill Park. He was reminded of the River Thames in Richmond in England and named the area after it.”

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Sarah Taylor, Assistant City Manager and Legislative Director for the City of Alexandria, joins the show once more to break down what we can expect from the upcoming General Assembly session that starts next week. What's going on with Governor Youngkin's mental health funding and affordable housing promises? Why is Alexandria advocating for local control of its health department? And how will a divided government affect it all?

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Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia