The J.R. Hoeft Show

Del. Rob Bell (R-58) joins the podcast to recap the 2019 General Assembly session. Bell represents Greene, Fluvanna, Albamarle, and Rockingham Counties.

Despite all the noise that came along with scandals plaguing Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, and Atty. Gen. Mark Herring, a good bit of excellent governing was accomplished this session.

Specifically, we discuss:

* His role on the Courts of Justice committee, and where hearings on Lt. Gov. Fairfax currently stand* The responsibility of a legislator regarding race relations and if he feels any sense of obligation to lead those discussions given Charlottesville's recent history* The redistricting amendment* Tax conformity and the budget* The "fingerprinting" bill* Combatting sex trafficking where an automobile is used to promote prostitution

Additionally, we look at what the GOP needs to do to make its case to expand their narrow majority in the House this election.

Finally, perhaps the most important question, is Gonzaga really the best team in NCAA basketball or will the eventual champion emerge from the ACC or the Big 10?

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It's another installment of "Shoutin' Along the James" with Norm Leahy! This episode we look at the recently released Roanoke College poll that asks the question of Virginians, "Should [Ralph Northam, Justin Fairfax, or Mark Herring] resign?" The results are fascinating. We also dive into some finer points on the politics associated with the Fairfax 'impeachment hearings' progress, and conclude with our review on the 2019 regular session of the General Assembly.

Follow Norm on Twitter and read his columns at The Washington Post.

Subscribe to the show!

If you liked this podcast, please support it by subscribing either on Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher - and please leave a review. It helps!

Listening to a Podcast:

1) Click the player and listen to it via your device

2) Go to Apple Podcast, Google Play or Google Podcasts, TuneIn or Stitcher.

- Subscribe to the podcast to automatically download new shows to your device when they are uploaded. (How to from Apple Podcast, Google Play, TuneIn and from Stitcher)

3) Added tip: Connect your device via Bluetooth, USB, or even 3.5mm to your car radio, select the aux or media input on your radio for your device, and press play on your device for the show either on the post or through Apple Podcast/Google Play/TuneIn/Stitcher.

Joining J.R. this week is Rep. Rob Wittman – representing Virginia’s First Congressional District and serving as the ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Force Projection.

On this podcast, Congressman Wittman appropriately addresses the concerns conservatives have with declaring a national emergency to build the border wall, as well as not passing appropriations bills on-time. That said, Rep. Wittman believes while the president will be challenged on the legality of his declaration, President Trump’s action certainly makes sense given the nature of the threat to our national security and the inaction of Congress to address the issue. Regardless, another shutdown has been averted. Rep. Wittman was clear that hardworking civil servants deserve better than to be dangled as collateral for every political disagreement, and that Congress needs to govern regarding the “power of the purse” – and not go to brinksmanship.

We also discuss shipbuilding. Huntington Ingalls Industries made record profits in the last quarter of 2017, yet there was a multitude of issues with the last, yet first in class, building project, CVN-79, the USS GERALD FORD. Although there are concerns, Wittman was clear that the recent two carrier block-buy for CVN-80 and 81 would yield a net cost-savings - $4 billion – and will serve to stabilize the shipbuilding industry in the long term, as well as advance seapower supremacy against our peer competitors.

Finally, we address Virginia’s turmoil with Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, and Atty. Gen. Mark Herring. Wittman, who is regularly mentioned in political circles for statewide office, is clear that due process is the best way to address the current scandal. That said, Wittman also made clear his thoughts on the role of an elected official regarding race relations.

(header photo by Mark Winterstein. See more of his photos at his Instagram page.)

It's been quite the two weeks since Norm Leahy and J.R. Hoeft got together for their last podcast. Scandal has rocked the Commonwealth, as well as a rare outbreak of bipartisan governance.

In this podcast, we discuss:

* The hypocrisy of the left/Virginia embroiled in scandal

* Race relations in Virginia/"400 Years of Slavery"

* Tax conformity/budget plan

Links of Note:

Leahy: The inertia behind Virginia’s many scandals

Hoeft: Virginia's Democratic Leadership - Nothing But a Jenga Tower

House and Senate Overwhelmingly Approve $1 Billion Tax Relief Package (Virginia House GOP Caucus)

"Northam referenced the state's 400 years of slavery in his interview with Gayle King on CBS' 'Face the Nation,' and referred to enslaved Africans as "indentured servants from Africa."

"'Also known as slavery,' King interjected." (CNN)

Bipartisan group calls on Virginians to focus on history of slavery and civil rights in 'Year of Reconciliation and Civility' resolution (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Suffolk DA ‘Ready’ to Investigate Fairfax Sexual Assault Allegations (National Review)

Yesterday I sent draft language to my colleagues on the first step of an impeachment action regarding the Lt. Governor. There has been an enormous amount of sincere and thoughtful feedback which has led to additional conversations that need to take place before anything is filed.— Patrick Hope (@HopeforVirginia) February 11, 2019

Raheel Raza, senior advisor of the Clarion Project and its "Preventing Violent Extremism" campaign comes on the podcast to discuss the existing dangers of terrorist recruiting in the west. “Preventing Violent Extremism” is a campaign to prevent the spread of radical Islamic ideology and violence among American children and youth.

Raza is president of The Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow, a founding member of The Muslim Reform Movement, author of the book Their Jihad – Not My Jihad, award winning journalist, public speaker, and advocate for human rights.

Raza has spoken on Human Rights in the parliaments of Sweden, UK, Israel and on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. She is also accredited with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva through The Centre for Inquiry (CFI).

in this podcast, we discuss:

* What is the Clarion Project?

* Where are we in combatting terrorism and what is the root of violent extremism?

* Why is there an active recruiting effort for jihad in the west?

* Why are people attracted to nihilism/extremism?

* How do people recognize the signs of extremism?

* Extremism exists in all 50 states and Virginia is particularly susceptible. Why should everyone be concerned?

* Americans have had pockets of both international and domestic terrorism since 9/11. Why should Americans have a sense of urgency?

* The dangers of stereotyping and the importance of looking for the true signs of extremism.

* The dilemma of labels.

* What will be learned by participating in the Clarion Project?

Background info:

The FBI is investigating radical Islamic terror plots in all 50 states, but many Americans are ignorant to this fact and wrongly believe “it won’t happen to me.” The U.S. has no national program to prevent and counter violent extremism—and most local programs intervene too late.

Raheel Raza contends that America’s youth are being radicalized, and that this crisis requires immediate action to prevent violent attacks in the United States and Western world.

“According to CIA estimates about 2000 Westerners have travelled to Iraq and Syria (many via Turkey) to join ISIS. It’s estimated that from these more than 100 came from the USA,” says Raza.

The Clarion Project’s “Preventing Violent Extremism” (PVE) campaign is a training program offered to the public, educators, law enforcement and government sectors that provides a three-stage strategy as follows:

1) How radicalization works and the process of recruitment

2) How to identify the tendencies in a child that would potentially lead him or her to extremism

3) How to meet the emotional and psychological needs of these children

The Covington High School Student v. Native American veteran story has been covered ad nauseum by the media, so Norm and I have a different take: analyzing the greatest smirks in modern history. (see National Review for more coverage)

(The Washington portrait mentioned by Norm in the podcast)

Of course, there is a General Assembly session approaching crossover, so we discuss what we have learned thus far.

And, we wrap up with Virginia's annual homage to Messrs. Lee and Jackson. And why it's a part of our history, but not worthy of its own annual slice.

Links of note:

Read Norm's Column

Read my take on Lee-Jackson from a decade ago

Del. Margaret Ransone's speech to girls regarding the ERA:

State Sen. Amanda Chase on Fox News regarding open carry empowering women:

Shout out:

Check out the No Uncertain Terms Podcast from U.S. Term Limits. We're coming up on Term Limits' Day - Feb. 27.

In late 2017, President Donald Trump won what is probably his signature policy win to date: federal tax reform. However, Virginia, in its 2018 General Assembly Session, failed to conform with the new tax policy. Because of this failure, Virginians are poised to send to the state a whopping $1.2 billion, simply because they're taking a "standard deduction" at the federal level.

Helping us make sense of this and explaining the legislation before the General Assembly is Stephen Haner, senior fellow with the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, which has advanced much of the ideas found in the proposed legislation.

Links of note:

Haner on Bacon's Rebellion

HB 1851 (Peace)

Virginia income tax; emergency. Advances conformity of the Commonwealth's tax code with the federal tax code to December 31, 2018, starting with taxable year 2018.

HB 2110 (Freitas)

Virginia income tax; emergency. Advances conformity of the Commonwealth's tax code with the federal tax code to December 31, 2018, starting with taxable year 2018.

SB 1443 (Stuart)

Virginia income tax; emergency. Advances conformity of the Commonwealth's tax code with the federal tax code to December 31, 2018, starting with taxable year 2018.

Nearly 100 years ago, Alice Paul sought to ensure that women were granted equality under the law. Her vision of what that meant and what it means today is profoundly different, yet Virginia is on the cusp of being the last state to ratify an Equal Rights Amendment via legislation before the General Assembly.

But which amendment is it? What does it actually do? Who is it going to affect? What are the legal concerns?

Returning to the podcast to explain it all is Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation.

To get an idea about how Victoria feels about the ERA, read her statement released after the state Senate passed the resolution:

“At a time when families are facing serious issues in the commonwealth, the Senate has wasted time debating and voting on a vague, irresponsible, and outdated resolution. The so-called ERA is a dead resolution that, if shoehorned into the US Constitution despite being legally invalid, harms women. Polling shows that a majority of Virginians oppose this resolution when they are informed about the impact it will have on taxpayer funding of abortion. Women deserve better than this patently political proposal.”

Also check out her latest op-ed co-authored with Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, in The Roanoke Times.