I'm tempted to just simply discount it altogether. Its articles are poorly disguised op-eds, and its op-eds are like poorly written paid media.

It doesn't cost anything! :)

Not knowing exactly what the results of any study would be but for a Democrat to take a stand on this and demonstrate just how the Republicans in the General Assembly have forgotten or ignored what was the basic foundation of the Party to begin with-- you know power to the individual, power to localities and less governmental influence or control in our lives. Good for Creigh for stepping up.

When Wilder was governor, the State League of Women Voters studied the autonomy of local governments across the country and found that Virginia's localities have more autonomy than the local governments of 46, that's right, 46 other states.

The opposite of Dillon Rule is home rule. In home states the state legislature simply writes the state code in reverse, instead of "a locality may adopt bylaws to do a b and c" as is done in the Dillon Rule state, they write "a locality may not adopt bylaws to do x, y and z" in the home rule state.

Same result.

This issue is a smokescreen.

Local officials have used Dillon's rule for years as an excuse not to pursue their constituents ideas that the official doesn't like or want to spend time on.

There's all sorts of things we in Arlington would like to do (say, offer health/insurance benefits on an equal basis), but are unable to because it offends the sensibilities of some backwards yokel in Richmond.  This is a direct result of the Dillon Rule construction of the state.

an undue burden on the residents of Arlington County.  Progressive ideas cost money.  Domestic Partnerships are/is a state issue and that is where the emphasis needs to be.  In the state legislature.

Equality an "undue burden"?  Only in Virginia.

Arlington residents support it, and are willing to put their money where their mouths are.  Have been, for years.  It's just the ass backwards folks in Richmond that have a problem with it.

Could you point us to the study or a summary of the findings?

It keeps residents of the state from being a criminal when they pass from one little fifedom where something is legal, into another little fifedom where the same thing is not.

It only takes a few weeks for a Board of Supervisors to adopt and pass a rule/law/resolution, but takes years and a lot of money to undo the pet peeves and idiotic bias of a few power drunk Bergermeisters.  There are so many state and federal laws on the books right now as to what is and isn't allowed that directly impact a persons civil liberties that it is inpossible to not break a law just by driving along I-95.

Local jurisdictions have a great deal of leeway in so far as tax assesments and budgets.  What additional power do they need?

I understand that somepeople would like to establish a Liberal Mecca, or a Conservative Mecca, because the local pols on their County Board or what are receptive to their way of thinking.  Too bad.  It's tough enough keeping the state legislature from turning us all into criminals with the stroke of a pen.