News events and an open thread

By: Corey
Published On: 12/16/2005 2:00:00 AM

There are two news events I wanted to quickly point out:

1.  Special election Number 2:  This evening Governor Warner called for a special election to be held on January 10th to fill the seat vacated by Republican State Delegate L. Preston Bryant in the 23rd House District.  The announcement follows Bryant's appointment to Democratic Governor-elect Tim Kaine's cabinet and will take place one week after the special election to fill the 3rd House and 4th Senate seats.  The 23rd District includes all of the city of Lynchburg and parts of Amherst County.  Today's Times-Dispatch calls the district a swing district and notes that it could be another Democratic pick up.  You can view a history of this winter's special election news as reported on the Virginia Political Line here.

2.  Warner adds sexual orientation to employment protections: Part of today's budget announcement included Governor Mark Warner making it illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay in state employment.  "Warner included the protections in his 2006-2008 budget, which carries the force of law, and modified Executive Order One to reflect the change."  "Specific protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is the policy of eight out of 10 of Virginia?s largest employers, the majority of states, and the majority of the members of the General Assembly in their own hiring,? according to a statement released by Warner?s office."  You can read the full story in the Washington Blade here.

Use this post as an open thread.

Comments



Good point. This wa (Corey - 4/4/2006 11:30:20 PM)
Good point.  This was only a proposal and will have to be passed by the GA to become law.  Although it is unclear to me the effect of the executive order, which I believe does not require GA approval.  Do you see this blowing up into a larger debate within the GA?  Or will this pass as commonsense legislation?


Someone wrote, "Warn (Robin - 4/4/2006 11:30:20 PM)
Someone wrote, "Warner adds sexual orientation to employment protections: Part of today’s budget announcement included Governor Mark Warner making it illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay in state employment. “Warner included the protections in his 2006-2008 budget, which carries the force of law, and modified Executive Order One to reflect the change.” "

This is WRONG.  The budget is a Governor's PROPOSAL.  The General Assembly can change it.  The budget does NOT have the force of law until it is enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

Don't be naive!  This kind of confusion among reporters about when something is law really confuses and disappoints people and makes them cynical.  Let's at least wake up and learn how a law is made.