If you live in Virignia, today is a day to be either excited or terrified. You see, the General Assembly is back in session, and according to the Washington Post:
They must review the two-year, $72 billion budget proposed by Gov. Mark R. Warner (D). And they will approve or reject thousands of bills, including proposals to clamp down on illegal immigration, amend the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage, alter the state's telecommunication taxes and eliminate the car tax.
Transportation appears to be the #1 item on the agenda, and that could mean higher taxes. According to Sen. Charles R. Hawkins (R-Pittsylvania):
Everything is on the table. There will have to be some sort of revenue. We've got to have some source of revenue that is dependable.
In other words, hold onto your wallets, everyone! Ha.
Meanwhile, if you don't like government snooping around your bedroom, you might want to buy a few more padlocks, several guns, a snarling dog or two, and a super sensitive security system for your house. That's right: "Sideshow Bob" Marshall's back in town, and he's ready to take on the issues that REALLY matter to most Virginians. Which means, of course, that he's pushing for a ban on those dastardly sperm banks! Oh yeah, and he's also going to make damn sure that unmarried women can't be artificially impregnated in the Commonwealth. Nosiree Bob, only REAL insemination for this guy. Hell, he'll take care of it PERSONALLY if he has to! Ha. Oh, by the way, Waldo Jaquith points out that banning artificial insemination would prevent "the widow of an Iraq veteran from bearing the child of her husband who banked his sperm." Don't you just love these Pat Robertson Right Wing Republicans? Yeah, I thought so!
Seriously, though, congratulations to new Democratic members of the General Assembly, such as David Englin, for whom I campaigned. Plus, anyone else named "David" - Bulova, Poisson, etc. And Chuck Caputo, of course, who defeated Chris "Anything with a pulse" Craddock for the House of Delegates seat in the 67th district. Finally, there are two recent Democratic winners - Dan Bowling in the 3rd House district and Shannon Valentine in the 23rd. Good luck to all of you...now go "raise some Kaine!" :)