The other night someone from the Lorton Democrats told me the Virginia AG is nothing more than a figurehead and has no authority to make sure local laws throughout the state conform with state law.

No, I hear that Bob McDonnell's legislative packet includes the following substantive change:

  § 18.2-456.1 Cases in which attorney general may punish summarily for contempt. ? The attorney general may issue attachments for contempt, and punish them summarily, in the cases following:

  (1) Misbehavior in the presence of the attorney general, or so near thereto as to obstruct or interrupt the administration of justice;

  (2) Vile, contemptuous or insulting language addressed to or published of an attorney general, for or in respect of any act or proceeding had, or to be had, by such attorney general, or like language used in his presence and intended for his hearing for or in respect of such act or proceeding;

  (3) Disobedience to, resistance to, or disagreement with the attorney general, with his communications director, or with Regent University or any of its staff, students, or agents, including but not limited to unauthorized blogging in contravention of the opinions of the attorney general or his communications director.

Virginia Code § 18.2-456.1 (proposed)

Suggested short title for this bill: "Contempt of Bob."  Any other ideas?

I would add that all and all persons contacting the Office of the Attorney General's office must not only identify themselves by name, they must also provide the A.G.'s office with a list of any and all  media (whether in print or electronic) within which that person has ever published, or might in the future publish, any essay, diary, comment, letter to the editor or other remark, together with the caller's Social Security Number, educational and employment history.  In addition, the caller must provide the Attorney General's office with a list of all private citizens to whom the caller might orally disclose any information received from the A.G's office, together with the Social Security Number of all disclosees and other information set forth above.  The caller must also, prior to receiving an oral or written response to any inquiry, submit a DNA sample to said Attorney General's Office in a sealed Zip Lock Bag.
Note however, that the requirements of this  provision will not affect in the least  the content, candor or quality of the response to be received from the A.G.'s office, but this information shall only be required to be disclosed to satisfy the A.G's passing benevolent curiousity about the caller's identity.

Thanks for the info on this important bill, Connie.  Who says Bob is all fluff and no fluffernutter?

See also proposed § 18.2-456.2, with increased mandatory minimum penalties for contempt of the chancellor of Regent University, and for second offense Contempt of Bob.  Short title: Contempt of Pat.