Amazon Web Services Moving to Fairfax County

The IT-services provider plans to add 500 jobs to the local economy.

Virginia's Next Governor: Ken Cuccinelli, Terry McAuliffe or... ?

Does the commonwealth need another name on the ballot?

Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling took himself out of Virginia's race for governor last week, leaving, at least for now, what's shaping up to be a two-person race.  The choice for the Old Dominion's next governor, seven months before Election Day, seems to have boiled down to presumptive Republican nominee Ken Cuccinelli, the state's socially conservative attorney general, against likely Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a McLean businessman. The Republican Party of Virginia will hold its convention on May 17 and 18 in Richmond to formally select its nominee. Democrats go to the polls on June 11 to cast their ballots in several races, including governor and lieutenant governor. …

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After Newtown, McDonnell Forms School Safety Task Force

The group will review practices, identify vulnerabilities and make recommendations.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has formed a task force that will focus on school and safety in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. “Even with raw emotions still running so high, it is prudent to begin to consider reasonable policy changes,” McDonnell said in a statement Thursday. “In the aftermath of the horrific and senseless shootings, I have asked all local and state leaders that play a role in school or campus safety to review the procedures, plans, policies and resources dedicated to this effort.” The task force will lead by the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Public Safety and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Representatives from law enforcement, state agencies, …

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Rich Buckley

10:30 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012

FEMA is publishing a post site for idea discussion, http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/messageshowthread?threadId=19950&messageId=62411 City of Campbell discusses the subject as well: http://campbell.patch.com/articles/is-gun-violence-inevitable-in-the-united-states#comment_5822095   more ›

McDonnell Hints at New Transportation Funding Package

Proposal could raise $500 million annually, but Virginia governor gives few details Wednesday at transportation conference in Tysons.

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Wednesday a potential solution to Virginia’s growing transportation funding problem, but cautioned those gathered at his Annual Transportation Conference in Tysons Corner he’ll need to get it through the General Assembly’s 2013 session first. The governor’s proposed package, he said during a keynote appearance Wednesday, would eliminate the need to dip into construction money by 2019 and raise $500 million annually for new roads, bridges and transit projects. How exactly remains to be seen: McDonnell gave few details about his proposal, saying he would reveal specifics in the coming weeks. Maintenance takes priority to construction of new roads in Virginia, McDonnell said, and since 2002, approximately $3.3 …

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Sally Spangler

11:13 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

To Anoneemous: It would be truly wonderous if the state would make transportation a "core service" of the state. Unfortunately, we probably will be lucky to see anything at all from our "Commonwealth". Whether now or later.   more ›

Gas Tax or Higher Tolls? Both Could Become Transportation Funding Options in Virginia

Virginia's gas tax is a flat rate tax, but changes could be in the making.

Next year’s Thanksgiving road trip may be a little more expensive as Virginia officials grapple with how to adequately fund Virginia’s growing transportation infrastructure needs. Gov. Bob McDonnell said earlier this month that raising Virginia’s gas tax, tying it to inflation or otherwise adjusting it is not off the table. “I’m looking at a range of things,” McDonnell told reporters in Richmond. “I can tell you that every other major tax in Virginia—the sales tax, the corporate income tax, and the [personal] income tax—all fluctuate with economic activity because they’re a percentage. ... We’re looking at whether or not ... it should fluctuate with economic activity, like every other tax in Virginia.” Right now, Virginia’s state gas tax …

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George Allen: 'No Intention of Running for Office Again'

Longtime politico from Mount Vernon tells Richmond Times-Dispatch it's time to get out of politics, after Nov. 6 loss.

A fixture in Virginia politics is hanging up his hat. George Allen, the former governor and U.S. senator who makes his home with his family in Mount Vernon, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he has "no intention of running for office again." He and wife Susan “put our heart and soul into this campaign,” he told the newspaper. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he is "disappointed" to hear that Allen has taken himself out of the political arena after losing his Senate race last week to Tim Kaine. It was the second Senate race Allen lost, after losing his seat to Jim Webb in 2006. "Two big losses in a row make it tough for George Allen to try yet again to make a comeback," said Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy at George Mason …

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McLean Resident Terry McAuliffe Announces Bid for Governor

Politico reports that McAuliffe announced his intentions to his supporters in an email Thursday.

Just days after the presidential campaign season ended, another campaign is about to gear up. McLean resident Terry McAuliffe announced Thursday he intends to run for governor of Virginia in 2013, when Gov. Bob McDonnell's term ends, Politico reports.  McAuliffe, the former DNC chairman and co-chair of Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, wrote in an email to supporters on Thursday: "I realize that after any election some people’s immediate question is about the next campaign. I want to be straightforward with you: I plan on running for Governor of Virginia in 2013. Over the past four years, I’ve traveled to every corner of Virginia for over 2,400 meetings and events. It is absolutely clear to me that Virginians want their next …

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Gov. McDonnell: Virginia 'Spared' in Hurricane Sandy Damage

The governor said power should be restored to all Dominion customers by Thursday.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said in his final press briefing for Hurricane Sandy that Virginia was "spared a significant event."  “First responders and private partners, they have really done an amazing job preparing for the storm and applying lessons learned from previous storms and putting in an incredible amount of hours,” McDonnell said.  McDonnell cited concerns about rivers cresting as flood waters go into the major arteries, and he expected an update on that later Tuesday. Virginia was awarded a federal disaster declaration yesterday, said McDonnell, noting he was “delighted” that President Barack Obama and FEMA were on it immediately. "That is only for federal direct assistance to allow them to provide resources directly and as we do our …

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McDonnell Warns of Looming Sequestration Cuts

Virginia governor, local contractor say cuts to defense spending would be devastating to the local economy.

Hours after President Barack Obama’s campaign stop at George Mason University, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell hosted a press conference call Friday afternoon taking to task the president’s handling of massive, looming defense cuts. If Congress doesn’t make key budget decisions by the end of the year, $1.2 trillion in cuts to defense and other spending will kick in automatically. McDonnell, who was joined on the call by U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-4th) and Ashburn defense contractor Joe Travez, who repeatedly said the cuts would be “devastating,” especially in Virginia. Approximately 200,000 Virginians would be at risk of losing their jobs if sequestration is implemented in January 2013, and McDonnell said that can’t happen. Virginia is home to …

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Gov. Bob McDonnell Recognizes September 11

Virginia governor issues proclamation recognizing day of remembrance, patriotism and prayer.

  Gov. Bob McDonnell issued the following proclamation, recognizing Sept. 11, 2012 as a Day of Remembrance, Patriotism and Prayer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The governor also invited all to witness a one-minute, statewide Moment of Silence starting at 9:39 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 77 impacted with the Pentagon in Arlington County. 9/11 Day Of Remembrance, Patriotism And Prayer WHEREAS, the events of September 11, 2001 have profoundly affected-and continue to affect-all aspects of our society, and the lives of Virginians, Americans and people across the world were changed forever following the destruction of the World Trade Center complex in New York City, the attack against the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the …

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