March 31, 2018

Republicans facing pressure from left and right in Virginia's Medicaid debate

Del. Chris Stolle of Virginia Beach is among House Republicans who back expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. And those Republicans are being pressured by conservatives to change their position.

In the Richmond area, Stolle's sister, state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, is also facing pressure. But it's a different kind.

Dunnavant is among the 21-member Senate Republican Caucus holding firm against Medicaid expansion. And that's leading to pressure from Democrats on her and other Republican senators to change their positions.

The distinct pressures on the Republican legislative siblings illustrate the division within the state GOP over the issue. While a significant number of Republicans in the House agreed - after their caucus nearly lost its majority in the the November election - to support Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam's call for expansion, the Senate has refused. And now, political pressure is being exerted from all sides ahead of the legislature's return to session on April 11 to finish work on the budget.

Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/republicans-facing-pressure-from-left-and-right-in-virginia-s/article_cb3cec06-2d53-58a4-8fb8-77701974721d.html

March 31, 2018

Former Virginia delegate Joe Morrissey loses law license after ethics complaints

RICHMOND -- A controversial Virginia lawyer who already lost his law license once has lost it again for violating rules of conduct.

Capping a weeklong disciplinary hearing on three ethics complaints brought by the Virginia State Bar, a three-judge panel Friday revoked Richmond attorney Joe Morrissey's law license, effective June 15.

A day after the panel cleared Morrissey (I-Henrico) of misconduct charges stemming from his representation of the now-defunct Virginia Slavery Museum, it ruled he violated conduct rules regarding client representation. And on Wednesday, the panel ruled Morrisey violated a conduct rule stemming from a 2013 sexual relationship with a then-17-year-old receptionist in his law office who is now his wife.

Morrissey is a former state delegate.

One of Morrissey's attorneys, Republican state Sen. Bill Stanley, tells The Richmond Times-Dispatch they're appealing.

Read more: https://pilotonline.com/news/nation-world/virginia/article_104ab432-34e6-11e8-aa7e-93f7ee0887fe.html

March 31, 2018

Confederates convicted: Statue unshrouders say they'll appeal

Immediately following a March 26 trial in which Charlottesville’s Brian Lambert was found guilty of multiple charges of trespassing in Emancipation and Justice parks and attempting to remove the tarps from the shrouded statues, Lambert could be seen applying a trail of Confederate flag stickers on surfaces in the direction of the General Robert E. Lee monument.

Judge Joseph Serkes had just sentenced him to four years in jail, with all but eight months suspended, in a hearing where Lambert flashed a distinctive hand signal behind his back. With his right thumb forming a circle with his pointer finger, and his three additional digits in the shape of a “W,” he held the “white power” symbol for about 30 seconds before turning to wink at the few people who showed up to support him, including Jason Kessler.

Louisa attorney Richard Harry defended Lambert, while Richmonder Christopher Wayne was represented by Thomas Wilson on similar—but fewer—destruction of property and trespassing charges. Wayne was sentenced to three years, of which all were suspended but five months.

The Richmond man’s trial was unorthodox, and he engaged in several debates with the judge. Lambert patted him on the back multiple times in what appeared to be an effort to get Wayne to stop talking.

Read more: http://www.c-ville.com/confederates-convicted/#.Wr98An8h3RY

March 31, 2018

In Occupied Territory of Arlington Neo-Confederate Corey Stewart Tosses Red Meat, Vows Vicious

In “Occupied Territory” of Arlington Neo-Confederate Corey Stewart Tosses Red Meat, Vows “Vicious” Race, Says His Opponents Have Never Won in Northern Virginia

Check out the video, below, of neo-Confederate nutjob and 2018 Virginia GOP U.S. Senate candidate Corey Stewart, tossing his usual far-right red meat to Republicans in Arlington, which Corey – with his usual subtlety and tact, LOL – called “occupied territory” full of “left-wing lunatics.”

Among other fascinating comments, Corey vowed yet again to “run the most vicious, ruthless, aggressive and brutal race against a Democrat that you have ever seen” (APPLAUSE from the Arlington Republicans – they absolutely eat up this viciousness!). Corey did point out, correctly (for once), that none of his GOP primary opponents (just-as-crazy-as-Corey-in-their-own-unique-ways “Paulbot” Nick Freitas and theocratic bigot Ewww Jackson) “has ever won a single election in Northern Virginia – not one.”

Now here’s a good conspiracy theory for you: Corey claimed that Virginia Democrats won in 2017 because “left-wing billionaires from the left coast” poured resources into “little” House of Delegates races, also “bused people in from New York, New Jersey, Maryland” (anyone hear a bit of a “dog whistle” here?), but in 2018 Democrats supposedly aren’t going to spend any resources on Virginia and “we’re going to kick their teeth out in 2018.”

Finally, gotta love this one: asked if he would do anything about Facebook, Corey said he would. Why? Not because of privacy intrusions or threats to our democracy, but…wait for it…because supposedly Facebook, Google, etc. specifically limit conservative speech (he gave the example of Googling “gun control” and “Chicago” and how the truth about the “high crime” and “gun control” connection has been suppressed). Yep, that’s the leading contender for the VA GOP’s 2018 U.S. Senate nomination, and a perfect illustration of how far off into John Birch Society loony-land today’s Republicans have lurched. Let’s not just beat them in November, let’s crush them.

Video at link since it will not embed:
https://bluevirginia.us/2018/03/video-corey-stewart-tosses-red-meat-vows-vicious-race-in-occupied-territory-of-arlington

March 31, 2018

Where Is Tom Perriello These Days and Whats He Up To? An Update.

For all of us who supported Tom Perriello in the 2017 Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary – and some of us, including yours truly, in his 2008 and 2010 Congressional races – here’s an update on what Tom’s up to these days.

First, Tom is now on the board of Indivisible — “Our new board members are all of that and more, and we’re lucky to have them join us. They’ve all been not just leaders, but game-changers in their fields. They come from a spectrum of progressive missions—labor, immigrant rights, anti-poverty, politics, technology, and public service. These are leaders that have inspired us and influenced our thinking.”

Second, check out this very cool lecture series he’s going to be conducting at the University of Chicago. I just wish it was being live streamed and/or videotaped, as I’d love to see his lectures, which sound fascinating!

Tom Perriello on “Domestic and Global Challenges Only the Next Generation Can Solve”
Tom Perriello’s seminars will be held on Tuesdays at 12:30pm.

Read more: https://bluevirginia.us/2018/03/where-is-tom-perriello-these-days-and-whats-he-up-to-an-update

March 31, 2018

VA-02 Dem Candidate Shaun Brown Hits DCCC, Says She Will Run for Congress as Independent

I get the frustration in VA-02 with the DCCC foolishly weighing in the way they have for one candidate (Elaine Luria, who voted for Rep. Scott Taylor not once but TWICE in 2016). Having said that, I do NOT believe that it’s at all helpful for a Democrat (e.g., Shaun Brown; see statement below) to run as an independent in the general election, as this could be a very close race in November, where even 1% or 2% “bleeding off” from the Democratic nominee to the independent progressive candidate could hand reelection to the Republican, Scott Taylor. That would, to be blunt about it, suck. (Also note that a similar situation has happened in VA-07, where Helen Alli dropped out of the Democratic primary and announced she’ll be running as an independent, also in a district where the election in November could be VERY close…) – Lowell

Statement: Second Congressional District Candidate Shaun Brown

Today, I announce my intention to enter the November general
election and not participate in the Democratic Primary on June 12th
for the second congressional district since a democratic nominee has
already been pre-selected by the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee (DCCC). This has minimized the voice of voters. My fight
for fairness for you starts now as the DCCC’s decision not only does
not respect the voice of the voter, it goes to the core of who we are
here in Virginia, the birthplace of our democracy. Democratic primary
candidates in the second congressional race like myself would
ultimately pay for an election that has been pre-determined. I believe
that a fair primary election would have been best for all with all of
us coming together to support the winner.

Next year we will celebrate the 400th hundredth anniversary of the
first representative government in this New World and the landing of
the first Africans here in the second congressional district both in
1619. No one but the people should choose who the people are. That’s
democracy.

I am running to bring about meaningful change to our district and to
our nation. That includes but is not limited to: Fair Elections,
Comprehensive Commonsense Gun Reform , Protecting and taking care of
our Veterans because they protect us every single day and ensuring
that our Seniors who have worked their entire lives do not live in
poverty after they retire.

Read more: https://bluevirginia.us/2018/03/va-02-dem-candidate-shaun-brown-hits-dccc-says-she-will-run-for-congress-as-independent

March 31, 2018

Judge orders DA's office to stop distributing explicit images of biker and wife

WACO -- A judge said Wednesday he will order attorneys for Twin Peaks shootout bikers who received sexually explicit images of biker Cody Ledbetter and his wife distributed by the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office through the discovery process to destroy the images.

Judge Matt Johnson of Waco’s 54th State District Court also issued an order Wednesday prohibiting McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna’s office from further distribution of the “private, intimate sexual images” of Ledbetter and his wife taken from Ledbetter’s cellphone after his arrest in May 2015.

Johnson’s orders came in response to a motion from Ledbetter’s attorney, Paul Looney, who called the DA’s actions “revenge porn” and alleged office personnel are guilty of misdemeanor offenses for every image or video of the Ledbetters they sent or send out.

“We’re finally coming to the end of this odyssey with him,” Looney said Wednesday. “The State of Texas through the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office has been ordered to do that which every citizen is required to do — quit committing crimes. It’s a real tragedy that the district attorney’s office had to be specifically ordered by a district judge to quit their criminal activity, but at least the judge did that and we are very grateful. The bizarre saga that has become Waco continues to reach new lows.”

Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_and_trials/judge-orders-da-s-office-to-stop-distributing-explicit-images/article_3299b3c7-288d-5d50-9dbc-d503f41623a8.html

March 31, 2018

Limestone County Judge resigns in deal with judicial conduct commission

Limestone County Judge Daniel Burkeen is stepping down from his judicial responsibilities, effective immediately, said Eric Vinson, the Executive Director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, on Friday.

Burkeen’s resignation is part of a voluntary agreement with the commission related to allegations Limestone County commissioners made last October in a petition seeking to remove Burkeen from office. Commissioners filed the petition after Burkeen was placed in a pretrial diversion program for a drunken driving charge he was arrested on last April in McLennan County.

Though Burkeen will no longer serve in a judicial capacity, he will continue his administrative responsibilities as head of the Limestone County Commissioners Court until May 31, Vinson said.

Burkeen lost his re-election bid in the March 6 Republican primary and would have been out of office at the end of the year. He finished third out of four candidates, behind Richard Duncan and Mark Roark, who will face each other in a runoff May 22. No Democrat is running for the seat, and commissioners will be able to appoint the winner of the runoff to finish out Burkeen’s term before starting their own full term.

Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/courts_and_trials/limestone-county-judge-resigns-in-deal-with-judicial-conduct-commission/article_7b680c00-ac05-55be-92ca-b215aa939b01.html

"Other allegations included that he was once found lying on the ground next to his car outside the courthouse one morning in February 2016, and that he may have engaged in inappropriate conduct with females who appeared in criminal cases in his court."

Burkeen also doesn't like President Obama.

March 31, 2018

Baylor paid Briles $15.1 million, Ken Starr $4.5 million after removal amid sexual assault scandal

Baylor University paid former football coach Art Briles $15.1 million and former university President Ken Starr $4.5 million after both were fired in 2016 {yes, that Ken Starr}.

The disclosure was included in Baylor’s IRS Form 990 for the 2016 tax year, which was recently filed.

Briles was fired and Starr was removed as president in May 2016 after an independent investigation found a universitywide “fundamental failure” in handling sexual assault reports. Starr later resigned as chancellor and law professor.

“Baylor stands by the unprecedented corrective actions the Board of Regents made in May of 2016, which included leadership changes within the university administration and athletic department and the acceptance of 105 recommendations to improve our processes, communication, training and response related to incidents of sexual violence within our campus community,” the university said in a statement released Friday.

Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/higher_education/baylor-paid-briles-million-starr-million-after-removal-amid-sexual/article_2bdda9a0-43d6-5e13-94dc-72b28c1db737.html

March 31, 2018

Governor asks 'Daily Show' host to see real Montana

HELENA — It’s gotten even more personal.

Gov. Steve Bullock entered the fray Thursday over a recent ribbing of Montana by “The Daily Show” by inviting its host, Trevor Noah, to visit the Treasure State.

And he sweetened the deal by offering to make him lunch.

“The Daily Show” sent correspondent Roy Wood Jr. to the March for our Guns rally Saturday at the state Capitol in which 150 people attended while a March for our Lives rally was held across town in which about 1,000 people attended.

Read more: https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2018/03/29/governor-asks-daily-show-host-see-real-montana/471371002/