Cuccinelli adds support to repeal amendment
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has thrown his support behind a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow two-thirds of the states to collectively repeal any law or regulation of Congress.
Cuccinelli, who has championed challenges to the federal health-care overhaul and Environmental Protection Agency regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, joins Gov. Bob McDonnell and legislative leaders of 11 other states backing the repeal effort.
The states involved to date: Virginia, Florida, Texas, Montana, Iowa, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Utah.
"I am enthusiastically supporting the repeal amendment in order to restore the balance of power between the citizens and the federal government," Cuccinelli said in a statement.
"Over the past several decades, no matter which party is in charge, the federal government has been eroding the authority of the states and the liberty of citizens. The Repeal Amendment will act as an important check against the ever-growing power of the federal government."
Jim Nolan
Nye lauds repeal of
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Outgoing Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2
"For most of the past 12 years, prior to serving in Congress, I traveled all over the world with the Foreign Service," Nye said. "In places like Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, I had the honor to serve alongside the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.
"I witnessed the tremendous sacrifice they make every day out there and I believe in my heart that anyone who would risk so much should be given the opportunity to serve in uniform."
Nye lost his seat Nov. 2 to Republican Scott Rigell.
Andrew Cain
Redistricting will be 'arduous' task
While Virginia did not gain or lose a congressional district as its population topped 8 million, a tough redistricting battle is ahead. Next year, legislators will redraw boundaries for Virginia's 11 U.S. House districts and its 140 General Assembly districts to reflect population shifts within the state.
"While reapportionment meant nothing much for Virginia, redistricting certainly will," said Isaac Wood, a political analyst at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
"Again, we see the continuation of past trends as Northern Virginia adds population while Southwest Virginia shrinks. As a result, more congressional and legislative districts will be added in the D.C. suburbs while the Southwest and Southside districts are expanded in area or eliminated altogether. It will be an arduous and quite political task, even with the number of U.S. House and state legislative districts remaining constant."
Olympia Meola
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