Capitol Briefs: Panel passes bill targeting cigarette smuggling

By: Times-Dispatch Staff | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 07, 2012

What’s happening today?

The House of Delegates is expected to debate a bill that would make it easier for home-schooled students to play sports in public schools.

Panel passes bill targeting cigarette smuggling

A Senate committee approved legislation Monday aimed at cracking down on cigarette smuggling from Virginia to higher-tax states.

Senate Bill 347 would make it illegal to possess more than 25 cartons of cigarettes outside the normal chain of distribution.

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed the bill and re-referred it to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill, introduced by Sen. Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover, is backed by Henrico County-based tobacco giant Altria Group Inc.

A similar bill, House Bill 479, sponsored by Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, is scheduled to be heard in the House Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday.

McDonnell to join Romney in N.Va. this week

Gov. Bob McDonnell, quickly becoming a familiar surrogate for Mitt Romney, will join the Republican presidential candidate for a fundraiser on Thursday night in Washington and a speech the next morning in Northern Virginia.

The former Massachusetts governor will address the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Consumer Electronics Association on Friday in Reston as part of the 2011-2012 Presidential Series breakfast.

He’s expected to discuss his plan for jobs and a 21st century workforce, and how technology and innovation can spur the nation’s economic growth, according to the groups.

McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association and the subject of vice presidential buzz, will spend the rest of Friday on a mix of political and official business.

He’ll speak later that morning at CPAC 2012, the annual gathering of conservatives in Washington, before traveling to Lexington for Washington and Lee University’s Mock Convention and a brewery ribbon-cutting.

Deeds pulls his own bill to abolish appeals court

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, saved the Senate Courts of Justice Committee the trouble of killing his bill to abolish the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Deeds almost jokingly called his Senate Bill 630 “real reform” in presenting it to the incredulous panel.

Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, asked rhetorically why not also try to abolish circuit courts and the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Deeds replied that the Court of Appeals was created in 1995 and, unlike Circuit and Supreme Courts, isn’t mandated in the state Constitution. Rather, he said, it seemed to be mostly a way to reward former prosecutors and ex-judges.

Deeds stood before the silent committee for an awkward moment. When no one moved to report his bill, he withdrew it on his own as he left the room.

From staff and wire reports