It’s a measure of how things have been going in Petersburg that residents there can look up at Richmond’s recent experience with an elected mayor—from the eviction of School Board offices from City Hall to lawsuits over budget powers—and say, “Man, have they got it good.“

Republican leaders in the House of Delegates have made the right call in directing the clerk to ensure that votes in subcommittee are recorded. The votes didn’t much matter for a long time, but they do now.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s budget proposal calls for a cigarette tax increase of 30 cents per pack, as well as pruning 1,500 state jobs, including 530 new layoffs.

Legislation still can perish at the hands of few state lawmakers in the early morning, but it looks like it’ll soon be on the record. Speaker William J. Howell has directed the clerk of the House of Delegates to start recording votes taken in House subcommittees.

Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, is absolutely right: House Republicans should clear the air in the smoke-filled rooms where legislative subcommittees of the General Assembly meet. AFP wants the House to record subcommittee votes. So do Democratic lawmakers. So does Sam Nixon, chairman of the GOP caucus. Recording votes might not have been a big deal a few years ago, but it is now: In 2006, a rules change let subcommittees kill legislation—something they couldn’t do before.

Several state lawmakers are at odds with the Virginia Supreme Court over whether evaluations of judges who are up for reappointment should be open to the public. The evaluations are designed to help judges with self-improvement and to inform General Assembly members who reappoint them. But a recent order from the state Supreme Court stipulates that only members of the General Assembly should view the evaluations.

Several state lawmakers are at odds with the Virginia Supreme Court over whether evaluations of judges who are up for reappointment should be open to the public. The evaluations are designed to help judges with self-improvement and to inform General Assembly members who reappoint them. But a recent order from the state Supreme Court stipulates that only members of the General Assembly should view the evaluations.

Virginia’s food banks are trying to feed more people in a tight economy by getting help from the state government. The Federation of Virginia Food Banks will ask the General Assembly to fund a $1 million emergency food-purchase program to be shared by the state’s seven food banks. The food banks are requesting $1 million “because we didn’t think we could get $10 million,“ said Roy Peters, a member of the federation board. He’s also vice president of finance and administration for FeedMore, which operates the Central Virginia Foodbank and Meals on Wheels with a combined budget of $6.5 million to $7 million.

While the General Assembly and the four prospective candidates for governor don’t want to increase taxes while the economy is in recession, proposed cuts in K-12 education and health care will be on the table, two legislative leaders said yesterday. Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Prince William, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, made the comments while speaking to journalists at Associated Press Day at the Capital, held at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Minus Richmond’s current and future mayor, members of the City Council and School Board pressed tonight their priorities for the 2009 General Assembly session. The dinner discussion touched on a range of topics but was dominated by a hope that lawmakers would limit the impact of potentially severe budget cuts on critical services, including education and public safety.

Minus Richmond’s current and future mayor, members of the City Council and School Board pressed last night their priorities for the 2009 General Assembly session. The dinner discussion touched on a range of topics but was dominated by talk of a hope that lawmakers would limit the impact of potentially severe budget cuts on critical services, including education and public safety.

Circuit Court Clerk Judy L. Worthington’s quest for freedom is a step closer to reality. Now it’s in the hands of the state from which she’s seeking independence. The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors tonight approved a charter change that—if approved by the General Assembly—would allow the clerk’s office to be supported solely by the county.

Circuit Court Clerk Judy L. Worthington’s quest for freedom is a step closer to reality. Now it’s in the hands of the state from which she’s seeking independence. The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors last night approved a charter change that—if approved by the General Assembly—would allow the clerk’s office to be supported solely by the county.

A clampdown on high-cost instant loans takes effect today, but lenders already are finding ways around it—and legislators are steamed.