Mercury Drops, Temperature Rises
Posted by Chap at 1/21/2008 8:02 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Today was Martin Luther King Day, a Federal holiday and day off for state workers and schoolchildren. As a result, the State Capitol was packed with visitors, onlookers and thrill-seekers.
Despite the cold weather, it was a good day to meet people. I spoke to a crowd of about 150 environmental activists gathered at a nearby church about the Clean Energy bill. I also had a great visit with members of The Arc of Northern Virginia who were here to lobby for funding for greater "MR funding," i.e. money for those who are mentally challeged.
The main event was the hearing on the gun show bill, which took place before Senate Courts Committee. Sitting across the hall in the Agriculture committee, I missed the speakers and the passion they brought. However, you couldn't miss the hundreds of folks wearing buttons and stickers, including families of the Virginia Tech victims. Due to the number of speakers, that hearing has been continued to Wednesday ...
In the Agriculture committee, we passed a bill relating to comprehensive Chesapeake clean-up (as yet unfunded) and defeated a bill to legalize Sunday hunting in Virginia -- a strange prohibition considering that we legalized ABC sales on Sunday just a few years ago. I personally voted for it but for naught.
The session is heating up now as bills are contested in Committee and showdowns loom on the floor.
Chap,
As we discussed via email you told me you agreed the Sunday huntign ban was an outdated blue law and were for the lifting of the Sunday Hunting Ban. I may be reading the votes wrong but it says you were a NAY vote???
I voted against the motion to kill the bill. That's why I have a "nay" vote.
I understand now, thanks Chap for your representation!
Actually the MLK Day Rally was for the entire Coalition for Citizens with Mental Disabilities and also includes increases in funding for those of us who have psychiatric disabilities. We hope that you will focus some attention on the numerous mental health bills introduced this session. The persons with psychiatric disabilities who were in Richmond oppose any legislation that will increase the possibilities of forced treatment and reduce our rights to privacy through changes in confidentiality. We do support increased funding and choice in services. We were sorry that the Northern Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association couldn't personally meet with you but we hope to have someone at your local community meeting.