Transparency News, 1/28/21

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee advanced SB 1103, the bill to make the votes taken by the Parole public, on a 12-3 vote.

Related to the above bill, I had a few thoughts on Twitter about fiscal impact statements that are attached to bills and how they sometimes signal whether affected agencies do or don’t want the bill to pass.

This morning, a House Public Safety Committee subcommittee advanced a bill requiring the public posting a audio or video footageof an encounter where a police officer discharged a firearm, stun weapon or chemical irritant if that discharge results in a person’s death or serious bodily injury. This bill also had large projected fiscal impact on the state police and the AG’s office, though it’s interesting to note that these instances will be (and already are) rare and probably wouldn’t necessitate multiple new hires, office space and furniture. 
 

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More vaccines are coming, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a Wednesday press conference. Acknowledging frustrations with supply shortages in Virginia and around the country, he announced several changes over the next few days that include a 16% increase in vaccine distribution from the federal government, a new statewide online vaccine dashboard offering greater transparency of information, and an improved statewide system for residents to sign up for vaccines. The dashboard will be launched immediately, he said, and include information on where vaccines have been distributed and used around Virginia.
The Winchester Star

The biggest topic at Tuesday’s meeting of the Martinsville City Council meeting was the one that wasn’t presented publicly: a tax report by Commissioner of Revenue Ruth Easley that raised significant questions about the financial impact of reversion. During closed session before the meeting, Easley presented a 25-page document, “Tax Impact of Reversion on Martinsville Businesses Martinsville & Henry County Residents,” that distilled some elements of how the business environment in the community could be negatively affected by tax changes under reversion. But during the open portion of the meeting — broadcast to the public on cable television — the council heard over Zoom an update on reversion from Stephen Piepgrass of the law firm Troutman Pepper on the city’s transition to town status. Easley’s report was not addressed. But during the open portion of the meeting — broadcast to the public on cable television — the council heard over Zoom an update on reversion from Stephen Piepgrass of the law firm Troutman Pepper on the city’s transition to town status. Easley’s report was not addressed. The public only would not have learned of its existence, much less its content, if the council’s newest member, Tammy Pearson, had not mentioned it in her comments near the end of meeting.
Martinsville Bulletin

Some members of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors say it’s time to consider giving themselves a raise. The board last voted for a pay increase in 2002, when their annual compensation rose to $9,000. The chairman gets $10,200. That’s less than the $12,668 paid to board members in nearby Orange County, which has almost the same population as Louisa. But the $9,000 figure is in line with what supervisors make on average in 13 other similar-sized Virginia localities. “Everybody on this board falls into one of two categories: self-employed and retired,” Adams said. “If the board decided to increase compensation, it may encourage additional people to seek a seat.”
The Central Virginian

We regret to inform you that Portsmouth officials are at it again. Charged with the important decision to come before the City Council — the hiring of a new city manager — members appear bullishly determined to set aside all reason, and do something so wrong-headed that it defies comprehension. The council’s consideration of Danny Meeks, former council member and recently defeated candidate for mayor, should have citizens outraged. Meeks cannot claim to meet the minimum qualifications for the job and didn’t apply to serve. Hiring him would be malpractice. In truth, Meeks’ time on the council wasn’t terribly distinguished. Recall, for instance, that he endorsed an unconstitutional measure prohibiting council members from speaking about discussions held in closed session — only to reverse himself when he was fined by his colleagues for speaking to the media.
The Virginian-Pilot

The Fairfax County government has embarked on what it calls “zMOD.” That the county government’s aging-in-place zoning ordinance needs a rewrite is probably not an arguable question. “Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis,” as the Romans (or any Latin student) might have put it. The times change, and we must change with them. That being said . . . Those looking at the provisions being rolled out by county leaders are finding lots of areas that need more discussion. Far more discussion. And attempting to do so in the middle of a pandemic, one that shows no sign of leaving anytime soon and one that has significantly impacted the ability of the public to have input into its governance, is not the way to go. Cynics would argue that’s exactly why this process is being rushed through – to sneak things past those who in normal times might have caught them.Perhaps. But we’d argue it is in the county government’s best interests to have more scrutiny, not less. 
Sun Gazette

Which came first: a state legislator’s stance on an issue, or a campaign contribution?  This quasi-“chicken-or-the-egg” question arises whenever lawmakers accept money from people and corporations with business before the Virginia General Assembly.  Correlation isn’t always causation, as one researcher reminded me. Yet “coincidences” are simply too striking to ignore. But … companies certainly believe they can influence votes by pumping cash into the coffers of candidates and elected officials. 
Roger Chesley, Virginia Mercury