David Sherfinski
Articles by David Sherfinski
Va. House advances ban on mandatory labor agreements
The Virginia House of Delegates on Monday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would prohibit mandatory labor agreements on state-funded construction projects that opponents argue favor union workers and can lead to ballooning costs. Published January 30, 2012
Virginia GOP flexing muscle to advance legislation
About a quarter of the way through the state's General Assembly session, Republicans thus far have flexed their strengthened muscles to advance legislation on redistricting, abortion and gun rights — with many Democrats left simply to stand and protest. Published January 29, 2012
Community care boosted in agreement on disabled in Virginia
Virginia has reached a wide-ranging settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over its system for treating the intellectually and developmentally disabled, forestalling a federal lawsuit on charges the state needlessly institutionalized many people instead of placing them in community-based care. Published January 26, 2012
Va. House advances repeal of HPV mandate
The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill repealing a mandate that young girls receive a vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to cause cervical cancer, before they enter the sixth grade. Published January 26, 2012
Bill requiring ultrasound before abortion advances in Va. Senate
The Senate Education and Health committee on Thursday advanced a bill that would require women to first undergo ultrasound imaging before having an abortion, a measure that had routinely died in the previously Democrat-led committee. Published January 26, 2012
Va. House gives preliminary approval to repeal of HPV vaccine mandate
The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday gave preliminary approval to repealing a mandate that young girls receive a vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), known to cause cervical cancer, before they enter the sixth grade. Published January 26, 2012
Va. Senate passes bill to allow Sunday hunting
The Virgina Senate passed a measure Thursday to allow state-wide hunting on private property on Sundays. Published January 26, 2012
Va. Senate panel kills repeal of ‘Kings Dominion’ law
A bill to repeal a mandate that Virginia schools open after Labor Day failed to make it out of Senate committee Thursday morning. Published January 26, 2012
Virginia, DOJ reach settlement on care for disabled
Virginia has reached a wide-ranging settlement with the Justice Department over its system for treating the intellectually and developmentally disabled, agreeing to close four training centers, downsize another and provide thousands of additional waiver slots to help move people from institutional-based settings to community care. Published January 26, 2012
Bills take aim at tax code to improve accountability
Billions of dollars in tax credits, incentives and exemptions which in many cases were poorly targeted or ineffective have prompted a bipartisan push in the Virginia General Assembly for greater disclosure and better accountability in the state tax code. Published January 25, 2012
Va. Senate panel backs gun buy limit repeal
A key Senate committee on Wednesday voted to repeal Virginia's law banning the purchase of more than one handgun a month, a longtime priority of gun-rights activists and a measure that now has the backing of Gov. Bob McDonnell. Published January 25, 2012
Cuccinelli asks Va. Supreme Court to intervene in redistricting suit
Virginia Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II is asking the Virginia Supreme Court to intervene in a lawsuit filed over congressional redistricting, after a circuit court judge Tuesday refused to dismiss the case. Published January 25, 2012
Va. judge denies motion to dismiss congressional redistricting lawsuit
A circuit court judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed over congressional redistricting in Virginia and shot down a key argument the state and the GOP have used to defend a map recently passed by the legislature. Published January 24, 2012
Partisan rift stalls judicial elections
The Virginia General Assembly postponed a squabble over judicial appointments after a partisan standoff Tuesday in the state Senate threatened to shut down the upper chamber for up to three days. Published January 24, 2012
Va. House panel backs drug testing, repealing HPV mandate
A Republican-controlled House committee Tuesday passed bills that would subject recipients of welfare benefits in Virginia to drug testing and repeal a mandate that girls receive vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV). Published January 24, 2012
Va. teachers’ groups push back against GOP education proposals
House Republicans on Monday morning pre-emptively protested the Virginia Education Association and the Virginia PTA, touting their own education proposals that have been roundly denounced by the teachers' groups, which later gathered for their traditional "lobby day" at the Capitol. Published January 23, 2012
Father of suicide victim seeks change in Va. school policy
Steve Stuban's son, Nick, committed suicide last January in the wake of school disciplinary proceedings that Mr. Stuban said he found out about only after it was too late. Now Mr. Stuban, with the help of several Northern Virginia legislators, is pushing for an overhaul of the state's parental-notification policy to ensure that the same doesn't happen to other parents. Published January 23, 2012
Va. Gov. McDonnell leads way in restoring ex-cons’ rights
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, in the first two years of his term, has restored the voting rights of more than 2,500 ex-convicts — putting the former prosecutor and state attorney general on pace to eclipse both of his Democratic predecessors. Published January 22, 2012
!["We're going to challenge [the congressional redistricting plan] in court," said Virginia state Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen, Fairfax Democrat. (Associated Press)](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2012/01/22/chap_c0-28-466-299_s652x380.jpg?2532fec80273621c55937f2b36e437f7c0a91059)
Virginia Assembly’s redistricting plan still facing lawsuits
More than nine months after a congressional redistricting map for Virginia was introduced in the General Assembly, a plan has finally cleared the House and the Senate, but legislators insist the matter is still far from settled. Published January 22, 2012
Va. Senate approves House-drawn redistricting map
The Republican-led Senate on Friday muscled through a House-drawn map drawing new lines for the state's 11 congressional districts in one of the GOP's first noteworthy displays of their newfound power. Published January 20, 2012
