David Sherfinski
Articles by David Sherfinski
Child mental health services underfunded, Va. study says
Virginia needs nearly $20 million to fund services recommended by a recent study for children's behavioral health across the state — a perennial problem complicated by the commonwealth's tight fiscal picture. Published December 25, 2011
GOP: Gingrich, Perry won’t be on Va. ballot
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry failed to garner enough signatures to meet Virginia's stringent requirements to appear on the state's GOP primary ballot, leaving former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul as the only Republican candidates to qualify in the crucial swing state. Published December 24, 2011
Perry fails to qualify for Va. ballot; Gingrich also could fall short
Texas Gov. Rick Perry failed to garner enough signatures to appear on the GOP presidential primary ballot in Virginia, leaving former Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul as the only Republican candidates to qualify for the ballot in the crucial swing state as of early Friday evening. Published December 23, 2011
Four of seven GOP hopefuls meet deadline for Virginia ballot
Four Republican presidential candidates — including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — managed to file petitions to qualify for the GOP primary ballot in Virginia ahead of a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline. Published December 22, 2011
Virginia officials get high ratings
Virginia politicians and the state's General Assembly receive high marks from voters — a sharp contrast with how the Old Dominion feels about its presidential choices, according to poll results released Thursday. Published December 22, 2011
Cuccinelli lampoons GOP presidential candidates
The GOP presidential field took some friendly fire from Virginia Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II on Wednesday, as the iconoclastic Republican politician counted himself thankful his run for governor in 2013 wouldn't come in the same year as the presidential contest. Published December 21, 2011
Quinnipiac poll: Allen, Kaine remain deadlocked
The race for a U.S. Senate seat from Virginia is a statistical dead heat, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday — the fourth straight survey from the institute in which results for Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine have fallen within the margin of error. Published December 21, 2011
Bolling ties 2013 hopes to Romney
Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, facing a challenge from the right in state Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, finds himself banking on a strong performance from Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney to give him a boost for the 2013 GOP gubernatorial nomination. Published December 20, 2011
Study: ‘Steep hurdles’ for uranium mining in Virginia
There are "steep hurdles to be mounted" for Virginia to safely mine uranium, according to a much-anticipated two-year study on the process, released Monday by the National Academy of Sciences. Published December 19, 2011
McDonnell releases two-year, $85B budget
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell released a two-year, $85 billion budget blueprint Monday that increases spending for K-12 and higher education as well as public pensions, while making targeted cuts in areas such as health care, social services and public broadcasting. Published December 19, 2011
McDonnell unveils two-year budget
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's message was clear ahead of the release Monday of his biennial budget: The state is crawling back from years of dwindling revenues and budget cuts, but is nowhere near out the woods heading into 2012. Published December 18, 2011
Judge denies bid to block Bolling’s tiebreaking vote
A Richmond judge has denied a Democratic state senator's bid to block Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling from casting tiebreaking votes in the General Assembly's Upper Chamber — clearing the way for, theoretically, complete GOP dominance on Capitol Square. Published December 16, 2011
New poll: Kaine up 5 over Allen
A poll released Thursday on the Senate race in Virginia has former Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, leading Republican George Allen by 5 points, in what has thus far been largely a statistical dead heat between the two political heavyweights. Published December 15, 2011
McDonnell budget includes $2.2B for retirement system
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Republican, announced Thursday that his proposed budget will include $2.2 billion in employer contributions for state and employee teacher funds — the largest such figure in history. Published December 15, 2011
Va. agencies can ban adoptions by gays
Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies in Virginia will not be required to provide services to gay individuals, a state panel ruled Wednesday after nearly a year of heated debate that attracted national interest from advocates on both sides of the issue. Published December 14, 2011
Raising gas tax for inflation would have netted millions
An analysis by a nonprofit tax-policy institute says that Maryland and Virginia could have collected hundreds of millions of dollars per year since their last gas-tax increases if they had raised the tax regularly to account for inflation. Published December 14, 2011
Slain Virginia Tech police officer remembered as protector
A Virginia Tech police officer fatally shot Thursday was memorialized Monday on campus at Cassell Coliseum and remembered as a devoted public servant, father and husband. Published December 12, 2011
Report: Va. would not save with proposed pension plan
Despite a concerted push to overhaul Virginia's retirement system for public employees, a high-profile proposal to offer them an optional 401(k)-style plan would not save the state significant money over the next decade, according to a report released Monday. Published December 12, 2011
Deep-blue Arlington set for bleak session in GOP-controlled assembly
Deep-blue Arlington County is expected this week to approve a lean legislative package for the 2012 General Assembly in a state Capitol likely to be controlled completely by Republicans. Published December 11, 2011
Va. court to rule on scope of Lt. Gov. Bolling’s authority
A Richmond Circuit Court judge expects to rule next week after hearing over an hour of arguments Friday on a complaint seeking to block Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's power to vote on certain matters in the state Senate. Published December 9, 2011
