Great work by Senator McEachin and Delegate Toscano calling extremists in Richmond to task for their failure to work on the issues that matters to middle-class Virginians trying to figure out how to live their dreams. in Senator McEachin's words: "Republicans are so focused on divisive policies that they are hindering our efforts at progress, putting our kids' education at risk, and leaving them less prepared for the future. In the last four weeks, Senate and House Republicans have introduced hundreds of bills that target the poor, women, and immigrants, make it harder to vote, and discriminate against gays and lesbians. It's time for Republicans to put divisive ideology and raw partisanship aside. Read More »

I've been dismayed by how fecklessly President Obama's enemies are trotting out the old playbook of attacking a Democrat as weak on national security. Even taking for granted our current fact-free politics, these assaults are particularly egregious, ignoring the confident, precise, intensely patriotic nature of the President's foreign policy and national security. I have an op-ed out in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch drawing on some of my experience in national security as well as some of the facts about the President's proposed new Pentagon budget to argue that it's critics like Mitt Romney who really ought to be playing defense on defense. Here are a few grafs from the article -- you can check out the full version here. Read More »

Now we're turning our focus to fresh ideas on public education. As a Virginia public school and UVA Law graduate, a small businessman, and an educator at Virginia Tech, I firmly believe in the power of public education to build Virginia's future -- and give progressives an edge at the kitchen table. Here's what we're delivering in the coming weeks... Read More »

There is a fundamental debate raging in the higher education world right now. The basic resolution reads: Is higher education a public or private good? This is a crucial question not only for theoretical debates in the academy but about public policy affecting thousands of Virginia students and families. If higher ed is is a public good, the state’s role in funding higher education is clearly established. The state has a clear obligation to ensure that students can attend higher education since the product of that education benefits state and society alike. Meanwhile, if it's a private good, it follows that the costs of education should fall entirely onto the student, since it's the student who enjoys the fruits of his education. Read More »

As a veteran of seven Virginia Democratic election protection programs and founder of the New Electoral Reform Alliance of Virginia, I'm familiar with the provisional ballot system we have. I fear the intentional chaos that will be unleashed under this new system. I've counseled many frustrated voters through the process of casting provisional ballots and have advised them on how to ensure they get counted -- usually, by taking a day off work to show up to the registrar's office the next day. (Virginia's system is already unusual in that the "canvass" of votes starts the day after voting -- in some states, the canvass starts a few days later, giving more time to a voter to arrange to travel). Read More »

Tomorrow, the Democratic Party of Virginia and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus are sponsoring a "Protect Our Vote Rally" at the Bell Tower on the grounds of the Virginia Capitol in Richmond. The event features a special guest, the civil rights hero Dr. Benjamin Chavis. You can also take a minute to sign a petition opposing these anti-voter bills. Read More »

Nelson Lopez is a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia. A bright, personable young man, Nelson volunteers his time as a tutor with the Southwood Community Outreach Center and is an assistant in the Immigration Clinic at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville as well. But without intervention by the ACLU, he may have never been able to attend U.Va. A citizen by birth, Nelson applied to U.Va. in the winter of 2008, only to receive notification from the University that spring asking him that he would have to prove his parent’s legal residency in order to be considered an in-state student. After much bad publicity and widespread, constant coverage by the Washington Post, the University re-classified Lopez as an in-state student, thereby increasing his chances of admission and the prospect of paying a lower in-state tuition. Nevertheless, Lopez’s case was an exception to the rule. Read More »

We need to address our schools' current policy on suspension and expulsion. Across the Commonwealth, thousands of students are being suspended under zero tolerance policies for minor transgressions. In fact, the most cited reasons for suspension or expulsion in Virginia’s schools during 2009-2010 were defiance, classroom disruption, making obscene or inappropriate gestures, language, and disrespect. Together, they made up over half of all incidents reported and charged. Read More »

The community college needs to be a mainstay in our state. In addition to its traditional functions of providing certificates and training for a host of high-demand careers, the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) also provides an affordable path to a four-year degree. In fact, Northern Virginia Community College, with over 60,000 students, is the second-largest community college in America. This is a sign of how well attended and reputable our community colleges have become. Nevertheless, while our community colleges are an inexpensive gateway to both traditional four-year schools and profitable careers, they also are gatekeepers. The fact is that the trend toward "distance learning," while convenient and practical, is hindering many community college students from realizing their potential and their goals. Read More »

500,000 people. That’s the number of people who have ridden the Tide–Hampton Roads’ new light-rail transit service–in just four months. To the surprise of many, the Tide has wildly exceeded expectations. Currently servicing around 20,000 people a day, the service already has plans to expand into other municipalities and has received positive support from both city leaders and citizens alike. At one time, the Tide appeared to be a disappointing project that was both over-budget and over-due. While much credit certainly should go to Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) and the new leadership that turned the Tide (pun intended) into a government success story, credit is also due to Hampton Roads’ cities–for cooperating. Read More »