VAPLAN
@vaplan.bsky.social
Virginia Progressive Legislative Alert Network: tracking and reporting on the Virginia General Assembly sessions
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VAPLAN
@vaplan.bsky.social
· Mar 12
It's here: the 2025 VAPLAN scorecard! - VAPLAN
Every year VAPLAN’s legislative tracking culminates in a scorecard, ranking legislators from most “progressive” to least, across policy areas. We score votes on dozens of ....
vaplan.us
🥁🥁2025 scorecard is out! Most progressive:
H: @ebpforva.bsky.social, @henson4virginia.bsky.social, @delegatecallsen.bsky.social, @adelemcclure.bsky.social & @ireneforva.bsky.social
S: Sen Bagby, @adamebbin.bsky.social, @pwcdanica.bsky.social, @creighdeeds.bsky.social & @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social
H: @ebpforva.bsky.social, @henson4virginia.bsky.social, @delegatecallsen.bsky.social, @adelemcclure.bsky.social & @ireneforva.bsky.social
S: Sen Bagby, @adamebbin.bsky.social, @pwcdanica.bsky.social, @creighdeeds.bsky.social & @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social
Yesterday: Autism Advisory Council voted 👍 Sen Pekarsky bill to add Blue Envelope program info to Driver's Ed curriculum; & @laurajanecohen.bsky.social leg. facilitating high school (IDEA std)->college (ADA std) transitions, and to study a pilot 4-year college program akin to Mason Life.
November 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Yesterday: Autism Advisory Council voted 👍 Sen Pekarsky bill to add Blue Envelope program info to Driver's Ed curriculum; & @laurajanecohen.bsky.social leg. facilitating high school (IDEA std)->college (ADA std) transitions, and to study a pilot 4-year college program akin to Mason Life.
Sadly, I suspect VA voters who elected a Youngkin 4 yrs ago don't support ending RTW. VA may not be there ideologically. Legislators may not want to have to all vote on this. But a smart governor will work w legislature to at least chip away at RTW & find labor wins through this.
November 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Sadly, I suspect VA voters who elected a Youngkin 4 yrs ago don't support ending RTW. VA may not be there ideologically. Legislators may not want to have to all vote on this. But a smart governor will work w legislature to at least chip away at RTW & find labor wins through this.
I've been "educated" over on *that other site* that this change is something experts in education support, but my main point re: the timing and how headlines next year will scream about scores plummeting under Gov Spanberger is still correct.
The tl;dr is that Youngkin put in place a new (untested and nonstandard) way to measure--just in the future--how well Virginia is educating her children that will make it look like Governor Spanberger isn't doing well. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/h...
Higher SOL cut scores coming, but not this year, Virginia board says • Virginia Mercury
Virginia will delay raising its academic benchmarks in reading and math until the following school year — a pause that gives teachers and school divisions a brief breather before higher proficiency st...
virginiamercury.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I've been "educated" over on *that other site* that this change is something experts in education support, but my main point re: the timing and how headlines next year will scream about scores plummeting under Gov Spanberger is still correct.
The tl;dr is that Youngkin put in place a new (untested and nonstandard) way to measure--just in the future--how well Virginia is educating her children that will make it look like Governor Spanberger isn't doing well. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/h...
Higher SOL cut scores coming, but not this year, Virginia board says • Virginia Mercury
Virginia will delay raising its academic benchmarks in reading and math until the following school year — a pause that gives teachers and school divisions a brief breather before higher proficiency st...
virginiamercury.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
The tl;dr is that Youngkin put in place a new (untested and nonstandard) way to measure--just in the future--how well Virginia is educating her children that will make it look like Governor Spanberger isn't doing well. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/h...
Nothing to see here from the "pro-life" folks, right? virginiamercury.com/2025/11/07/c...
Centra South Side Community Hospital to close labor and delivery unit in Farmville • Virginia Mercury
Starting on Dec. 19, Farmville-area expectant parents will need to travel to Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg — a roughly hour-long drive west.
virginiamercury.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Nothing to see here from the "pro-life" folks, right? virginiamercury.com/2025/11/07/c...
Seemed pretty obvious when they nominated a terrible candidate for the top of the ticket (and then national and VA GOP only dumped money into Miyares for months) that GOP delegates had been thrown under the bus. Not sure Kilgore's to blame for most of that.
Leadership challenge to Virginia House GOP leader Terry Kilgore
He took over in summer when Todd Gilbert resigned
House GOP was badly outspent by Dems and lost 13 seats
Kilgore also hoped Miyares could lead ticket and may have missed top of ticket implications for House
He took over in summer when Todd Gilbert resigned
House GOP was badly outspent by Dems and lost 13 seats
Kilgore also hoped Miyares could lead ticket and may have missed top of ticket implications for House
November 6, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Seemed pretty obvious when they nominated a terrible candidate for the top of the ticket (and then national and VA GOP only dumped money into Miyares for months) that GOP delegates had been thrown under the bus. Not sure Kilgore's to blame for most of that.
No words for how vile and disgusting this is. And dangerous, frankly, to rile up a MAGA mob about not wanting *those kind of people* in this state. Where have we seen this before? 🤔
Video: At Rally in Purcellville, Glenn Youngkin and John Reid Cut Loose with Repulsive Xenophobia, Islamophobia, etc.; Claim “radical Islamists…are on the march”; Declare, “I don’t want [Hashmi] anywhere. I don’t even want her in the state!” bluevirginia.us/2025/11/vide...
November 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
No words for how vile and disgusting this is. And dangerous, frankly, to rile up a MAGA mob about not wanting *those kind of people* in this state. Where have we seen this before? 🤔
Oh, don't worry, @abigailspanberger.com IS going to pack up and go home--just as soon as Youngkin moves out of it!
Video: Note what Youngkin says here, in addition to his Islamophobia/xenophobia? "We’re going to reject @SpanbergerForVA and send her back where she belongs, which is…how about back home? Just go back home!" WTF does THAT mean??? bluevirginia.us/2025/11/vide...
November 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Oh, don't worry, @abigailspanberger.com IS going to pack up and go home--just as soon as Youngkin moves out of it!
Democratic colleagues Simon, Ebbin, Watts and Locke wrote in their letter to OSIG that they are “deeply concerned” Miyares may have pressured VADOC “to adjust its practices in ways that advantage” his campaign.
“If true, this would represent a profound breach of the public trust,” they wrote.
“If true, this would represent a profound breach of the public trust,” they wrote.
State lawmakers have requested an investigation into whether Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for reelection, received protected data about a program that allows Virginia inmates to trim their prison time, which was used in campaign ads. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/31/m...
Murky information and blurred lines cloud early release reoffender data, color attorney general race • Virginia Mercury
Though questions have lingered among journalists and lawmakers alike, the highly politicized early release program still stands as campaign fodder...
virginiamercury.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Democratic colleagues Simon, Ebbin, Watts and Locke wrote in their letter to OSIG that they are “deeply concerned” Miyares may have pressured VADOC “to adjust its practices in ways that advantage” his campaign.
“If true, this would represent a profound breach of the public trust,” they wrote.
“If true, this would represent a profound breach of the public trust,” they wrote.
Sen Mulchi speaking passionately and heart-breakingly about domestic violence and how many victims of domestic violence are re-victimized in court, labeled as having mental illness. And I can't help but think about how Miyares did that to this victim: vanow.org/news/article...
Atty General Miyares' Betrayal of Domestic Violence Victim - Virginia NOW
A state chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Virginia Chapter of the National Organization for Women works at the state level to empower women and expand their rights.
vanow.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Sen Mulchi speaking passionately and heart-breakingly about domestic violence and how many victims of domestic violence are re-victimized in court, labeled as having mental illness. And I can't help but think about how Miyares did that to this victim: vanow.org/news/article...
@ssurovell.bsky.social before Virginia Senate passes redistricting amendment: What do you do when one side refuses to play by the rules? Do you continue to play by the rules and concede defeat? Or do you take actions, even if unsavory, to protect the principles of democratic government?
October 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
@ssurovell.bsky.social before Virginia Senate passes redistricting amendment: What do you do when one side refuses to play by the rules? Do you continue to play by the rules and concede defeat? Or do you take actions, even if unsavory, to protect the principles of democratic government?
@senatorlocke.bsky.social points out that the GOP keep saying "We don't react to things happening elsewhere," but all year long we've been responding to Executive Orders coming from DC, whether they follow the law or constitution or not. While other states are fighting back, Miyares is not.
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
@senatorlocke.bsky.social points out that the GOP keep saying "We don't react to things happening elsewhere," but all year long we've been responding to Executive Orders coming from DC, whether they follow the law or constitution or not. While other states are fighting back, Miyares is not.
Weird how it's the "death of our democracy" here in Virginia to offer the voters a chance to engage in mid-decade redistricting.
So do we all agree that Trump's actions are the death of democracy?
So do we all agree that Trump's actions are the death of democracy?
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Weird how it's the "death of our democracy" here in Virginia to offer the voters a chance to engage in mid-decade redistricting.
So do we all agree that Trump's actions are the death of democracy?
So do we all agree that Trump's actions are the death of democracy?
We keep hearing occasional peeps from VA GOP members during this redistricting discussion insinuating-sometimes downright stating-that Trump's coerced mid-decade redistricting in TX & elsewhere to rig Congress's majority is wrong. But none of them said a single word before this.
October 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We keep hearing occasional peeps from VA GOP members during this redistricting discussion insinuating-sometimes downright stating-that Trump's coerced mid-decade redistricting in TX & elsewhere to rig Congress's majority is wrong. But none of them said a single word before this.
GOP Senator Peake says something good was said down the hall from someone "we rarely hear good things from, [GOP] Delegate Lee Ware" OUCH!
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
GOP Senator Peake says something good was said down the hall from someone "we rarely hear good things from, [GOP] Delegate Lee Ware" OUCH!
It's cute for the Senate GOP to argue about what constitutes an intervening election and whether voters have a chance to oust legislators if they don't like how they vote on this amendment when it ISN'T THE SENATE THAT IS UP FOR ELECTION. So there's no risk to them either way.
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
It's cute for the Senate GOP to argue about what constitutes an intervening election and whether voters have a chance to oust legislators if they don't like how they vote on this amendment when it ISN'T THE SENATE THAT IS UP FOR ELECTION. So there's no risk to them either way.
Oh goody, we're going to have a constitutional law duel on the Senate floor on this Friday morning. 🫠
October 31, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Oh goody, we're going to have a constitutional law duel on the Senate floor on this Friday morning. 🫠
@ssurovell.bsky.social on early voters: They voted before the shutdown, before the East Wing of the White House was torn down, before they knew whether the government would extend the health care subsidies, lots of things people were unaware of but made up their mind to vote early anyway.
October 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
@ssurovell.bsky.social on early voters: They voted before the shutdown, before the East Wing of the White House was torn down, before they knew whether the government would extend the health care subsidies, lots of things people were unaware of but made up their mind to vote early anyway.
Senate rejects GOP floor changes to redistricting amendment that'd undermine the intent of this plan, which is to give Virginians the opportunity to ask legislature to respond to unfair redistricting taking place in other states, watering down their representation in Congress.
October 31, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Senate rejects GOP floor changes to redistricting amendment that'd undermine the intent of this plan, which is to give Virginians the opportunity to ask legislature to respond to unfair redistricting taking place in other states, watering down their representation in Congress.
Probably wouldn't matter, but the Senate GOP kinda hamstrings themselves by not all showing up to work. They're missing 3 members when the majority has a one vote margin.
October 31, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Probably wouldn't matter, but the Senate GOP kinda hamstrings themselves by not all showing up to work. They're missing 3 members when the majority has a one vote margin.
Reposted by VAPLAN
If they love redistricting comissions show much, why have they never rebuked trump's efforts to "find me more seats?" Why have they never demanded federal legislation prohibiting mid-decade redistricting? Of course, the answer is they don't care about process, they care about power.
It is RICH to hear these GOP Senators fervently singing praises of the Redistricting Commish. @creighdeeds.bsky.social & others drafted redistricting commish amendments for YEARS, and the GOP rejected every single one of them UNTIL they were in minority & could no longer draw own districts.
October 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If they love redistricting comissions show much, why have they never rebuked trump's efforts to "find me more seats?" Why have they never demanded federal legislation prohibiting mid-decade redistricting? Of course, the answer is they don't care about process, they care about power.
It is RICH to hear these GOP Senators fervently singing praises of the Redistricting Commish. @creighdeeds.bsky.social & others drafted redistricting commish amendments for YEARS, and the GOP rejected every single one of them UNTIL they were in minority & could no longer draw own districts.
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
It is RICH to hear these GOP Senators fervently singing praises of the Redistricting Commish. @creighdeeds.bsky.social & others drafted redistricting commish amendments for YEARS, and the GOP rejected every single one of them UNTIL they were in minority & could no longer draw own districts.
Sen Obenshain says that the decision on how many Republican-leaning and how many Democratic-leaning Congressional seats Virginia has shouldn't be one of those "cats and dogs issues" that Democrats and Republicans aren't supposed to agree on. Huh?
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Sen Obenshain says that the decision on how many Republican-leaning and how many Democratic-leaning Congressional seats Virginia has shouldn't be one of those "cats and dogs issues" that Democrats and Republicans aren't supposed to agree on. Huh?
The Virginia Senate has a Charlie Kirk memorial resolution on the floor this morning. I will not be reporting any further on it.
October 31, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Virginia Senate has a Charlie Kirk memorial resolution on the floor this morning. I will not be reporting any further on it.
Senate Privileges and Elections reports out redistricting amendment resolution to the floor.
October 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Senate Privileges and Elections reports out redistricting amendment resolution to the floor.