1.) It is official, the Virginia electoral board certified the 2024 results. John O'Bannon, chair of the election board, called the election "safe and fair."
2.) Bipartisanship hit Virginia this week, as Democratic Sens. Kaine and Warner joined Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares in criticizing President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter. Maybe this isn't the kind of bipartisanship we can build on?
3.) The Virginia Public Access Project has updated their VPAP Index which ranks every House District in Virginia based on their vote in the last presidential election and the 2021 gubernatorial election. The chart shows that HD43 in Southwest Virginia is the most conservative (approx. 70 percent Republican) and HD79 in Richmond is the most liberal (almost 89 percent Democrat). See how your district ranks! For political junkies, this chart is gold.
4.) National Democratic groups, fresh off their drubbing in the recent federal elections, are investing heavily in the open Virginia races in State Senate District 32 and House District 26. Meanwhile, a brouhaha has boiled over on the Republican side between Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson and Loudoun County Republican Leader Scott Pio over Republican investment (or lack thereof) in those races. Fair fight to have, but best done privately.
5.) New Thomas Jefferson Institute Research Fellow, Joshua Devamithran challenged the benefits of Virginia's annual vehicle inspection program, noting that studies show states without such inspections do not show any increase in crashes -- and one (Nebraska) actually experienced a decline in accidents when they ended their inspection mandate. Governor Northam attempted to end inspections, but failed. It is time to end this burdensome regulation in Virginia!
6.) I testified this week before the State Board of Education (you can view it here, at 1:56:14) on the State's new school accountability framework. I urged the Board to not delay in its implementation of the new standards as many of the larger school systems are requesting. Sadly, the school districts object to the fact that the new framework shows vast variations in performance by race and economic status. Todd Truitt, an Arlington Democrat and lawyer (he testified just before me in the same video) explained why it is important that we not hide from, or ignore, this disparity. More importantly, Truitt spells out the magnitude of Virginia's history in failing to educate African-American students compared to other states based on NAEP scores. Everyone should read Mr. Truitt's damning article in yesterday's Bacon's Rebellion! Fortunately, the Board voted not to delay the implementation as Todd and I urged in our testimonies. Kudos to Governor Youngkin and Secretary Guidera for pushing for transparency and accountability, and to the Virginia Board of Education for doing the right thing.
7.) The U.S. Department of Education, on the heels of Governor Youngkin's Executive Order banning cell phones, has urged all states to come up with cell phone use policies. Our Governor Youngkin led the way!
8.) "Green extremism" is about to hit our schools as Virginia is set to approve new environmental science standards that are being called the "most progressive" in the country. Virginia's standards will include lessons on environmental justice. This deserves a closer look. 9.) With President-elect Trump pushing tariffs, particularly against Canada and Mexico, Virginia's two Senators are rightly warning that this would raise costs, and harm families, especially here in Virginia as I have written. Of course, as Dwayne Yancey at Cardinal News hilariously points out in a good history lesson, had we invaded Canada as Thomas Jefferson had urged, or taken more of Mexico, as Polk had proposed we wouldn't need a trade agreement with these two neighbors, as they would be us. Yancey is well worth a follow!
10.) As state legislators are considering new ways to overcome opposition to new solar projects, Cardinal News points out how legislators pushing solar energy have little, if any, solar projects in their districts. Interesting…another great insight from Yancey!
11.) Regional officials met this week to push for a dedicated regional tax for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA or Metro). This would make a mostly unaccountable, financially troubled WMATA even less accountable. No dedicated revenue source should be considered until their finances are in order. As former Congressman Frank Wolf and I wrote in the Washington Times -- appoint an empowered CFO before any new revenue is considered!
12.) From shrinking tax revenue, to a shuttered fire department due to growing controversies with its members, and a 40-year Mayor under federal indictment -- the small town of Glen Lyn in Giles County is on the brink of disbanding. Cardinal News covers the sad developments.
13.) A little President George W. Bush humor that gives average students like me hope...enjoy! | 
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