Virginia News Headlines: Sunday Morning

Here are a few Virginia and national news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, December 29. Also see the video of the amazing Kip Malinosky, who will be elected chair of the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC) in early January. I’m very much looking forward to this! Speaking of committee chair elections, I plan to weigh in on the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) chair race shortly. Stay tuned…

*Federal Health Market Surpasses 1 Million Signups (“A December surge propelled health care sign-ups through the government’s rehabilitated website past the 1 million mark, the Obama administration said Sunday, reflecting new signs of life for the problem-plagued federal insurance exchange.”)

*New York Times: No Evidence Al Qaeda ‘Had Any Role’ In Benghazi Attack

*It’s Not Just Poor People Getting Hosed When Congress Lets Unemployment Insurance Expire (And remember, it’s  not “Congress,” it’s “Congressional Republicans.” Period.)

*Ethics reform seems uncertain in General Assembly (As we predicted here at Blue Virginia, it was a big mistake not to strike on this one while the iron was hottest. Plus, people like House Speaker Bill “ALEC” Howell have no interest in ethics reform, as the entire basis for their misrule is a LACK of ethics, corporate cronyism, etc.)

*VA Senate District 6 endorsement (“Del. Lewis represents best choice for Senate seat vacated by Sen. Northam” – not even a close call on this one.)

*Lynwood Lewis in 6th District (“Coleman’s refusal to discuss his philosophy toward governing and his positions on specific issues makes it impossible to recommend him for an office that empowers him to vote on policies affecting all Virginians.”)

*Cuccinelli looks back on tenure’s dramas, accomplishments (Let’s see, there was that time he persecuted a climate scientist, that other time he covered over the breast on the state seal, another time he encouraged discrimination against LGBT people at state colleges and universities, etc., etc.)

*Affordable Care Act: How is it affecting Virginia so far? (“Most Americans will need to have health insurance or be forced to pay a penalty this week. But many aspects of the 900-page legislation already have taken effect.”)

*Va. psychiatric project delayed (“Budget cuts and other priorities pushed off track the launch of a Web-based list of available beds”)

*Passing the baton (“With the retirement of Virginia Beach Republican Bob Purkey, the General Assembly is losing its most indefatigable advocate for a reform that would permit governors to seek re-election.” I strongly agree that Virginia governors should be able to seek reelection.)

*Why should drivers get bigger subsidies than mass-transit riders? (Short answer: they shouldn’t. In fact, drivers shouldn’t get any subsidies at all. Utterly assinine policy.)

*It’s a hard road ahead on tolls (“In about five weeks, roughly 120,000 commuters who travel through the Downtown or Midtown tunnels will find their regular route carries a $1,000 annual expense – unless Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe and lawmakers can find a way to reduce that financial pain.”)

*Top 10 Washington transportation stories from 2013: Metro, hot lanes, gas taxes and more

*Va. restaurant generates controversy with gun ban

*Rain brings cold weather to close 2013 (“Soaking showers move out by afternoon, but the chill they leave behind will linger.”)