Playing in the Siegel Center on Saturday, VCU defeated ODU, 70-58. It was as lively inside the arena as it was cold and snowy outside.



Still, the game was a sell-out, when some other area games were canceled, due to the weather. Click here to view some clips I shot of the action before and during the game.

Let's hope the American people don't buy the propaganda of anti-government groups calling for the overthrow of the very institutions that protect all of us from tyranny...If the rhetoric coming out of the Tea Party Convention was coming from the lips of the left wing, they would be considered Anti-American. Continued....

Each Monday morning during the men's college basketball regular season, SLANTblog will publish its new Virginia Top Five. For the third consecutive season this feature will attempt to rank what seems at the moment to be the best five teams from among the 14 Division I programs in the Commonwealth. Only games against Division I opponents are counted in won/loss records.

SLANTblog's VA Top Five

1. Richmond (18-6, 7-2 in A-10, No. 31 RPI)
2. VCU (17-5, 9-4 in CAA, No. 52 RPI)
3. Va. Tech (18-4, 5-3 in ACC, No. 65 RPI)
4. ODU (18-7, 10-3 in CAA, No. 39 RPI)
5. UVa. (14-7, 5-3 in ACC, No. 95 RPI)

Note: Since the last Top Five (Feb. 1): Richmond went 2-0 to stay No. 1; VCU went 2-0 to move up from No. 3 to No. 2; Va. Tech went 2-0 to move up from No. 4 to No. 3; ODU went 1-1 to drop from No. 2 to No. 4; UVa. went 1-1 to remain No. 5.

-- RPI numbers, which are updated frequently, from CBS Sports

I've got the following from VDOT which I'm putting up:

The main, more heavily traveled roads in a subdivision will be plowed first, to be followed by low- volume roads and cul-de-sacs.
Plows will make one or two trips to provide a path through neighborhood streets, but they will not clear to bare pavement or from curb to curb. Because chemicals are not used in subdivisions, roads will remain snow packed and rutted after the plow has passed. Crews will put sand on hills, curves, and intersections as needed to provide traction. 

If planning to shovel their driveways, residents should refrain from clearing the last few feet at the curb until your street is plowed, as plows may push snow back into driveways. It also helps to shovel to the right as you face the road. VDOT does not remove snow from sidewalks or trails.

VDOT plow drivers have assigned routes that include each and every state-maintained road in Northern Virginia. Call 911 if you have a medical emergency and need to leave your home. If by Wednesday, residents have not seen a plow in their subdivision, they can call 703-383-VDOT or e- mail novainfo@vdot.virginia.gov with the location.

(I"m back in Richmond.  Trying to find all my staff.  Call us at 703-349-3361 or 804-698-7534 if you need help)

Virginia’s campaign financing rules are pretty loose – pretty much anyone can donate to whomever they choose without limitation. Disclosure of the contributions and expenditures is supposed to be enough. The problem is the form that the disclosure takes.

The State Board of Elections provides, for free, software that allows candidates to file electronically. Such filing is, according to the site, “mandatory for all statewide candidates and political committees that raise or spend more than $10,000 in a calendar year.” Note that it is not required for General Assembly candidates – although the site says nearly 90% of them chose to do so – nor for candidates for local office.  I think it’s time for electronic filing of all campaign finance reports.

Unlike those of General Assembly candidates, local candidates who file their reports on paper do so to the local office of the registrar. As the result, if you want to see what a candidate has received or paid out, you have to call the office and request a copy – for a fee, of course – and then go pick it up. The reports of the General Assembly candidates are available on the SBE website. (Note that while the site says that the reports of local candidates who file electronically are also available, I can’t figure out how to access them. The drop-down menu for “office” on this page doesn’t even have local offices listed.)

The Virginia Public Access Project takes the SBE data and gives value-added information to it, making it possible to easily review money in and out. In recent years, VPAP has attempted to add in the information from local campaigns – but can only do so if the candidate files electronically. No way does VPAP, a 501(c)(3)  charitable organization, have the resources to get the information from the local registrars’ offices and re-key all the data. So as we here in Norfolk approach an election in May, our access to information on who is giving to whom, and where the money is going, is severely limited.

The simple answer is to make electronic filing mandatory. (Funny – the General Assembly can impose on tax preparers an electronic filing requirement but hasn’t applied the same standard to themselves.) Put some teeth behind the disclosure idea. Make everyone file electronically. This won’t be an additional burden or an additional cost to the campaigns – after all, they are filing these reports already. Some are even using the free software from the SBE to prepare them and then submit them locally on paper!

I know it’s too late to get this legislation in place for Norfolk’s May races. But it’s the right thing to do and I hope the General Assembly takes this up at some point in the not-too-distant future.

~

Did I mention that VPAP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization? The service that they provide are invaluable to anyone who follows the money in Virginia politics. But they can’t do it without our help. Every time you access the site, think about giving a few bucks to them.  No contribution is too large or too small. And to our legislators: I’d like to see every single one of them listed as a sponsor every year. To the bloggers who regularly access the site: I challenge you to join me in contributing at least $50 every year to VPAP. (I made my donation over the weekend.) We uses their services, so they deserve our support.

The headline was right, but there was a little problem with the score. Colts 31, Saints 17

I wish!

The story was from the AP so I don’t know whether it was wrong in the story or whether somebody at the Virginian-Pilot messed up. In any case, it’s not Dewey defeats Truman but close

h/t to Saints fan extraordinaire, Blaine Stewart

UPDATE: The Pilot has issued a correction on this.  And you can even download the corrected page

"we are wounded by fear, injured in doubt.. we scorch the Earth, set fire to the sky, we stoop so low, to reach so high."-Bono
It is truly sad that this uncaring, and ever increasingly selfish world listens more to the hate-filled, self-promoting, anti-american, demagoguery of Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sarah Palin et. al., instead of the truly caring and Christian concerns of people like Bono. Thank God that there are people like this to offset the misplaced anger of the ever increasing anti-Christian, neo-conservative and Tea Bagger movement in this country.
If we turn the TV off, resist the lure and convenience of bigotry and hated, look to our own values, family and neighbors for answers instead of politicians and the corporations that own them, and man up to our own responsibilities, then you'd be surprised at the reduction of stress in our lives and the increase in our sense of empowerment.

Inspired by a couple of commenters in a previous post:

Click here to view the embedded video.

 
Here are some video lessons which enable us to literally see the various elements and how they all fit together.

I always thought that the teleprompter thing was a little silly – politics is often performance, and prompts are always part of performance. But, like so much else from the right, I ignored it. Now? Seriously, I don’t ever want to hear another joke about Obama needing a teleprompter.

The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts face off today in Super Bowl XLIV. It’s been two weeks since the teams won their respective conferences and I have to say, the least hyped Super Bowl I can remember. Or maybe it’s because my attention has been focused elsewhere.

In any event, I’m looking forward to a real football game today. (Last week’s Pro Bowl wasn’t even worth watching. Whoever it was that came up with the brilliant idea to put the Pro Bowl in between the conference championships and the Super Bowl needs to be fired. The Pro Bowl is supposed to show the best of the best, not the best of the rest.)  The oddsmakers have the Colts as a 5-6 point favorite in the game, a result I’ll certainly take If you haven’t done so, vote your pick below.

View This Poll
answers

As always, the poll will close before the 6:25pm scheduled kickoff.

UPDATE: Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for winning their first ever Super Bowl. They were the better team tonight and earned the win.

I'ts been snowing for about 30 hours straight here in Fairfax.  You can't even see more than fifty yards or so.  I"m estimating two feet at least for now, and heading higher by tonight. 

About 2 hours ago, I went outside.  I was wearing duck hunting gear with gaiters that pulled up to my chest.  I needed every inch of it.  Our residential streets are completely unplowed.  On Main Street, there were some four wheel drive vehicles with major clearance.  That's it.  All stores seemed to be closed, although I may try to walk to Safeway later today to see if it's open (and get out of the house).

I had planned to take the kids to Van Dyck for sledding but that's impossible.  The snow is too deep to walk in and nobody's driving. 

(update at 7:30 pm)

Been listening to WTOP.  A lot of folks calling in without electricity but mostly seems to be PEPCO customers in Maryland.  We've had a few complaints on our constituent line this a.m. but most seemed to get resolved.  If you're without power and live in the 34th District, please let us know.  Call 703-349-3361 or post up on here with your address.

How Corporations Are Secretly Moving Millions to Fund Political Ads

Gaping legal holes allow corporations to spend enormous sums on politics without leaving a paper trail. Continued..

The Newest Diet Trend: What Would Jesus Eat?

Whether you call it the Hallelujah Diet, the Maker's Diet or the Lord's Diet, the holy spirit is driving one of America's biggest weight-loss fads. Continued..

Fury at Wall St. Banks Fuels Public Action for Move Your Money Campaign

The banking behemoths have used our dollars to destroy our economy. The Move Your Money campaign says we don't have to wait for financial reform to fight back. Continued..

Note:  This advice comes by way of a press release … “Let’s be careful out there”
RICHMOND, VA – The approaching winter storm will bring hazardous conditions to Virginia, ranging from freezing rain and high winds to sleet, snow and ice.  Residents should take the time now to look at their specific needs and talk with their families and neighbors about what they would do in an emergency.

“Several Virginians have lost their lives due to winter weather this season, and we don’t want to lose any more,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.  “It is very important that everyone follow basic winter weather safety instructions and stay aware of the current weather forecast for their area.”

Basic weather safety involves staying off the roads, dressing in layers, having emergency supplies ready and avoiding overexertion.

Driving

• Once freezing rain or snow begins to fall, stay off the roads.  Only travel if absolutely necessary, and if you do, wear a seat belt.
• Know roads conditions before you leave.  Current road conditions are available by calling 5-1-1 or visiting 511Virginia.gov.
• Have emergency supplies in your car.  If you become stranded, you will need water, food, blankets, a radio, flashlight and extra batteries. Stay with your car.  The Virginia Department of Transportation recommends running the car engine for heat for 10 minutes and then turning off the engine for 20 minutes.

Health concerns

• Wear loose layers and a hat.
• Avoid overexertion during clean up, no matter your age or physical condition.  Shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.

Emergency heat

• Generators should always be run outside, in well-ventilated areas.  Get to fresh air immediately if you start to feel sick, weak or dizzy.
• Never use a portable generator in any enclosed or partially enclosed space. Windows and doors do not provide enough ventilation.
• Kerosene and propane heaters can cause fires if left unsupervised.  If you use one, use only the recommended fuel.  Always refuel outdoors safely away from your home.
• Keep an eye on your heater at all times while it is running. Shut it off before you go to bed or when you leave the house.

Emergency assistanceIf you have a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

If you are seeking assistance for an elderly or disabled person during the storm, need information on warming shelters in the area or concerned about an unsheltered individual or family at risk of hypothermia, please dial 2-1-1 or visit 211virginia.org.

When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional will listen to your situation and suggest sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in your community and statewide.  All referrals are confidential, and you can search for these same services on 211virginia.org.

Detailed safety information is available at http://www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

The distinguished Republican Senator from Alabama, Richard Shelby, has put a blanket hold on all of President Obama’s nominations before the United States Senate. This affects approximately 70 nominations and their respective agencies. The reason for Shelby’s unprecedented holds, according to Evan McMorris-Santoro at TPMDC, is two of Shelby’s pet projects causing the taxpayers billions of dollars are not getting the attention he wants them to receive:

… Shelby is holding Obama's nominees hostage until a pair of lucrative programs that would send billions in taxpayer dollars to his home state get back on track. The two programs Shelby wants to move forward or else:

- A $40 billion contract to build air-to-air refueling tankers. From CongressDaily: "Northrop/EADS team would build the planes in Mobile, Ala., but has threatened to pull out of the competition unless the Air Force makes changes to a draft request for proposals." Federal Times offers more details on the tanker deal, and also confirms its connection to the hold.

- An improvised explosive device testing lab for the FBI. From CongressDaily: "[Shelby] is frustrated that the Obama administration won't build" the center, which Shelby earmarked $45 million for in 2008. The center is due to be based "at the Army's Redstone Arsenal."

So what exactly is a “hold” and how does Shelby get away with this? Ezra Klein provides an explanation:

The first thing to understand is that there's no such procedural move as a "hold." It's not something senators have in their special senatorial utility belts. Instead, a "hold" is shorthand for a promise to obstruct all further consideration of a particular piece of Senate business.

The best explanation of how this works came from David Waldman, and I encourage you to read it in full. But here's the short version: The Senate generally uses unanimous consent agreements to set the rules for a bill or a nomination. A hold, in its simplest form, is a promise to object to unanimous consent.

Okay, then what?

The action in question can still come to the floor. But all bets are off. In practice, this means a filibuster of some sort is on. Let's say that Shelby doesn't have 40 other Republicans lined up to stop all Senate business unless Alabama gets its pork. In theory, that means Harry Reid can just call a cloture vote and break his filibuster. Problem solved, right?

Sort of. People think of the filibuster in terms of defeating a bill. But they don't think about the power it has to keep the Senate from doing anything else. But that's the power the hold uses. To break a filibuster, the majority leader has to file for cloture. Then there's a two-day waiting period before a vote. Then there's a 30-hour post-vote debate period. And voting on one bill might require breaking multiple filibusters, because the motion to proceed to debate can be filibustered and the amendments can be filibustered and the motion to vote can be filibustered and each filibuster requires the same lengthy workaround. Even if you can crush every one of these filibusters without breaking a sweat, you've still just seen a whole week -- or maybe much more -- of the Senate's time chewed up.

That's why holds are effective on bills and nominations that people don't care about: The majority doesn't want to waste that much time breaking the obstruction of the minority. This isn't health-care reform, after all. It's the nomination of Sandford Blitz to be federal co-chairman of the Northern Border Regional Commission. Is breaking a hold on Sandford Blitz really a good reason to delay a jobs bill for a week?

But Shelby has likely overplayed his hand. The reason holds work is that they're small enough, and rare enough, that they never rise to the level of something the majority can't live with. Shelby, in putting a hold on all pending nominations, just made holds very big indeed. And he did it for the most pathetic and parochial of reasons: pork for his state....

This is one more example of the downward spiral our undemocratic and dysfunctional U.S. Senate. It would be funny if it did not impact so negatively on the people of this country facing very serious national and global challenges.

Visualizing empires decline from Pedro M Cruz on Vimeo.

Sen. Harry Reid, the Majority Leader of the Senate: The sour face of Democratic impotence

Art by F.T. Rea

Dupont, 2pm.

Unholy Rouleur Jim’s feeling darkly – go check it out, and try not to feel guilty about enjoying the fruits.  And in case you need some prompting, here’s some of what he’s digging up:

Click here to view the embedded video.

From the so-stupid-it’s-funny files:

So come August, when it’s really hot, does that mean that the RPV is wrong?

Remember, kids: the plural of “anecdote” is not “fact.”

RNC Chairman Michael Steele in a debate with Harold Ford Jr., on the topic of taxation of the wealthiest Americans:

Trust me, after taxes, a million dollars is not a lot of money.

That should be the Republican Party’s slogan.

Because if things like this are any indication, the answer appears to be yes:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Newsmaker Sam Moore was dealt a setback yesterday, as Virginia’s ABC Board voted to snatch away Moore’s license to sell alcohol at his Club Velvet in Shockoe Bottom. Still, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s coverage Moore’s high profile strip club will apparently be allowed to operate as usual, selling alcohol to its lap-dance-loving customers, until its legal appeals have been exhausted.

"The evidence in this case demonstrates that . . . there was massive consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises of Velvet by underage persons with the full knowledge of Mr. Moore," [ABC officer Clara A. Williamson] wrote.

Click here to read the entire article by Michael Martz.

Letting Moore continue to push booze across the bar is likely to lead to more newsworthy developments. How long before he has a big fat provocative sign up on that outside wall he likes to redecorate? If he decides he's bound to lose, imagine what the final days could be like.

Hey, I can remember witnessing a night club totally trashed in 1983, when its ABC license was taken away. All the beer on hand was given away to anyone who came by that afternoon. The taps ran constantly for hours. (Click here to see a little video I made from old Super 8 footage I shot that has some clips from that happening.)

Keeping up with Moore’s adventures can be time-consuming. Wasn’t he arrested last week for threatening a cop?

So, if you only have so much time to devote to news stories chronicling the colorful saga of Mr. Samuel J.T. Moore III, who best captures the essence of this battle between Citizen Moore and ABC? Would it be in a newspaper, or magazine or maybe on television?

Not necessarily. SLANTblog recommends Tobacco Avenue on the Internet for its take on this made-to-be-mocked reality soap opera.

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,” ABC commissioner Gabriel Hudson said at yesterday’s hearing. “Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall. Thou art a disease that must be cut away.”

Click here to enjoy the entire post, "O Woeful Day: Dandiest City Gentle-man’s Club Loses Thy Liquor License."

Note: Looks like Virginia has another snow storm with results much like what’s pictured here …. from December … hitting us hard … cancellations include the DPVA quarterly meetings … and …

General Assembly not meeting on Friday, February 5th

Due to inclement weather, the General Assembly will not meet on Friday, February 5th. All House and Senate committee and subcommittee meetings are also canceled.

2010 Legislative Session

The 2010 Regular Session convened Wednesday, January 13, 2010 and is scheduled to adjourn sine die on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

House and Senate offer live video of 2010 Session.

The House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia will offer live streaming video of the 2010 Legislative Session, broadcasting from each chamber every day of the session. The broadcasts will begin when each body convenes for session.

NOTE: an “audio only” stream is being offered for those users with a low speed connection to the internet.

Links to the session streams with helpful information about the day’s session can be found below.

Video Streams	Audio Streams
House Video	House Audio
Senate Video	Senate Audio

TNC goes from the systemic challenges an individual trying to drop weight faces to the society-wide choices of institutional racism:

I don’t write this out so that I can establish blame/guilt. To the contrary, the point is that the system was so far-reaching, that it took a conscious, deliberate and often personally dangerous effort to defy it. Against all odds, against a media that reinforced the assumptions of the system, against segregated social institutions that prescribed the assumptions, against whole familes which had bought into the assumption, one would have to rebel and say, “No.”

Read it.

Rahsaan Bahati, who parted ways with Rock Racing last year, has started his own development team with a mission.  Check it out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I'm in the General Assembly building right now (7:20 a.m.)  The floors are completely deserted.  No staff, no visitors, no lawmakers.

The House of Delegates decided yesterday to have no session today.  The Senate has a pro forma session at 9 a.m., which merely conforms to our rules in-session.  All other committees are canceled.

Speaking of canceled, there will be no town hall in Fairfax City tomorrow.  Everyone stay safe.  We'll see you on Monday.

Josh Marshall calls out Sen. Richard Shelby for what he is:

Worse than a squeegee man and not much better than a bank robber, Shelby is shutting down the president’s ability to appoint anyone to anything until he gets his way.

Will this be the impetus for the Senate finally admitting it’s been rendered almost completely ineffective by its own rules and outdated traditions?  I’m not optimistic, but I’m still hoping . . .

It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. – Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen

I had the opportunity Wednesday to spend some time with a retired military officer, one whose background and experience I consider unique to the question of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” RADM Tom Ward spent more than 30 years in the Navy, having graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1951.

Recall, if you will, that President Harry Truman, via executive order, integrated the military on July 26, 1948. It did not, however, happen overnight. According to the Truman Library, the Air Force was the first of the armed services to have its integration plan approved – in May 1949 – with the Navy right on its heels the following month. The Army was the most difficult of the services: integration of its troops took approximately five years.

Recall also the role of women in the military. According to this article, women didn’t gain “professional military status” until 1948, when Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act. That legislation limited the number of women serving to 2% of the total, the result being that women comprised only 1.4% of the total military in 1970.  Today women account for approximately 20 percent.

Ward was a witness to history, his career having spanned both of these major changes. I was eager to hear his take on Mullen’s remarks, although I have to admit that I was prepared for him to give me an answer defending it. I was pleasantly surprised when he told me he agreed with Mullen.

In our discussion, Ward articulated the similarities between the integration of blacks and women in the military and those of gays. Doing so, he said, wasn’t easy, and he pointed out that problems with women in the military remain today. Like nearly everyone I’ve spoken with on the subject, he acknowledged that gays have always served. He told me a story about a gay group on one of the ships he served on.

Ward honed in on the issue of integrity, part of the Mullen’s remarks, which Mullen reiterated in a tweet after the hearings were over. That is exactly what it is, he told me.

If Ward, who lived through – and participated in – these major changes to the military supports the repeal of DADT, it seems to me that the military should be listening to the likes of him instead of those who only speculate the effects of allowing gays to serve openly.

~

In case you weren’t aware, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, a member of the Armed Services Committee who held those hearings on Tuesday, graduated in the same class as Adm. Mullen – 1968. Webb’s questions/comments at that hearing can be seen here, beginning at about the 3:23 mark and are, in my opinion, disappointing. He basically reiterated his statements in a press release Tuesday afternoon. I happen to know another member of that same class, who told me that he supports the repeal. I’d love to hear from other members of that class and their take on the situation. Right now, it’s 2:1 in favor of repeal.

Oh yeah – and even the architect of DADT appears to support its repeal.

WordPress.com Political Blogger Alliance

Virginia is alone is banning radar detectors in vehicles. House Bill 674 would change that. The bill reported out of committee Friday morning, by an 11-10 vote, and now heads to the House floor.

Simple question: do you support this bill? Vote in the poll and leave your comments below.

View This Poll
survey

This was the closest I ever got to the now-departed Tai Shan, during last year's ZooLights:

• ABC News: Sarah Palin Uses PAC to Buy Her Own Book Palin's PAC spent $63,000 buying copies of her own book shortly after it was released. So her PAC collects money from supporters, uses that money to buy an enormous number of books, which she earns royalties off of, thus allowing her to pocket those contributions. The manufactured boost in her sales numbers is a nice bonus, too. (tags: politics palin corruption)

Barbara Saunders, the two-time candidate in Ward 1, has announced that she will try for the third time to garner this seat.

Saunders, a native of Ocean View, owns a painting company, Saunders Painting, Inc.  She serves on the Crime Line Board and is a member and past president of Ocean View Kiwanis. She is a former Commissioner of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

“We need more transparent government for our city,” Saunders said in a telephone call earlier. “I really desire to be a representative of the people of Ward 1.”

Saunders faces former policeman Chuck Brewer, attorney Andy Protogyrou and artist Paul Trice.

~

That Norfolk has so many candidates running is amazing. At this point, only Ward 2 representative Theresa Whibley is unopposed, despite the listing here on vpap.  At least two candidates – Mamie Johnson and Donna Smith – are actively campaigning for the seat in Ward 3, currently occupied by Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot. A third challenger, Bill Mann, is also expected to run.

The election is May 4, 2010.

I had mixed success this morning on couple different bills which touch on different aspects of our local economy.

The Senate Education Commitee passed SB 712 unanimously.  This bill will allow George Mason University to partner with a sister university in South Korea to establish an overseas campus.  The funds for this measure would not come from the state budget, but would be raised via a public-private partnership.  There are a number of Korean institutions that are seeking this type of link with American universities.  Because of our strong Korean-American community in Fairfax County, GMU is a natural candidate to develop this relationship. 

While SB 712 is an education bill, the real benefit is economic.  Regions that attract foreign students also attract foreign capital.  People invest their money in communities where they feel a connection.  I can give you a number of examples from my own clients -- many of whom are Korean.  The bottom line is that SB 712, if it becomes law, will take this relationship to the next level by making Mason one of the U.S. universities with a major presence in the fastest-growing economic region in the world.

On a different issue, my SB 716 met a less-kind fate.

The bill was proposed to me by local bail bondsmen who are seeking to keep their businesses alive while more and more courts use "pretrial servcies" as an option to commercial bail.  Note that pretrial services are paid for by the taxpayer, while commercial bail is paid for by the defendant.  My bill did provide that pretrial could be used when the court made a finding that a nonviolent offender could not financially qualify for bail. 

Fairfax City is home to a number of bail bondsman, who are the archetypcal small business.  In contrast, pretrial services are located inside the courthouse and provide extensive monitoring of defedants in lieu of a secured bond.  Again, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with competition, except that this growth in the scope of pretrial services is funded by the taxpayer (and now we are looking to reduce government spending).

There are strong arguments on both sides and undoubtedly I'm short-changing the substance here.  (I note that Delegate Albo has a similar bill in the House).   Regardless, the opponents beat me up pretty good.  The bill was recommended in Subcommittee for defeat despite the support of Sen. Roscoe Reynolds (D-Henry).