Morgan Griffith Archives - Tennessee Star

Virginia Redistricting Commission Votes to Start with Blank Maps

August 24, 2021August 23, 2021 Eric Burk

The Virginia Redistricting Commission voted Monday to start with blank, new maps. Some legislators proposed an alternate proposal to draw two sets of maps, one based off current maps, and one from a blank slate, but that motion was defeated.

Citizen Commissioner Sean Kumar (D) introduced the initial motion for blank maps, noting that in public comment, most of the public has expressed a desire for new maps, and that both parties have an interest in protecting the incumbents.

Barker introduced the substitute plan to draw the two sets of maps, and Senator Steve Newman (R-Bedford) seconded it.

Virginia Congressional Leaders React to Ongoing Afghanistan Crisis

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021 Matthew Hall

President Biden addressed the nation late Monday afternoon to discuss the ongoing national security and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Some congressional leaders were furious at the Biden Administration’s lack of leadership on the issue. Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), a former Democrat who switched parties in 2020, lashed out and called for the resignation of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) hinted Monday that the Cabinet should consider invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden.

Virginia Sen. Warner and 20 Other Senators Announce Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, But Biden Says Democrats Still Need to Pass Separate, Larger Proposal

June 25, 2021June 26, 2021 Eric Burk

Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and other members of a bipartisan team of 21 senators announced an infrastructure plan that includes $579 billion in new spending over the next five years. President Joe Biden also announced his support for the deal on Thursday. Warner and Biden highlighted it as a win for bipartisanship. At the same time, Biden emphasized that he wouldn’t sign the bill without Democrats passing an additional larger infrastructure bill through reconciliation.

“This group of senators, and all the American people, can be proud today, because we’ve reaffirmed once again: we are the United States of America,” Biden said. “I know a lot of you in the press, particularly, doubt that unity is possible, that anything bipartisan is possible. It’s hard, but it’s necessary, and it can get done.”

Virginia Congressman Bob Good Fined $500 for Not Wearing a Mask in the House of Representatives

May 21, 2021May 20, 2021 Eric Burk

Congressman Bob Good (R-Virginia-05) is one of several Republican representatives who refused to wear a mask in the House this week, leading to warnings and fines.

“I’ve received a warning and a $500 fine for my effort to stand up against Speaker Pelosi’s anti-science rule, which is clearly just for political theater. Speaker Pelosi’s mask mandate on the House floor is not about science, it’s about control and virtue signaling for the TV cameras. This week, I stood my ground, and refused to dignify this ridiculous rule by continuing to comply,” Good said in a statement Thursday.

President Biden Visits Virginia for ‘Getting America Back on Track’ Tour

May 4, 2021May 3, 2021 Eric Burk

President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited eastern Virginia Monday for the “Getting America Back On Track” tour. The President stopped at Yorktown Elementary School in Newport News, and gave a pitch at Tidewater Community College for his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan (AFP). He said expanding education for every American is critical to keep the U.S. competitive internationally, and called for tax increases on corporations and the wealthy to fund the plan.

Wise County Satellite Internet Success for Students Leads to Expansion to Neighboring Counties

April 21, 2021April 20, 2021 Eric Burk

Wise County Public School’s (WCPS) pilot program with SpaceX Starlink to provide satellite internet to rural students has been a success so far, and area officials and legislators are considering expanding the program to neighboring counties. In an April 8 press conference WCPS Director of Technology Scott Kiser provided an update on the program which has helped 45 homes with close to 100 students.

Political Ads and Gun Shows: A GOP Gubernatorial Update

March 15, 2021March 14, 2021 Eric Burk

The Republican Party of Virginia has finally selected a clear nomination process, and the GOP gubernatorial candidates are working to register delegates who will vote for them in the unassembled convention. They’re also attending gun shows, launching new political ads, and attacking the Virginia Parole Board.

GOP Lieutenant Governor Candidates Ramp Up Their Campaigns

March 1, 2021February 28, 2021 Eric Burk

71 percent of Republican voters are undecided about the GOP Lieutenant Governor candidates; a recent Christopher Newport/Wason Center Poll found just eight percent of voters supported Delegate Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach), with Tim Hugo in second place at four percent. But the Republican Party of Virginia nomination convention is just over two months away, and the five candidates for the nomination are working to build the biggest list of delegates to the convention.

All Four Virginia Republican Congressmen Challenge Pennsylvania’s Electors

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Eric Burk

All four of Virginia Republican congressmen voted in support of objections to at least one state’s electors, joining 147 Republican representatives from across the country, according to The Washington Post. Congressmen Ben Cline (R-VA-06), Bob Good (R-VA-05), Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) all voted to support objections to Pennsylvania’s electors. Of the four, Wittman was the only one who did not also support a challenge to Arizona’s electors. The objections for both states were defeated, and objections to other states did not have enough support in the 117th Congress to go to a vote.

Virginia Politicians Split on Objecting to Biden Electors

January 6, 2021January 5, 2021 Eric Burk

Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said in a Tuesday press call that legislators who challenge electoral results are undermining Americans’ faith in democracy, but three of Virginia’s Republican congressmen support a challenge, and two have committed to vote to challenge the results.

Warner said, “We’ve got what traditionally has been a pro-forma event happening tomorrow, January 6, where the House and the Senate meet in tandem to basically count the certified electoral votes.”

Virginia Republicans Criticize CASH Act for Not Including Spending Cuts

December 30, 2020December 29, 2020 Eric Burk

Three of Virginia’s Republican congressmen voted against the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Health (CASH) Act on Monday night, noting that while the bill would increase a taxpayer stimulus from $600 to $2,000, it failed to include the necessary budget cuts. Despite that, the bill did pass the House, 275 to 134.

Virginia Legislators Blast 5,593 Page House Bill Passed Just Hours After Legislators Get The Full Draft

December 22, 2020December 21, 2020 Eric Burk

The U.S. House of Representatives leadership gave legislators just hours to consider a 5,593-page omnibus spending bill incorporating over $900 billion of coronavirus relief and $1.4 in government funding for fiscal year 2021. The bill was made available on Monday afternoon, with voting beginning on Monday evening, where it passed just after nine p.m.

“After several delays and last-minute haggling, we finally began receiving text of the COVID relief bill at 11:30 am this morning. This bill is likely to be thousands of pages, so I’m canceling my afternoon appointments & digging into the bill. As Reagan said, “Trust, but verify,” Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA06) tweeted.

Sen. Warner: New Relief Bill Will Likely Include $600 Stimulus Checks, Less Unemployment Coverage

December 18, 2020December 17, 2020 Eric Burk

Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) is confident that the Senate will soon pass the two-part COVID-19 relief package he helped develop. In a Thursday telephone press conference, Warner described key provisions of the plan and addressed controversy over a stimulus check added to the package while also limiting provisions to extend federal unemployment benefits past Christmas.

Virginia Republicans and Democrats Call for Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Bill

December 9, 2020December 8, 2020 Eric Burk

As Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) signals that a $908 billion relief package will be ready for the Senate to consider soon, Virginia Republicans are calling for a similar bill in the House of Representatives. But Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) is warning leadership not to bundle it with a budget appropriations bill.

Morgan Griffith Weighs in on Republican House Seats and Advises Democrats to Be Loyal to District Not Speaker

November 19, 2020November 18, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Congressman of Virginia’s Ninth District Morgan Griffith to the show who weighed in on current House seat stats and Democrats loyalty to districts.

Congressman Morgan Griffith: ‘We Shouldn’t Be Holding the American Family Hostage for Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s Political Agenda’

October 29, 2020October 28, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District to the show to discuss the lack of a second stimulus deal and the breakdown of COVID-19 fears by Democrats and Republicans.

Show Me the Money: Congressman Morgan Griffith Outlines Pelosi Plan to Line the Pockets of Fat Cat Millionaires in Bogus Stimulus Plan

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith to the show to outline why Trump ceased negotiating a second CARES Act and Nancy Pelosi’s tax cuts for her millionaire donors.

Morgan Griffith Discusses the Presidential Debate and a New Coronavirus Relief Package

October 1, 2020September 30, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredericks welcomed U.S. Representative of Virginia’s Ninth District Morgan Griffith to discuss the first presidential debate and a second coronavirus relief package.

Rep. Morgan Griffith Weighs in on Pelosi’s Salon Snafu and Trump’s Prospects to Take Virginia

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks show, host John Fredericks welcomed Virginia’s 9th district U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith to discuss Nancy Pelosi’s salon snafu and how Trump could take the state of Virginia in the 2020 Presidential election.