Bill Bolling to head up governor’s ethics commission

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has one more job to add to his already-full plate of interests along with his full-time job: co-chairing a commission to study ethics, campaign-finance reform, and nonpartisan redistricting.

According to Laura Vozzella with the Washington Post (see In wake of McDonnell conviction, McAulifee to announce ethics commission), Bolling, a Republican, will be appointed today by Governor Terry McAuliffe to head up the new commission along with former Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher. The announcement is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol in Richmond.

McAuliffe and Howell: Showdown in Richmond

It was a showdown Monday evening in Richmond between Governor Terry McAuliffe and House Speaker Bill Howell over Medicaid. From Michael Martz and the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, refused on Monday to allow the House to consider McAuliffe’s veto of budget restrictions on his ability to use federal funds for health coverage without the approval of the General Assembly.
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Howell ruled the governor’s veto unconstitutional and out of order. That prevented a vote by either the House or Senate on whether to override the veto of budget amendments Republicans rammed through June 12 to prevent McAuliffe from unilaterally expanding health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

“I cannot idly allow unconstitutional actions to be considered by this body,” the speaker said in a statement. “To do otherwise would be an unacceptable acquiescence of legislative branch authority.”