Free Republic

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Sunday slammed Republicans who have complained about an executive order he signed extending the right to vote in his state to convicted felons who have served their sentences. "Well, I would tell the Republicans, 'Quit complaining and go out and earn these folks' right to vote for you. Go out and talk to them,' " he said in response to a question about people saying his order was an election-year ploy to help Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.

In what is likely an unconstitutional state action seemingly calculated to ensure that the purple state of Virginia goes blue in the November election, Governor Terry McAuliffe (D.) signed an order on Friday restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons in Virginia, including those convicted of murder, armed robbery, rape, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. The order also restores their right to sit on a jury, become a notary, and even serve in elected office. McAuliffe believes that ex-felons can be trusted to make decisions in the ballot booth and the jury box but apparently not to own a...

Saying he is tired of waiting for the legislature to take action, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va) issued an executive order restoring voting rights to convicted felons. The move is expected to add more than 200,000 Democrats to the state’s voter rolls. “Ours is a government of, by, and for the people,” McAuliffe said. “This means all the people. For better or for worse, criminals are part of society. As members of society they are entitled to the human right to vote, to choose who will represent their interests in the halls of government.” The Governor brushed aside Republican objections, calling...

Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe restoring voting rights for roughly 200,000 convicted felons is part of a lauded, national effort to reverse sentencing laws that most affect African Americans. But Republicans are suggesting McAuliffe, a long-time Clinton supporter, went too far by including violent criminals and that his move is a “transparent effort to win votes.” The governor’s executive order allows Virginia felons, includes convicted murders and rapists, who by Friday had completed their sentence and finished supervised release, parole or probation requirements to vote in the swing state in the November presidential elections.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe this morning will sign an order that effectively restores the civil rights, including the right to vote, of more than 200,000 felons in Virginia. The unprecedented move, expected to be announced at an 11 a.m. news conference on Capitol Square, marks a dramatic expansion of policy in restoring the right to vote, to sit on a jury, to serve in elected office or become a notary. Today's order applies to nonviolent and violent felons - a significant departure from a policy embraced in recent years by Democrat and Republican governors to remove the societal obstacles felons face...

Do you support the governor’s veto? Yes No

<p>Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation he said would legalize discrimination against LGBT people.</p> <p>The Democratic governor signed his veto of Senate Bill 41 Wednesday morning while on WTOP.</p> <p>"We're not going to tolerate discrimination. Virginia will be open and welcoming," he said.</p>

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation he said would legalize discrimination of the LGBT community. The Democratic governor made the announcement Wednesday during a radio appearance on WTOP. The measure would prohibit the state from punishing religious groups that refuse services related to gay marriages. Republican supporters said it would protect people from expressing their religious beliefs. …

John Saul Miller was dying of cancer when the convicted felon managed to commit two armed robberies last year after being pardoned by Virginia's governor. When he was arrested after the second holdup -- the gunpoint robbery of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Chesterfield County -- he was still wearing a GPS tracking device that he was required to wear as a condition of his pardon by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Miller, 29, who has since died, had asked for absolution of earlier crimes based on his medical diagnosis and declining health, and McAuliffe granted his request on June. 3. But...

In a letter released Wednesday, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson  60% (R-WI) asked Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson for all documents and communications regarding the dismissal of ICE whistle-blower Taylor Johnson and his underlings’ secretive effort to discredit her to reporters. Confused by all these Johnsons? It’s hard not to be. The story also features a cameo by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid  2% (D-NV). In 2013, Johnson, a decorated agent, was stripped of her gun and badge without explanation and placed on desk duty. The single mother of four was ousted right after Reid’s office...

A bill removing funding from Planned Parenthood and similar organizations in the state passed the Virginia Senate Monday by a vote of 21-19. The senators voted strictly along party lines — 21 votes supporting the bill came from the Republican party, while the 19 opposing votes came from the Democratic party. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has not yet acted upon the bill, which passed the House on Feb. 16 in a 64-35 vote. According to the bill summary, the bill, “prohibits the Department of Health from spending any funds on an abortion that is not qualified for matching funds under...

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Friday signed into law a compromise gun policy hammered out between Democrats and Republicans who rarely see eye-to-eye on the hot-button issue. The measures will allow more out-of-state concealed-handgun permit holders to legally carry guns in Virginia, prohibit people subject to permanent protective orders from carrying firearms and require police presence at gun shows for voluntary background checks. SNIP The measures flew through the GOP-controlled House and Senate with little opposition. The compromise was vehemently opposed by Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s gun-control group, Everytown for Gun Safety. The once-strong ally of McAuliffe ran...

"The relationship between Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and gun control groups is quickly souring after critics say he caved to pressure from the National Rifle Association. Virginia will now recognize concealed carry permits from dozens of other states with what critics say are weaker gun laws than the commonwealth."

**SNIP** “I deal through the Clinton Foundation. That gets me in touch with the Haitian officials,” Mr. Rodham said, according to a transcript of his testimony. “I hound my brother-in-law, because it’s his fund that we’re going to get our money from. And he can’t do it until the Haitian government does it. “And he keeps telling me, ‘Oh, it’s going to happen tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.’ Well, tomorrow hasn’t come yet.” Mr. Rodham’s Haiti project never did happen. The Clinton Foundation said in a statement that it was not aware of Mr. Rodham’s Haiti project and had no involvement...

Hillary Clinton's biggest cheerleader, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, is celebrating something different about the floundering Democratic presidential candidate: Her boozing. In an email titled "One hell of a president," McAuliffe writes: I love Hillary Clinton. No one's tougher. No one's smarter. No one has a better command of the issues. And, from personal experience, no one's more fun to throw back a cocktail with. Former President Bill Clinton's golfing pal and fundraiser, McAuliffe is familiar with bars and alcohol. As governor, he brought in top shelf booze to the governor's mansion for parties with legislators. He is key to Clinton...

A Virginia state senator has thrown down the gauntlet with Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a brewing battle over gun rights -- pushing to defund the governor’s armed bodyguards unless he revokes an order that banned firearms in most state buildings. "It’s easy for someone who is surrounded by armed state policemen to tell someone else they can't carry a weapon to protect themselves," Republican state Sen. Charles W. Carrico Sr. told FoxNews.com. "It’s just equal treatment, that’s all I’m saying."

Donald Trump is just one of many big name donors funding Terry McAuliffe's campaign to win the Virginia governor's mansion this fall, according to newly released financial disclosure reports - and he isn't even among the most generous givers. The New York real estate magnate cut McAuliffe a check for a whopping $25,000 in late March, but that's just a drop in the bucket compared to the largest single donation in McAuliffe's report - a $251,000 gift from billionaire media tycoon Haim Saban in January. That check narrowly bested a $250,000 contribution the following month from Steve Bing, another big...

Virginia GOP'ers returned fire over the state Democrat Attorney General Mark Herring's move to halt recognition of concealed carry permits from 25 different states. Our General Assembly has already identified who can and cannot conceal handguns in Virginia, and we cannot have that decision undermined by recognizing permits from other states with more permissive standards, Herring said when he made the announcement last week. Republican state legislators could strip Virginia Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe of his protective detail. Virginia Sen. Bill Carrico told The Herald Courier last Tuesday he plans to propose a budget amendment during the State Senate's January...

Virginia's radically anti-gun Governor and Attorney General were probably quite pleased with themselves when they spitefully severed concealed carry agreements with 25 states, including all but one of its neighbors. They probably didn't anticipate the backlash they’ve received, which includes calls to recall or impeach Attorney General Mark Herring, and pushes for legislation that will both strip elected officials of the ability to make such unilateral decisions, and get a little payback.

As of sometime yesterday, concealed handgun permit holders and off-duty police can no longer carry in state-agency buildings, under trespass laws. If you’d like to call the Governor and share your thoughts with him, his number is: 804-786-2211. With my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, I have taken the liberty of drafting a press release for the Governor to use to announce this action: PRESS RELEASE Governor McAuliffe Creates Gun-Free Zones to Stop the Carnage in State Agency Buildings! Richmond, December 4, 2015:  Virginia Governor McAuliffe, in order to stop all the continued bloodshed in state-agency buildings, has made...