good news: Virginia Gov. signs sweep of progressive bills

[RussBLib]

Some pretty good news almost slipped by me. 3 cheers for Virginia. We need all the good news we can find these days. I can feel the GOP's grip slipping on their base. Many are waking up and realizing they've been played.

Virginia Gov. signs sweep of progressive bills, including Confederate monuments and LGBT rights

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, signed dozens of progressive, exciting, and long overdue bills into law on Saturday, April 11, as reported by The Richmond Times-Dispatch. All of the bills are rooted in social justice and sorely needed, but of particular interest are bills that home in on racial justice, giving localities power to alter or remove the Confederate moments that are all over the state, and leading the South’s way when it comes to protections for the LGBTQ community.

One bill allows cities and counties in Virginia (as is the norm in most other states) to vote to remove Confederate statues and monuments. In the past, localities in the state were not only not allowed to remove war monuments, but they weren’t even allowed to change or add historical context. Northam also signed a bill into law that removes racist language from Virginia’s Acts of Assembly, as reported by WSET. In terms of LGBTQ equality, he signed a measure known as the Virginia Values Act into law that expands protections for LGBTQ people from employment, housing, and public space discrimination. All go into effect on July 1, 2020.

In terms of racist language, Northam signed bills that repeal discriminatory language from a number of state laws involving interracial marriage, banning different races from living in the same neighborhoods and segregation that were technically still on the books. You might remember that last year, a number of couples in Virginia actually sued because of an archaic state law that required them to disclose their race in order to get a marriage license.

Why is this protection so important? As we already know, under federal law, there are no discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity for housing or employment. Until now, that had also been the case in Virginia. While federal protections for housing and employment matters are really ideal, state by state is certainly better than nothing.

whole story: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/12/1936596/-Virginia-Gov-signs-sweep-of-progressive-bills-including-Confederate-monuments-and-LGBT-rights#read-more

[Yonnie3]

1. I posted about many of the bills in the Virginia Group

Virginia Group: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1081

He is signing more this afternoon.

GOTV got us a state legislature that did well this year.

[Hortensis]

2. Yes. Gov. Northam can't sign bills the assembly didn't pass.

This is what happens when the people give majority power to Democrats in both houses of the legislatures and the executive office.

Go, VA Democrats!

[RussBLib]

5. what's the status of mail-in balloting in VA?

We're going to have to do that state-by-state too, as the GOP will fight it as much as they can.

Still rather astounding that one of our two major parties wants to restrict voting as much as possible. Dems need to state this kind of crap loud and clear, and over and over.

[Yonnie3]

6. Done deal :)

I'll be back with a link in a moment.

Voter ID eased
No reason required to vote by mail
Election day a holiday
Longer poll hours
...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10818015

My post in the Virginia group Governor Northam Signs Sweeping New Laws to Expand Access to Voting has his summary and a link to the announcement.

[Demsrule86]

3. This is what happens when you vote blue no matter who...take a lesson people....

Northam was not supported Common dreams and the usual suspects who wanted Perriello even though he voted against choioce with the Stupak amendment during the fight for the ACA/ He says he has changed his mind and did work to get Northam elected...so we shall see. But please vote blue no matter who. This could be Biden next year signing our bills.

[SheltieLover]

4. Go Dems!

So proud of VA!

This is what happens when we as voters the garbage repukes out if office!

TY VA voters!