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Ralph Northam on Government Reform

 

 


$12 million into natural resources agencies

We're also putting nearly $12 million into water quality, air quality, and land conservation initiatives at natural resources agencies. This includes DEQ staffing to make sure the permitting process is more robust and thorough. These are important investments to ensure that we don't fall behind in protecting these critical assets, and ensuring that DEQ can continue to protect our natural areas.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature , Jan 13, 2021

Amend constitution so that ex-cons can vote automatically

Virginia is one of just a few remaining states where, if you have a felony conviction, someone has to act to restore your civil rights to vote or run for office. You shouldn't have to ask for your basic civil rights to be restored. I'm proposing to change Virginia's constitution to make that process automatic. If we want people to return to their communities and participate in society, we need to welcome them back fully. It's wrong to keep punishing people forever.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature , Jan 13, 2021

We need to make it easier to vote, not harder

We need to make it easier for people to participate in their government. There's no more fundamental way to do that, than to vote. We need to make it easier to vote, not harder. One, no excuses required to vote absentee. The government shouldn't have to okay your reason for needing to vote early. And then, we need to make Election Day a holiday. We can do it by ending the Lee-Jackson holiday that Virginia holds a week from Friday. It commemorates a lost cause. It's time to move on.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address , Jan 8, 2020

Finally allow no-excuse absentee voting

As we approach the anniversary of the first representative General Assembly in the New World, we have a responsibility to the full and true exercise of democracy. In this day and age, that means ensuring the elimination of unnecessary and prohibitive barriers to voting. I'm proposing we finally allow no-excuse absentee voting.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Virginia legislature , Jan 9, 2019

End unnecessary restrictions: no-excuse absentee ballots

Voting is the most fundamental action a citizen can take in a democracy. Choosing leaders and holding them accountable is how citizens shape the future for all of us. If we really believe in a system where the people are in charge, we should work together to eliminate barriers to the ballot box instead of building them higher.

Unfortunately, Virginia law imposes many onerous and unnecessary restrictions on voting that discourage participation for many people.

Let's reverse that troubling trend by passing no-excuse absentee voting, so more people can have a say in their future without jumping through unnecessary hoops. This commonsense reform will make voting easier, reduce lines on Election Day and send a simple message that in Virginia, we want more voters, not fewer.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Virginia legislature , Jan 16, 2018

Make absentee voting easier

Yesterday, Governor-elect Northam and I stood together and outlined several pieces of legislation that we hope the new General Assembly will pass this year. They include:
Source: Terry McAuliffe's 2018 Virginia State of the State address , Jan 10, 2018

Nonpartisan redistricting so voters, not pols, pick reps

Q: You recently denounced "dark money" and stressed the differences between your campaign and [Democrat Tom] Perriello's in out-of-state fundraising. 57% of out-of-state donations went to Perriello, while 11% went to your campaign.

A: I do not let contributions influence my decision-making. I took on the tobacco industry in the first year after I was elected. There's a tremendous amount of influence from the tobacco industry in Virginia. I introduced legislation to ban smoking in restaurants. My record is for standing up for the principles and values that are right for Virginia.

Q: What else needs fixing in Virginia's campaign-finance system?

A: The first thing is we need to have a nonpartisan redistricting. We need to get rid of the gerrymandering in Virginia and make our districts fair so that voters are picking their representatives, rather than politicians picking their voters, which is the way it is now. After we do that, then we can tackle campaign-finance reform.

Source: The American Prospect on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race , May 3, 2017

Mid-decade redistricting bill is borderline corruption

Dr. Ralph Northam, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, delivered more than 14,000 petitions gathered by his campaign to Governor Bob McDonnell, to urge the Governor to veto the mid-decade redistricting bill, should it end up on his desk.

"This power-grab puts 46% of Virginians in a new district and is nothing more than an effort to pass a radical agenda that the majority of Virginians do not want," said Northam. "The Senate should be the place where both parties come together to find solutions--not the place where one side will stop at nothing to mandate things like a medically unnecessary ultrasound for Virginia's women. It's borderline corruption, and I urge the Governor to listen to his constituents and veto the bill, if it ends up on his desk."

Source: 2016-17 VA gubernatorial campaign website NorthamForLG.com , Nov 1, 2013

Other governors on Government Reform: Ralph Northam on other issues:
VA Gubernatorial:
Amanda Chase
Bob McDonnell
Frank Wagner
Jennifer Carroll Foy
Jennifer McClellan
Justin Fairfax
Ken Cuccinelli
Kirk Cox
Lee Carter
Mark Herring
Robert Sarvis
Terry McAuliffe
Tim Kaine
Tom Perriello
VA Senatorial:
Amanda Chase
Corey Stewart
Daniel Gade
Mark Warner
Scott Taylor
Tim Kaine
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
CA Recall:
S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
vs.Former U.S.Rep Doug Ose(R)
NJ: Incumbent Phil Murphy(D)
vs.State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli(R)
vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
vs.GOP Hair Doug Steinhardt(R)
VA: Incumbent Ralph Northam(D,term-limited)
vs.A.G. Mark Herring(D)
vs.State Sen. Amanda Chase(R)
vs.Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax(D)
vs.State Rep. Jennifer Carroll Foy(D)
vs.State Rep. Lee Carter(D)
vs.Former Governor Terry McAuliffe(D)
vs.State Sen. Jennifer McClellan(D)
vs.State Rep. Kirk Cox(R)

Gubernatorial Debates 2022:
AK: Incumbent Mike Dunleavy(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AL: Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AR: Incumbent Asa Hutchinson(R,term-limited)
vs.Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin(R)
vs.Trump Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R)
vs.A.G. Leslie Rutledge(R)
AZ: Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
(no prospective opponents yet)
CA: Incumbent Gavin Newsom(D)
vs.S.D.Mayor Kevin_Faulconer(R)
vs.Former Gov. nominee John Cox(R)
CO: Incumbent Jared Polis(D)
vs.Mayor Greg Lopez(R)
CT: Incumbent Ned Lamont(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
FL: Incumbent Ron DeSantis(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Val Demings(? D)
vs.Former Gov.Charlie Crist(? D)
GA: Incumbent Brian Kemp(R)
vs.Minority Leader Stacey Abrams(D)
vs.Senate candidate Shane Hazel(L)
HI: Incumbent David Ige(D,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Andria Tupola(R)
IA: Incumbent Kim Reynolds(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Cindy Axne(? R)
ID: Incumbent Brad Little(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
IL: Incumbent J. B. Pritzker(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
KS: Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MA: Incumbent Charlie Baker(R)
vs.Harvard Professor Danielle Allen(D)
vs.State Sen.Ben Downing(D)
MD: Incumbent Larry Hogan(R,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Robin Ficker(R)
vs.State Rep. Peter Franchot(D)
vs.DNC chair Thomas Perez(D)
vs.RNC chair Michael Steele(? R)
Gubernatorial Debates 2022 (continued):
ME: Incumbent Janet Mills(D)
vs.Former Gov. Paul LePage(R)
MI: Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MN: Incumbent Tim Walz(DFL)
vs.Mayor Mike Murphy(R)
NE: Incumbent Pete Ricketts(R,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Senator Bob Krist(R)
NH: Incumbent Chris Sununu(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NM: Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NV: Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
vs.A.G.Adam Laxalt(? R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Mark Amodei(? R)
NY: Incumbent Andrew Cuomo(D)
vs.Lt.Gov.Kathy Hochul(D)
OH: Incumbent Mike DeWine(R)
vs.Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley(? D)
OK: Incumbent Kevin Stitt(R)
vs.State Sen. Ervin Yen(R)
OR: Incumbent Kate Brown(D,term-limited)
vs.Gov. nominee Bud Pierce(R)
PA: Incumbent Tom Wolf(D,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Rep. Lou Barletta(? R)
RI: Incumbent Gina Raimondo(D,to Cabinet)
vs.Gov. Dan McKee(D)
vs.Secy.Matt Brown(? D)
vs.Mayor Allan Fung(? R)
SC: Incumbent Henry McMaster(R)
vs.State Rep. James Emerson Smith(? D)
vs.U.S.Rep. Joe Cunningham(? R)
SD: Incumbent Kristi Noem(R)
vs.State Rep. Billie Sutton(? D)
TN: Incumbent Bill Lee(R)
vs.Senate nominee Marquita Bradshaw(? D)
TX: Incumbent Greg Abbott(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Allen West(? R)
VT: Incumbent Phil Scott(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WI: Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WY: Incumbent Mark Gordon(R)
vs.Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)
Senator Rand Paul(? R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Biden Adviser Cedric Richmond(? D)
vs.Senator John Neely Kennedy(? R)
MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
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Page last updated: Apr 10, 2021