The Commonwealth’s Governor, erstwhile Democratic mega fund raiser and full time Clinton sycophant, Terry McAuliffe, is reportedly going to be joined by the clueless Republicans in the Virginia Legislature to reward lawlessness; to encourage even further lawlessness; and to codify backroom blackmail.
As TBE’s Steve Albertson posted yesterday, The Washington Post is reporting that the Governor and his minion, Attorney General Mark Herring – who won his election by a handful of votes after a box of “overlooked ballots” miraculously showing up in Fairfax County – have bludgeoned the “legislators” into accepting a compromise on the illegal and unconstitutional action of AG Herring in December, where he unilaterally ended concealed carry permit reciprocity with twenty five other states as of February 1, 2016. (The Richmond Times is stating that both the Governor’s and Speaker’s office confirm the “compromise.)
Herring, of course, famously side-stepped the Commonwealth’s law on same sex marriage, saying it was unconstitutional, and wham, it was a done deal. Nothing happened. Lots of huffing and puffing, no action.
Now, it appears that the “Gov” and his BFF, mousetrapped the wily Republicans into “compromising” on McAuliffe’s “common sense gun laws” that were done outside the legislative process. Again. No action. Nothing.
To be clear; it is a defeat for Republicans and win for the Governor. He gets what he wanted and he didn’t have to lift a finger.
But, this perversion of law making outside the legislature, by edict, is a danger to Democrats and Republicans who actually believe in self-government and the rule of law.
This isn’t about guns or whether this specific action is good or bad. It’s about the people’s business being conducted – like President Obama’s example – by a “pen and a phone” rather than through the people’s elected representatives who have pledged to uphold the rule of law.
It is another sad day in Virginia.
