http://legis.state.va.us/

Virginia Legislative Assembly

2009-03-18

This website offers a diverse array of information about the Commonwealth’s legislative branch: live audio and video streams of House and Senate chamber discussions, a guide to contacting your legislator, and information on visiting the Capitol. It is also a portal for Capitol Classroom, an educational resource about the Virginia General Assembly. The website provides core information on the General Assembly, and is a good jumping-off point for further study.

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Liz Moore

George Mason University

http://www.ncsl.org/

National Conference of State Legislatures

2009-03-18

The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that provides networking and information services to state legislators from Virginia and around the country. While some services are restricted to legislators, NCSL offers up-to-date information on issues that affect policymakers at the state level, such as the Federal budget, immigration, and ethics. The website is an excellent source for information on State-Federal relations and the division of power.

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Liz Moore

George Mason University

Capitol Classroom: Just for Teachers

Virginia General Assembly

2009-03-18

Capitol Classroom’s “Just for Teachers’ section offers lesson plans related to the Legislative branch, Capitol building, and civics education in general. An important lesson plan is the “Impact of Government on the Individual,” which can help users think about how government affects their everyday lives. The website also includes a list of key terms and their definitions— everything from George Washington to the House of Delegates mace.

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Liz Moore

George Mason University

http://legis.state.va.us/1_cap_class/9-12/9_12_how_track.html

Virginia General Assembly

2009-03-18

The Virginia General Assembly has provided a guide on how to track a bill for students in grades 9–12. The guide provides definitions of common terms, such as “standing committee” and “HB.” Ultimately, the guide outlines how to use the Legislative Information System to access anything from bills to daily floor calendars from the Virginia General Assembly. This website is an excellent tool to find out the day-to-day actions of the Virginia General Assembly, as well as how upcoming legislation may affect everyday people.

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Liz Moore

George Mason University

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Roll Call, Capitol Advantage

2009-03-18

Congress.org offers headlines of current bills in the US Congress, as well as a public forum for constituents to discuss those issues. Users can search many features of the website by state. One interesting feature is a list of letters from Virginia constituents to elected officials submitted through Congress.org. Another is contact information for local officials in Virginia. This website is a gateway to find out what’s happening in government, find out what other people are saying about it, and send your own message to the people who represent you in government.

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Liz Moore

George Mason University

Governor Kaine Announces Appointment of Mark Rubin as Counselor
– Larry Roberts to take position with DNC –

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the appointment of Mark E. Rubin as Counselor to the Governor effective March 10, 2009. Rubin has served as Senior Advisor and Deputy Counselor to the Governor since Governor Kaine took office in 2005. He will replace Larry Roberts who is resigning to take a position as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

"Mark Rubin is a good friend, a confidant, and an outstanding public servant," Governor Kaine said. "As a member of my leadership team from the start of my administration, his advice and counsel have been invaluable, and I am confident he will be effective in his new role as well."

In his new position, Rubin will take over as chief legal representative of Governor Kaine and will serve as a member of the Governor's cabinet. Prior to joining the Kaine administration, Rubin was a mediator and arbitrator with The McCammon Group Ltd. from 2003-2005 and was in private law practice, ultimately as a partner with Shuford, Rubin & Gibney, P.C., from 1978-2003. Rubin received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina in 1973.

Most recently Rubin worked closely with members of the General Assembly to secure passage of legislation banning smoking in Virginia restaurants and bars. The appointment of Rubin to replace Roberts ensures a smooth transition of responsibilities between two senior members of the Governor's leadership team.

"Larry Roberts deserves real praise for his service to the Commonwealth, as he has consistently provided me with wise counsel across a range of issues while focusing on how state government can achieve meaningful results in people's lives," said Governor Kaine. "Over the years, Larry has quietly tackled some very challenging issues—most notably the Commonwealth's response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech—and I am pleased that he will be able to continue his record of success and thoughtful counsel at the DNC."