Bills that would mandate more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers and create a Prescription Drug Affordability board are making their way through the General Assembly. A bill that would have created a grant program to help local pharmacies died in subcommittee.
Politics
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Bill to establish VMI task force clears House, with changes
The bill would create a task force to “examine higher education” at VMI rather than explore whether the college should continue to receive state funding.
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Budget would move primary elections this year to Aug. 4
The change is necessary to accommodate other state laws on early voting that would be squeezed if voters approve the April 21 referendum for redistricting.
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Gov. Spanberger signs bill to enable redistricting referendum
The redistricting effort is expected to go to Virginia voters in an April 21 referendum.
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General Assembly Democrats release redistricting map
The map shows most of Southwest Virginia drawn into the 9th District, which would likely be the last remaining Republican stronghold out of the state’s 11 districts.
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Spanberger ends agreement between state law enforcement agencies and ICE
This won’t affect the almost two dozen agencies in Southside and Southwest Virginia that have entered into agreements with ICE.
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A 10-1 map would give Virginia the most aggressive gerrymander of any other state
Virginia Democrats want to eliminate four Republican-held congressional seats. On a percentage basis, that’s higher than any other state that’s engaged in a mid-decade redistricting.
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Macy says ‘political factions in Richmond and Washington’ want to ‘draw maps in backrooms to favor career politicians’
The Roanoke author, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 6th District, called on legislators to “stop the bickering, back-scratching and politicking.”
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A Smyth County family’s battle to get workers’ compensation and Line of Duty Act benefits inspired a bill to expand coverage
Del. Mitchell Cornett, R-Grayson County, introduced legislation to expand benefits to local law enforcement officers who become disabled or die from certain types of cancer. The bill was set aside this week.
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Pentagon warns it could take ‘extraordinary measures’ in fight over VMI’s future
Democratic state lawmakers have introduced two bills that could substantially alter how the Lexington military college operates.