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The Senate will come to order.

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The senators will please take

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their seats. Those persons not

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entitled to the privileges of

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the floor will please retire to

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the gallery. Good morning,

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senators. Good morning. Guests.

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Good morning, the senators. And

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all in attendance. If you are

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able, please rise. We will be

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led in prayer this morning by

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the Reverend Doctor Lisa

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Johnson of Saint Paul's Baptist

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Church in Richmond. Following

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the prayer, if everyone will

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please remain standing and we

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will be led in the Pledge of

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Allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America by

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Tara Hamilton Perkinson, Chief

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Deputy Clerk in our Senate

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Clerk's office.

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>> Let us pray. Oh wise and

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eternal GOD, how grateful we

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are that you trust us to lead

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your people in the state of

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Virginia. We thank you, GOD,

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for this session, that we will

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make some decisions that will

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impact lives. And so we ask for

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your wisdom and your guidance,

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your direction. We ask that you

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would lead us, that we would be

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reminded to put our personal

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agendas on the back burner and

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do what is necessary for the

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people of Virginia. You have

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taught us what we are to do. In

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Micah six verse eight, you said

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that we are to act with justice,

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that we are to love and show

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mercy, and that we must walk

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humbly before you and in your

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sight. We thank you for the

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privilege to be your your

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mouthpieces in this room. So

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GOD, our words, GOD our hearts,

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and remind us that we are in

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this work together and we

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promise we will give your name

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the praise. It's in all of your

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holy names. In the name of

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Jesus is what I would say. Amen.

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>> I pledge allegiance to the

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flag of the United States of

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America, and to the Republic

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for which it stands. One nation

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under GOD, indivisible, with

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liberty and justice for all.

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Bless you.

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>> One more.

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>> The clerk will call the roll

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all those present. Please vote

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I. The clerk, will close the

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roll.

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>> You have a quorum, MADAM

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PRESIDENT. Senate Journal for

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Thursday, OCTOBER 30th, 2025.

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>> The Senator from Mecklenburg,

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Senator Mulkey, moves that the

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reading of the journal be

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waived. All in favor of waiving

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the reading of the journal will

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record their votes. Aye. Those

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opposed? No. Are the senators

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ready to vote? Have all the

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senators voted? Does any

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senator desire to change their

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vote? The clerk will close the

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roll.

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>> Ayes 20. Nos 17.

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>> Ayes 20. No 17. The reading

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of the journal is waived. The

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clerk will report any

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communications from the House

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of delegates.

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>> We do not have any. MADAM

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PRESIDENT.

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>> The clerk will report any

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communications from the

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governor.

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>> We have a communications

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from the governor.

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>> MADAM PRESIDENT.

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>> Senator Surovell, the

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Senator from eastern Fairfax

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County.

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>> Good morning.

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>> Good morning.

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>> I'm sitting down now.

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>> Good morning sir. MADAM

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Clerk, if you will please read

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the communication from the

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governor.

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>> Dear senators and delegates,

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by now you have heard this week

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that I firmly believe this

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special session is wrong to, on

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all fronts, and the scenes,

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including. Sorry, I'm. But I

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want to thank the teams behind

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the scenes, including MADAM

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Clerk, MR. Clerk, the House and

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Senate Clerk's office staff,

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the Capitol Police, Legislative

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Services, and all those who

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serve at our state Capitol.

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Thank you in your for your

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service to our Commonwealth.

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Respectfully, Glenn Youngkin.

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>> We are in our morning hour

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and we have the honor of

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welcoming our guests to your

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Senate. I will give my reminder

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that your normal procedure is

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your senator will stand and

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recognize you. And if you will

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wait to hold your applause

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until after I officially

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recognize you, then we'll

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applaud you together. And so I

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do. Now call on. Senator Lucas,

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the Senator from Portsmouth.

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>> Good morning.

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>> MADAM PRESIDENT. And thank

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you, MADAM PRESIDENT. The

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prayer was given this morning

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by Doctor Johnson, who was her

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former training includes more

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than 30 years of teaching and

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service in the Richmond Public

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School system, a master of

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Divinity from Virginia Union

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University, and doctorate in

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ministry from Ashland

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Theological Seminary, Doctor

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Johnson serves a life stage

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pastor at Saint Paul's Baptist

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Church in Richmond, as well as

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chaplain of the Henrico County

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Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma

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Theta Sorority, incorporated.

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MADAM PRESIDENT. Yes, ma'am.

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MADAM PRESIDENT and members of

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the Senate, I would appreciate

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it if you would extend to her

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the very warm welcome of the

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Senate.

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>> Yes, doctor Johnson, thank

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you for coming again and

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blessing us with your presence

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and with your prayer in

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reminding us there are very

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important things, and one of

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them is to recognize that we

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are not it. Thank you very much.

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Your 30 years as a teacher.

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Thank you for teaching the

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future, because that's who our

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children are, the future, and

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also for your other ministry,

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because teaching is a ministry,

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but then your spiritual

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ministry in our community.

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Thank you very much for your

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sacrifices to us senators. Let

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us give her the warm welcome of

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her Senate. Senator Sturdivant,

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the senator from Colonial

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Heights.

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>> Good morning, MADAM

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PRESIDENT. I rise for an

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introduction.

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>> Good morning.

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>> MADAM PRESIDENT. Joining us

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in the gallery today is Camilla

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Simon and her husband Jack.

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Single. They are residents and

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voters here in the Richmond

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area. I met them this morning,

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spoke with them briefly. And

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the reason they're here is MISS

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Single voted early in this

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election that began on

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SEPTEMBER 19th. And she voted

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in a way that she now regrets.

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Following the introduction and

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at least the initial passage of

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this constitutional amendment

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to partially undo the

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redistricting commission here

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in the Commonwealth. And so she

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is the face of what a lot of

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voters in the Commonwealth have

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experienced as a result of this

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process. And she's here to

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watch over the debate and the

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vote today, and we're happy to

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have her and her husband, MR.

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Single. And we ask that the we

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offer them the warm welcome of

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the Senate.

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>> Thank you for coming and

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seeing your Senate in action.

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We're so glad to have you and

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that you're part of the process,

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the legislative, all of the

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processes. And we're glad that

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you have participated in it.

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Senators, let us give them the

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warm welcome of their Senate.

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>> MADAM PRESIDENT.

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>> Again, the senator from

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Colonial Heights.

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>> I'd also ask that the

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journal reflect that my

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seatmates, the senior senator

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from Virginia Beach and the

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senator from Isle of Wight are

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away from the Capitol on

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pressing personal business.

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>> The Journal will so reflect.

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Thank you, Senator. The senator

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from central Fairfax County,

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Senator Saleem.

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>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

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I rise for an introduction.

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>> The Senator has the floor.

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>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

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Joining us in the gallery today

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are the Virginia High School

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Democrats. The Virginia High

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School Democrats is a student

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run advocacy and campaign

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organization dedicated to

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supporting Democratic

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candidates and policies. With

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over 700 members and chapters

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across every corner of the

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Commonwealth, it is its mission

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is to empower the next

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generation of young leaders and

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advocate for the issues that

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matter the most to students.

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They made the trip down here

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bright and early this morning

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to be with us, to show support

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for the passage of H.J. 6007,

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and to be part of the defense

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of American democracy. I ask

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that you give them the warm

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welcome of their Senate.

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>> Well, I'm supposing that you

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are the there that we are

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talking about, but you

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represent your high school of

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Democrats. And thank you so

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very much for participating and

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at your age for being involved

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in the process and

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understanding that this is

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about your future as well.

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Senator, let us give him the

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warm welcome of his Senate. The

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senator from Franklin County,

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Senator Stanley.

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>> Good morning, MADAM

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PRESIDENT.

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>> Good morning.

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>> MADAM PRESIDENT. MAY the

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Senate Journal reflect that my

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seatmate, the senator from

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Spotsylvania, is away from the

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Capitol today on pressing

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personal business.

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>> Thank you, Senator. The

287
00:10:56,965 --> 00:10:58,333
journal will so reflect. Is

288
00:10:58,333 --> 00:11:01,333
there any other business for

289
00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:03,272
the morning? Our hearing? None.

290
00:11:03,272 --> 00:11:04,907
The clerk will call the

291
00:11:04,907 --> 00:11:06,907
calendar.

292
00:11:07,342 --> 00:11:09,742
>> Senate calendar for Friday,

293
00:11:11,613 --> 00:11:13,916
OCTOBER the 31st, 2025. Happy

294
00:11:13,916 --> 00:11:15,916
Halloween. Regular calendar.

295
00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,840
House joint resolution on third

296
00:11:25,527 --> 00:11:27,527
reading. Hjr. 6007. Proposing

297
00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,600
an amendment to section six of

298
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,201
article 11 of the Constitution

299
00:11:32,201 --> 00:11:34,304
of Virginia. Proposing an

300
00:11:34,304 --> 00:11:36,704
amendment to the Constitution

301
00:11:37,907 --> 00:11:41,507
of Virginia by adding in the

302
00:11:42,278 --> 00:11:45,278
schedule a schedule a section

303
00:11:48,384 --> 00:11:49,152
numbered six, relating to to

304
00:11:49,152 --> 00:11:51,152
apportionment. Congressional

305
00:11:52,288 --> 00:11:54,688
districts, limited authority of

306
00:11:56,250 --> 00:11:57,293
the General Assembly in.

307
00:11:57,293 --> 00:11:59,293
>> To modify.

308
00:12:00,563 --> 00:12:02,365
>> To modify sorry classes

309
00:12:02,365 --> 00:12:03,833
reported from the Committee on

310
00:12:03,833 --> 00:12:05,302
Privileges and Elections.

311
00:12:05,302 --> 00:12:07,302
>> And we have.

312
00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,472
>> And there's three floor

313
00:12:14,311 --> 00:12:16,311
amendments.

314
00:12:18,181 --> 00:12:20,581
>> Senator head. The Senator

315
00:12:25,155 --> 00:12:27,155
from.

316
00:12:27,357 --> 00:12:29,293
>> Amendment number one.

317
00:12:29,293 --> 00:12:30,961
>> Your microphone. Senator.

318
00:12:30,961 --> 00:12:32,620
>> Yes, MADAM PRESIDENT. Is it

319
00:12:32,620 --> 00:12:34,620
on now?

320
00:12:34,765 --> 00:12:36,660
>> Yes. There we are. The new

321
00:12:36,660 --> 00:12:39,136
system is a little a little

322
00:12:39,136 --> 00:12:41,605
difficult. We have have floor

323
00:12:41,605 --> 00:12:42,273
amendment number one that I'd

324
00:12:42,273 --> 00:12:44,208
like to present, and we can

325
00:12:44,208 --> 00:12:45,609
waive the reading of that.

326
00:12:45,609 --> 00:12:46,610
We'll be fine.

327
00:12:46,610 --> 00:12:49,610
>> The question is shall the

328
00:12:50,470 --> 00:12:51,782
reading of the floor amendment.

329
00:12:51,782 --> 00:12:53,985
The head floor amendment number

330
00:12:53,985 --> 00:12:56,530
one be waived? Those in favor

331
00:12:56,530 --> 00:12:57,889
of that motion will say aye.

332
00:12:57,889 --> 00:12:59,230
Those opposed? No. The reading

333
00:12:59,230 --> 00:13:00,124
of the floor amendment is

334
00:13:00,124 --> 00:13:01,125
waived. Senator head.

335
00:13:01,125 --> 00:13:02,960
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT

336
00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:04,829
and members of the body. This

337
00:13:04,829 --> 00:13:06,797
amendment does. It makes a very,

338
00:13:06,797 --> 00:13:09,197
very simple change the

339
00:13:09,367 --> 00:13:10,234
consternation some of the

340
00:13:10,234 --> 00:13:12,103
biggest consternation of this

341
00:13:12,103 --> 00:13:14,138
action, aside from the fact

342
00:13:14,138 --> 00:13:15,840
that we don't need it and that

343
00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,108
it goes against the will of the

344
00:13:17,108 --> 00:13:18,243
people, and that we have a

345
00:13:18,243 --> 00:13:21,212
perfectly good system in place

346
00:13:21,212 --> 00:13:23,248
as it is, simply ensures that

347
00:13:23,248 --> 00:13:25,160
if this is successful, and that

348
00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,652
if this goes forward and is

349
00:13:27,652 --> 00:13:29,955
approved by the voters of the

350
00:13:29,955 --> 00:13:31,156
Commonwealth, that the

351
00:13:31,156 --> 00:13:33,959
redistricting would not be done

352
00:13:33,959 --> 00:13:36,940
by the Partizan members of the

353
00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:38,494
General Assembly, but would

354
00:13:38,563 --> 00:13:40,365
also go to the redistricting

355
00:13:40,365 --> 00:13:42,765
commission. Very, very simple

356
00:13:52,311 --> 00:13:54,311
amendment. So.

357
00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:57,800
>> And present.

358
00:13:58,150 --> 00:14:01,150
>> Senator head, just a matter

359
00:14:01,287 --> 00:14:03,155
of.

360
00:14:03,155 --> 00:14:03,322
>> Order. I move the amendment

361
00:14:03,322 --> 00:14:05,322
so.

362
00:14:05,591 --> 00:14:05,958
>> All of them together are one

363
00:14:05,958 --> 00:14:07,958
at a time.

364
00:14:08,561 --> 00:14:09,228
>> I only have the one. So just.

365
00:14:09,228 --> 00:14:09,895
>> Okay.

366
00:14:09,895 --> 00:14:10,963
>> Just this one.

367
00:14:10,963 --> 00:14:12,932
>> All three together. All

368
00:14:12,932 --> 00:14:14,433
right. The senator from eastern

369
00:14:14,433 --> 00:14:15,368
Fairfax County, Senator

370
00:14:15,368 --> 00:14:16,969
Surovell.

371
00:14:16,969 --> 00:14:17,436
>> MADAM PRESIDENT,

372
00:14:17,436 --> 00:14:19,436
parliamentary inquiry.

373
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:21,874
>> The senator has the floor.

374
00:14:21,874 --> 00:14:23,743
>> I think there might be a

375
00:14:23,743 --> 00:14:25,780
little confusion. I just want

376
00:14:25,780 --> 00:14:25,878
to make sure we're clear. Floor

377
00:14:25,878 --> 00:14:27,480
amendment number one refers to

378
00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:28,948
all three amendments, and we're

379
00:14:28,948 --> 00:14:30,249
going to do them all together

380
00:14:30,249 --> 00:14:31,217
as a bloc. Is that correct?

381
00:14:31,217 --> 00:14:33,520
>> That is correct, Senator.

382
00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:34,654
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

383
00:14:34,654 --> 00:14:35,388
Speaking of the amendment.

384
00:14:35,388 --> 00:14:36,222
>> The senator has the floor.

385
00:14:36,222 --> 00:14:37,390
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

386
00:14:37,390 --> 00:14:39,920
MADAM PRESIDENT, I encourage

387
00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:39,959
the body to vote against this

388
00:14:39,959 --> 00:14:41,461
floor amendment. Aside from the

389
00:14:41,461 --> 00:14:43,530
fact that it would probably

390
00:14:43,530 --> 00:14:46,530
prolong this process by another

391
00:14:47,330 --> 00:14:48,301
who knows how long, it's

392
00:14:48,301 --> 00:14:50,301
substantively flawed. Number

393
00:14:51,137 --> 00:14:53,440
one, it's a poison pill because

394
00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,942
the purpose of the amendment is

395
00:14:55,942 --> 00:14:58,178
for a redraw to be done not by

396
00:14:58,178 --> 00:15:00,130
the Commission, but by the

397
00:15:00,130 --> 00:15:01,248
General Assembly. And so it

398
00:15:01,248 --> 00:15:02,950
completely defeats the purpose.

399
00:15:02,950 --> 00:15:05,520
Number one. Number two, I just

400
00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:06,653
want to note for the record,

401
00:15:06,653 --> 00:15:07,454
I've been hearing a lot of

402
00:15:07,454 --> 00:15:09,220
things about this commission

403
00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:10,324
that are inaccurate. I want to

404
00:15:10,324 --> 00:15:12,693
make sure the record is clear.

405
00:15:12,693 --> 00:15:13,994
First of all, I'm the only one

406
00:15:13,994 --> 00:15:15,162
here that's pure. Or maybe

407
00:15:15,162 --> 00:15:16,930
Senator Van Valkenburg. No, no,

408
00:15:16,930 --> 00:15:18,999
he's not. He's not pure. He was

409
00:15:18,999 --> 00:15:21,368
a big supporter, but I think

410
00:15:21,368 --> 00:15:22,136
I'm the only one here that

411
00:15:22,136 --> 00:15:24,638
actually voted against this. Oh,

412
00:15:24,638 --> 00:15:25,372
okay. There's a few other

413
00:15:25,372 --> 00:15:26,730
people that moved up from the

414
00:15:26,730 --> 00:15:28,142
other chamber. A couple

415
00:15:28,142 --> 00:15:30,578
senators from Henrico and a few

416
00:15:30,578 --> 00:15:33,180
others, but oh, and one from

417
00:15:33,180 --> 00:15:34,810
Prince William. But but in any

418
00:15:34,810 --> 00:15:35,916
event, I voted against this at

419
00:15:35,916 --> 00:15:37,852
the time because I thought it

420
00:15:37,852 --> 00:15:39,860
was a bad idea at the time. I

421
00:15:39,860 --> 00:15:41,189
voted for it the first time

422
00:15:41,189 --> 00:15:42,857
when we had about two hours to

423
00:15:42,857 --> 00:15:43,958
read it. When it came out on

424
00:15:43,958 --> 00:15:46,194
the floor that day in a

425
00:15:46,194 --> 00:15:48,763
conference report. But after I

426
00:15:48,763 --> 00:15:49,430
had a year to reflect on it and

427
00:15:49,430 --> 00:15:51,132
listen to people, I changed my

428
00:15:51,132 --> 00:15:52,834
mind. The first of all, this

429
00:15:52,834 --> 00:15:55,470
commission that we have right

430
00:15:55,470 --> 00:15:57,171
now, first of all, is not

431
00:15:57,171 --> 00:15:59,171
independent. It's not

432
00:15:59,274 --> 00:16:00,809
independent. It's made up of

433
00:16:00,809 --> 00:16:03,209
half legislators and half

434
00:16:03,244 --> 00:16:04,612
people that are picked by

435
00:16:04,612 --> 00:16:05,880
legislators. That's not

436
00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,916
independent. That is a

437
00:16:07,916 --> 00:16:10,180
political commission full of

438
00:16:10,180 --> 00:16:11,520
politicians and people picked

439
00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,188
by politicians. And if you look

440
00:16:13,188 --> 00:16:14,623
at the people that actually

441
00:16:14,623 --> 00:16:16,358
served, they're all very, very,

442
00:16:16,358 --> 00:16:17,459
very political people. So the

443
00:16:17,459 --> 00:16:19,859
commission itself was not

444
00:16:19,895 --> 00:16:21,930
independent, number one. Number

445
00:16:21,930 --> 00:16:23,799
two, I've heard some people say

446
00:16:23,799 --> 00:16:25,968
in the last week that it was

447
00:16:25,968 --> 00:16:27,169
Nonpartizan. It's not

448
00:16:27,169 --> 00:16:28,837
nonpartizan, it is a partizan

449
00:16:28,837 --> 00:16:30,439
commission. It could not be any

450
00:16:30,439 --> 00:16:32,140
more Partizan. If you go look

451
00:16:32,140 --> 00:16:33,409
at the people who served on it,

452
00:16:33,409 --> 00:16:34,910
they were either politicians or

453
00:16:34,910 --> 00:16:36,910
extraordinarily partizan people.

454
00:16:38,513 --> 00:16:40,416
Third thing is that it's not

455
00:16:40,416 --> 00:16:41,684
bipartisan. Well, it might be

456
00:16:41,684 --> 00:16:43,180
half Democrats and half

457
00:16:43,180 --> 00:16:45,418
Republicans. There's a big

458
00:16:45,688 --> 00:16:46,488
voice missing because about 40%

459
00:16:46,488 --> 00:16:48,488
of Virginians identify

460
00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,424
themselves as independent. So

461
00:16:52,528 --> 00:16:54,163
the idea that this commission

462
00:16:54,163 --> 00:16:57,133
in some way reflects some kind

463
00:16:57,133 --> 00:17:01,333
of a better way, I thought at

464
00:17:03,380 --> 00:17:05,740
the time, and as proved out. It

465
00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:08,211
was it was not. In fact, it was

466
00:17:08,211 --> 00:17:09,780
a process that was designed to

467
00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:11,478
generate gridlock, which is

468
00:17:11,681 --> 00:17:12,315
exactly what happened, which is

469
00:17:12,315 --> 00:17:13,383
why our Supreme Court ended up

470
00:17:13,383 --> 00:17:14,917
having to draw the maps,

471
00:17:14,917 --> 00:17:15,885
because nobody could agree on

472
00:17:15,885 --> 00:17:17,854
anything, because it was full

473
00:17:17,854 --> 00:17:19,422
of partizans. And I would

474
00:17:19,422 --> 00:17:20,423
submit that even if we were to

475
00:17:20,423 --> 00:17:20,990
adopt this amendment, we'd

476
00:17:20,990 --> 00:17:22,491
probably see the exact same

477
00:17:22,491 --> 00:17:23,960
result and the Supreme Court

478
00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,130
would be probably be drawn maps

479
00:17:27,130 --> 00:17:28,965
again. And so it's this is not

480
00:17:28,965 --> 00:17:31,267
advancing this purpose at all.

481
00:17:31,267 --> 00:17:34,304
It's a poison pill. I would ask

482
00:17:34,304 --> 00:17:35,906
that we vote against it.

483
00:17:35,906 --> 00:17:37,841
>> Senator Obenshain, the

484
00:17:37,841 --> 00:17:39,841
senator from Rockingham.

485
00:17:40,177 --> 00:17:40,944
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, speak. I

486
00:17:40,944 --> 00:17:42,979
speak to the bill.

487
00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:44,381
>> Senator MAY continue.

488
00:17:44,381 --> 00:17:46,781
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

489
00:17:46,950 --> 00:17:48,618
What we've heard is Senate

490
00:17:48,618 --> 00:17:49,887
Majority Leader thumbing his

491
00:17:49,887 --> 00:17:52,887
nose at two thirds of

492
00:17:53,557 --> 00:17:55,557
Virginia's voters, 66% of

493
00:17:56,126 --> 00:17:57,995
Virginia's voters voted for

494
00:17:57,995 --> 00:17:59,995
this constitutional amendment.

495
00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,640
And I get he's philosophically

496
00:18:03,233 --> 00:18:05,200
pure. He voted against it every

497
00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,204
step of the way, and he

498
00:18:07,204 --> 00:18:08,906
continues to be against it. The

499
00:18:08,906 --> 00:18:11,442
rest of us here presumably

500
00:18:11,442 --> 00:18:13,210
support the constitutional

501
00:18:13,210 --> 00:18:15,790
amendment, although that has

502
00:18:15,790 --> 00:18:16,514
come into question by virtue of

503
00:18:16,514 --> 00:18:18,914
the introduction of this

504
00:18:19,150 --> 00:18:20,885
particular bill. You know, who

505
00:18:20,885 --> 00:18:22,954
are we kidding? You know, we

506
00:18:22,954 --> 00:18:24,121
either respect the will of the

507
00:18:24,121 --> 00:18:25,856
people of the Commonwealth of

508
00:18:25,856 --> 00:18:28,260
Virginia or we don't. You know,

509
00:18:28,260 --> 00:18:30,940
I hear the majority leader

510
00:18:30,940 --> 00:18:32,997
suggest that, you know, yes,

511
00:18:32,997 --> 00:18:35,933
this is a political body and

512
00:18:35,933 --> 00:18:38,136
that they couldn't possibly be

513
00:18:38,136 --> 00:18:39,971
expected to work together to

514
00:18:39,971 --> 00:18:42,173
generate a result. Heaven

515
00:18:42,173 --> 00:18:43,408
forbid that we actually link

516
00:18:43,408 --> 00:18:45,143
arms and work together on

517
00:18:45,143 --> 00:18:47,450
something. You know, I tell

518
00:18:47,450 --> 00:18:47,912
people all the time that dirty

519
00:18:47,912 --> 00:18:50,448
little secret about the way

520
00:18:50,448 --> 00:18:53,918
that we work down here is that

521
00:18:53,918 --> 00:18:55,120
we have 90% of the bills, 90%

522
00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:57,355
of the stuff that we work on

523
00:18:57,355 --> 00:18:58,223
are just fixing problems. You

524
00:18:58,223 --> 00:18:59,524
know, they're not Republican

525
00:18:59,524 --> 00:19:01,126
problems. They're not

526
00:19:01,126 --> 00:19:02,427
Democratic problems. They're

527
00:19:02,427 --> 00:19:04,290
not Partizan problems. They're

528
00:19:04,290 --> 00:19:06,732
just problems that we need to

529
00:19:06,732 --> 00:19:08,660
fix. And we link arms and work

530
00:19:08,660 --> 00:19:09,801
together extremely well to get

531
00:19:09,801 --> 00:19:12,201
those things done across

532
00:19:13,305 --> 00:19:13,906
Partizan lines. All of us have

533
00:19:13,906 --> 00:19:15,974
worked with our colleagues on

534
00:19:15,974 --> 00:19:18,760
the other side of the aisle on

535
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,312
bills, and I'm proud of that.

536
00:19:20,312 --> 00:19:21,547
The other 10% of the things we

537
00:19:21,547 --> 00:19:23,282
work on, I call cats and dogs

538
00:19:23,282 --> 00:19:25,284
bills. You know, they're the

539
00:19:25,284 --> 00:19:26,285
reasons we have Democrats and

540
00:19:26,285 --> 00:19:27,786
Republicans, liberals and

541
00:19:27,786 --> 00:19:29,388
conservatives. They're the

542
00:19:29,388 --> 00:19:31,123
things we're supposed to

543
00:19:31,123 --> 00:19:34,123
disagree on. And what the

544
00:19:35,595 --> 00:19:37,830
voters of Virginia said is we

545
00:19:37,830 --> 00:19:39,965
expect redistricting to be an

546
00:19:39,965 --> 00:19:41,834
issue that we work across the

547
00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:45,137
aisle on, that we link arms

548
00:19:45,137 --> 00:19:46,939
that it not be a cats and dogs

549
00:19:46,939 --> 00:19:50,539
bill, that it be something that

550
00:19:50,977 --> 00:19:53,212
we expect you to work with your

551
00:19:53,212 --> 00:19:55,882
colleagues to get resolved. And

552
00:19:55,882 --> 00:19:58,251
while I think that the I

553
00:19:58,251 --> 00:20:00,651
respect the majority leader's

554
00:20:00,853 --> 00:20:03,890
opinion that it didn't work, I

555
00:20:03,890 --> 00:20:05,240
take issue with that. I you

556
00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:06,993
know, I think it worked exactly

557
00:20:06,993 --> 00:20:09,262
like it was supposed to work.

558
00:20:09,262 --> 00:20:12,132
You know, we both sides

559
00:20:12,132 --> 00:20:14,532
introduced or advocated for,

560
00:20:15,350 --> 00:20:16,690
you know, their own view of

561
00:20:16,690 --> 00:20:18,469
redistricting and first time

562
00:20:19,139 --> 00:20:21,700
out of the gate, they couldn't

563
00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:23,310
come to an agreement and it

564
00:20:23,310 --> 00:20:25,110
broke down, you know, during

565
00:20:25,110 --> 00:20:26,780
that process, what happened?

566
00:20:26,780 --> 00:20:29,180
Some of the legislative

567
00:20:29,216 --> 00:20:31,840
proposals were advanced. I mean,

568
00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:32,853
the, the, the commission

569
00:20:32,853 --> 00:20:34,855
proposals that were advanced

570
00:20:34,855 --> 00:20:37,255
were clearly designed to

571
00:20:37,958 --> 00:20:39,293
protect incumbents looking at

572
00:20:39,293 --> 00:20:40,994
where everybody lived and drawn

573
00:20:40,994 --> 00:20:43,397
circles around their houses and

574
00:20:43,397 --> 00:20:44,798
making sure that we didn't

575
00:20:44,798 --> 00:20:47,167
interrupt or disrupt the

576
00:20:47,167 --> 00:20:49,870
service of sitting members, you

577
00:20:49,870 --> 00:20:52,172
know, and and it broke down

578
00:20:52,172 --> 00:20:56,100
over that. And it the way that

579
00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,145
it was artfully drafted by the

580
00:20:58,145 --> 00:21:00,448
patrons of that constitutional

581
00:21:00,448 --> 00:21:02,383
amendment, there was a way to

582
00:21:02,383 --> 00:21:03,985
fix it. And it goes to the

583
00:21:03,985 --> 00:21:06,487
Supreme Court. And the Supreme

584
00:21:06,487 --> 00:21:07,989
Court did its job. I don't know

585
00:21:07,989 --> 00:21:10,910
that any of us love the way

586
00:21:10,910 --> 00:21:11,225
that the Supreme Court did it.

587
00:21:11,225 --> 00:21:12,160
There were an awful lot of

588
00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,610
people double and triple bunked

589
00:21:14,610 --> 00:21:15,329
my friend and seatmate over

590
00:21:15,329 --> 00:21:17,265
here and one other member of

591
00:21:17,265 --> 00:21:19,000
the Senate, I was put in a

592
00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,335
district with three sitting

593
00:21:20,335 --> 00:21:23,335
members of the Senate of

594
00:21:23,404 --> 00:21:24,500
Virginia. I didn't love it.

595
00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:25,873
Senator from Charlottesville

596
00:21:25,873 --> 00:21:28,760
probably didn't love it. The

597
00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:30,445
senator from Augusta County

598
00:21:30,445 --> 00:21:33,480
didn't love it. But you know

599
00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:34,349
what? And I think a large

600
00:21:34,349 --> 00:21:36,518
number of us were in that

601
00:21:36,518 --> 00:21:38,918
situation. My friend, the

602
00:21:39,554 --> 00:21:40,956
senator from Hanover was double

603
00:21:40,956 --> 00:21:43,358
bunked with somebody else. The

604
00:21:43,358 --> 00:21:46,358
senator from the the PRESIDENT

605
00:21:46,394 --> 00:21:47,362
Pro tem was put in a district

606
00:21:47,362 --> 00:21:50,198
with somebody else. And, you

607
00:21:50,198 --> 00:21:52,234
know, we lived with it. And we

608
00:21:52,234 --> 00:21:53,902
came out of that with a bunch

609
00:21:53,902 --> 00:21:56,171
of new members. And let me tell

610
00:21:56,171 --> 00:21:56,805
you, the next time

611
00:21:56,805 --> 00:21:57,940
redistricting goes to

612
00:21:57,940 --> 00:21:59,541
redistricting commission, I

613
00:21:59,541 --> 00:22:01,209
think there's going to be an

614
00:22:01,209 --> 00:22:03,110
attitude adjustment. I don't

615
00:22:03,110 --> 00:22:04,246
think that the members of the

616
00:22:04,246 --> 00:22:06,148
redistricting commission are

617
00:22:06,148 --> 00:22:07,820
going to be very excited about

618
00:22:07,820 --> 00:22:09,818
having that go to the Supreme

619
00:22:09,818 --> 00:22:11,887
Court again, and I suspect that

620
00:22:11,887 --> 00:22:14,590
the intention of the drafters

621
00:22:14,590 --> 00:22:16,425
of this artfully drafted

622
00:22:16,425 --> 00:22:18,425
constitutional amendment would

623
00:22:19,595 --> 00:22:21,130
probably agree that that it's

624
00:22:21,130 --> 00:22:23,232
going to cause the members of

625
00:22:23,232 --> 00:22:24,266
that commission to do exactly

626
00:22:24,266 --> 00:22:25,901
what the citizens of the

627
00:22:25,901 --> 00:22:28,301
Commonwealth of Virginia expect

628
00:22:29,438 --> 00:22:30,706
them to do. And that is work

629
00:22:30,706 --> 00:22:33,900
across the Partizan aisle to

630
00:22:33,900 --> 00:22:36,900
come up with districts that

631
00:22:36,450 --> 00:22:38,448
make sense. Not for the

632
00:22:38,448 --> 00:22:41,170
incumbents, not for the people

633
00:22:41,170 --> 00:22:42,285
who are staking a claim to an

634
00:22:42,285 --> 00:22:44,120
elected office. It is not my

635
00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:46,222
office. It is not your office.

636
00:22:46,222 --> 00:22:47,790
It is not the office of any

637
00:22:47,790 --> 00:22:50,293
member of Congress. They are

638
00:22:50,293 --> 00:22:52,862
the people's offices, and they

639
00:22:52,862 --> 00:22:55,498
expect it to be treated that

640
00:22:55,498 --> 00:22:57,834
way. So I do not. I can't

641
00:22:57,834 --> 00:23:00,103
fathom why there would be any

642
00:23:00,103 --> 00:23:02,372
objection to enforcing to

643
00:23:02,372 --> 00:23:05,342
adopting the will of the people

644
00:23:05,342 --> 00:23:07,277
of Virginia. 66% of the people

645
00:23:07,277 --> 00:23:09,790
of the will, of the will, of

646
00:23:09,790 --> 00:23:10,313
the of 66% of the people of

647
00:23:10,313 --> 00:23:12,316
Virginia who voted for this

648
00:23:12,316 --> 00:23:14,316
constitutional amendment to

649
00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:17,585
give this decision, important

650
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:20,488
decision to the redistricting

651
00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:23,860
commission, as opposed to hyper

652
00:23:23,860 --> 00:23:26,290
politicizing it, going back to

653
00:23:26,290 --> 00:23:28,332
what we had before, you know,

654
00:23:28,332 --> 00:23:28,932
there were a lot of good people

655
00:23:28,932 --> 00:23:31,932
who were involved in that

656
00:23:32,136 --> 00:23:34,380
process before creating this

657
00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:35,239
redistricting commission. You

658
00:23:35,239 --> 00:23:38,239
know, a group called One

659
00:23:38,375 --> 00:23:40,277
Virginia 2021 spent enormous

660
00:23:40,277 --> 00:23:41,812
energy. I don't know where they

661
00:23:41,812 --> 00:23:44,810
are. I hope they're in the

662
00:23:44,810 --> 00:23:45,416
gallery today watching. I hope

663
00:23:45,416 --> 00:23:47,952
they're if they're not here

664
00:23:47,952 --> 00:23:50,952
watching, I hope they are

665
00:23:51,322 --> 00:23:53,722
online watching because this

666
00:23:54,125 --> 00:23:55,359
this amendment, you know, if

667
00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,395
we're going to go down this

668
00:23:57,395 --> 00:23:58,963
road, if we're going to go down

669
00:23:58,963 --> 00:24:01,966
this road and change the will

670
00:24:01,966 --> 00:24:03,901
of 66% of the people of

671
00:24:03,901 --> 00:24:06,370
Virginia, the least we can do.

672
00:24:06,370 --> 00:24:08,206
And what we owe to them is to

673
00:24:08,206 --> 00:24:09,340
at least give it to the

674
00:24:09,340 --> 00:24:10,975
redistricting commission. So I

675
00:24:10,975 --> 00:24:12,911
would hope that we'd show our

676
00:24:12,911 --> 00:24:15,911
commitment to the the process

677
00:24:16,470 --> 00:24:17,816
that we created, along with the

678
00:24:17,816 --> 00:24:19,984
people of the Commonwealth of

679
00:24:19,984 --> 00:24:23,154
Virginia, and give this to the

680
00:24:23,154 --> 00:24:25,154
redistricting commission.

681
00:24:25,924 --> 00:24:27,926
>> Senator Favola, the senator

682
00:24:27,926 --> 00:24:29,127
from Arlington.

683
00:24:29,127 --> 00:24:30,328
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

684
00:24:30,328 --> 00:24:30,929
Good morning.

685
00:24:30,929 --> 00:24:32,929
>> Good morning.

686
00:24:33,310 --> 00:24:33,999
>> I am speaking to the

687
00:24:33,999 --> 00:24:35,567
amendment before us.

688
00:24:35,567 --> 00:24:37,200
>> Senator has the floor.

689
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:38,236
>> Thank you. Ladies and

690
00:24:38,236 --> 00:24:40,636
gentlemen, I would encourage

691
00:24:40,939 --> 00:24:43,442
you to vote no for the three

692
00:24:43,442 --> 00:24:46,211
amendments before us. And for

693
00:24:46,211 --> 00:24:49,481
two simple reasons. We do have

694
00:24:49,481 --> 00:24:50,182
the experience of the 2023

695
00:24:50,182 --> 00:24:52,182
redistricting commission.

696
00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,222
Actually, it was 2022, perhaps

697
00:24:57,222 --> 00:24:58,991
by the time they did their

698
00:24:58,991 --> 00:25:00,158
actual work and they and they

699
00:25:00,158 --> 00:25:02,194
couldn't do their work, they

700
00:25:02,194 --> 00:25:04,630
could not come to agreement. So

701
00:25:04,630 --> 00:25:06,165
we have the example that the

702
00:25:06,165 --> 00:25:08,165
redistricting commission did

703
00:25:08,901 --> 00:25:10,369
not operate the way many of us

704
00:25:10,369 --> 00:25:12,400
had expected and did not

705
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,400
produce the results that voters

706
00:25:15,141 --> 00:25:16,809
had expected. One, two, I think

707
00:25:16,809 --> 00:25:19,809
it is incredibly important that

708
00:25:19,812 --> 00:25:23,412
we are not overruling the will

709
00:25:23,749 --> 00:25:26,190
of the people for this, for the

710
00:25:26,190 --> 00:25:28,419
resolution before us, absent

711
00:25:29,188 --> 00:25:30,957
these amendments to take effect,

712
00:25:30,957 --> 00:25:33,293
there's an entire process ahead

713
00:25:33,293 --> 00:25:35,962
of us. The General Assembly

714
00:25:35,962 --> 00:25:37,730
would have to adopt this

715
00:25:37,730 --> 00:25:39,730
constitutional amendment

716
00:25:39,899 --> 00:25:40,400
language in 2026, and then the

717
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,400
constitutional amendment

718
00:25:42,469 --> 00:25:43,837
language would go before the

719
00:25:43,837 --> 00:25:46,600
voters, so the voters can

720
00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,410
decide if the General Assembly

721
00:25:48,410 --> 00:25:50,760
can have the limited authority

722
00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,760
to redraw congressional

723
00:25:52,979 --> 00:25:55,379
districts one time mid-cycle.

724
00:25:56,183 --> 00:25:57,451
So this in no way takes away

725
00:25:57,451 --> 00:25:59,851
any decision making authority

726
00:26:00,530 --> 00:26:02,923
from the public. We're giving

727
00:26:02,923 --> 00:26:04,491
them an option, and it is an

728
00:26:04,491 --> 00:26:06,159
option. I can tell you that

729
00:26:06,159 --> 00:26:08,562
many of my constituents have

730
00:26:08,562 --> 00:26:10,962
asked for. They're wondering

731
00:26:10,998 --> 00:26:13,167
why the PRESIDENT Of the United

732
00:26:13,167 --> 00:26:16,337
States is asking so many states

733
00:26:16,337 --> 00:26:18,172
to redraw their districts to

734
00:26:18,172 --> 00:26:20,975
minimize the vote or voice of

735
00:26:20,975 --> 00:26:23,277
many communities, because he

736
00:26:23,277 --> 00:26:26,877
and his allies on Capitol Hill

737
00:26:27,470 --> 00:26:28,816
are intent on actually

738
00:26:28,816 --> 00:26:31,216
memorializing policies that are

739
00:26:32,186 --> 00:26:34,422
hurtful. Our voters are asking

740
00:26:34,422 --> 00:26:36,230
to have that voice, and they're

741
00:26:36,230 --> 00:26:38,423
asking that we protect

742
00:26:39,293 --> 00:26:39,994
democracy, that we not allow

743
00:26:39,994 --> 00:26:41,796
gerrymandering to happen

744
00:26:41,796 --> 00:26:44,532
throughout the country. And we

745
00:26:44,532 --> 00:26:45,866
sit back. So at the end of the

746
00:26:45,866 --> 00:26:48,690
day, they're going to have the

747
00:26:48,690 --> 00:26:50,104
decision. Nobody else. And I

748
00:26:50,104 --> 00:26:51,839
think that's what we have to

749
00:26:51,839 --> 00:26:54,309
remember. Again, I ask this

750
00:26:54,309 --> 00:26:55,276
body to defeat these three

751
00:26:55,276 --> 00:26:57,676
amendments. Thank you, MADAM

752
00:27:00,181 --> 00:27:02,181
PRESIDENT.

753
00:27:02,484 --> 00:27:04,884
>> Senator Stanley, the senator

754
00:27:07,540 --> 00:27:08,757
from Franklin County.

755
00:27:08,757 --> 00:27:09,925
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

756
00:27:09,925 --> 00:27:10,191
I rise to speak to the

757
00:27:10,191 --> 00:27:12,260
amendment.

758
00:27:12,260 --> 00:27:13,729
>> Senator has the floor.

759
00:27:13,729 --> 00:27:15,297
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, members of

760
00:27:15,297 --> 00:27:17,799
the body, this amendment is

761
00:27:17,799 --> 00:27:19,935
sound. It preserves the

762
00:27:19,935 --> 00:27:21,203
Commission and allows the

763
00:27:21,203 --> 00:27:23,380
Commission to do the work that

764
00:27:23,380 --> 00:27:26,108
only a short time ago we said

765
00:27:26,108 --> 00:27:27,176
it should do, and we thought it

766
00:27:27,176 --> 00:27:30,176
so important. We enshrined in

767
00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:32,214
our Constitution. We made it

768
00:27:32,214 --> 00:27:34,214
permanent or supposedly

769
00:27:34,683 --> 00:27:36,986
permanent, because we believe

770
00:27:36,986 --> 00:27:39,210
that that will build a stronger

771
00:27:39,210 --> 00:27:40,789
foundation for this democratic

772
00:27:40,789 --> 00:27:42,224
system here, this form of

773
00:27:42,224 --> 00:27:44,159
government created by our

774
00:27:44,159 --> 00:27:46,862
founding fathers for those that

775
00:27:46,862 --> 00:27:48,230
came after us. Because I dare

776
00:27:48,230 --> 00:27:50,633
say that those who have sat in

777
00:27:50,633 --> 00:27:51,233
this chamber longer than ten

778
00:27:51,233 --> 00:27:54,233
years have been subjected, as

779
00:27:55,938 --> 00:27:58,207
we heard, to gerrymandering

780
00:27:58,207 --> 00:28:01,207
redistricting. Lord knows I was

781
00:28:01,410 --> 00:28:02,145
here one year in a special

782
00:28:02,145 --> 00:28:04,460
election. Redistricting was the

783
00:28:04,460 --> 00:28:06,182
very next year. And lo and

784
00:28:06,182 --> 00:28:07,917
behold, when the maps came out

785
00:28:07,917 --> 00:28:10,530
onto the floor and they were

786
00:28:10,530 --> 00:28:12,455
secretive and they were all in

787
00:28:12,455 --> 00:28:14,557
backrooms, I couldn't even find

788
00:28:14,557 --> 00:28:17,927
my county, let alone where I

789
00:28:17,927 --> 00:28:20,697
lived. And that was a battle.

790
00:28:20,697 --> 00:28:22,432
Let's not forget the Bethune

791
00:28:22,432 --> 00:28:24,100
Hill case or the house maps

792
00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:26,202
were determined to be racially

793
00:28:26,202 --> 00:28:27,137
gerrymandered. That's

794
00:28:27,137 --> 00:28:29,137
embarrassment to the

795
00:28:29,172 --> 00:28:31,700
Commonwealth of Virginia. But

796
00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:32,750
that's the way that was being

797
00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:34,211
played until all of us came

798
00:28:34,211 --> 00:28:37,470
together and said, whoa, let's

799
00:28:37,470 --> 00:28:39,149
do something different. And I'm

800
00:28:39,149 --> 00:28:40,517
reminded, you know, not just as

801
00:28:40,517 --> 00:28:43,487
a lawyer, but during a time I

802
00:28:43,487 --> 00:28:45,210
built houses. And I'm reminded

803
00:28:45,210 --> 00:28:46,890
how firm the foundation must be

804
00:28:46,890 --> 00:28:49,293
to rest tons and tons of

805
00:28:49,293 --> 00:28:51,395
material that becomes a home on

806
00:28:51,395 --> 00:28:53,397
top of it. If you pull a truss

807
00:28:53,397 --> 00:28:56,400
out, remove a block from the

808
00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,336
foundation. Not only does it

809
00:28:59,336 --> 00:29:02,336
become unstable, it weakens the

810
00:29:02,373 --> 00:29:05,373
whole system, makes it almost

811
00:29:05,876 --> 00:29:08,379
unlivable, unsafe. And this is

812
00:29:08,379 --> 00:29:11,979
what we're trying to do now

813
00:29:13,751 --> 00:29:16,870
with hb 6007. Are we say to

814
00:29:16,870 --> 00:29:18,189
ourselves, the commission was

815
00:29:18,189 --> 00:29:21,789
just not good enough. And let's

816
00:29:22,126 --> 00:29:25,726
understand why, why, why do we

817
00:29:26,300 --> 00:29:28,966
suddenly need to do this mid

818
00:29:28,966 --> 00:29:31,269
during the mid ten year decades

819
00:29:31,269 --> 00:29:32,971
that we have, we have in our

820
00:29:32,971 --> 00:29:35,371
Constitution that says only

821
00:29:35,707 --> 00:29:37,410
every ten years, but this

822
00:29:37,410 --> 00:29:39,109
changes even that. And that was

823
00:29:39,109 --> 00:29:41,846
in the Constitution long before

824
00:29:41,846 --> 00:29:43,846
the redistricting commission.

825
00:29:43,981 --> 00:29:45,283
My good friend from Eastern

826
00:29:45,283 --> 00:29:46,951
Fairfax, who I've known for

827
00:29:46,951 --> 00:29:48,954
many, many, many years, way

828
00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:50,550
past the time in which both of

829
00:29:50,550 --> 00:29:51,389
us were elected to office, grew

830
00:29:51,389 --> 00:29:53,458
up together in the Fairfax

831
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:56,428
County Courthouse, says, oh, it

832
00:29:56,428 --> 00:29:58,630
didn't work. I want to correct

833
00:29:58,630 --> 00:29:59,297
the record because the

834
00:29:59,297 --> 00:30:01,320
commission did not work well. I

835
00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:02,567
sat on the commission. It was

836
00:30:02,567 --> 00:30:04,803
frustrating. As the senator

837
00:30:04,803 --> 00:30:07,390
from Hanover says, it was time

838
00:30:07,390 --> 00:30:08,407
consuming. It was emotional.

839
00:30:08,407 --> 00:30:10,975
But the senator from Hanover is

840
00:30:10,975 --> 00:30:14,575
exactly right on what went on.

841
00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,115
But in the end, it demonstrated

842
00:30:17,115 --> 00:30:19,251
that it did work. And I must

843
00:30:19,251 --> 00:30:20,152
concur with Senator Obenshain,

844
00:30:20,152 --> 00:30:21,853
who says, listen, I think

845
00:30:21,853 --> 00:30:23,389
they're going to do it a lot

846
00:30:23,389 --> 00:30:25,224
better this time because I know

847
00:30:25,224 --> 00:30:27,920
I will. If I ever were to sit

848
00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:28,600
on that commission again, we

849
00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:29,940
should leave it to the

850
00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:31,494
commission that we trusted

851
00:30:31,597 --> 00:30:33,232
merely five years ago. But I

852
00:30:33,232 --> 00:30:35,340
want to be direct with you,

853
00:30:35,340 --> 00:30:37,403
because I think it's time we

854
00:30:37,403 --> 00:30:39,710
call hb 6007 what it is and why

855
00:30:39,710 --> 00:30:40,539
we need this amendment. We are

856
00:30:40,539 --> 00:30:42,800
witnessing a deliberate

857
00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:43,109
abandonment of principle at the

858
00:30:43,109 --> 00:30:45,509
moment that it's become

859
00:30:45,912 --> 00:30:48,312
inconvenient. The system is

860
00:30:48,614 --> 00:30:49,315
working as intended, and it's

861
00:30:49,315 --> 00:30:51,315
working against Democrats

862
00:30:52,218 --> 00:30:55,210
politically right now in their

863
00:30:55,210 --> 00:30:56,155
own mind. Fair maps don't give

864
00:30:56,155 --> 00:30:57,790
Democrats the Locke they want.

865
00:30:57,790 --> 00:30:59,325
Fair maps don't give

866
00:30:59,325 --> 00:31:01,270
Republicans the the Locke. They

867
00:31:01,270 --> 00:31:02,795
want fair maps, give Virginians

868
00:31:02,795 --> 00:31:03,930
what they deserve, which is

869
00:31:03,930 --> 00:31:05,930
representation reflecting their

870
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:08,902
actual political diversity.

871
00:31:08,902 --> 00:31:11,838
Virginia has among the closest

872
00:31:11,838 --> 00:31:14,700
elections in the nation because

873
00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:16,407
Virginia has a fair

874
00:31:16,810 --> 00:31:19,120
redistricting process, and it

875
00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:20,881
appears right now that my

876
00:31:20,881 --> 00:31:22,249
friends on the other side of

877
00:31:22,249 --> 00:31:25,249
the aisle can't stand it.

878
00:31:25,452 --> 00:31:28,452
Here's the proof. Democrats are

879
00:31:29,457 --> 00:31:31,458
proposing unamended H.J. 6007

880
00:31:31,458 --> 00:31:33,260
to authorize mid-decade

881
00:31:33,260 --> 00:31:34,361
congressional redistricting

882
00:31:34,361 --> 00:31:36,163
authority. That's an admission.

883
00:31:36,163 --> 00:31:38,232
We're hearing it from the other

884
00:31:38,232 --> 00:31:40,000
side. Now that the commission

885
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,168
is working, and that admission

886
00:31:41,168 --> 00:31:42,336
is by them saying it's not

887
00:31:42,336 --> 00:31:44,736
working because it's not

888
00:31:45,390 --> 00:31:47,740
working to their favor. If the

889
00:31:47,740 --> 00:31:47,808
commission were truly broken,

890
00:31:47,808 --> 00:31:50,177
Democrats would be demanding

891
00:31:50,177 --> 00:31:51,312
reform to fixed it. Instead,

892
00:31:51,312 --> 00:31:53,712
they're proposing what amounts

893
00:31:54,381 --> 00:31:57,981
to an escape hatch through this

894
00:32:01,222 --> 00:32:03,570
H.J. 6007. I want to be blunt.

895
00:32:03,570 --> 00:32:05,726
My friends on the other side

896
00:32:05,726 --> 00:32:08,496
want power to draw maps through

897
00:32:08,496 --> 00:32:10,131
this H.J. 6007 that entrench

898
00:32:10,131 --> 00:32:11,632
Democrat power in the

899
00:32:11,632 --> 00:32:14,469
Commonwealth of Virginia in the

900
00:32:14,469 --> 00:32:16,170
halls of Congress, the call for

901
00:32:16,170 --> 00:32:18,139
mid-decade authority is coded

902
00:32:18,139 --> 00:32:19,874
language for we want more

903
00:32:19,874 --> 00:32:21,376
control. Every concern about

904
00:32:21,376 --> 00:32:23,440
implementation means give us

905
00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:24,879
the discretion, every

906
00:32:24,879 --> 00:32:26,214
suggestion about needing

907
00:32:26,214 --> 00:32:28,883
flexibility means we want the

908
00:32:28,883 --> 00:32:30,986
ability to gerrymander six five

909
00:32:30,986 --> 00:32:32,821
in the Congress right now,

910
00:32:32,821 --> 00:32:34,220
which accurately and adequately

911
00:32:34,220 --> 00:32:36,157
reflects the mood, the

912
00:32:36,157 --> 00:32:37,526
political moods in the

913
00:32:37,526 --> 00:32:39,926
Commonwealth of Virginia, of

914
00:32:41,363 --> 00:32:44,366
the voter. But here's the real

915
00:32:44,366 --> 00:32:45,133
deal. Democrat leadership

916
00:32:45,133 --> 00:32:46,701
supported the Commission when

917
00:32:46,701 --> 00:32:48,700
they thought they'd lose and

918
00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:50,172
needed protection. And did they

919
00:32:50,172 --> 00:32:50,906
come before this chamber when

920
00:32:50,906 --> 00:32:52,274
they secured power after the

921
00:32:52,274 --> 00:32:54,109
elections occurred and say

922
00:32:54,109 --> 00:32:56,440
honestly, hey, man, we've

923
00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,680
changed our minds. We want to

924
00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:00,849
abandon the commission? No, no,

925
00:33:00,849 --> 00:33:03,249
they didn't. Instead, they're

926
00:33:03,585 --> 00:33:05,921
trying to now authorize what

927
00:33:05,921 --> 00:33:08,321
they can't openly defend

928
00:33:08,757 --> 00:33:10,757
mid-decade redistricting,

929
00:33:10,993 --> 00:33:13,929
overturning what the voters so

930
00:33:13,929 --> 00:33:15,929
overwhelmingly approved. Having

931
00:33:15,998 --> 00:33:17,233
said on the commission, allow

932
00:33:17,233 --> 00:33:18,401
me, especially for those that

933
00:33:18,401 --> 00:33:19,902
weren't sitting in this body,

934
00:33:19,902 --> 00:33:21,570
in this chamber when it

935
00:33:21,570 --> 00:33:22,905
occurred, let me remind you

936
00:33:22,905 --> 00:33:25,274
what we created together.

937
00:33:25,274 --> 00:33:26,809
Together, a 16 member hybrid

938
00:33:26,809 --> 00:33:28,511
commission. Half the

939
00:33:28,511 --> 00:33:29,545
legislators have citizens

940
00:33:29,545 --> 00:33:30,746
voting requirements, demanded a

941
00:33:30,746 --> 00:33:31,881
consensus. Six of eight

942
00:33:31,881 --> 00:33:33,182
legislators, six of eight

943
00:33:33,182 --> 00:33:34,951
citizens had to approve the

944
00:33:34,951 --> 00:33:37,220
maps criteria that protected

945
00:33:37,220 --> 00:33:38,655
racial and ethnic minorities,

946
00:33:38,655 --> 00:33:39,989
preserved communities of

947
00:33:39,989 --> 00:33:41,240
interest and maintain

948
00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,240
transparency with public

949
00:33:43,726 --> 00:33:46,126
hearings and public data

950
00:33:46,362 --> 00:33:47,130
releases. Public engagement,

951
00:33:47,130 --> 00:33:49,130
public involvement something

952
00:33:50,233 --> 00:33:53,103
that we never, ever had in

953
00:33:53,103 --> 00:33:54,904
redistricting decisions before.

954
00:33:54,904 --> 00:33:57,700
And then we instituted a

955
00:33:57,700 --> 00:33:59,407
Supreme Court fallback, which

956
00:34:00,310 --> 00:34:02,612
we then had to use. And this

957
00:34:02,612 --> 00:34:05,749
model is being used by other

958
00:34:05,749 --> 00:34:08,485
states, and it's working. It's

959
00:34:08,485 --> 00:34:10,885
not experimental, not untested.

960
00:34:12,856 --> 00:34:15,856
It's proven, proven to succeed

961
00:34:17,428 --> 00:34:20,430
when we allow it. The evidence

962
00:34:20,430 --> 00:34:20,998
is overwhelming. Electoral

963
00:34:20,998 --> 00:34:23,398
competitiveness is among the

964
00:34:24,340 --> 00:34:26,700
highest in the nation, and

965
00:34:26,700 --> 00:34:28,105
certainly here as well. If the

966
00:34:28,105 --> 00:34:29,273
system were broken, as my

967
00:34:29,273 --> 00:34:30,140
friend from Eastern Fairfax

968
00:34:30,140 --> 00:34:32,176
claims, we would see evidence

969
00:34:32,176 --> 00:34:34,411
of it. We don't. We see the

970
00:34:34,411 --> 00:34:36,680
opposite. A system that we

971
00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:38,480
created to take power out of

972
00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:39,917
the hands of politicians and

973
00:34:39,917 --> 00:34:43,154
give it to the people. A system

974
00:34:43,154 --> 00:34:45,990
that actually works. So now on

975
00:34:45,990 --> 00:34:48,390
this amendment and ultimately

976
00:34:49,994 --> 00:34:51,262
the vote on H.J. 6007, the

977
00:34:51,262 --> 00:34:53,965
question before this body is

978
00:34:53,965 --> 00:34:55,660
simple one are we abandoning

979
00:34:55,660 --> 00:34:56,670
our commitment because the

980
00:34:56,670 --> 00:34:58,467
majority party finds the

981
00:34:59,370 --> 00:35:01,437
outcome now inconvenient? Are

982
00:35:01,906 --> 00:35:04,275
we telling Virginia voters that

983
00:35:04,275 --> 00:35:05,810
66% of you who supported and

984
00:35:05,810 --> 00:35:07,450
voted for the commission, that

985
00:35:07,450 --> 00:35:08,246
their representatives have

986
00:35:08,246 --> 00:35:10,147
changed their minds now because

987
00:35:10,147 --> 00:35:12,417
it's convenient for them to do

988
00:35:12,417 --> 00:35:13,818
so? Are we saying to those

989
00:35:13,818 --> 00:35:15,120
voters that their wishes no

990
00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:16,988
longer matter now that the

991
00:35:16,988 --> 00:35:19,388
power has shifted? Because

992
00:35:20,992 --> 00:35:22,227
that's what 6007 enables? And I

993
00:35:22,227 --> 00:35:24,529
believe members of the Senate,

994
00:35:24,529 --> 00:35:25,997
that the choice before this

995
00:35:25,997 --> 00:35:27,666
body is clear. MADAM PRESIDENT,

996
00:35:27,666 --> 00:35:29,534
will we honor the commitment we

997
00:35:29,534 --> 00:35:32,871
made to Virginia voters, all of

998
00:35:32,871 --> 00:35:35,271
us Republicans and Democrats?

999
00:35:35,274 --> 00:35:36,541
Will we prove that bipartisan

1000
00:35:36,541 --> 00:35:38,941
principle can survive political

1001
00:35:41,146 --> 00:35:44,746
challenge? Will we reject H.J.

1002
00:35:46,785 --> 00:35:48,200
6007 or this amendment? Will we

1003
00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:50,222
maintain the protections that

1004
00:35:50,222 --> 00:35:53,222
the voters created for our

1005
00:35:54,260 --> 00:35:57,260
system of government, or will

1006
00:35:57,696 --> 00:36:01,296
we tell the voters today that

1007
00:36:03,102 --> 00:36:04,137
we lied? That reform was only

1008
00:36:04,137 --> 00:36:07,137
something we wanted when we

1009
00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:10,440
weren't in power? Does

1010
00:36:11,644 --> 00:36:14,440
principle change the moment?

1011
00:36:15,648 --> 00:36:17,648
Circumstances shift politically?

1012
00:36:18,351 --> 00:36:21,351
Will we once again replace

1013
00:36:22,455 --> 00:36:24,855
voter power with legislative

1014
00:36:26,526 --> 00:36:27,930
power? I know which choice I'm

1015
00:36:27,930 --> 00:36:29,295
making. I'm supporting this

1016
00:36:29,295 --> 00:36:30,663
amendment because it returns

1017
00:36:30,663 --> 00:36:32,365
the authority back to the

1018
00:36:32,365 --> 00:36:34,330
commission. I'm asking my

1019
00:36:34,330 --> 00:36:36,200
Democratic colleagues to vote

1020
00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,402
for this amendment, because

1021
00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,342
it's the only way to fix this

1022
00:36:42,342 --> 00:36:44,611
resolution that's broken, not a

1023
00:36:44,611 --> 00:36:47,110
commission that's broken. I'll

1024
00:36:47,470 --> 00:36:50,217
close by reminding you this. I

1025
00:36:50,217 --> 00:36:52,386
have a list here that's made up

1026
00:36:52,386 --> 00:36:53,153
of all the voters in the

1027
00:36:53,153 --> 00:36:55,153
Democrat districts. The

1028
00:36:55,889 --> 00:36:59,489
districts to my right are held

1029
00:37:00,961 --> 00:37:02,961
by Democrats. Overwhelmingly,

1030
00:37:04,531 --> 00:37:07,531
they voted for in Chesterfield

1031
00:37:07,935 --> 00:37:10,935
in the 15th district, 71% voted

1032
00:37:11,338 --> 00:37:13,738
for Richmond City, 69% voted

1033
00:37:14,942 --> 00:37:17,444
for it in Chesapeake, 63% voted

1034
00:37:17,444 --> 00:37:22,244
for it. It goes on and on and

1035
00:37:23,500 --> 00:37:24,985
on. High 60s and 70s. Only one

1036
00:37:24,985 --> 00:37:27,985
district, one part of a

1037
00:37:28,789 --> 00:37:31,789
district, didn't go for it.

1038
00:37:32,930 --> 00:37:33,527
Overwhelming numbers. And I'm

1039
00:37:33,527 --> 00:37:35,696
also reminded, and they're

1040
00:37:35,696 --> 00:37:37,331
going to bring it up today and

1041
00:37:37,331 --> 00:37:38,166
they're going to bring it up

1042
00:37:38,166 --> 00:37:39,967
again as they did. We're doing

1043
00:37:39,967 --> 00:37:42,303
this because of Texas and North

1044
00:37:42,303 --> 00:37:44,303
Carolina. Well, California's

1045
00:37:45,139 --> 00:37:47,208
doing it too, as my friend from

1046
00:37:47,208 --> 00:37:47,976
Hanover said to his child, just

1047
00:37:47,976 --> 00:37:49,110
because it's being done by

1048
00:37:49,110 --> 00:37:51,345
others doesn't make it the

1049
00:37:51,345 --> 00:37:53,140
right thing to do. But I will

1050
00:37:53,140 --> 00:37:56,614
say this. Our friends to the

1051
00:37:56,684 --> 00:37:57,786
immediate north, we touch a

1052
00:37:57,786 --> 00:38:00,622
border with the state of

1053
00:38:00,622 --> 00:38:02,323
Maryland. Their Senate, their

1054
00:38:02,323 --> 00:38:04,292
Senate PRESIDENT, almost

1055
00:38:04,292 --> 00:38:06,692
entirely Democrat, said, we're

1056
00:38:06,962 --> 00:38:09,864
not doing this. We're not

1057
00:38:09,864 --> 00:38:11,266
getting involved. And, you know,

1058
00:38:11,266 --> 00:38:13,340
I must answer the question when

1059
00:38:13,340 --> 00:38:14,336
they say, well, you know,

1060
00:38:14,336 --> 00:38:15,937
they're picking up 3 or 4 seats

1061
00:38:15,937 --> 00:38:18,400
here or five seats, this is

1062
00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:19,207
what Trump is doing. But do my

1063
00:38:19,207 --> 00:38:20,976
friends on the other side of

1064
00:38:20,976 --> 00:38:22,544
the aisle forget that? In 2018,

1065
00:38:22,544 --> 00:38:23,979
two years after Donald Trump

1066
00:38:23,979 --> 00:38:26,248
was elected, the first time

1067
00:38:26,248 --> 00:38:27,182
there was a 41 seat Democrat

1068
00:38:27,182 --> 00:38:29,582
pickup in Congress without

1069
00:38:29,952 --> 00:38:32,321
shifting lines, without doing

1070
00:38:32,321 --> 00:38:34,490
anything else, and if they were

1071
00:38:34,490 --> 00:38:36,492
that confident 3 or 4 seats

1072
00:38:36,492 --> 00:38:40,920
here and there isn't going to

1073
00:38:40,396 --> 00:38:42,965
make any difference. Ladies and

1074
00:38:42,965 --> 00:38:45,134
gentlemen, I ask that you agree

1075
00:38:45,134 --> 00:38:46,135
to this floor amendment. It's

1076
00:38:46,135 --> 00:38:48,437
the right thing to do. It's the

1077
00:38:48,437 --> 00:38:49,438
right thing to do for Virginia.

1078
00:38:49,438 --> 00:38:51,907
And I thank you for listening.

1079
00:38:51,907 --> 00:38:53,509
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1080
00:38:53,509 --> 00:38:55,509
>> The Senator from

1081
00:38:55,711 --> 00:38:57,413
Charlottesville, Senator Deeds.

1082
00:38:57,413 --> 00:39:00,413
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I move the

1083
00:39:02,351 --> 00:39:04,351
pending question.

1084
00:39:08,825 --> 00:39:10,825
>> Yes.

1085
00:39:12,629 --> 00:39:15,629
>> The question is, shall the

1086
00:39:18,501 --> 00:39:20,170
pending question be. Ordered?

1087
00:39:20,170 --> 00:39:22,172
Those in favor of that motion

1088
00:39:22,172 --> 00:39:24,107
will record their votes. Aye.

1089
00:39:24,107 --> 00:39:26,507
Those opposed? No other

1090
00:39:27,210 --> 00:39:29,179
senators ready to vote. Have

1091
00:39:29,179 --> 00:39:31,348
all senators voted? Does any

1092
00:39:31,348 --> 00:39:34,348
senator desire to change their

1093
00:39:35,752 --> 00:39:37,954
vote? The clerk will close the

1094
00:39:37,954 --> 00:39:39,823
roll.

1095
00:39:39,823 --> 00:39:41,823
>> Ayes 21. No 16.

1096
00:39:43,461 --> 00:39:45,861
>> Ayes 21. No 16. The pending

1097
00:39:45,896 --> 00:39:48,896
question has been ordered. The

1098
00:39:51,535 --> 00:39:54,304
question is. Shall the head

1099
00:39:54,304 --> 00:39:57,240
amendment number one in a block

1100
00:39:57,240 --> 00:39:59,743
be adopted? Those in favor of

1101
00:39:59,743 --> 00:40:01,412
that motion will say aye. Those

1102
00:40:01,412 --> 00:40:03,412
opposed? No.

1103
00:40:04,615 --> 00:40:06,615
>> No.

1104
00:40:07,518 --> 00:40:11,118
>> This will be a recorded vote.

1105
00:40:11,656 --> 00:40:14,425
The question is, shall the head

1106
00:40:14,425 --> 00:40:16,794
amendment number one in a block

1107
00:40:16,794 --> 00:40:18,960
be adopted? Those in favor of

1108
00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:19,297
that motion will record their

1109
00:40:19,297 --> 00:40:20,898
votes. Aye. Those opposed? No.

1110
00:40:20,898 --> 00:40:22,200
Are the senators ready to vote?

1111
00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:24,680
Have all the senators voted?

1112
00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:26,700
Does any Senator desire to

1113
00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:28,740
change their vote? The clerk

1114
00:40:28,740 --> 00:40:30,942
will close the roll.

1115
00:40:30,942 --> 00:40:32,942
>> 16 noes, 21.

1116
00:40:33,144 --> 00:40:35,144
>> Ayes, 16, noes 21. The

1117
00:40:35,346 --> 00:40:37,549
amendment number one fails the.

1118
00:40:37,549 --> 00:40:39,384
The junior Senator from

1119
00:40:39,384 --> 00:40:41,352
Virginia Beach, Senator Rouse.

1120
00:40:41,352 --> 00:40:43,752
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1121
00:40:43,988 --> 00:40:45,290
I move that the amendments be

1122
00:40:45,290 --> 00:40:47,290
agreed to.

1123
00:40:47,592 --> 00:40:48,226
>> And speaking to that motion.

1124
00:40:48,226 --> 00:40:50,226
>> Sir.

1125
00:40:51,129 --> 00:40:53,231
>> The Senator has the floor.

1126
00:40:53,231 --> 00:40:55,233
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1127
00:40:55,233 --> 00:40:56,968
First, before I begin, I want

1128
00:40:56,968 --> 00:40:58,700
to I know this is a very.

1129
00:40:58,700 --> 00:41:00,405
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I don't

1130
00:41:00,405 --> 00:41:01,907
mean to interrupt the senator,

1131
00:41:01,907 --> 00:41:03,108
but parliamentary inquiry. We

1132
00:41:03,108 --> 00:41:05,770
do not have another set of

1133
00:41:05,770 --> 00:41:07,770
amendments.

1134
00:41:09,810 --> 00:41:12,810
>> The Senator is correct. I

1135
00:41:13,152 --> 00:41:15,254
it's I do believe the junior

1136
00:41:15,254 --> 00:41:17,654
senator from Virginia Beach

1137
00:41:18,123 --> 00:41:20,492
meant House joint resolution, a

1138
00:41:20,492 --> 00:41:22,892
resolution, not an amendment.

1139
00:41:23,863 --> 00:41:24,960
6007 with the senator. Like to

1140
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:25,998
restate.

1141
00:41:25,998 --> 00:41:27,299
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1142
00:41:27,299 --> 00:41:29,501
Let me correct the record. My

1143
00:41:29,501 --> 00:41:32,238
motion. MADAM PRESIDENT, I move

1144
00:41:32,238 --> 00:41:35,238
that the House Joint Resolution

1145
00:41:36,142 --> 00:41:37,143
6007 be agreed to speaking to.

1146
00:41:37,143 --> 00:41:39,543
>> That motion. The senator

1147
00:41:39,712 --> 00:41:40,413
still has the floor. Thank you.

1148
00:41:40,413 --> 00:41:42,810
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1149
00:41:42,810 --> 00:41:44,417
Before I begin, I know we're

1150
00:41:44,417 --> 00:41:45,551
going to there's already been

1151
00:41:45,551 --> 00:41:46,953
spirited debate around this

1152
00:41:46,953 --> 00:41:48,221
issue and this subject. But as

1153
00:41:48,221 --> 00:41:50,289
CHAIRMAN Of Privileges and

1154
00:41:50,289 --> 00:41:51,570
Elections, I do want to thank

1155
00:41:51,570 --> 00:41:53,459
members of the committee on

1156
00:41:53,459 --> 00:41:54,827
both sides of the aisle for

1157
00:41:54,827 --> 00:41:56,827
their decorum, especially

1158
00:41:57,764 --> 00:41:59,933
during the time where we have

1159
00:41:59,933 --> 00:42:02,302
seen unprecedented assaults on

1160
00:42:02,302 --> 00:42:03,970
voting rights, not only within

1161
00:42:03,970 --> 00:42:06,806
our country, but within our

1162
00:42:06,806 --> 00:42:08,808
states. We have seen the purge

1163
00:42:08,808 --> 00:42:11,110
of voting rolls. We have seen

1164
00:42:11,110 --> 00:42:13,446
the tried to restrict access to

1165
00:42:13,446 --> 00:42:15,115
the ballot box. We've seen even

1166
00:42:15,115 --> 00:42:18,715
bills put forth to limit early

1167
00:42:18,952 --> 00:42:21,655
voting. But yet we remain

1168
00:42:21,655 --> 00:42:23,123
vigilant to protect voters in

1169
00:42:23,123 --> 00:42:24,958
Virginia. And that is why we're

1170
00:42:24,958 --> 00:42:27,358
here today, to provide

1171
00:42:27,828 --> 00:42:30,130
Virginians the option, the

1172
00:42:30,130 --> 00:42:33,634
option of whether or not they

1173
00:42:33,634 --> 00:42:35,235
want to redraw congressional

1174
00:42:35,235 --> 00:42:37,137
districts. Now, my good friend

1175
00:42:37,137 --> 00:42:39,406
and colleague from Franklin

1176
00:42:39,406 --> 00:42:43,600
County stated that we do not

1177
00:42:44,378 --> 00:42:46,280
see evidence, evidence of the

1178
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:48,280
system affecting Virginia's,

1179
00:42:48,782 --> 00:42:50,985
but we do see evidence that the

1180
00:42:50,985 --> 00:42:54,522
system is being rigged by a

1181
00:42:54,522 --> 00:42:55,289
wannabe dictator out of

1182
00:42:55,289 --> 00:42:57,289
Washington during this

1183
00:42:59,293 --> 00:43:01,429
Republican shutdown. We've seen

1184
00:43:01,429 --> 00:43:04,429
we've seen this dictator be

1185
00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:07,969
enabled by a coequal but yet

1186
00:43:07,969 --> 00:43:10,104
separate branch of government,

1187
00:43:10,104 --> 00:43:12,974
a government that refuses to

1188
00:43:12,974 --> 00:43:15,176
stand up to him. Now,

1189
00:43:15,176 --> 00:43:16,911
Virginians MAY have something

1190
00:43:16,911 --> 00:43:20,214
to say about that. In a few

1191
00:43:20,214 --> 00:43:22,617
years. You see, they MAY not.

1192
00:43:22,617 --> 00:43:24,180
They MAY see what's going on

1193
00:43:24,180 --> 00:43:25,987
now, but they will remember the

1194
00:43:25,987 --> 00:43:28,387
federal layoffs. They will

1195
00:43:28,423 --> 00:43:29,825
remember their empty stomachs

1196
00:43:29,825 --> 00:43:32,193
as Snap benefits run out and

1197
00:43:32,193 --> 00:43:34,896
tomorrow's the first. They will

1198
00:43:34,896 --> 00:43:36,998
remember their empty pockets,

1199
00:43:36,998 --> 00:43:38,867
but they also remember their

1200
00:43:38,867 --> 00:43:40,936
mailboxes full of bills,

1201
00:43:40,936 --> 00:43:42,671
medical bills, mortgage

1202
00:43:42,671 --> 00:43:44,339
payments, rent payments. They

1203
00:43:44,339 --> 00:43:46,140
will remember all of those

1204
00:43:46,140 --> 00:43:47,109
things, and perhaps they MAY

1205
00:43:47,109 --> 00:43:50,109
want to say something about

1206
00:43:52,914 --> 00:43:55,914
that. And so this resolution

1207
00:43:56,151 --> 00:43:58,320
gives them an option, gives

1208
00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:00,789
Virginia's voters an option by

1209
00:44:00,789 --> 00:44:03,759
way of referendum. What it does

1210
00:44:03,759 --> 00:44:05,194
not do, it does not eliminate

1211
00:44:05,194 --> 00:44:07,229
or dissolve the Virginia

1212
00:44:07,229 --> 00:44:09,229
Redistricting Redistricting

1213
00:44:10,432 --> 00:44:13,102
Commission. It is not a mandate.

1214
00:44:13,102 --> 00:44:16,272
But what it does do is that it

1215
00:44:16,272 --> 00:44:18,400
gives them a say so and how

1216
00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:20,409
their country is being ran and

1217
00:44:20,409 --> 00:44:20,909
how their representatives,

1218
00:44:20,909 --> 00:44:22,909
representatives are

1219
00:44:23,446 --> 00:44:25,446
representing them. MADAM

1220
00:44:27,350 --> 00:44:28,818
PRESIDENT, I move that the

1221
00:44:28,818 --> 00:44:30,818
constitutional amendment, I

1222
00:44:31,454 --> 00:44:34,454
move that the House resolution

1223
00:44:35,491 --> 00:44:37,600
H.J. 6007 be agreed to. Thank

1224
00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:39,600
you.

1225
00:44:40,330 --> 00:44:42,730
>> Senator Van Valkenburg, the

1226
00:44:45,302 --> 00:44:47,170
Senator from Western Enrico.

1227
00:44:47,170 --> 00:44:48,171
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1228
00:44:48,171 --> 00:44:50,730
MADAM PRESIDENT, speaking to

1229
00:44:50,730 --> 00:44:51,308
the resolution.

1230
00:44:51,308 --> 00:44:52,943
>> The Senator has the floor.

1231
00:44:52,943 --> 00:44:54,100
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1232
00:44:54,100 --> 00:44:55,445
MADAM PRESIDENT, members of the

1233
00:44:55,445 --> 00:44:57,681
body, I ask for your indulgence

1234
00:44:57,681 --> 00:44:59,182
today with a little bit of time

1235
00:44:59,182 --> 00:45:01,184
here, but I'm not going to

1236
00:45:01,184 --> 00:45:02,552
apologize for trespassing on it

1237
00:45:02,552 --> 00:45:04,254
because you all have been

1238
00:45:04,254 --> 00:45:06,560
trespassing on my time all week.

1239
00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:09,526
I've had to be here all five

1240
00:45:09,526 --> 00:45:11,562
days in the school week, and so

1241
00:45:11,562 --> 00:45:12,329
you are going to get my George

1242
00:45:12,329 --> 00:45:14,231
Washington and Louis Brandeis

1243
00:45:14,231 --> 00:45:16,990
quotes. My students aren't. And

1244
00:45:16,990 --> 00:45:18,902
that is a promise. Senator

1245
00:45:18,902 --> 00:45:22,139
Suetterlein not a threat. So as

1246
00:45:22,139 --> 00:45:22,539
many of you know, I care very

1247
00:45:22,539 --> 00:45:24,539
passionately about

1248
00:45:25,309 --> 00:45:26,243
redistricting reform. In 2020,

1249
00:45:26,243 --> 00:45:28,178
I carried the constitutional

1250
00:45:28,178 --> 00:45:30,548
amendment to make it a reality.

1251
00:45:30,548 --> 00:45:31,915
And for many people, I became

1252
00:45:31,915 --> 00:45:34,718
the face of that of that

1253
00:45:34,718 --> 00:45:36,870
amendment because of my public

1254
00:45:36,870 --> 00:45:38,890
defense of it, particularly

1255
00:45:38,890 --> 00:45:41,125
when on the lesser side of the

1256
00:45:41,125 --> 00:45:42,994
Capitol, we had a very spirited

1257
00:45:42,994 --> 00:45:45,963
interparty debate. I've got a

1258
00:45:45,963 --> 00:45:47,965
lot of scars from those couple

1259
00:45:47,965 --> 00:45:49,233
of weeks. You know, Don Beyer

1260
00:45:49,233 --> 00:45:50,868
once said that in his eight

1261
00:45:50,868 --> 00:45:52,136
years as lieutenant governor,

1262
00:45:52,136 --> 00:45:54,139
the ugliest debates that he saw

1263
00:45:54,139 --> 00:45:55,840
were the ones that were over

1264
00:45:55,840 --> 00:45:57,709
Partizan redistricting. And I

1265
00:45:57,709 --> 00:46:00,945
can assure you that he was he

1266
00:46:00,945 --> 00:46:02,847
was right. But five years later,

1267
00:46:02,847 --> 00:46:04,849
my faith in that amendment is

1268
00:46:04,849 --> 00:46:06,217
stronger than ever, because I

1269
00:46:06,217 --> 00:46:08,186
disagree with my colleague from

1270
00:46:08,186 --> 00:46:10,388
eastern Fairfax County. The

1271
00:46:10,388 --> 00:46:12,223
amendment worked. It worked.

1272
00:46:12,223 --> 00:46:15,727
And you don't have to take my

1273
00:46:15,727 --> 00:46:18,997
word for it. You can read about

1274
00:46:18,997 --> 00:46:21,199
it in 538 or from uva or the

1275
00:46:21,199 --> 00:46:23,268
Brennan Center or the Princeton

1276
00:46:23,268 --> 00:46:25,668
Gerrymandering Project, who all

1277
00:46:25,837 --> 00:46:26,872
agree with what I think that it

1278
00:46:26,872 --> 00:46:28,273
worked. Princeton said that

1279
00:46:28,273 --> 00:46:30,609
Virginia now has, quote, some

1280
00:46:30,609 --> 00:46:31,944
of the fairest district maps in

1281
00:46:31,944 --> 00:46:33,211
the country, unquote. And I

1282
00:46:33,211 --> 00:46:35,514
think the amendment delivered

1283
00:46:35,514 --> 00:46:37,783
three things that we had hoped

1284
00:46:37,783 --> 00:46:39,751
for fair maps, better and more

1285
00:46:39,751 --> 00:46:40,319
diverse representation, and

1286
00:46:40,319 --> 00:46:42,621
stronger and more effective

1287
00:46:42,621 --> 00:46:43,322
government. I believe all three

1288
00:46:43,322 --> 00:46:44,923
of those things are true. You

1289
00:46:44,923 --> 00:46:46,124
know, many of my colleagues and

1290
00:46:46,124 --> 00:46:48,193
many people in the public like

1291
00:46:48,193 --> 00:46:50,262
to point to the messiness of

1292
00:46:50,262 --> 00:46:51,960
the process for why it failed

1293
00:46:51,960 --> 00:46:52,798
the Gridlock Commission, the

1294
00:46:52,798 --> 00:46:54,900
fact that the Supreme Court

1295
00:46:54,900 --> 00:46:57,103
ultimately had to intervene.

1296
00:46:57,103 --> 00:46:59,138
But the truth is that was the

1297
00:46:59,138 --> 00:47:01,700
process the amendment created.

1298
00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:01,874
And those who read it carefully

1299
00:47:01,874 --> 00:47:03,909
realized that that amendment,

1300
00:47:03,909 --> 00:47:05,110
along with the enabling

1301
00:47:05,110 --> 00:47:07,113
legislation, was going to lead

1302
00:47:07,113 --> 00:47:09,382
to those final, fairer maps.

1303
00:47:09,382 --> 00:47:11,784
Now, I don't think our

1304
00:47:11,784 --> 00:47:13,152
amendment is perfect.

1305
00:47:13,152 --> 00:47:15,154
Personally, I would prefer an

1306
00:47:15,154 --> 00:47:17,154
independent commission without

1307
00:47:17,590 --> 00:47:19,392
legislators and I a language

1308
00:47:19,392 --> 00:47:22,280
towards that before the next

1309
00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:23,429
census. But after the qualified

1310
00:47:23,429 --> 00:47:25,164
success of the last process,

1311
00:47:25,164 --> 00:47:27,233
and with the more balanced maps

1312
00:47:27,233 --> 00:47:29,135
that came out of the 2022

1313
00:47:29,135 --> 00:47:31,104
process, I also believe, like

1314
00:47:31,104 --> 00:47:32,972
some of my colleagues on the

1315
00:47:32,972 --> 00:47:33,973
other side, that the commission

1316
00:47:33,973 --> 00:47:36,209
will be smoother in 2031

1317
00:47:36,209 --> 00:47:37,977
because if it's not, we know

1318
00:47:37,977 --> 00:47:41,514
that the courts will make it

1319
00:47:41,514 --> 00:47:42,349
smooth for us and that will be

1320
00:47:42,349 --> 00:47:44,151
better than legislators drawing

1321
00:47:44,151 --> 00:47:45,919
their own lines. So the

1322
00:47:45,919 --> 00:47:48,319
question then becomes, well,

1323
00:47:49,222 --> 00:47:51,124
why are we here today? And up

1324
00:47:51,124 --> 00:47:53,126
to this point, I haven't really

1325
00:47:53,126 --> 00:47:54,795
elaborated on, I think some of

1326
00:47:54,795 --> 00:47:56,960
the key points that this entire

1327
00:47:56,960 --> 00:47:58,650
conversation has missed over

1328
00:47:58,650 --> 00:48:00,330
the last week. But to start,

1329
00:48:00,330 --> 00:48:01,301
you know, many people ask why I

1330
00:48:01,301 --> 00:48:02,836
support this current revision

1331
00:48:02,836 --> 00:48:04,400
to the redistricting amendment.

1332
00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:06,206
And the first thing I would say

1333
00:48:06,206 --> 00:48:08,409
is I support it because it does

1334
00:48:08,409 --> 00:48:08,942
not undo or come even close to

1335
00:48:08,942 --> 00:48:10,744
undoing the hard won

1336
00:48:10,744 --> 00:48:12,413
redistricting reforms we fought

1337
00:48:12,413 --> 00:48:14,800
to achieve. Many, many of you

1338
00:48:14,800 --> 00:48:15,116
might have seen that the former

1339
00:48:15,116 --> 00:48:16,383
governor, Doug Wilder Wilder,

1340
00:48:16,383 --> 00:48:17,852
suggested that we should scrap

1341
00:48:17,852 --> 00:48:19,653
the whole thing, saying, quote,

1342
00:48:19,653 --> 00:48:20,321
strip it out of the

1343
00:48:20,321 --> 00:48:22,721
Constitution entirely. I would

1344
00:48:23,230 --> 00:48:24,391
not support that. I will also

1345
00:48:24,391 --> 00:48:26,193
not vote to change the enabling

1346
00:48:26,193 --> 00:48:27,295
legislation for the Commission,

1347
00:48:27,295 --> 00:48:28,429
because that enabling

1348
00:48:28,429 --> 00:48:30,464
legislation made that work

1349
00:48:30,464 --> 00:48:30,965
possible and led to a

1350
00:48:30,965 --> 00:48:32,965
successful Supreme Court

1351
00:48:32,967 --> 00:48:34,302
process and to those fair maps.

1352
00:48:34,302 --> 00:48:36,702
But this amendment doesn't

1353
00:48:36,971 --> 00:48:38,205
repeal that either. If I

1354
00:48:38,205 --> 00:48:39,400
thought any of those crucial

1355
00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:41,476
reforms we fought for were in

1356
00:48:41,476 --> 00:48:42,210
danger, that we were moving

1357
00:48:42,210 --> 00:48:43,278
backward to a pre amendment

1358
00:48:43,278 --> 00:48:45,914
system permanently, I would be

1359
00:48:45,914 --> 00:48:47,248
a no vote. But that's not what

1360
00:48:47,248 --> 00:48:48,316
this is, and that's not what

1361
00:48:48,316 --> 00:48:50,151
we're doing today. We are

1362
00:48:50,151 --> 00:48:51,853
taking a truly proportional

1363
00:48:51,853 --> 00:48:54,253
response to an extreme

1364
00:48:54,356 --> 00:48:56,424
situation. The current outbreak

1365
00:48:56,424 --> 00:48:57,392
of opportunistic mid-decade

1366
00:48:57,392 --> 00:48:59,894
redistricting means that we are

1367
00:48:59,894 --> 00:49:01,763
in a truly unprecedented

1368
00:49:01,763 --> 00:49:03,365
constitutional norm. Breaking

1369
00:49:03,365 --> 00:49:05,466
time since Baker v Carr

1370
00:49:05,466 --> 00:49:07,236
established one person, one

1371
00:49:07,236 --> 00:49:09,304
vote more than 70 years ago,

1372
00:49:09,304 --> 00:49:10,873
we've only had two states

1373
00:49:10,873 --> 00:49:12,974
mid-decade redraw lines, two

1374
00:49:12,974 --> 00:49:15,277
for purely political reasons,

1375
00:49:15,277 --> 00:49:15,944
and we've never had a PRESIDENT

1376
00:49:15,944 --> 00:49:17,246
Threaten and strongarm state

1377
00:49:17,246 --> 00:49:19,147
governors and legislators for

1378
00:49:19,147 --> 00:49:20,849
changes to their states maps

1379
00:49:20,849 --> 00:49:23,218
for Partizan games. Never.

1380
00:49:23,218 --> 00:49:24,887
That's a fact. Never. Yet that

1381
00:49:24,887 --> 00:49:26,555
is exactly what we are seeing

1382
00:49:26,555 --> 00:49:28,357
now because of PRESIDENT

1383
00:49:28,357 --> 00:49:30,326
Trump's jawboning three states

1384
00:49:30,326 --> 00:49:32,610
in the last two months, more

1385
00:49:32,610 --> 00:49:34,960
states than in the previous 62

1386
00:49:34,960 --> 00:49:36,565
years have redrawn their maps

1387
00:49:36,565 --> 00:49:38,200
for political reasons, and more

1388
00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:40,102
states are following in their

1389
00:49:40,102 --> 00:49:42,605
footsteps. And why? The reason

1390
00:49:42,605 --> 00:49:44,940
is because, quote, he's

1391
00:49:44,940 --> 00:49:47,340
entitled to those seats,

1392
00:49:48,377 --> 00:49:50,777
unquote, entitled the PRESIDENT

1393
00:49:51,814 --> 00:49:54,500
Is entitled to those seats. But

1394
00:49:54,500 --> 00:49:55,384
what's really going on here is

1395
00:49:55,384 --> 00:49:56,986
fear. It's fear of facing

1396
00:49:56,986 --> 00:49:59,386
voters. The PRESIDENT Knows

1397
00:50:00,223 --> 00:50:01,991
that if 2026 is a fair fight,

1398
00:50:01,991 --> 00:50:03,192
Republicans will lose seats and

1399
00:50:03,192 --> 00:50:04,828
he will face a legislative

1400
00:50:04,828 --> 00:50:06,196
branch willing to stand up to

1401
00:50:06,196 --> 00:50:08,198
him and check his power. Those

1402
00:50:08,198 --> 00:50:10,166
are facts. That is why we're

1403
00:50:10,166 --> 00:50:11,267
here, because the PRESIDENT Is

1404
00:50:11,267 --> 00:50:12,101
trying to avoid accountability

1405
00:50:12,101 --> 00:50:13,703
and avoid the voters. And so

1406
00:50:13,703 --> 00:50:14,938
Virginia Democrats are

1407
00:50:14,938 --> 00:50:16,938
responding proportionately.

1408
00:50:17,140 --> 00:50:18,274
We're not trying to end the

1409
00:50:18,274 --> 00:50:20,100
practice of fair maps. We are

1410
00:50:20,100 --> 00:50:23,610
asking the voters if in this

1411
00:50:23,613 --> 00:50:24,214
one limited case, they want to

1412
00:50:24,214 --> 00:50:26,614
assure that a constitutional

1413
00:50:26,616 --> 00:50:27,350
norm busting PRESIDENT Can't

1414
00:50:27,350 --> 00:50:29,719
rig the entire national

1415
00:50:29,719 --> 00:50:30,420
election by twisting the arms

1416
00:50:30,420 --> 00:50:31,521
of a few state legislatures

1417
00:50:31,521 --> 00:50:32,989
which haven't reformed their

1418
00:50:32,989 --> 00:50:35,125
process like we have. And as

1419
00:50:35,125 --> 00:50:36,260
the senator from Loudoun said

1420
00:50:36,260 --> 00:50:37,961
in committee the other day, I

1421
00:50:37,961 --> 00:50:39,262
think what my friends on the

1422
00:50:39,262 --> 00:50:41,298
other side of the aisle are

1423
00:50:41,298 --> 00:50:42,199
really afraid of is, is that

1424
00:50:42,199 --> 00:50:44,334
the voters are going to agree

1425
00:50:44,334 --> 00:50:45,969
with us for all this talk about

1426
00:50:45,969 --> 00:50:47,400
the will of the voters. I feel

1427
00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:49,730
pretty confident that if this

1428
00:50:49,730 --> 00:50:50,407
thing does go to them, they're

1429
00:50:50,407 --> 00:50:52,420
going to pass it and the voters

1430
00:50:52,420 --> 00:50:54,578
will have their say, and Donald

1431
00:50:54,578 --> 00:50:56,113
Trump will have to face the

1432
00:50:56,113 --> 00:50:58,315
music in 2026. You know, many

1433
00:50:58,315 --> 00:51:00,384
of my friends on the other side

1434
00:51:00,384 --> 00:51:01,218
of the aisle like to say that

1435
00:51:01,218 --> 00:51:03,854
we Democrats have what they

1436
00:51:03,854 --> 00:51:06,254
call Trump Derangement syndrome,

1437
00:51:06,323 --> 00:51:09,326
you know, and if I'm honest and

1438
00:51:09,326 --> 00:51:11,162
if I'm honest, sometimes we do.

1439
00:51:11,162 --> 00:51:14,232
Okay, sometimes we do. I got a

1440
00:51:14,232 --> 00:51:15,233
little bit of TDs going on, and

1441
00:51:15,233 --> 00:51:16,968
we mistake policy differences

1442
00:51:16,968 --> 00:51:19,103
for existential crises. And by

1443
00:51:19,103 --> 00:51:20,338
the way, we often do it at our

1444
00:51:20,338 --> 00:51:22,600
detriment because voters can

1445
00:51:22,600 --> 00:51:23,941
see when it's real and when

1446
00:51:23,941 --> 00:51:25,276
they can, and they can see when

1447
00:51:25,276 --> 00:51:26,945
it's not real. But if sometimes

1448
00:51:26,945 --> 00:51:29,147
Democrats catch the TDs bug,

1449
00:51:29,147 --> 00:51:31,820
the people on the other side of

1450
00:51:31,820 --> 00:51:32,830
the aisle have become far too

1451
00:51:32,830 --> 00:51:33,318
reliant on the diagnosis. And

1452
00:51:33,318 --> 00:51:35,153
this is a moment where

1453
00:51:35,153 --> 00:51:36,870
Republicans are too eager to

1454
00:51:36,870 --> 00:51:37,155
rush to that false diagnosis.

1455
00:51:37,155 --> 00:51:38,757
Rather than discuss the

1456
00:51:38,757 --> 00:51:40,325
legitimate concerns and grapple

1457
00:51:40,325 --> 00:51:42,160
with the reality of what is

1458
00:51:42,160 --> 00:51:44,162
happening. And that is why we

1459
00:51:44,162 --> 00:51:45,363
need to take a look at the

1460
00:51:45,363 --> 00:51:47,933
bigger picture, at why this

1461
00:51:47,933 --> 00:51:48,834
measure is just as necessary as

1462
00:51:48,834 --> 00:51:51,234
the initial amendment itself

1463
00:51:54,720 --> 00:51:56,174
was. But let's be honest, no

1464
00:51:56,174 --> 00:51:58,210
one in this body and no, no

1465
00:51:58,210 --> 00:51:59,110
Democrats nationally should be

1466
00:51:59,110 --> 00:52:01,113
patting themselves on their

1467
00:52:01,113 --> 00:52:02,881
back and congratulating one

1468
00:52:02,881 --> 00:52:04,149
another for saving democracy

1469
00:52:04,149 --> 00:52:06,218
when they respond to Trump's

1470
00:52:06,218 --> 00:52:07,553
unprecedented redistricting

1471
00:52:07,553 --> 00:52:08,954
actions. This resolution does

1472
00:52:08,954 --> 00:52:11,290
not save democracy. This

1473
00:52:11,290 --> 00:52:12,991
resolution is a break glass

1474
00:52:12,991 --> 00:52:14,793
maneuver for a truly

1475
00:52:14,793 --> 00:52:17,290
unprecedented moment. It is

1476
00:52:17,290 --> 00:52:19,290
necessary, unfortunately, that

1477
00:52:19,265 --> 00:52:20,966
we have to do it. But it is our

1478
00:52:20,966 --> 00:52:22,234
best attempt to bust out the

1479
00:52:22,234 --> 00:52:24,870
first aid kit for a democratic

1480
00:52:24,870 --> 00:52:27,390
system. But that's all it is.

1481
00:52:27,390 --> 00:52:28,841
It's a patch. It's not a cure

1482
00:52:28,841 --> 00:52:30,977
because with this movement,

1483
00:52:30,977 --> 00:52:32,211
we're still circling the drain

1484
00:52:32,211 --> 00:52:34,246
with Donald Trump and the maga

1485
00:52:34,246 --> 00:52:34,981
movement. We're still living on

1486
00:52:34,981 --> 00:52:37,216
his terms of engagement. And

1487
00:52:37,216 --> 00:52:38,500
the reality is that both

1488
00:52:38,500 --> 00:52:40,486
parties need to rid themselves

1489
00:52:40,486 --> 00:52:41,921
of their addiction to him. If

1490
00:52:41,921 --> 00:52:44,390
we want America to have another

1491
00:52:44,390 --> 00:52:45,491
250 years of constitutional

1492
00:52:45,491 --> 00:52:46,959
democracy, you know, in

1493
00:52:46,959 --> 00:52:48,610
Federalist One, Alexander

1494
00:52:48,610 --> 00:52:50,296
Hamilton argued that it was up

1495
00:52:50,296 --> 00:52:52,332
to us to prove to the world

1496
00:52:52,332 --> 00:52:53,320
that a people could form a

1497
00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:55,340
government based on reason and

1498
00:52:55,340 --> 00:52:56,903
choice, and not on accident and

1499
00:52:56,903 --> 00:52:58,238
force. He also warned us in

1500
00:52:58,238 --> 00:52:59,406
that essay that the biggest

1501
00:52:59,406 --> 00:53:00,907
danger to our experiment would

1502
00:53:00,907 --> 00:53:03,109
be populist leaders. He wrote

1503
00:53:03,109 --> 00:53:04,544
that of, quote, those men who

1504
00:53:04,544 --> 00:53:06,460
have overturned the liberties

1505
00:53:06,460 --> 00:53:08,148
of republics, the greatest

1506
00:53:08,148 --> 00:53:10,250
number have begun their career,

1507
00:53:10,250 --> 00:53:12,652
their career by paying an

1508
00:53:12,652 --> 00:53:14,287
obsequious court to the people,

1509
00:53:14,287 --> 00:53:16,287
commencing demagogues and

1510
00:53:17,391 --> 00:53:18,325
tyrants, but merely avoiding

1511
00:53:18,325 --> 00:53:20,994
the worst of that danger will

1512
00:53:20,994 --> 00:53:22,296
not rebuild our democracy.

1513
00:53:22,296 --> 00:53:25,132
Democrats can't just rest on

1514
00:53:25,132 --> 00:53:27,467
that. In FEBRUARY of 18, 1861,

1515
00:53:27,467 --> 00:53:28,702
Abraham Lincoln said, quote, I

1516
00:53:28,702 --> 00:53:29,336
have never had a feeling

1517
00:53:29,336 --> 00:53:32,336
politically that did not spring

1518
00:53:35,843 --> 00:53:38,843
from the sentiments embodied in

1519
00:53:42,316 --> 00:53:44,716
the Declaration of Independence.

1520
00:53:47,388 --> 00:53:47,988
And roughly 100 years later,

1521
00:53:47,988 --> 00:53:50,988
Martin Luther King would call

1522
00:53:51,792 --> 00:53:52,393
this America's promissory note,

1523
00:53:52,393 --> 00:53:55,393
because I would argue America

1524
00:53:57,398 --> 00:53:57,965
hadn't lived up to it yet for

1525
00:53:57,965 --> 00:53:58,533
all of its citizens. And for

1526
00:53:58,533 --> 00:53:59,167
too long. Over the last 50

1527
00:53:59,167 --> 00:53:59,734
years, the average American has

1528
00:53:59,734 --> 00:54:00,368
felt disconnected from that

1529
00:54:00,368 --> 00:54:01,200
creed, feeling that politicians,

1530
00:54:01,200 --> 00:54:01,602
including Democrats, don't help

1531
00:54:01,602 --> 00:54:04,138
make it true for the average

1532
00:54:04,138 --> 00:54:04,739
person. It is partly from that

1533
00:54:04,739 --> 00:54:05,373
frustration that we have ended

1534
00:54:05,373 --> 00:54:05,907
up where we are now. Beginning

1535
00:54:05,907 --> 00:54:06,474
to fix that problem means

1536
00:54:06,474 --> 00:54:09,474
taking hard votes that cut

1537
00:54:15,750 --> 00:54:16,351
against the status quo and

1538
00:54:16,351 --> 00:54:16,951
revitalizes our democracy. At

1539
00:54:16,951 --> 00:54:17,552
the federal level, this means

1540
00:54:17,552 --> 00:54:18,153
banning gerrymandering at the

1541
00:54:18,153 --> 00:54:18,686
federal and state level. It

1542
00:54:18,686 --> 00:54:19,320
means getting big money,

1543
00:54:19,320 --> 00:54:19,788
including corporate money, out

1544
00:54:19,788 --> 00:54:20,321
of politics. It means

1545
00:54:20,321 --> 00:54:20,956
implementing reforms like

1546
00:54:20,956 --> 00:54:21,689
ranked choice or fusion voting

1547
00:54:21,689 --> 00:54:22,323
so more Americans can feel

1548
00:54:22,323 --> 00:54:23,591
heard and represented. It means

1549
00:54:23,591 --> 00:54:25,260
reforming our primaries, ending

1550
00:54:25,260 --> 00:54:27,426
the filibuster, and making

1551
00:54:29,640 --> 00:54:30,432
Congress actually work so that

1552
00:54:30,432 --> 00:54:31,660
it represents the people it's

1553
00:54:31,660 --> 00:54:33,368
supposed to represent. And we

1554
00:54:33,368 --> 00:54:34,469
don't have to make it up. We

1555
00:54:34,469 --> 00:54:35,370
can look to our history to see

1556
00:54:35,370 --> 00:54:37,639
where politicians have met the

1557
00:54:37,639 --> 00:54:38,240
moment, from reconstruction to

1558
00:54:38,240 --> 00:54:39,740
the Progressive era to the

1559
00:54:39,740 --> 00:54:40,308
civil rights movement, we have

1560
00:54:40,308 --> 00:54:42,611
seen movements reform our

1561
00:54:42,611 --> 00:54:45,481
democracy for the better. So

1562
00:54:45,481 --> 00:54:49,810
people feel engaged and we need

1563
00:54:50,786 --> 00:54:53,355
to meet that moment right now.

1564
00:54:53,355 --> 00:54:54,857
Because until most people feel

1565
00:54:54,857 --> 00:54:55,457
like we are truly listening to

1566
00:54:55,457 --> 00:54:56,580
them, not just our strongest

1567
00:54:56,580 --> 00:54:56,658
supporters, donors, corporate

1568
00:54:56,658 --> 00:54:57,225
lobbyists or other elites, we

1569
00:54:57,225 --> 00:54:58,600
will never move beyond this

1570
00:54:58,600 --> 00:55:00,329
cynical spiral of apathy. So

1571
00:55:00,329 --> 00:55:01,300
the larger moment that this

1572
00:55:01,300 --> 00:55:02,231
break glass in case of

1573
00:55:02,231 --> 00:55:04,231
emergency amendment emerges

1574
00:55:04,233 --> 00:55:05,167
from requires more than this

1575
00:55:05,167 --> 00:55:07,570
act of defense. If we really

1576
00:55:07,570 --> 00:55:08,804
want to save democracy, it

1577
00:55:08,804 --> 00:55:11,204
requires a broader commitment

1578
00:55:12,341 --> 00:55:13,209
to reform, but it also requires

1579
00:55:13,209 --> 00:55:14,710
something less abstract and

1580
00:55:14,710 --> 00:55:16,710
something more tangible,

1581
00:55:17,212 --> 00:55:18,915
requires reforms that not only

1582
00:55:18,915 --> 00:55:20,820
let people's voice be felt in

1583
00:55:20,820 --> 00:55:22,151
politics, but give them

1584
00:55:22,151 --> 00:55:23,319
realistic paths to more

1585
00:55:23,319 --> 00:55:25,319
prosperous personal and

1586
00:55:26,456 --> 00:55:27,323
economic futures. In his 1915

1587
00:55:27,323 --> 00:55:29,250
speech True Americanism, Louis

1588
00:55:29,250 --> 00:55:30,660
Brandeis said, quote, If the

1589
00:55:30,660 --> 00:55:32,662
American is to be fitted for

1590
00:55:32,662 --> 00:55:34,397
his task as ruler, he must have,

1591
00:55:34,397 --> 00:55:35,231
besides education and

1592
00:55:35,231 --> 00:55:37,466
industrial liberty, also some

1593
00:55:37,466 --> 00:55:39,200
degree of financial

1594
00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:41,402
independence. In other words,

1595
00:55:41,904 --> 00:55:43,306
you can't eat a vote. We must

1596
00:55:43,306 --> 00:55:44,874
meet the cost of living moment

1597
00:55:44,874 --> 00:55:46,409
this upcoming session and in

1598
00:55:46,409 --> 00:55:48,440
future sessions. That means

1599
00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:49,179
tackling housing and energy,

1600
00:55:49,179 --> 00:55:50,547
which are two of the biggest

1601
00:55:50,547 --> 00:55:52,182
drivers of a family's budget

1602
00:55:52,182 --> 00:55:53,283
crunch. It means continuing to

1603
00:55:53,283 --> 00:55:55,510
ensure that people can earn a

1604
00:55:55,510 --> 00:55:56,152
decent wage at a job that

1605
00:55:56,152 --> 00:55:57,654
provides dignity and means

1606
00:55:57,654 --> 00:55:59,560
strengthening and investing in

1607
00:55:59,560 --> 00:56:00,991
an education system that truly

1608
00:56:00,991 --> 00:56:03,160
lifts people up and provides

1609
00:56:03,160 --> 00:56:04,461
genuine economic mobility. Many

1610
00:56:04,461 --> 00:56:05,996
of these pieces of legislation

1611
00:56:05,996 --> 00:56:08,980
will be controversial. They'll

1612
00:56:08,980 --> 00:56:09,366
require tough votes. But if we

1613
00:56:09,366 --> 00:56:11,301
we must be willing to take

1614
00:56:11,301 --> 00:56:12,503
those votes and stand firm

1615
00:56:12,503 --> 00:56:13,871
against opposition, because in

1616
00:56:13,871 --> 00:56:14,838
a moment where people are

1617
00:56:14,838 --> 00:56:16,306
struggling and where middle

1618
00:56:16,306 --> 00:56:18,208
class life feels more tenuous

1619
00:56:18,208 --> 00:56:20,377
than ever, we can't ask people

1620
00:56:20,377 --> 00:56:22,446
to defend democracy if

1621
00:56:22,446 --> 00:56:24,140
democracy is not defending them.

1622
00:56:24,140 --> 00:56:26,140
Democrats must transcend

1623
00:56:26,450 --> 00:56:28,152
PRESIDENT Trump and represent a

1624
00:56:28,152 --> 00:56:28,986
clear alternative path. But my

1625
00:56:28,986 --> 00:56:30,921
Republican colleagues have a

1626
00:56:30,921 --> 00:56:32,523
role to play here, too. They

1627
00:56:32,523 --> 00:56:33,991
got to unwind themselves from

1628
00:56:33,991 --> 00:56:36,193
this destructive cyclone. Their

1629
00:56:36,193 --> 00:56:37,395
party is in the midst of what

1630
00:56:37,395 --> 00:56:38,620
George Washington spoke about

1631
00:56:38,620 --> 00:56:40,665
in his farewell address, that

1632
00:56:40,665 --> 00:56:42,133
partizanship would be the way

1633
00:56:42,133 --> 00:56:44,350
to power for, quote, cunning,

1634
00:56:44,350 --> 00:56:46,700
ambitious and unprincipled men.

1635
00:56:46,700 --> 00:56:47,371
Partizanship is nothing new.

1636
00:56:47,371 --> 00:56:48,139
And the Republicans are right.

1637
00:56:48,139 --> 00:56:49,307
The Democratic officials have

1638
00:56:49,307 --> 00:56:51,242
had their share of Partizan

1639
00:56:51,242 --> 00:56:52,343
lowlights as well, and

1640
00:56:52,343 --> 00:56:54,450
expansion of executive power as

1641
00:56:54,450 --> 00:56:55,546
well. But the dynamic dragging

1642
00:56:55,546 --> 00:56:57,282
their party down right now is

1643
00:56:57,282 --> 00:56:59,918
different in kind, not in

1644
00:56:59,918 --> 00:57:02,200
degree. From 1801 to 2020, with

1645
00:57:02,200 --> 00:57:04,550
one big exception. We had over

1646
00:57:04,550 --> 00:57:05,323
200 straight years of peaceful

1647
00:57:05,323 --> 00:57:08,323
transfer of power. And then

1648
00:57:08,760 --> 00:57:10,228
2020 we did not. We've long had

1649
00:57:10,228 --> 00:57:11,960
gerrymandering, but until now

1650
00:57:11,960 --> 00:57:13,565
we've never had a PRESIDENT

1651
00:57:13,565 --> 00:57:14,199
Demand it from a bully pulpit.

1652
00:57:14,199 --> 00:57:16,134
We've had presidents use

1653
00:57:16,134 --> 00:57:17,836
emergency powers, but we've

1654
00:57:17,836 --> 00:57:19,104
never had a PRESIDENT Declare

1655
00:57:19,104 --> 00:57:21,106
emergencies as a fig leaf for

1656
00:57:21,106 --> 00:57:22,507
the policy demands like we do

1657
00:57:22,507 --> 00:57:24,309
now, from tariffs to deploying

1658
00:57:24,309 --> 00:57:26,144
soldiers in our American cities.

1659
00:57:26,144 --> 00:57:29,281
And we have never had a

1660
00:57:29,281 --> 00:57:30,682
PRESIDENT So consistently

1661
00:57:30,682 --> 00:57:31,750
equate political opposition

1662
00:57:31,750 --> 00:57:32,851
with evil intention, or

1663
00:57:32,851 --> 00:57:34,253
denigrate ordinary citizens

1664
00:57:34,253 --> 00:57:36,588
simply because they didn't vote

1665
00:57:36,588 --> 00:57:38,190
for him or dared to protest his

1666
00:57:38,190 --> 00:57:40,158
actions. It is shocking to me

1667
00:57:40,158 --> 00:57:41,326
that we have a PRESIDENT That

1668
00:57:41,326 --> 00:57:43,620
will gleefully post a video of

1669
00:57:43,620 --> 00:57:45,264
himself dumping excrement on

1670
00:57:45,264 --> 00:57:48,264
American citizens that is far

1671
00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:50,102
beyond Hillary Clinton's

1672
00:57:50,102 --> 00:57:52,502
deplorables, or Mitt Romney's

1673
00:57:53,380 --> 00:57:54,907
47% comments. This shift from

1674
00:57:54,907 --> 00:57:55,508
ordinary partizanship to half

1675
00:57:55,508 --> 00:57:57,109
cloaked authoritarianism has

1676
00:57:57,109 --> 00:57:59,110
even filtered down here. We had

1677
00:57:59,110 --> 00:58:01,647
four members in the General

1678
00:58:01,647 --> 00:58:03,149
Assembly at the insurrection on

1679
00:58:03,149 --> 00:58:04,617
JANUARY 6th. We had members of

1680
00:58:04,617 --> 00:58:06,385
the House of delegates calling

1681
00:58:06,385 --> 00:58:07,220
Mike pence to decertify

1682
00:58:07,220 --> 00:58:09,422
Virginia's election results, an

1683
00:58:09,422 --> 00:58:11,570
election he won by 9%. And

1684
00:58:11,570 --> 00:58:12,225
we've seen a governor's

1685
00:58:12,225 --> 00:58:13,590
administration illegally purge

1686
00:58:13,590 --> 00:58:15,590
voters and deliberately

1687
00:58:15,228 --> 00:58:16,796
withdraw us from a pact to

1688
00:58:16,796 --> 00:58:18,796
improve election security

1689
00:58:18,898 --> 00:58:21,134
purely because of maga

1690
00:58:21,134 --> 00:58:22,401
conspiracy theories. So if

1691
00:58:22,401 --> 00:58:24,370
Democrats sometimes suffer from

1692
00:58:24,370 --> 00:58:25,705
Trump derangement Syndrome

1693
00:58:25,705 --> 00:58:26,839
syndrome, Republicans are

1694
00:58:26,839 --> 00:58:29,839
whistling past the grave in

1695
00:58:30,577 --> 00:58:31,344
many respects. So part of me

1696
00:58:31,344 --> 00:58:33,413
for being so long, MADAM

1697
00:58:33,413 --> 00:58:34,614
PRESIDENT. But I don't think we

1698
00:58:34,614 --> 00:58:35,982
can have a proper discussion

1699
00:58:35,982 --> 00:58:38,510
about this resolution without

1700
00:58:38,510 --> 00:58:39,190
acknowledging the broader

1701
00:58:39,190 --> 00:58:40,954
context, which is the fight

1702
00:58:40,954 --> 00:58:42,880
over what it means to be

1703
00:58:42,880 --> 00:58:43,323
America. What does our

1704
00:58:43,323 --> 00:58:45,325
Constitution mean? We're having

1705
00:58:45,325 --> 00:58:46,126
real fights. Many of them are

1706
00:58:46,126 --> 00:58:48,261
going to take decades to solve.

1707
00:58:48,261 --> 00:58:50,430
But when we think about what is

1708
00:58:50,430 --> 00:58:51,632
happening today here, we should

1709
00:58:51,632 --> 00:58:53,767
recognize both its importance

1710
00:58:53,767 --> 00:58:55,200
and its limits. Its importance

1711
00:58:55,200 --> 00:58:56,436
lies in preventing a norm

1712
00:58:56,436 --> 00:58:58,305
busting PRESIDENT From gaming

1713
00:58:58,305 --> 00:58:59,973
the system and ensuring that

1714
00:58:59,973 --> 00:59:01,341
there are consequences for his

1715
00:59:01,341 --> 00:59:04,440
unpopular actions. But let us

1716
00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:06,280
not fool ourselves. This is not

1717
00:59:06,280 --> 00:59:08,148
the actual real work. I want to

1718
00:59:08,148 --> 00:59:09,249
close with a quote from former

1719
00:59:09,249 --> 00:59:11,218
PRESIDENT Bill Clinton. It's

1720
00:59:11,218 --> 00:59:12,820
actually one of my favorite

1721
00:59:12,820 --> 00:59:14,154
quotes. He once said, all that

1722
00:59:14,154 --> 00:59:15,256
is wrong with America can be

1723
00:59:15,256 --> 00:59:18,856
fixed by what is right with

1724
00:59:19,600 --> 00:59:20,270
America. I fear that many on my

1725
00:59:20,270 --> 00:59:22,363
side have forgotten how to use

1726
00:59:22,363 --> 00:59:24,465
the tools of what's right from

1727
00:59:24,465 --> 00:59:25,320
America, but that PRESIDENT

1728
00:59:25,320 --> 00:59:27,401
Trump and his enablers have

1729
00:59:27,401 --> 00:59:28,569
forgotten what's right with

1730
00:59:28,569 --> 00:59:30,705
America at all. Thank you,

1731
00:59:30,705 --> 00:59:32,705
MADAM PRESIDENT.

1732
00:59:33,207 --> 00:59:35,207
>> Senator Sturdivant, the

1733
00:59:36,377 --> 00:59:37,812
senator from Colonial Heights.

1734
00:59:37,812 --> 00:59:40,212
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1735
00:59:40,481 --> 00:59:42,250
I would ask if the senator from

1736
00:59:42,250 --> 00:59:43,284
Virginia Beach would rise and

1737
00:59:43,284 --> 00:59:45,186
yield for a question.

1738
00:59:45,186 --> 00:59:46,221
>> Will the junior senator from

1739
00:59:46,221 --> 00:59:47,880
Virginia Beach, Senator Rouse,

1740
00:59:47,880 --> 00:59:49,570
rise and yield for a question?

1741
00:59:49,570 --> 00:59:50,558
I yield the Senator yields. The

1742
00:59:50,558 --> 00:59:50,926
senator from Colonial Heights

1743
00:59:50,926 --> 00:59:52,761
has the floor.

1744
00:59:52,761 --> 00:59:54,950
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

1745
00:59:54,950 --> 00:59:56,231
the senator from Virginia Beach

1746
00:59:56,231 --> 00:59:57,966
if he would agree with me that

1747
00:59:57,966 --> 00:59:59,670
this proposed constitutional

1748
00:59:59,670 --> 01:00:00,802
amendment was first made

1749
01:00:00,802 --> 01:00:03,802
available to the public earlier

1750
01:00:04,940 --> 01:00:05,140
this week. On Tuesday, OCTOBER

1751
01:00:05,140 --> 01:00:07,140
28th.

1752
01:00:08,900 --> 01:00:10,178
>> Senator Rouse has the floor.

1753
01:00:10,178 --> 01:00:12,578
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I will

1754
01:00:13,480 --> 01:00:15,170
yield that question to Senate

1755
01:00:15,170 --> 01:00:17,860
Majority Leader on the basis

1756
01:00:17,860 --> 01:00:18,860
that the bill was assigned to

1757
01:00:18,860 --> 01:00:20,860
Privileges and Elections

1758
01:00:20,589 --> 01:00:22,791
Committee on Wednesday when we

1759
01:00:22,791 --> 01:00:23,158
received it from the House.

1760
01:00:23,158 --> 01:00:24,960
Thank you.

1761
01:00:24,960 --> 01:00:26,428
>> Well, the senator from

1762
01:00:26,428 --> 01:00:27,829
eastern Fairfax, answer the

1763
01:00:27,829 --> 01:00:28,363
question, sir.

1764
01:00:28,363 --> 01:00:29,998
>> What's the question.

1765
01:00:29,998 --> 01:00:30,232
>> Senator from Colonial

1766
01:00:30,232 --> 01:00:32,232
Heights?

1767
01:00:32,301 --> 01:00:34,336
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

1768
01:00:34,336 --> 01:00:36,472
if the majority leader would

1769
01:00:36,472 --> 01:00:36,972
would agree with me that this

1770
01:00:36,972 --> 01:00:38,730
proposed constitutional

1771
01:00:38,730 --> 01:00:40,108
amendment was first made

1772
01:00:40,108 --> 01:00:41,243
available to the public earlier

1773
01:00:41,243 --> 01:00:42,611
this week on Tuesday, OCTOBER

1774
01:00:42,611 --> 01:00:44,800
28th.

1775
01:00:44,800 --> 01:00:45,848
>> Senator from eastern Fairfax

1776
01:00:45,848 --> 01:00:47,350
has the floor.

1777
01:00:47,350 --> 01:00:49,850
>> I don't think that's an

1778
01:00:49,850 --> 01:00:50,352
unfair characterization.

1779
01:00:50,352 --> 01:00:52,121
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would the

1780
01:00:52,121 --> 01:00:53,550
majority leader yield for an

1781
01:00:53,550 --> 01:00:54,557
additional question?

1782
01:00:54,557 --> 01:00:54,958
>> Will the Senator yield again?

1783
01:00:54,958 --> 01:00:56,958
>> Sure.

1784
01:00:57,326 --> 01:00:58,161
>> Senator yields the senator

1785
01:00:58,161 --> 01:00:59,362
from Colonial Heights.

1786
01:00:59,362 --> 01:01:01,264
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

1787
01:01:01,264 --> 01:01:03,533
the senator from Eastern

1788
01:01:03,533 --> 01:01:04,367
Fairfax if he would agree with

1789
01:01:04,367 --> 01:01:06,102
me that early voting in this

1790
01:01:06,102 --> 01:01:07,870
election began on SEPTEMBER

1791
01:01:07,870 --> 01:01:09,139
19th.

1792
01:01:09,139 --> 01:01:11,700
>> Senator Surovell has the

1793
01:01:11,700 --> 01:01:12,308
floor.

1794
01:01:12,308 --> 01:01:13,877
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would

1795
01:01:13,877 --> 01:01:15,245
agree with the Senator that

1796
01:01:15,245 --> 01:01:17,346
voting was made available to

1797
01:01:17,346 --> 01:01:18,949
voters who chose to exercise

1798
01:01:18,949 --> 01:01:20,317
their right to vote early if

1799
01:01:20,317 --> 01:01:21,851
they wanted to. And they

1800
01:01:21,851 --> 01:01:24,251
obviously, by making that

1801
01:01:24,287 --> 01:01:25,455
choice, chose not to find out

1802
01:01:25,455 --> 01:01:26,123
what might happen to be

1803
01:01:26,123 --> 01:01:28,523
released to the newspapers.

1804
01:01:28,525 --> 01:01:30,627
Over the 45 days leading up to

1805
01:01:30,627 --> 01:01:32,529
the election. But that's their

1806
01:01:32,529 --> 01:01:34,970
choice, and some people availed

1807
01:01:34,970 --> 01:01:35,399
themselves of it.

1808
01:01:35,399 --> 01:01:37,330
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would the

1809
01:01:37,330 --> 01:01:38,101
majority leader yield for one

1810
01:01:38,101 --> 01:01:39,302
final question?

1811
01:01:39,302 --> 01:01:40,203
>> Final question, Senator

1812
01:01:40,203 --> 01:01:40,437
Surovell.

1813
01:01:40,437 --> 01:01:42,106
>> Sure.

1814
01:01:42,106 --> 01:01:43,730
>> Senator yields Senator from

1815
01:01:43,730 --> 01:01:45,730
Colonial Heights.

1816
01:01:45,275 --> 01:01:48,145
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

1817
01:01:48,145 --> 01:01:51,480
the Senator if he agrees with

1818
01:01:51,480 --> 01:01:53,183
me that a million or more

1819
01:01:53,183 --> 01:01:54,510
Virginians had already voted by

1820
01:01:54,510 --> 01:01:55,152
the time that this

1821
01:01:55,152 --> 01:01:57,152
constitutional amendment was

1822
01:01:57,822 --> 01:01:58,222
made available to the public on

1823
01:01:58,222 --> 01:02:00,222
OCTOBER 28th.

1824
01:02:00,658 --> 01:02:02,593
>> Senator from eastern Fairfax

1825
01:02:02,593 --> 01:02:04,128
County.

1826
01:02:04,128 --> 01:02:05,296
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I believe

1827
01:02:05,296 --> 01:02:06,931
that, yeah, there's probably

1828
01:02:06,931 --> 01:02:08,990
about a million people that

1829
01:02:08,990 --> 01:02:10,902
voted before that. They also

1830
01:02:10,902 --> 01:02:12,103
voted before some news was

1831
01:02:12,103 --> 01:02:13,104
released by some Partizan

1832
01:02:13,104 --> 01:02:14,405
Republicans about one of the

1833
01:02:14,405 --> 01:02:15,839
candidates for statewide office.

1834
01:02:15,839 --> 01:02:17,108
They were also released before

1835
01:02:17,108 --> 01:02:18,276
the they also voted before the

1836
01:02:18,276 --> 01:02:19,243
government shutdown happened.

1837
01:02:19,243 --> 01:02:21,450
They voted before the east wing

1838
01:02:21,450 --> 01:02:22,914
of the white House got torn

1839
01:02:22,914 --> 01:02:25,914
down. There's some people that

1840
01:02:26,170 --> 01:02:28,219
voted. Some people voted before

1841
01:02:28,219 --> 01:02:30,210
they found out whether or not

1842
01:02:30,210 --> 01:02:32,323
the us Senate or the United

1843
01:02:32,323 --> 01:02:35,160
States government was going to

1844
01:02:35,160 --> 01:02:37,195
fund the tax credit, the tax

1845
01:02:37,195 --> 01:02:37,929
credits, to keep our health

1846
01:02:37,929 --> 01:02:39,397
insurance premiums low. In

1847
01:02:39,397 --> 01:02:40,365
Virginia. There's a lot of

1848
01:02:40,365 --> 01:02:42,765
different things that they

1849
01:02:42,867 --> 01:02:44,169
chose not to be made aware of.

1850
01:02:44,169 --> 01:02:45,937
Some people probably already

1851
01:02:45,937 --> 01:02:47,139
made up their mind and felt

1852
01:02:47,139 --> 01:02:48,240
like they didn't need more

1853
01:02:48,240 --> 01:02:48,974
information to vote, so they

1854
01:02:48,974 --> 01:02:50,974
voted.

1855
01:02:51,276 --> 01:02:52,310
>> I thank the senator. MADAM

1856
01:02:52,310 --> 01:02:52,944
PRESIDENT, speaking to the

1857
01:02:52,944 --> 01:02:54,245
resolution.

1858
01:02:54,245 --> 01:02:56,181
>> Senator has the floor.

1859
01:02:56,181 --> 01:02:56,981
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, thank you.

1860
01:02:56,981 --> 01:02:59,381
This proposed amendment, it's

1861
01:03:00,419 --> 01:03:01,119
not just bad policy. It's a

1862
01:03:01,119 --> 01:03:03,121
violation of the process. It's

1863
01:03:03,121 --> 01:03:04,690
a violation of principle. It's

1864
01:03:04,690 --> 01:03:07,459
a violation of the public's

1865
01:03:07,459 --> 01:03:09,828
trust. And let's start with the

1866
01:03:09,828 --> 01:03:12,970
most basic fact that we all

1867
01:03:12,970 --> 01:03:14,867
agree on. Early voting began in

1868
01:03:14,867 --> 01:03:17,169
this election on SEPTEMBER 19th.

1869
01:03:17,169 --> 01:03:18,904
Over a million Virginians had

1870
01:03:18,904 --> 01:03:21,173
already cast their ballots. And

1871
01:03:21,173 --> 01:03:23,943
yet this amendment wasn't even

1872
01:03:23,943 --> 01:03:26,145
made public until OCTOBER 28th.

1873
01:03:26,145 --> 01:03:27,846
And so those voters, those

1874
01:03:27,846 --> 01:03:29,115
Virginia voters, more than a

1875
01:03:29,115 --> 01:03:30,516
million of them, had no

1876
01:03:30,516 --> 01:03:33,516
opportunity to know where their

1877
01:03:33,686 --> 01:03:34,253
Delegate candidates stood on

1878
01:03:34,253 --> 01:03:36,253
this constitutional change

1879
01:03:36,556 --> 01:03:39,358
before they had the opportunity

1880
01:03:39,358 --> 01:03:41,360
to vote. And we met one of

1881
01:03:41,360 --> 01:03:44,360
those voters today. These are

1882
01:03:45,980 --> 01:03:46,933
real people. That completely

1883
01:03:46,933 --> 01:03:48,933
undermines the intervening

1884
01:03:49,769 --> 01:03:50,970
election, safeguard that our

1885
01:03:50,970 --> 01:03:52,970
Constitution requires. MADAM

1886
01:03:54,574 --> 01:03:55,241
PRESIDENT, but this amendment

1887
01:03:55,241 --> 01:03:57,143
doesn't just trample the

1888
01:03:57,143 --> 01:03:59,245
process that we have created

1889
01:03:59,245 --> 01:04:00,714
and put in our Constitution. It

1890
01:04:00,714 --> 01:04:02,181
betrays the people's will.

1891
01:04:02,181 --> 01:04:03,917
Because in 2020, as has been

1892
01:04:03,917 --> 01:04:05,180
said today and throughout this

1893
01:04:05,180 --> 01:04:08,180
week, Virginians voted by a 2

1894
01:04:08,455 --> 01:04:08,922
to 1 margin to end

1895
01:04:08,922 --> 01:04:10,922
gerrymandering in the

1896
01:04:11,391 --> 01:04:12,225
Commonwealth of Virginia and to

1897
01:04:12,225 --> 01:04:14,270
create a redistricting

1898
01:04:14,270 --> 01:04:16,427
commission. They said very

1899
01:04:17,970 --> 01:04:19,970
clearly, those 2.3 million

1900
01:04:19,866 --> 01:04:21,866
Virginians that politicians

1901
01:04:22,870 --> 01:04:25,380
should not be drawing the maps,

1902
01:04:25,380 --> 01:04:26,740
they called very clearly for an

1903
01:04:26,740 --> 01:04:27,875
end to gerrymandering. And yet

1904
01:04:27,875 --> 01:04:29,543
this amendment that we are

1905
01:04:29,543 --> 01:04:30,811
considering today would strip

1906
01:04:30,811 --> 01:04:33,113
that commission of its

1907
01:04:33,113 --> 01:04:34,448
authority and give that power

1908
01:04:34,448 --> 01:04:36,150
back to the very politicians

1909
01:04:36,150 --> 01:04:39,150
that the voters removed from

1910
01:04:39,887 --> 01:04:41,355
the process. And what's worse,

1911
01:04:41,355 --> 01:04:44,125
it's being done in the middle

1912
01:04:44,125 --> 01:04:46,260
of an election. That's not

1913
01:04:46,260 --> 01:04:48,295
reform, that's reversal. It's

1914
01:04:48,295 --> 01:04:50,398
not transparency. It's a power

1915
01:04:50,398 --> 01:04:53,200
grab. It's been rushed, it's

1916
01:04:53,200 --> 01:04:55,469
been secretive, and it's

1917
01:04:55,469 --> 01:04:57,869
purposefully timed to avoid

1918
01:04:58,239 --> 01:05:00,639
accountability in this election.

1919
01:05:00,675 --> 01:05:02,143
Now, if we care about the

1920
01:05:02,143 --> 01:05:03,978
integrity of our elections,

1921
01:05:03,978 --> 01:05:05,546
about the rule of law, and

1922
01:05:05,546 --> 01:05:07,649
about the message that we send

1923
01:05:07,649 --> 01:05:10,510
to the people of Virginia, then

1924
01:05:10,510 --> 01:05:12,353
this body must reject this

1925
01:05:12,353 --> 01:05:14,489
amendment. We cannot rewrite

1926
01:05:14,489 --> 01:05:17,292
the Constitution in the shadows

1927
01:05:17,292 --> 01:05:19,427
while voters are still voting.

1928
01:05:19,427 --> 01:05:21,363
We cannot undo mid election

1929
01:05:21,363 --> 01:05:23,164
what the people overwhelmingly

1930
01:05:23,164 --> 01:05:25,934
decided at the ballot box just

1931
01:05:25,934 --> 01:05:27,435
five years ago. MADAM PRESIDENT,

1932
01:05:27,435 --> 01:05:28,703
this process is wrong. The

1933
01:05:28,703 --> 01:05:30,705
timing is wrong and this

1934
01:05:30,705 --> 01:05:32,274
amendment is wrong. And I would

1935
01:05:32,274 --> 01:05:34,576
urge the Senate to reject it.

1936
01:05:34,576 --> 01:05:36,576
Thank you.

1937
01:05:37,450 --> 01:05:39,445
>> The senior senator from

1938
01:05:39,614 --> 01:05:41,450
Prince William, Senator McPike.

1939
01:05:41,450 --> 01:05:42,250
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1940
01:05:42,250 --> 01:05:44,520
Parliamentary inquiry.

1941
01:05:44,520 --> 01:05:46,421
>> The Senator MAY state it.

1942
01:05:46,421 --> 01:05:48,690
>> Has the PRESIDENT Determined

1943
01:05:48,690 --> 01:05:50,893
the vote necessary to pass

1944
01:05:50,893 --> 01:05:52,893
House Joint Resolution 607?

1945
01:05:53,950 --> 01:05:54,129
Would that be 21 votes?

1946
01:05:54,129 --> 01:05:55,998
>> Which PRESIDENT Are you

1947
01:05:55,998 --> 01:05:57,998
speaking of, sir?

1948
01:05:58,200 --> 01:06:00,600
>> MADAM? MADAM PRESIDENT, my.

1949
01:06:00,636 --> 01:06:01,300
>> No. It is a simple majority,

1950
01:06:01,300 --> 01:06:03,300
Senator.

1951
01:06:04,606 --> 01:06:05,608
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1952
01:06:05,608 --> 01:06:07,242
>> Majority elected, but same

1953
01:06:07,242 --> 01:06:09,242
same.

1954
01:06:16,986 --> 01:06:19,386
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1955
01:06:19,655 --> 01:06:20,990
>> Senator Saleem, the senator

1956
01:06:20,990 --> 01:06:22,291
from central Fairfax.

1957
01:06:22,291 --> 01:06:24,193
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1958
01:06:24,193 --> 01:06:24,494
I rise to speak on the

1959
01:06:24,494 --> 01:06:26,162
resolution.

1960
01:06:26,162 --> 01:06:28,164
>> Senator has the floor.

1961
01:06:28,164 --> 01:06:30,400
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

1962
01:06:30,400 --> 01:06:31,670
I'm in support of this

1963
01:06:31,670 --> 01:06:32,268
redistricting amendment because

1964
01:06:32,268 --> 01:06:34,668
what's happening around this

1965
01:06:34,737 --> 01:06:36,500
country should worry every

1966
01:06:36,500 --> 01:06:39,800
single one of us, no matter

1967
01:06:39,800 --> 01:06:41,770
what party we're in. In 2020,

1968
01:06:41,770 --> 01:06:42,946
before my time in the chamber,

1969
01:06:42,946 --> 01:06:45,346
Virginians made history. They

1970
01:06:46,116 --> 01:06:48,985
voted to take politics out of

1971
01:06:48,985 --> 01:06:51,555
map drawing. They said enough

1972
01:06:51,555 --> 01:06:52,155
games, enough back door deals.

1973
01:06:52,155 --> 01:06:54,124
Let's make redistricting fair

1974
01:06:54,124 --> 01:06:56,260
and transparent. And somehow,

1975
01:06:56,260 --> 01:06:59,363
after decades of back and forth,

1976
01:06:59,363 --> 01:07:00,864
we got something on the books.

1977
01:07:00,864 --> 01:07:02,864
Fast forward 2025. Across

1978
01:07:03,333 --> 01:07:05,435
America, we're seeing something

1979
01:07:05,435 --> 01:07:07,835
new and dangerous, something

1980
01:07:08,380 --> 01:07:10,340
that has never been seen before.

1981
01:07:10,340 --> 01:07:12,109
PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Vice

1982
01:07:12,109 --> 01:07:13,844
PRESIDENT Jd Vance have been

1983
01:07:13,844 --> 01:07:15,844
calling on Republican

1984
01:07:16,380 --> 01:07:18,480
controlled states to draw their

1985
01:07:18,480 --> 01:07:19,917
congressional maps right now,

1986
01:07:19,917 --> 01:07:22,152
not because of new population

1987
01:07:22,152 --> 01:07:24,121
data, not to fix mistakes, but

1988
01:07:24,121 --> 01:07:27,358
to lock in power before the

1989
01:07:27,358 --> 01:07:30,270
next election. And one by one,

1990
01:07:30,270 --> 01:07:32,263
those states have bent the knee.

1991
01:07:32,263 --> 01:07:34,310
Texas redrew its map to wipe

1992
01:07:34,310 --> 01:07:36,431
out competitive seats. Missouri

1993
01:07:36,534 --> 01:07:37,902
held a special session just to

1994
01:07:37,902 --> 01:07:40,171
do the same. North Carolina

1995
01:07:40,171 --> 01:07:42,640
pushed through a map to add

1996
01:07:42,640 --> 01:07:45,400
another Republican seat, with

1997
01:07:45,943 --> 01:07:48,746
Trump cheering all this on.

1998
01:07:48,746 --> 01:07:49,314
That's not that's not

1999
01:07:49,314 --> 01:07:51,314
representative democracy.

2000
01:07:51,416 --> 01:07:53,816
That's raw political muscle.

2001
01:07:54,853 --> 01:07:57,550
And here's the truth. If

2002
01:07:57,550 --> 01:08:00,550
Virginians are asking us, we

2003
01:08:00,324 --> 01:08:02,894
have to stand up. And we have

2004
01:08:02,894 --> 01:08:04,896
to stand up to those who are

2005
01:08:04,896 --> 01:08:07,232
changing the rules mid-game and

2006
01:08:07,232 --> 01:08:10,100
vote. And our voters will lose

2007
01:08:10,100 --> 01:08:11,303
power. If we don't, our voices

2008
01:08:11,303 --> 01:08:13,400
in Congress will get weaker,

2009
01:08:13,400 --> 01:08:15,407
not because our people changed,

2010
01:08:15,407 --> 01:08:17,175
but because somebody else

2011
01:08:17,175 --> 01:08:18,377
decided to cheat the system.

2012
01:08:18,377 --> 01:08:20,278
This amendment does not replace

2013
01:08:20,278 --> 01:08:22,140
the redistricting commission

2014
01:08:22,140 --> 01:08:24,149
Virginians voted for. It does

2015
01:08:24,149 --> 01:08:25,217
not hand control back to

2016
01:08:25,217 --> 01:08:27,185
politicians. What it does is

2017
01:08:27,185 --> 01:08:29,210
give us the ability to respond.

2018
01:08:29,210 --> 01:08:30,789
If other states redraw their

2019
01:08:30,789 --> 01:08:33,158
maps for Partizan gain, it

2020
01:08:33,158 --> 01:08:35,861
limits it's temporary and it's

2021
01:08:35,861 --> 01:08:37,563
accountable, and it still gives

2022
01:08:37,563 --> 01:08:41,163
the final word to the voters

2023
01:08:41,533 --> 01:08:43,168
through a referendum. That's

2024
01:08:43,168 --> 01:08:45,370
not a paragraph that's

2025
01:08:45,370 --> 01:08:47,206
protecting fairness. Now, I

2026
01:08:47,206 --> 01:08:49,942
know some of you will say we

2027
01:08:49,942 --> 01:08:52,144
have to stay above the fray. I

2028
01:08:52,144 --> 01:08:54,460
get that, but democracy isn't

2029
01:08:54,460 --> 01:08:56,460
self-cleaning. It doesn't

2030
01:08:56,849 --> 01:08:58,918
defend itself. If we sit by

2031
01:08:58,918 --> 01:09:01,153
while other rigs the system,

2032
01:09:01,153 --> 01:09:02,989
democracy won't quietly die

2033
01:09:02,989 --> 01:09:05,491
quietly in the darkness. It

2034
01:09:05,491 --> 01:09:06,959
will die right in front of us

2035
01:09:06,959 --> 01:09:09,195
in broad daylight, while we

2036
01:09:09,195 --> 01:09:11,731
pretend not to see it. We can't

2037
01:09:11,731 --> 01:09:13,320
let that happen. Not here, not

2038
01:09:13,320 --> 01:09:15,902
in Virginia. We will not bend

2039
01:09:15,902 --> 01:09:19,380
the knee to any national figure

2040
01:09:19,380 --> 01:09:20,673
who thinks states should. Who

2041
01:09:20,673 --> 01:09:22,475
thinks states should be tools

2042
01:09:22,475 --> 01:09:24,911
in their Partizan game, or how

2043
01:09:24,911 --> 01:09:27,130
they created their own crown.

2044
01:09:27,130 --> 01:09:28,481
We will not watch our voters

2045
01:09:28,481 --> 01:09:29,382
lose representation because

2046
01:09:29,382 --> 01:09:32,850
others have decided to rewrite

2047
01:09:32,850 --> 01:09:33,353
the rules. Colleagues, this

2048
01:09:33,353 --> 01:09:36,353
amendment is about standing up

2049
01:09:36,389 --> 01:09:37,858
for Virginia, for fairness, for

2050
01:09:37,858 --> 01:09:40,258
democracy itself. We didn't

2051
01:09:40,460 --> 01:09:42,229
start this fight, but we have

2052
01:09:42,229 --> 01:09:44,197
an obligation to finish it with

2053
01:09:44,197 --> 01:09:46,197
integrity, transparency, and

2054
01:09:46,400 --> 01:09:49,690
the courage to defend what's

2055
01:09:49,690 --> 01:09:52,690
right. Because when history at

2056
01:09:52,206 --> 01:09:54,308
this moment is written, let it

2057
01:09:54,308 --> 01:09:56,109
say Virginia saw what was

2058
01:09:56,109 --> 01:09:56,977
happening and chose to fight

2059
01:09:56,977 --> 01:09:59,790
back. Thank you, MADAM

2060
01:09:59,790 --> 01:10:01,790
PRESIDENT.

2061
01:10:02,490 --> 01:10:03,284
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, will the

2062
01:10:03,284 --> 01:10:05,185
gentleman from Central Fairfax

2063
01:10:05,185 --> 01:10:05,452
rise for the purposes of the

2064
01:10:05,452 --> 01:10:07,210
question?

2065
01:10:07,210 --> 01:10:08,255
>> Well, the senator from

2066
01:10:08,255 --> 01:10:09,156
central Fairfax County rise and

2067
01:10:09,156 --> 01:10:10,570
yield.

2068
01:10:10,570 --> 01:10:12,457
>> I rise and yield.

2069
01:10:14,261 --> 01:10:16,661
>> The Senator has risen.

2070
01:10:21,340 --> 01:10:22,690
Senator. Senator Stanley.

2071
01:10:22,690 --> 01:10:24,690
>> Has the floor.

2072
01:10:26,808 --> 01:10:28,376
>> I believe it's the third day.

2073
01:10:28,376 --> 01:10:31,976
It's really the fourth day or

2074
01:10:32,246 --> 01:10:34,482
fifth day. MADAM PRESIDENT.

2075
01:10:34,482 --> 01:10:36,818
MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask my

2076
01:10:36,818 --> 01:10:39,200
friend, the senator from

2077
01:10:39,200 --> 01:10:40,255
Central Fairfax, in accordance

2078
01:10:40,255 --> 01:10:41,890
with this. You know, he's

2079
01:10:41,890 --> 01:10:43,424
talking about this. This is

2080
01:10:43,424 --> 01:10:44,359
only a triggering mechanism if

2081
01:10:44,359 --> 01:10:46,759
if there's redistricting in

2082
01:10:48,960 --> 01:10:49,230
another state, then we, the

2083
01:10:49,230 --> 01:10:50,965
body of the Senate and the

2084
01:10:50,965 --> 01:10:53,335
House can go and redistrict to

2085
01:10:53,335 --> 01:10:55,735
countermand that. Would the

2086
01:10:56,104 --> 01:10:57,172
Senator agree with me that that

2087
01:10:57,172 --> 01:10:58,874
triggering would even include

2088
01:10:58,874 --> 01:11:00,442
perhaps a boundary adjustment

2089
01:11:00,442 --> 01:11:02,310
adjustment in the state of Iowa

2090
01:11:02,310 --> 01:11:04,279
or changing a couple seats here

2091
01:11:04,279 --> 01:11:07,216
and there? That one slight

2092
01:11:07,216 --> 01:11:09,184
change to redistricting map in

2093
01:11:09,184 --> 01:11:11,386
any state in the in the United

2094
01:11:11,386 --> 01:11:12,454
States of America could

2095
01:11:12,454 --> 01:11:14,523
actually trigger us to have the

2096
01:11:14,523 --> 01:11:17,559
ability. Then if this passes to

2097
01:11:17,559 --> 01:11:20,129
go and change our maps.

2098
01:11:20,129 --> 01:11:22,640
>> Senator Saleem has the floor.

2099
01:11:22,640 --> 01:11:23,565
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I will

2100
01:11:23,565 --> 01:11:26,235
yield to our privilege and

2101
01:11:26,235 --> 01:11:28,635
elections chair, Senator Ralph.

2102
01:11:29,710 --> 01:11:30,573
>> Well, the senator from the

2103
01:11:30,573 --> 01:11:31,173
junior senator from Virginia

2104
01:11:31,173 --> 01:11:33,142
Beach. Yield.

2105
01:11:33,142 --> 01:11:34,843
>> Yes, MADAM PRESIDENT, I rise

2106
01:11:34,843 --> 01:11:36,912
to answer the question.

2107
01:11:36,912 --> 01:11:37,613
>> Senator has the floor.

2108
01:11:37,613 --> 01:11:39,515
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2109
01:11:39,515 --> 01:11:41,170
No, this resolution is very,

2110
01:11:41,170 --> 01:11:44,170
very narrowly written. And so

2111
01:11:44,187 --> 01:11:46,989
what it does is allows us in a

2112
01:11:46,989 --> 01:11:49,125
very small time frame to redraw

2113
01:11:49,125 --> 01:11:50,993
districts. If another state

2114
01:11:50,993 --> 01:11:52,895
redraw districts that are

2115
01:11:52,895 --> 01:11:54,895
unconstitutional, if somehow

2116
01:11:54,964 --> 01:11:57,364
another state draws the

2117
01:11:57,567 --> 01:11:59,335
district and they make a line

2118
01:11:59,335 --> 01:12:02,710
change, we still have to be

2119
01:12:02,710 --> 01:12:03,973
under the guise of the federal

2120
01:12:03,973 --> 01:12:06,843
federal Voting Rights Act of 65,

2121
01:12:06,843 --> 01:12:08,778
as well as Voting Rights Act of

2122
01:12:08,778 --> 01:12:11,178
Virginia that takes into

2123
01:12:11,514 --> 01:12:12,983
account race and population.

2124
01:12:12,983 --> 01:12:14,184
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, will the

2125
01:12:14,184 --> 01:12:16,186
gentleman yield for another

2126
01:12:16,186 --> 01:12:17,870
question?

2127
01:12:17,870 --> 01:12:19,122
>> The junior senator from

2128
01:12:19,122 --> 01:12:21,122
Virginia Beach.

2129
01:12:21,858 --> 01:12:23,293
>> Thank you.

2130
01:12:23,293 --> 01:12:25,693
>> Yields Senator Stanley has

2131
01:12:25,896 --> 01:12:27,896
the floor.

2132
01:12:30,934 --> 01:12:32,200
>> MADAM PRESIDENT. If I

2133
01:12:32,200 --> 01:12:34,200
understand the gentleman

2134
01:12:34,938 --> 01:12:37,740
correctly, then when we

2135
01:12:37,740 --> 01:12:38,208
determine something to be

2136
01:12:38,208 --> 01:12:39,142
unconstitutional or we think

2137
01:12:39,142 --> 01:12:41,450
it's wrong in the redistricting,

2138
01:12:41,450 --> 01:12:43,514
then we will have the power

2139
01:12:43,514 --> 01:12:44,181
based on this enactment of this

2140
01:12:44,181 --> 01:12:45,582
change to our constitution, to

2141
01:12:45,582 --> 01:12:47,551
make that subjective

2142
01:12:47,551 --> 01:12:48,252
determination to whether we go

2143
01:12:48,252 --> 01:12:50,387
back and redraw the

2144
01:12:50,387 --> 01:12:51,880
congressional lines or not. Is

2145
01:12:51,880 --> 01:12:52,189
that true?

2146
01:12:52,189 --> 01:12:53,190
>> Junior senator from Virginia

2147
01:12:53,190 --> 01:12:55,590
Beach has the floor.

2148
01:12:55,592 --> 01:12:57,561
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, with the

2149
01:12:57,561 --> 01:12:59,961
senator from Franklin County.

2150
01:13:00,865 --> 01:13:02,433
Please clarify his question.

2151
01:13:02,433 --> 01:13:04,135
>> Senator Stanley.

2152
01:13:04,135 --> 01:13:05,336
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I thought

2153
01:13:05,336 --> 01:13:07,380
I'd stated it clearly, but as a

2154
01:13:07,380 --> 01:13:07,972
lawyer, I can certainly ask

2155
01:13:07,972 --> 01:13:09,240
some convoluted questions over

2156
01:13:09,240 --> 01:13:11,375
the course of time. What I'm

2157
01:13:11,375 --> 01:13:13,110
saying is, is I thought I heard

2158
01:13:13,110 --> 01:13:14,345
the senator say, oh, this only

2159
01:13:14,345 --> 01:13:15,179
happens. We'll only the body,

2160
01:13:15,179 --> 01:13:17,181
the House and the Senate can

2161
01:13:17,181 --> 01:13:19,183
only redraw the maps if another

2162
01:13:19,183 --> 01:13:20,151
state redraws their maps that

2163
01:13:20,151 --> 01:13:22,551
are unconstitutional and done

2164
01:13:23,254 --> 01:13:24,188
for a specific purpose. Who

2165
01:13:24,188 --> 01:13:25,223
makes those determinations

2166
01:13:25,223 --> 01:13:27,623
under your interpretation of

2167
01:13:27,859 --> 01:13:29,270
what this resolution stands for?

2168
01:13:29,270 --> 01:13:31,270
>> Senator Rouse.

2169
01:13:31,396 --> 01:13:33,796
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2170
01:13:33,998 --> 01:13:35,166
If you read House Joint

2171
01:13:35,166 --> 01:13:38,166
Resolution, I point to Senator

2172
01:13:40,710 --> 01:13:43,710
to lines starting on line 30.

2173
01:13:44,542 --> 01:13:46,611
Three, line 37, where it states

2174
01:13:46,611 --> 01:13:49,448
and it pertains to the senator

2175
01:13:49,448 --> 01:13:50,916
from Franklin's question. And I

2176
01:13:50,916 --> 01:13:54,516
will I'll read it for the

2177
01:13:54,519 --> 01:13:58,119
record, but it states in line

2178
01:13:58,257 --> 01:14:00,259
30 that in the italic letters

2179
01:14:00,259 --> 01:14:01,590
there that except that the

2180
01:14:01,590 --> 01:14:02,461
General Assembly shall be

2181
01:14:02,461 --> 01:14:03,896
authorized to modify one or

2182
01:14:03,896 --> 01:14:05,164
more congressional districts at

2183
01:14:05,164 --> 01:14:07,990
any point following the

2184
01:14:07,990 --> 01:14:09,499
adoption of a decennial

2185
01:14:10,502 --> 01:14:12,271
reappointment law, but prior to

2186
01:14:12,271 --> 01:14:13,439
the decennial census, in the

2187
01:14:13,439 --> 01:14:15,608
event that any state of the

2188
01:14:15,608 --> 01:14:17,143
United States of America

2189
01:14:17,143 --> 01:14:17,910
conducts a redistricting of

2190
01:14:17,910 --> 01:14:19,111
such states congressional

2191
01:14:19,111 --> 01:14:21,480
districts at any point

2192
01:14:21,480 --> 01:14:22,915
following that state's adoption

2193
01:14:22,915 --> 01:14:25,315
of a decennial reapportionment

2194
01:14:25,318 --> 01:14:27,153
law for any other purpose other

2195
01:14:27,153 --> 01:14:28,721
than the completion of the

2196
01:14:28,721 --> 01:14:30,256
decennial redistricting in

2197
01:14:30,256 --> 01:14:31,991
response to a federal census

2198
01:14:31,991 --> 01:14:34,930
and reapportionment mandated by

2199
01:14:34,930 --> 01:14:35,828
the Constitution of the United

2200
01:14:35,828 --> 01:14:38,228
States and established in

2201
01:14:38,297 --> 01:14:39,899
federal law as ordered by any

2202
01:14:39,899 --> 01:14:41,200
state the federal court to

2203
01:14:41,200 --> 01:14:44,370
remedy. And here's the most

2204
01:14:44,370 --> 01:14:46,639
important part an unlawful or

2205
01:14:46,639 --> 01:14:48,410
unconstitutional district map.

2206
01:14:48,410 --> 01:14:49,342
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, final

2207
01:14:49,342 --> 01:14:51,742
question to the gentleman.

2208
01:14:52,378 --> 01:14:54,778
>> Well, the senator, junior

2209
01:14:54,781 --> 01:14:56,383
senator from Virginia Beach,

2210
01:14:56,383 --> 01:14:58,383
yield again.

2211
01:14:58,718 --> 01:14:59,953
>> Are you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2212
01:14:59,953 --> 01:15:01,870
>> Senator yields. Senator

2213
01:15:01,870 --> 01:15:02,756
Stanley has the floor.

2214
01:15:02,756 --> 01:15:04,558
>> I thank the gentleman, and

2215
01:15:04,558 --> 01:15:07,461
I'm not trying to confuse him

2216
01:15:07,461 --> 01:15:11,164
or trap him, but as I read

2217
01:15:11,164 --> 01:15:12,699
underline 34. It says that this

2218
01:15:12,699 --> 01:15:13,500
body can determine and that

2219
01:15:13,500 --> 01:15:15,202
body down the hall can

2220
01:15:15,202 --> 01:15:18,202
determine to redistrict for any

2221
01:15:19,600 --> 01:15:20,107
purpose other than to

2222
01:15:20,107 --> 01:15:21,408
individual things, completions

2223
01:15:21,408 --> 01:15:23,430
of their original program or

2224
01:15:23,430 --> 01:15:24,845
when the when the court has

2225
01:15:24,845 --> 01:15:26,980
ordered changes to their maps.

2226
01:15:26,980 --> 01:15:28,949
And I guess what I was saying

2227
01:15:28,949 --> 01:15:31,949
was, any purpose that falls

2228
01:15:32,860 --> 01:15:33,187
outside of the two exceptions

2229
01:15:33,187 --> 01:15:35,890
would also necessarily include

2230
01:15:35,890 --> 01:15:37,258
about resolving split precincts,

2231
01:15:37,258 --> 01:15:38,893
which is a common exercise,

2232
01:15:38,893 --> 01:15:41,610
would it not? Because as a

2233
01:15:41,610 --> 01:15:42,263
lawyer, you must and I know

2234
01:15:42,263 --> 01:15:44,632
you're not one, but and

2235
01:15:44,632 --> 01:15:46,300
congratulations on that fact

2236
01:15:46,300 --> 01:15:48,903
that you must understand for

2237
01:15:48,903 --> 01:15:51,138
any purpose is a very broad

2238
01:15:51,138 --> 01:15:52,600
statement, is it not.

2239
01:15:52,600 --> 01:15:53,275
>> Senator Rouse, MADAM?

2240
01:15:53,275 --> 01:15:55,420
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I will

2241
01:15:55,420 --> 01:15:56,310
respond to the Senator from

2242
01:15:56,310 --> 01:15:58,112
Franklin County that as he is

2243
01:15:58,112 --> 01:16:00,214
fully aware of, that none of

2244
01:16:00,214 --> 01:16:01,883
the maps are being drawn are in

2245
01:16:01,883 --> 01:16:03,151
absolute, that they all will be

2246
01:16:03,151 --> 01:16:05,860
reviewed by our courts, and the

2247
01:16:05,860 --> 01:16:06,354
courts will have the final say.

2248
01:16:06,354 --> 01:16:08,756
So whether the maps are

2249
01:16:08,756 --> 01:16:10,859
constitutional, Lee valuable or

2250
01:16:10,859 --> 01:16:12,859
not.

2251
01:16:17,766 --> 01:16:20,166
>> I thank the gentleman.

2252
01:16:20,969 --> 01:16:23,369
>> Senator York, the Senator.

2253
01:16:24,839 --> 01:16:25,307
Senator Diggs, the Senator from

2254
01:16:25,307 --> 01:16:27,307
York.

2255
01:16:27,476 --> 01:16:29,876
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2256
01:16:30,450 --> 01:16:32,380
Speaking to the resolution.

2257
01:16:32,380 --> 01:16:34,780
>> Senator has the floor.

2258
01:16:35,500 --> 01:16:36,551
>> Thank you. Our view, our

2259
01:16:36,551 --> 01:16:38,720
Constitution as a long term

2260
01:16:38,720 --> 01:16:40,723
contract between the citizens

2261
01:16:40,723 --> 01:16:42,958
of the Commonwealth and the

2262
01:16:42,958 --> 01:16:44,159
government. It guides

2263
01:16:44,159 --> 01:16:45,927
legislators on how to conduct

2264
01:16:45,927 --> 01:16:48,764
the business of government and

2265
01:16:48,764 --> 01:16:50,933
also protects our citizens from

2266
01:16:50,933 --> 01:16:52,534
the government. The Bill of

2267
01:16:52,534 --> 01:16:54,503
rights is the best example of

2268
01:16:54,503 --> 01:16:56,503
that protection. Our

2269
01:16:56,972 --> 01:16:59,308
Constitution can be viewed as a

2270
01:16:59,308 --> 01:17:01,710
marriage that is based on

2271
01:17:01,710 --> 01:17:04,180
mutual respect and trust. It's

2272
01:17:04,180 --> 01:17:07,350
there for the long haul. It

2273
01:17:07,350 --> 01:17:10,319
gives us a calm consistency on

2274
01:17:10,319 --> 01:17:13,319
how to conduct ourselves during

2275
01:17:13,422 --> 01:17:15,124
extraordinary times, and how to

2276
01:17:15,124 --> 01:17:17,193
weather a storm and survive

2277
01:17:17,193 --> 01:17:19,462
through those times, and not be

2278
01:17:19,462 --> 01:17:22,980
tempted to lose our way through

2279
01:17:22,980 --> 01:17:24,300
those times. The Constitution

2280
01:17:24,300 --> 01:17:26,336
should not have expiration

2281
01:17:26,336 --> 01:17:28,438
dates where amendments are cast

2282
01:17:28,438 --> 01:17:31,908
aside like a carton of expired

2283
01:17:31,908 --> 01:17:33,476
milk. This amendment is being

2284
01:17:33,476 --> 01:17:35,745
proposed not to protect our

2285
01:17:35,745 --> 01:17:36,913
citizens or to make our

2286
01:17:36,913 --> 01:17:38,581
government better. This

2287
01:17:38,581 --> 01:17:40,150
amendment is about increasing

2288
01:17:40,150 --> 01:17:42,385
the political power of the

2289
01:17:42,385 --> 01:17:44,854
Democrat Party. It has an

2290
01:17:44,854 --> 01:17:46,456
expiration date so that if the

2291
01:17:46,456 --> 01:17:48,191
political winds change, the

2292
01:17:48,191 --> 01:17:50,960
Republican Party can't do the

2293
01:17:50,960 --> 01:17:52,950
same thing in a few years. The

2294
01:17:52,950 --> 01:17:54,950
Constitution states that

2295
01:17:54,231 --> 01:17:56,400
redistricting should be done

2296
01:17:56,400 --> 01:17:58,168
every ten years to address

2297
01:17:58,168 --> 01:18:01,380
changes, changes and shifts in

2298
01:18:01,380 --> 01:18:02,573
population so that all people

2299
01:18:02,573 --> 01:18:04,973
are equally and fairly

2300
01:18:05,108 --> 01:18:07,311
represented. Our current maps

2301
01:18:07,311 --> 01:18:10,311
meet that criteria. This is

2302
01:18:11,181 --> 01:18:14,181
what our citizens voted for 66%

2303
01:18:15,419 --> 01:18:19,190
a few years ago. This amendment

2304
01:18:19,220 --> 01:18:20,858
circumvents that ideal and is

2305
01:18:20,858 --> 01:18:22,590
presented for no other reason

2306
01:18:22,590 --> 01:18:24,459
than to increase political

2307
01:18:25,729 --> 01:18:26,997
power. That is the threat to

2308
01:18:26,997 --> 01:18:29,934
our democracy. And this is

2309
01:18:29,934 --> 01:18:33,204
wrong on so many fronts. And I

2310
01:18:33,204 --> 01:18:34,939
also find it curious that it's

2311
01:18:34,939 --> 01:18:37,241
wrong for other states to

2312
01:18:37,241 --> 01:18:40,211
decide to redraw their maps

2313
01:18:40,211 --> 01:18:42,480
because someone asked them, but

2314
01:18:42,480 --> 01:18:44,820
it's okay for us to do it

2315
01:18:44,820 --> 01:18:47,820
because the Democrat Party has

2316
01:18:47,218 --> 01:18:49,530
asked us to do it. It depends

2317
01:18:49,530 --> 01:18:51,122
on who's doing the asking,

2318
01:18:51,122 --> 01:18:53,958
whether it's right or wrong. We

2319
01:18:53,958 --> 01:18:56,127
should not fall into that trap

2320
01:18:56,127 --> 01:18:57,962
much as the Democrats in

2321
01:18:57,962 --> 01:19:00,962
Maryland have refused to do.

2322
01:19:08,707 --> 01:19:11,107
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2323
01:19:14,846 --> 01:19:16,846
>> Senator. From Shenandoah,

2324
01:19:17,716 --> 01:19:19,716
Senator French.

2325
01:19:19,951 --> 01:19:22,351
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2326
01:19:23,188 --> 01:19:23,488
I rise to speak to the

2327
01:19:23,488 --> 01:19:24,990
resolution.

2328
01:19:24,990 --> 01:19:27,259
>> The senator has the floor.

2329
01:19:27,259 --> 01:19:28,927
>> I just want to take a moment

2330
01:19:28,927 --> 01:19:32,197
to talk about this process and

2331
01:19:32,197 --> 01:19:35,000
the quality time that we've all

2332
01:19:35,000 --> 01:19:37,136
got to spend together this week.

2333
01:19:37,136 --> 01:19:38,971
One thing has become crystal

2334
01:19:38,971 --> 01:19:41,140
clear to me. The wedge between

2335
01:19:41,140 --> 01:19:42,441
rural Virginia and urban

2336
01:19:42,441 --> 01:19:45,210
Virginia has been driven even

2337
01:19:45,210 --> 01:19:46,912
further. As a senator from

2338
01:19:46,912 --> 01:19:48,314
district one, I've worked hard

2339
01:19:48,314 --> 01:19:51,183
to prevent that from happening

2340
01:19:51,183 --> 01:19:52,785
with my people and letting them

2341
01:19:52,785 --> 01:19:56,550
know that we are in this state

2342
01:19:56,550 --> 01:19:59,655
together. Our job here is to

2343
01:19:59,892 --> 01:20:02,940
make laws. And legislation that

2344
01:20:02,940 --> 01:20:04,494
represent all the Virginians,

2345
01:20:04,897 --> 01:20:07,133
no matter where they live. If

2346
01:20:07,133 --> 01:20:09,302
this bill comes to life, our

2347
01:20:09,302 --> 01:20:11,702
congressional map will look

2348
01:20:11,738 --> 01:20:13,239
like a hurricane prediction

2349
01:20:13,239 --> 01:20:16,142
chart. A mess of spaghetti and

2350
01:20:16,142 --> 01:20:18,144
confusion. It will stretch our

2351
01:20:18,144 --> 01:20:19,979
representatives so thin that

2352
01:20:19,979 --> 01:20:21,314
our legislators will be out of

2353
01:20:21,314 --> 01:20:24,314
touch with the people they

2354
01:20:25,385 --> 01:20:27,654
represent. Overall, this bill

2355
01:20:27,654 --> 01:20:30,900
is bad for Virginia people. And

2356
01:20:30,900 --> 01:20:31,324
that's not just my opinion.

2357
01:20:31,324 --> 01:20:34,600
It's something that many of the

2358
01:20:34,600 --> 01:20:35,796
folks in this body said

2359
01:20:35,796 --> 01:20:38,796
themselves just some short five

2360
01:20:39,132 --> 01:20:41,340
years ago. In closing, I'd say

2361
01:20:41,340 --> 01:20:43,870
this. I've sat here by the

2362
01:20:43,870 --> 01:20:45,939
window looking out, wishing I

2363
01:20:45,939 --> 01:20:48,339
was home, weaning calves,

2364
01:20:48,842 --> 01:20:51,345
harvesting crops on the farm.

2365
01:20:51,345 --> 01:20:52,946
But I'm still proud to be here,

2366
01:20:52,946 --> 01:20:54,414
sacrificing to represent the

2367
01:20:54,414 --> 01:20:57,317
hard working people of rural

2368
01:20:57,317 --> 01:20:59,717
Virginia. However, when it's

2369
01:21:00,354 --> 01:21:02,256
said and done, we're. To me,

2370
01:21:02,256 --> 01:21:04,580
this is about like a bunch of

2371
01:21:04,580 --> 01:21:06,160
teenage boys on the farm. When

2372
01:21:06,160 --> 01:21:07,995
dad's gone and we cut the

2373
01:21:07,995 --> 01:21:10,398
muffler off the truck, old

2374
01:21:10,398 --> 01:21:11,498
diesel truck, and we're not

2375
01:21:11,498 --> 01:21:15,980
doing nothing but making a lot

2376
01:21:16,203 --> 01:21:18,406
of noise and blowing smoke.

2377
01:21:18,406 --> 01:21:20,374
Virginians. Virginians are

2378
01:21:20,374 --> 01:21:23,374
smart. They know what's good

2379
01:21:23,744 --> 01:21:24,912
for them. And by and large,

2380
01:21:24,912 --> 01:21:27,480
they're satisfied with how the

2381
01:21:27,480 --> 01:21:29,448
district stand today. I'm

2382
01:21:30,985 --> 01:21:32,186
confident, just as before, if

2383
01:21:32,186 --> 01:21:34,586
given the opportunity, they're

2384
01:21:34,856 --> 01:21:38,456
going to vote that 66 to 34 to

2385
01:21:38,493 --> 01:21:39,994
keep it the way it is. I urge

2386
01:21:39,994 --> 01:21:42,530
this body not to forget who we

2387
01:21:42,530 --> 01:21:44,466
work for and who we serve. Let

2388
01:21:44,466 --> 01:21:45,600
the people of Virginia, not the

2389
01:21:45,600 --> 01:21:48,000
interests of Washington, guide

2390
01:21:56,478 --> 01:21:59,448
us in our decisions. Thank you.

2391
01:21:59,448 --> 01:22:01,848
>> The Senator from Prince

2392
01:22:05,420 --> 01:22:07,155
Edwards Senator ciphers.

2393
01:22:07,155 --> 01:22:09,391
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I ask if

2394
01:22:09,391 --> 01:22:11,627
the Senator from Virginia Beach

2395
01:22:11,627 --> 01:22:11,894
would rise and yield for a

2396
01:22:11,894 --> 01:22:13,620
question.

2397
01:22:13,620 --> 01:22:16,620
>> Will the junior senator from

2398
01:22:19,201 --> 01:22:20,350
Virginia Beach rise and yield?

2399
01:22:20,350 --> 01:22:21,203
>> Are you.

2400
01:22:21,203 --> 01:22:23,138
>> MADAM Senator yields.

2401
01:22:23,138 --> 01:22:24,730
Senator cyphers has the floor.

2402
01:22:24,730 --> 01:22:26,410
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, we've heard

2403
01:22:26,410 --> 01:22:28,510
a lot this week that the

2404
01:22:28,510 --> 01:22:30,679
resolution before us is an

2405
01:22:30,679 --> 01:22:31,280
extraordinary response to

2406
01:22:31,280 --> 01:22:33,280
extraordinary circumstances. I

2407
01:22:33,449 --> 01:22:34,984
would ask the Senator if during

2408
01:22:34,984 --> 01:22:36,552
his time as a Virginia

2409
01:22:36,552 --> 01:22:38,955
legislator, has he seen or

2410
01:22:38,955 --> 01:22:40,756
introduced other legislation

2411
01:22:40,756 --> 01:22:41,924
that amends statutory or

2412
01:22:41,924 --> 01:22:44,160
constitutional law because of

2413
01:22:44,160 --> 01:22:46,560
mistakes, omissions or changes

2414
01:22:47,330 --> 01:22:48,631
in the underlying conditions to

2415
01:22:48,631 --> 01:22:50,166
which the law applies? Or is

2416
01:22:50,166 --> 01:22:52,566
this a new concept?

2417
01:22:52,935 --> 01:22:55,905
>> Senator Rouse has the floor.

2418
01:22:55,905 --> 01:22:58,208
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, if the

2419
01:22:58,208 --> 01:22:59,420
gentleman. Where is he from?

2420
01:22:59,420 --> 01:23:00,109
Again? I'm sorry.

2421
01:23:00,109 --> 01:23:02,109
>> Prince Edward.

2422
01:23:02,445 --> 01:23:04,114
>> Prince Edward is the senator

2423
01:23:04,114 --> 01:23:07,114
from Prince Edward. Clarify his

2424
01:23:07,183 --> 01:23:08,818
question in that response. Give

2425
01:23:08,818 --> 01:23:11,200
him a chance to respond. But I

2426
01:23:11,200 --> 01:23:12,355
would go on to say we have

2427
01:23:12,355 --> 01:23:14,355
three constitutional amendments

2428
01:23:15,358 --> 01:23:16,626
right now that are before the

2429
01:23:16,626 --> 01:23:18,562
people. This is along the lines

2430
01:23:18,562 --> 01:23:20,962
of the same process.

2431
01:23:21,198 --> 01:23:21,431
>> Senator Edwards. Senator

2432
01:23:21,431 --> 01:23:23,330
Cyphers.

2433
01:23:23,330 --> 01:23:25,350
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, so so I

2434
01:23:25,350 --> 01:23:28,350
think I understand the response

2435
01:23:28,538 --> 01:23:30,107
is that it is normal to amend

2436
01:23:30,107 --> 01:23:31,942
legislation when circumstances

2437
01:23:31,942 --> 01:23:33,844
change or when there are

2438
01:23:33,844 --> 01:23:34,611
mistakes or omissions. Is is

2439
01:23:34,611 --> 01:23:36,611
that correct?

2440
01:23:36,647 --> 01:23:38,647
>> Senator Rouse?

2441
01:23:39,149 --> 01:23:40,417
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, this is a

2442
01:23:40,417 --> 01:23:42,419
resolution that we're going to

2443
01:23:42,419 --> 01:23:44,822
put forward to the people that

2444
01:23:44,822 --> 01:23:45,289
starts a process to give

2445
01:23:45,289 --> 01:23:47,289
Virginians an option.

2446
01:23:47,491 --> 01:23:47,758
>> a follow up question, MADAM

2447
01:23:47,758 --> 01:23:49,758
PRESIDENT.

2448
01:23:49,994 --> 01:23:52,394
>> Will the Senator from

2449
01:23:52,596 --> 01:23:55,366
Virginia Beach yield again, the

2450
01:23:55,366 --> 01:23:56,367
Senator yields Senator Edwards

2451
01:23:56,367 --> 01:23:58,350
cyphers.

2452
01:23:58,350 --> 01:24:00,350
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, article 12,

2453
01:24:00,638 --> 01:24:01,171
section one of the Virginia

2454
01:24:01,171 --> 01:24:02,306
Constitution lays out the

2455
01:24:02,306 --> 01:24:03,941
process by which the

2456
01:24:03,941 --> 01:24:05,209
Constitution MAY be amended.

2457
01:24:05,209 --> 01:24:07,511
One requirement is what we

2458
01:24:07,511 --> 01:24:09,130
referred to this week as the

2459
01:24:09,130 --> 01:24:10,248
intervening election that must

2460
01:24:10,248 --> 01:24:11,949
take place after the first

2461
01:24:11,949 --> 01:24:13,170
passage of an amending

2462
01:24:13,170 --> 01:24:15,417
resolution. And before the

2463
01:24:15,586 --> 01:24:17,355
second passage. I would ask the

2464
01:24:17,355 --> 01:24:20,158
Senator if he knows the purpose

2465
01:24:20,158 --> 01:24:21,893
of this intervening election.

2466
01:24:21,893 --> 01:24:23,228
>> The junior senator from

2467
01:24:23,228 --> 01:24:24,950
Virginia Beach has the floor,

2468
01:24:24,950 --> 01:24:25,363
MADAM.

2469
01:24:25,363 --> 01:24:27,132
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, in response

2470
01:24:27,132 --> 01:24:29,534
to the Senator, I would say

2471
01:24:29,534 --> 01:24:30,135
that the process for

2472
01:24:30,135 --> 01:24:32,135
constitutional amendments that

2473
01:24:32,404 --> 01:24:34,305
it must pass both chambers

2474
01:24:34,305 --> 01:24:36,608
twice with the intervening

2475
01:24:36,608 --> 01:24:37,475
election before going to

2476
01:24:37,475 --> 01:24:38,577
referendum for the people. And

2477
01:24:38,577 --> 01:24:40,278
that's the process that we're

2478
01:24:40,278 --> 01:24:42,800
following.

2479
01:24:42,800 --> 01:24:43,348
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would

2480
01:24:43,348 --> 01:24:45,160
further clarify that the

2481
01:24:45,160 --> 01:24:46,840
purpose is to give voters the

2482
01:24:46,840 --> 01:24:47,352
opportunity to reset their

2483
01:24:47,352 --> 01:24:50,352
representation in the House of

2484
01:24:50,656 --> 01:24:52,124
delegates. And last follow up

2485
01:24:52,124 --> 01:24:54,124
question, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2486
01:24:54,526 --> 01:24:57,526
>> Will the junior senator from

2487
01:24:57,696 --> 01:25:00,960
Virginia Beach yield again?

2488
01:25:00,990 --> 01:25:01,934
>> I yield, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2489
01:25:01,934 --> 01:25:03,135
>> Senator Cyprus has the floor.

2490
01:25:03,135 --> 01:25:05,203
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

2491
01:25:05,203 --> 01:25:06,939
the Senator if the Senator is

2492
01:25:06,939 --> 01:25:09,141
aware that when article 12,

2493
01:25:09,141 --> 01:25:11,343
section one, was updated in the

2494
01:25:11,343 --> 01:25:13,343
constitutional revision of 1971,

2495
01:25:14,814 --> 01:25:16,515
early voting did not exist.

2496
01:25:16,515 --> 01:25:18,117
>> The junior senator from

2497
01:25:18,117 --> 01:25:19,919
Virginia Beach has the floor.

2498
01:25:19,919 --> 01:25:22,319
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'm fully

2499
01:25:22,755 --> 01:25:25,324
aware of that as well. And

2500
01:25:25,324 --> 01:25:27,426
perhaps the junior senator

2501
01:25:27,426 --> 01:25:30,296
within the Senate should also

2502
01:25:30,296 --> 01:25:32,899
study the the Constitution even

2503
01:25:32,899 --> 01:25:35,299
more. Thank you, MADAM

2504
01:25:37,170 --> 01:25:39,380
PRESIDENT.

2505
01:25:39,380 --> 01:25:40,239
>> Senator Cyphers.

2506
01:25:40,239 --> 01:25:41,841
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'd like to

2507
01:25:41,841 --> 01:25:43,543
state for the record that it

2508
01:25:43,543 --> 01:25:44,244
appears to be well established

2509
01:25:44,244 --> 01:25:45,879
that the intent of the

2510
01:25:45,879 --> 01:25:46,379
intervening election and the

2511
01:25:46,379 --> 01:25:48,148
constitutional amendment

2512
01:25:48,148 --> 01:25:49,249
process is so that voters can

2513
01:25:49,249 --> 01:25:51,151
respond at the ballot box

2514
01:25:51,151 --> 01:25:52,285
between the two passages of

2515
01:25:52,285 --> 01:25:54,870
amending resolution. I'd

2516
01:25:54,870 --> 01:25:55,210
further state that since early

2517
01:25:55,210 --> 01:25:56,990
voting did not exist when the

2518
01:25:56,990 --> 01:25:58,258
amendment process was written,

2519
01:25:58,258 --> 01:25:59,893
the authors had no reason to

2520
01:25:59,893 --> 01:26:01,194
contemplate a scenario in which

2521
01:26:01,194 --> 01:26:04,164
the House of delegates votes

2522
01:26:04,164 --> 01:26:04,965
were already cast by more than

2523
01:26:04,965 --> 01:26:07,300
1.1 million people before the

2524
01:26:07,300 --> 01:26:08,869
first passage of a resolution.

2525
01:26:08,869 --> 01:26:11,371
I would agree that there are

2526
01:26:11,371 --> 01:26:13,600
times that we need to amend law

2527
01:26:13,600 --> 01:26:16,600
due to changes in underlying

2528
01:26:16,376 --> 01:26:17,944
conditions and. Speaking to the

2529
01:26:17,944 --> 01:26:19,246
amendment, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'm

2530
01:26:19,246 --> 01:26:21,646
sorry. Speaking to the

2531
01:26:22,149 --> 01:26:23,500
resolution. MADAM PRESIDENT, I

2532
01:26:23,500 --> 01:26:26,153
agree that that there are times

2533
01:26:26,153 --> 01:26:28,355
when we need to amend law due

2534
01:26:28,355 --> 01:26:29,890
to changes in underlying

2535
01:26:29,890 --> 01:26:30,390
circumstances. But, MADAM

2536
01:26:30,390 --> 01:26:31,892
PRESIDENT, I would submit that

2537
01:26:31,892 --> 01:26:32,960
in this case, the underlying

2538
01:26:32,960 --> 01:26:34,228
conditions that have changed

2539
01:26:34,228 --> 01:26:36,197
are not the political dynamics

2540
01:26:36,197 --> 01:26:37,640
in Washington, but rather the

2541
01:26:37,640 --> 01:26:39,233
fact that the Constitution that

2542
01:26:39,233 --> 01:26:42,360
we are sworn to support did not

2543
01:26:42,360 --> 01:26:43,604
contemplate a scenario in which

2544
01:26:43,604 --> 01:26:44,972
1.1 million voters had already

2545
01:26:44,972 --> 01:26:46,941
voted before the first passage

2546
01:26:46,941 --> 01:26:48,242
of an amending resolution. If

2547
01:26:48,242 --> 01:26:49,243
we want to propose

2548
01:26:49,243 --> 01:26:50,444
constitutional changes, MADAM

2549
01:26:50,444 --> 01:26:52,130
PRESIDENT, perhaps they should

2550
01:26:52,130 --> 01:26:53,848
be based on good faith

2551
01:26:53,848 --> 01:26:56,248
interpretations of existing law

2552
01:26:56,317 --> 01:26:57,652
and a desire to strengthen the

2553
01:26:57,652 --> 01:26:59,520
constitutional principles

2554
01:26:59,520 --> 01:27:01,890
rather than compromise them for

2555
01:27:01,890 --> 01:27:02,390
political convenience. Thank

2556
01:27:02,390 --> 01:27:02,957
you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2557
01:27:02,957 --> 01:27:04,359
>> MADAM PRESIDENT.

2558
01:27:04,359 --> 01:27:06,940
>> For what purpose does the

2559
01:27:06,940 --> 01:27:06,394
Senator from eastern Fairfax

2560
01:27:06,394 --> 01:27:08,394
County rise?

2561
01:27:08,396 --> 01:27:09,197
>> Well, Senator from Prince

2562
01:27:09,197 --> 01:27:11,650
Edward, yield for a question.

2563
01:27:11,650 --> 01:27:12,434
>> Senator will yield.

2564
01:27:12,434 --> 01:27:13,568
>> I yield.

2565
01:27:13,568 --> 01:27:14,302
>> Senator yields. Senator

2566
01:27:14,302 --> 01:27:16,237
Surovell has the floor.

2567
01:27:16,237 --> 01:27:17,105
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

2568
01:27:17,105 --> 01:27:19,173
Given the senators decided to

2569
01:27:19,173 --> 01:27:19,874
try to give us a lesson on

2570
01:27:19,874 --> 01:27:21,109
constitutional history. I have

2571
01:27:21,109 --> 01:27:22,377
two copies. I have a copy of

2572
01:27:22,377 --> 01:27:23,278
Dick Howard's commentaries, The

2573
01:27:23,278 --> 01:27:25,280
Constitution of Virginia. I

2574
01:27:25,280 --> 01:27:26,481
also am aware that the law

2575
01:27:26,481 --> 01:27:28,183
library. We have copies of the

2576
01:27:28,183 --> 01:27:29,885
debates from 1969. What in

2577
01:27:29,885 --> 01:27:32,154
those books supports your

2578
01:27:32,154 --> 01:27:34,156
theory that the entire point of

2579
01:27:34,156 --> 01:27:35,257
having an election between

2580
01:27:35,257 --> 01:27:35,991
election, between the

2581
01:27:35,991 --> 01:27:37,991
introduction, constitutional

2582
01:27:38,961 --> 01:27:40,529
amendments was the intent? Was

2583
01:27:40,529 --> 01:27:41,130
the intent behind this

2584
01:27:41,130 --> 01:27:43,130
constitutional provision? What

2585
01:27:43,265 --> 01:27:45,601
in the books? I understand you

2586
01:27:45,601 --> 01:27:46,201
have a theory. What actual

2587
01:27:46,201 --> 01:27:47,436
support in a book do you have

2588
01:27:47,436 --> 01:27:48,370
for that?

2589
01:27:48,370 --> 01:27:50,370
>> Senator Cyphers?

2590
01:27:51,600 --> 01:27:53,275
>> MADAM? MADAM PRESIDENT, as

2591
01:27:53,275 --> 01:27:54,430
an entrepreneur and a private

2592
01:27:54,430 --> 01:27:56,512
citizen as opposed to an

2593
01:27:56,512 --> 01:27:58,447
attorney, I would like to defer

2594
01:27:58,447 --> 01:28:00,349
this question to my colleague

2595
01:28:00,349 --> 01:28:02,150
who understands constitutional

2596
01:28:02,150 --> 01:28:03,886
law substantially better than I

2597
01:28:03,886 --> 01:28:06,122
am, with the caveat, MADAM

2598
01:28:06,122 --> 01:28:08,958
PRESIDENT, that I believe that

2599
01:28:08,958 --> 01:28:10,326
we should respect the

2600
01:28:10,326 --> 01:28:11,927
understanding of Constitution

2601
01:28:11,927 --> 01:28:14,564
as it relates to private

2602
01:28:14,564 --> 01:28:16,599
citizens and voters and people

2603
01:28:16,599 --> 01:28:18,340
who are not attorneys, as well

2604
01:28:18,340 --> 01:28:19,435
as those that are well

2605
01:28:19,435 --> 01:28:20,269
practiced and well studied in

2606
01:28:20,269 --> 01:28:22,269
that field.

2607
01:28:22,605 --> 01:28:23,106
>> Senator Obenshain, will you

2608
01:28:23,106 --> 01:28:24,908
yield?

2609
01:28:24,908 --> 01:28:27,777
>> I think he's yielding to me.

2610
01:28:27,777 --> 01:28:30,247
>> All right. The senator from

2611
01:28:30,247 --> 01:28:32,148
Rockingham has the floor.

2612
01:28:32,148 --> 01:28:33,450
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, in

2613
01:28:33,450 --> 01:28:35,180
answering the senator from

2614
01:28:35,180 --> 01:28:36,286
eastern Fairfax, I think

2615
01:28:36,286 --> 01:28:38,555
Senator from eastern Fairfax

2616
01:28:38,555 --> 01:28:39,990
knows very well that there MAY

2617
01:28:39,990 --> 01:28:42,859
be only a couple of people in

2618
01:28:42,859 --> 01:28:45,859
this chamber who have perused

2619
01:28:46,290 --> 01:28:48,598
the Eddic Howard Treatise on

2620
01:28:48,598 --> 01:28:50,670
the Constitution of Virginia,

2621
01:28:50,670 --> 01:28:52,102
or know Professor Howard. I

2622
01:28:52,102 --> 01:28:54,204
know, know Professor Howard. I

2623
01:28:54,204 --> 01:28:56,473
do know Professor Howard. I've

2624
01:28:56,473 --> 01:28:58,108
worked with him. I've read his

2625
01:28:58,108 --> 01:29:00,143
treatise, as a matter of fact,

2626
01:29:00,143 --> 01:29:01,110
the senator from eastern

2627
01:29:01,110 --> 01:29:03,547
Fairfax helped me procure a

2628
01:29:03,547 --> 01:29:04,982
copy of the treatise, and I'm

2629
01:29:04,982 --> 01:29:07,184
grateful for that. And I spent

2630
01:29:07,184 --> 01:29:08,852
a little bit of time last night

2631
01:29:08,852 --> 01:29:10,954
looking at the treatise for

2632
01:29:10,954 --> 01:29:12,189
that specific purpose. And it

2633
01:29:12,189 --> 01:29:14,959
does not address it, but what

2634
01:29:14,959 --> 01:29:17,228
it does address and what is

2635
01:29:17,228 --> 01:29:19,897
clear is that Professor Howard,

2636
01:29:19,897 --> 01:29:21,599
he spent a lot of his career

2637
01:29:21,599 --> 01:29:23,599
helping write constitutions

2638
01:29:23,934 --> 01:29:26,934
around America and around the

2639
01:29:27,204 --> 01:29:28,973
world, and he, in doing so,

2640
01:29:28,973 --> 01:29:31,242
drew upon the work of others.

2641
01:29:31,242 --> 01:29:32,977
You know, we as lawyers, you

2642
01:29:32,977 --> 01:29:36,314
know, one of the things that we

2643
01:29:36,314 --> 01:29:37,949
learn early on is not it's not

2644
01:29:37,949 --> 01:29:40,284
always necessary to be original.

2645
01:29:40,284 --> 01:29:41,986
It is to borrow good ideas that

2646
01:29:41,986 --> 01:29:44,880
have worked well in others. And

2647
01:29:44,880 --> 01:29:46,488
in this instance, that

2648
01:29:48,326 --> 01:29:50,328
provision requiring an election

2649
01:29:50,328 --> 01:29:53,130
is a provision that has been

2650
01:29:53,130 --> 01:29:55,530
adopted in, I believe,

2651
01:29:55,600 --> 01:29:58,000
approximately ten other state

2652
01:29:58,970 --> 01:30:00,970
constitutions. And professor,

2653
01:30:02,574 --> 01:30:04,309
law professor D.C. Wright wrote

2654
01:30:04,309 --> 01:30:07,379
in the Duquesne Law Review in

2655
01:30:07,379 --> 01:30:09,548
2021, talking about all of

2656
01:30:09,548 --> 01:30:11,416
those provisions and the

2657
01:30:11,416 --> 01:30:13,385
purpose for those provisions in

2658
01:30:13,385 --> 01:30:15,420
constitutions all over the

2659
01:30:15,420 --> 01:30:16,154
United States of America,

2660
01:30:16,154 --> 01:30:17,990
including Virginia's

2661
01:30:17,990 --> 01:30:19,658
constitution. And he said many

2662
01:30:19,658 --> 01:30:21,658
state constitutions require

2663
01:30:21,960 --> 01:30:24,960
that a proposed amendment be

2664
01:30:24,960 --> 01:30:25,497
approved by successive

2665
01:30:25,497 --> 01:30:26,265
legislatures, with an

2666
01:30:26,265 --> 01:30:28,665
intervening election of at

2667
01:30:29,680 --> 01:30:31,470
least one House before final

2668
01:30:31,470 --> 01:30:33,470
ratification. The requirement

2669
01:30:34,139 --> 01:30:37,139
of an intervening election is

2670
01:30:38,710 --> 01:30:40,913
designed to provide a check on

2671
01:30:40,913 --> 01:30:42,913
hasty constitutional change,

2672
01:30:43,182 --> 01:30:45,985
ensuring that a proposal has

2673
01:30:45,985 --> 01:30:48,921
survived the test of public

2674
01:30:48,921 --> 01:30:51,490
opinion before it becomes a

2675
01:30:51,490 --> 01:30:53,826
part of the Fundamental Law. In

2676
01:30:53,826 --> 01:30:54,961
this way, the electorate,

2677
01:30:54,961 --> 01:30:56,961
through its representatives

2678
01:30:57,864 --> 01:31:00,990
chosen in the interim, has an

2679
01:31:00,990 --> 01:31:02,902
opportunity to affirm or reject

2680
01:31:02,902 --> 01:31:05,710
the wisdom of the proposed

2681
01:31:05,710 --> 01:31:06,306
amendment, and I would

2682
01:31:06,306 --> 01:31:08,706
respectfully submit to the

2683
01:31:11,177 --> 01:31:14,177
gentleman that this action in

2684
01:31:14,514 --> 01:31:17,150
calling us here four days

2685
01:31:17,150 --> 01:31:19,550
before our statewide election,

2686
01:31:19,586 --> 01:31:21,586
clearly contravenes that

2687
01:31:22,210 --> 01:31:24,290
provision. If it was simply to

2688
01:31:24,290 --> 01:31:27,227
put this on the ballot and not

2689
01:31:27,227 --> 01:31:29,529
pull a fast one on the citizens

2690
01:31:29,529 --> 01:31:31,398
of the Commonwealth of Virginia

2691
01:31:31,398 --> 01:31:32,399
and evade the purpose of that

2692
01:31:32,399 --> 01:31:34,301
constitutional provision, we

2693
01:31:34,301 --> 01:31:37,301
should have been here months

2694
01:31:37,337 --> 01:31:39,239
ago. The PRESIDENT Of the

2695
01:31:39,239 --> 01:31:41,639
United States, whether you

2696
01:31:42,743 --> 01:31:45,479
agree with it or not, called

2697
01:31:45,479 --> 01:31:48,479
for redistricting back in JULY

2698
01:31:49,116 --> 01:31:51,852
of this year, Texas made its

2699
01:31:51,852 --> 01:31:53,587
initial steps towards

2700
01:31:53,587 --> 01:31:55,987
redistricting in the beginning

2701
01:31:57,224 --> 01:32:00,824
of AUGUST of this year. If

2702
01:32:01,562 --> 01:32:03,970
these professions of heartfelt

2703
01:32:03,970 --> 01:32:05,497
conviction that this is

2704
01:32:06,600 --> 01:32:09,236
necessary to save the Republic

2705
01:32:09,236 --> 01:32:11,939
were sincere, we could have

2706
01:32:11,939 --> 01:32:13,641
been back here in AUGUST,

2707
01:32:13,641 --> 01:32:17,241
should have been back here in

2708
01:32:17,712 --> 01:32:20,148
AUGUST. Instead, we are here

2709
01:32:20,148 --> 01:32:23,148
for days before a statewide

2710
01:32:23,818 --> 01:32:25,190
election. After 1 million

2711
01:32:25,190 --> 01:32:27,419
Virginians have already cast

2712
01:32:28,957 --> 01:32:31,826
their votes. It is in clear

2713
01:32:31,826 --> 01:32:33,270
contravention of the purpose of

2714
01:32:33,270 --> 01:32:34,662
that constitutional provision

2715
01:32:34,662 --> 01:32:36,431
here in the Commonwealth of

2716
01:32:36,431 --> 01:32:37,980
Virginia. I hope that answers

2717
01:32:37,980 --> 01:32:38,533
gentleman's question.

2718
01:32:38,533 --> 01:32:40,201
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, the Senator

2719
01:32:40,201 --> 01:32:42,370
yield for a question.

2720
01:32:42,370 --> 01:32:44,139
>> Will the Senator from

2721
01:32:44,139 --> 01:32:45,240
Rockingham yield I yield.

2722
01:32:45,240 --> 01:32:47,420
Senator yields. Senator

2723
01:32:47,420 --> 01:32:48,176
Surovell has the floor.

2724
01:32:48,176 --> 01:32:49,845
>> Does the Senator agree that

2725
01:32:49,845 --> 01:32:52,470
prior to 1870, there was no

2726
01:32:52,470 --> 01:32:54,447
process for amending the

2727
01:32:54,650 --> 01:32:56,170
Constitution, and that in 1870

2728
01:32:56,170 --> 01:32:58,220
that the 1870 Constitution, the

2729
01:32:58,220 --> 01:33:00,220
amendment process was added?

2730
01:33:00,220 --> 01:33:02,570
Does he further agree that at

2731
01:33:02,570 --> 01:33:03,525
that time the Constitution

2732
01:33:03,525 --> 01:33:04,960
required intervening election

2733
01:33:04,960 --> 01:33:06,428
of both the House and the

2734
01:33:06,428 --> 01:33:08,630
Senate before the Constitution

2735
01:33:08,630 --> 01:33:09,565
could be amended?

2736
01:33:09,565 --> 01:33:10,466
>> Senator.

2737
01:33:10,466 --> 01:33:12,301
>> With that.

2738
01:33:12,301 --> 01:33:14,670
>> We have another question.

2739
01:33:14,670 --> 01:33:15,170
>> Will the Senator yield the

2740
01:33:15,170 --> 01:33:16,372
Senator yields? Senator

2741
01:33:16,372 --> 01:33:18,400
Surovell has the floor.

2742
01:33:18,400 --> 01:33:19,208
>> The Senator also agree that

2743
01:33:19,208 --> 01:33:20,342
if the intent behind the

2744
01:33:20,342 --> 01:33:22,440
amendment was to allow the

2745
01:33:22,440 --> 01:33:23,179
voters to pass on the elected

2746
01:33:23,179 --> 01:33:24,346
officials that are actually

2747
01:33:24,346 --> 01:33:25,848
going to vote on the amendment,

2748
01:33:25,848 --> 01:33:27,149
that the voters of Virginia

2749
01:33:27,149 --> 01:33:29,118
will not have an opportunity to

2750
01:33:29,118 --> 01:33:30,386
pass on the voters or the

2751
01:33:30,386 --> 01:33:31,200
people that are serving in the

2752
01:33:31,200 --> 01:33:33,322
state Senate, with the

2753
01:33:33,322 --> 01:33:34,290
exception of the senior senator

2754
01:33:34,290 --> 01:33:36,690
from Chesterfield, I hope

2755
01:33:37,930 --> 01:33:39,862
before the amendment is voted

2756
01:33:39,862 --> 01:33:42,650
again in a succeeding session.

2757
01:33:42,650 --> 01:33:43,299
>> MADAM Senator Obenshain.

2758
01:33:43,299 --> 01:33:45,699
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, what I

2759
01:33:46,669 --> 01:33:48,604
would say to the gentleman is

2760
01:33:48,604 --> 01:33:51,604
that the provision was changed

2761
01:33:52,875 --> 01:33:55,411
as described in order to change

2762
01:33:55,411 --> 01:33:57,213
the process. It permits a

2763
01:33:57,213 --> 01:33:59,181
constitutional amendment to be

2764
01:33:59,181 --> 01:34:01,618
made or to be advanced every

2765
01:34:01,618 --> 01:34:04,154
two years instead of every four

2766
01:34:04,154 --> 01:34:06,256
years. And while I know we're

2767
01:34:06,256 --> 01:34:07,924
not spending time or not

2768
01:34:07,924 --> 01:34:09,225
supposed to talk about folks

2769
01:34:09,225 --> 01:34:11,861
down the hall, but there are

2770
01:34:11,861 --> 01:34:14,197
100 elections of members down

2771
01:34:14,197 --> 01:34:15,332
the hall, and I know that many

2772
01:34:15,332 --> 01:34:17,634
members of this body think

2773
01:34:17,634 --> 01:34:19,202
we're the only ones who matter.

2774
01:34:19,202 --> 01:34:21,400
And we are. But there are a lot

2775
01:34:21,400 --> 01:34:22,272
of people there are a lot of

2776
01:34:22,272 --> 01:34:23,373
people across the Commonwealth

2777
01:34:23,373 --> 01:34:25,800
of Virginia who believe that

2778
01:34:25,800 --> 01:34:26,430
the members of the House of

2779
01:34:26,430 --> 01:34:27,344
delegates ought to be held

2780
01:34:27,344 --> 01:34:28,846
accountable for their votes as

2781
01:34:28,846 --> 01:34:30,181
well. And this process

2782
01:34:30,181 --> 01:34:32,150
undermines the ability of the

2783
01:34:32,150 --> 01:34:33,250
people of the Commonwealth of

2784
01:34:33,250 --> 01:34:35,650
Virginia to express their

2785
01:34:36,530 --> 01:34:38,522
opinions, as has been described.

2786
01:34:38,522 --> 01:34:40,324
This has this was conducted

2787
01:34:40,324 --> 01:34:42,192
under cover of darkness. The

2788
01:34:42,192 --> 01:34:44,128
the purpose of this this

2789
01:34:44,128 --> 01:34:46,931
special session was revealed in

2790
01:34:46,931 --> 01:34:50,401
the New York Times last week.

2791
01:34:50,401 --> 01:34:52,536
The text of this constitutional

2792
01:34:52,536 --> 01:34:55,536
amendment was revealed two days

2793
01:34:56,574 --> 01:34:59,410
ago in order to prevent those

2794
01:34:59,410 --> 01:35:01,979
million people from seeing the

2795
01:35:01,979 --> 01:35:03,180
text, and probably to prevent a

2796
01:35:03,180 --> 01:35:05,650
good many more from even

2797
01:35:05,650 --> 01:35:07,452
talking about it or knowing

2798
01:35:07,452 --> 01:35:08,986
what has happened this week in

2799
01:35:08,986 --> 01:35:10,221
this chamber and the chamber

2800
01:35:10,221 --> 01:35:11,388
down the hall.

2801
01:35:11,388 --> 01:35:12,900
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, Senator,

2802
01:35:12,900 --> 01:35:13,658
yield for another question.

2803
01:35:13,658 --> 01:35:15,658
>> Senator from Rockingham

2804
01:35:15,726 --> 01:35:16,270
yields Senator Surovell has the

2805
01:35:16,270 --> 01:35:18,270
floor.

2806
01:35:18,196 --> 01:35:19,970
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

2807
01:35:19,970 --> 01:35:21,166
the Senator. Does he also agree

2808
01:35:21,166 --> 01:35:22,433
that in the Constitution that

2809
01:35:22,433 --> 01:35:24,335
predated the current

2810
01:35:24,335 --> 01:35:26,137
constitution of 1971, that that

2811
01:35:26,137 --> 01:35:28,537
Constitution required a 90 day

2812
01:35:29,307 --> 01:35:30,175
period of time when the

2813
01:35:30,175 --> 01:35:32,978
amendment was to be made

2814
01:35:32,978 --> 01:35:35,880
available and posted at the at

2815
01:35:35,880 --> 01:35:37,449
the courthouses before the

2816
01:35:37,449 --> 01:35:39,818
election. The election after

2817
01:35:39,818 --> 01:35:41,787
the first adoption. But that

2818
01:35:41,787 --> 01:35:44,556
that language was removed from

2819
01:35:44,556 --> 01:35:46,291
the Constitution. And because a

2820
01:35:46,291 --> 01:35:48,160
lot of things have changed

2821
01:35:48,160 --> 01:35:49,261
since 1870, I know that in 1870

2822
01:35:49,261 --> 01:35:51,296
they invented chewing gum and a

2823
01:35:51,296 --> 01:35:53,131
telephone. Electric streetcars,

2824
01:35:53,131 --> 01:35:54,933
staplers, light bulbs. But

2825
01:35:54,933 --> 01:35:56,135
since 1870, people don't get

2826
01:35:56,135 --> 01:35:58,404
their information quite the

2827
01:35:58,404 --> 01:35:59,238
same way. And so when they

2828
01:35:59,238 --> 01:36:01,638
change the Constitution in 1969,

2829
01:36:02,474 --> 01:36:04,410
in the floor debate, they felt

2830
01:36:04,410 --> 01:36:06,144
it would be better to require

2831
01:36:06,144 --> 01:36:08,814
90 days notice to the voters

2832
01:36:08,814 --> 01:36:11,116
before the voters actually vote

2833
01:36:11,116 --> 01:36:12,284
on it, not before the next

2834
01:36:12,284 --> 01:36:14,120
General Assembly, not before

2835
01:36:14,120 --> 01:36:16,222
the election of the people that

2836
01:36:16,222 --> 01:36:17,390
would vote on it the second

2837
01:36:17,390 --> 01:36:18,991
time. Do you agree that that

2838
01:36:18,991 --> 01:36:20,626
they made that change because

2839
01:36:20,626 --> 01:36:21,928
they thought that was a more

2840
01:36:21,928 --> 01:36:22,361
modern way to approach this?

2841
01:36:22,361 --> 01:36:24,361
>> MADAM PRESIDENT.

2842
01:36:25,970 --> 01:36:26,365
>> Obenshain has the floor.

2843
01:36:26,365 --> 01:36:28,401
>> Senator Saslaw is no longer

2844
01:36:28,401 --> 01:36:30,470
in this chamber, and I don't

2845
01:36:30,470 --> 01:36:33,390
think anybody in the chamber

2846
01:36:33,390 --> 01:36:35,842
has the recollection of the

2847
01:36:35,842 --> 01:36:38,344
intent of the drafters of the

2848
01:36:38,344 --> 01:36:40,980
prior constitution. But I would

2849
01:36:40,980 --> 01:36:43,149
say that I give the majority

2850
01:36:43,149 --> 01:36:45,549
leader, and whoever crafted

2851
01:36:46,252 --> 01:36:48,988
this scheme great credit for

2852
01:36:48,988 --> 01:36:52,588
being very crafty, but I would

2853
01:36:52,759 --> 01:36:54,761
suggest that this absolutely

2854
01:36:54,761 --> 01:36:57,164
contravenes the intent of the

2855
01:36:57,164 --> 01:36:58,999
drafters of the current

2856
01:36:58,999 --> 01:37:01,399
constitution under which we

2857
01:37:01,501 --> 01:37:03,470
operate. It does not require it

2858
01:37:03,470 --> 01:37:06,139
to be posted for 90 days before

2859
01:37:06,139 --> 01:37:07,708
the election. However, it does

2860
01:37:07,708 --> 01:37:10,510
require there to be an

2861
01:37:10,510 --> 01:37:12,212
intervening election after the

2862
01:37:12,212 --> 01:37:14,214
passage of this constitutional

2863
01:37:14,214 --> 01:37:16,984
amendment in its first instance,

2864
01:37:16,984 --> 01:37:18,719
and that is being violated by

2865
01:37:18,719 --> 01:37:20,320
virtue of the fact that this

2866
01:37:20,320 --> 01:37:22,720
election is already underway,

2867
01:37:22,990 --> 01:37:25,225
that 1 million Virginians have

2868
01:37:25,225 --> 01:37:27,595
already cast their votes. And

2869
01:37:27,595 --> 01:37:29,964
this is a deliberate and clear

2870
01:37:29,964 --> 01:37:32,320
effort to disenfranchize those

2871
01:37:32,320 --> 01:37:33,234
million Virginia voters,

2872
01:37:33,234 --> 01:37:35,336
constituents of every single

2873
01:37:35,336 --> 01:37:36,360
member of this body and the

2874
01:37:36,360 --> 01:37:38,436
body down the hall.

2875
01:37:38,572 --> 01:37:40,408
>> MADAM PRESIDENT.

2876
01:37:40,408 --> 01:37:41,375
>> Senator Surovell.

2877
01:37:41,375 --> 01:37:42,944
>> With the gentleman yield for

2878
01:37:42,944 --> 01:37:43,144
one last question about this

2879
01:37:43,144 --> 01:37:45,120
bill.

2880
01:37:45,120 --> 01:37:47,248
>> The Senator from Rockingham

2881
01:37:47,248 --> 01:37:48,316
yield, Senator yields. Senator

2882
01:37:48,316 --> 01:37:50,117
Surovell has the floor.

2883
01:37:50,117 --> 01:37:52,387
>> With the gentleman agree

2884
01:37:52,387 --> 01:37:53,488
that in the APRIL 2nd, 1969

2885
01:37:53,488 --> 01:37:54,288
debates of the House of

2886
01:37:54,288 --> 01:37:55,690
delegates debating the

2887
01:37:55,690 --> 01:37:57,690
constitutional revisions that

2888
01:37:59,600 --> 01:38:01,162
the House of delegates, MR.

2889
01:38:01,162 --> 01:38:02,300
Slaughter, I guess he was a

2890
01:38:02,300 --> 01:38:03,640
state delegate at the time.

2891
01:38:03,640 --> 01:38:04,332
>> French slaughter.

2892
01:38:04,332 --> 01:38:07,332
>> Yeah. French. Before he ran

2893
01:38:07,368 --> 01:38:09,370
for Congress, I guess that he

2894
01:38:09,370 --> 01:38:10,905
he he stated, we provide there

2895
01:38:10,905 --> 01:38:12,207
must be 90 days between the

2896
01:38:12,207 --> 01:38:13,375
date of approval by the second

2897
01:38:13,375 --> 01:38:14,509
General Assembly and the

2898
01:38:14,509 --> 01:38:16,100
submission of the proposed

2899
01:38:16,100 --> 01:38:17,279
amendment to the people, we

2900
01:38:17,279 --> 01:38:18,313
struck out any reference to

2901
01:38:18,313 --> 01:38:19,147
publication because of some

2902
01:38:19,147 --> 01:38:21,160
question about what sort of

2903
01:38:21,160 --> 01:38:22,517
publication might be required.

2904
01:38:22,517 --> 01:38:23,952
We felt the real purpose would

2905
01:38:23,952 --> 01:38:26,540
be served by requiring a lapse

2906
01:38:26,540 --> 01:38:27,255
of at least 90 days between the

2907
01:38:27,255 --> 01:38:28,724
between the final action of the

2908
01:38:28,724 --> 01:38:30,659
General Assembly and the

2909
01:38:30,659 --> 01:38:32,294
submission of the proposal to

2910
01:38:32,294 --> 01:38:34,129
the people so that they would

2911
01:38:34,129 --> 01:38:35,970
be informed. Can you agree that

2912
01:38:35,970 --> 01:38:37,366
that's what he said in

2913
01:38:37,366 --> 01:38:38,367
explaining why the General

2914
01:38:38,367 --> 01:38:40,767
Assembly removed the 90 day

2915
01:38:42,438 --> 01:38:44,673
requirement before the election,

2916
01:38:44,673 --> 01:38:46,175
the intervening election for

2917
01:38:46,175 --> 01:38:48,430
the amendments?

2918
01:38:48,430 --> 01:38:50,430
>> Senator from Rockingham.

2919
01:38:50,312 --> 01:38:51,947
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I do not so

2920
01:38:51,947 --> 01:38:53,616
agree. I agree that that was a

2921
01:38:53,616 --> 01:38:55,618
comment made by Delegate

2922
01:38:55,618 --> 01:38:58,870
Slaughter in the chamber down

2923
01:38:58,870 --> 01:39:00,957
the hall. The debates over the

2924
01:39:00,957 --> 01:39:02,291
Constitution were carefully

2925
01:39:02,291 --> 01:39:04,994
chronicled, and as the Senator

2926
01:39:04,994 --> 01:39:06,950
is well aware, there are 100

2927
01:39:06,950 --> 01:39:08,640
members down the hall, 40

2928
01:39:08,640 --> 01:39:10,500
members up here. Every single

2929
01:39:10,500 --> 01:39:12,502
one of us is entitled to our

2930
01:39:12,502 --> 01:39:14,300
own opinion. Delegate slaughter

2931
01:39:14,300 --> 01:39:16,639
had his opinion, and the intent

2932
01:39:16,639 --> 01:39:18,274
of the Constitution is clear.

2933
01:39:18,274 --> 01:39:20,674
Notwithstanding the removal of

2934
01:39:21,110 --> 01:39:22,912
that language, there was no

2935
01:39:22,912 --> 01:39:25,448
provision. There was no early

2936
01:39:25,448 --> 01:39:26,249
voting at the time that

2937
01:39:26,249 --> 01:39:28,649
Constitution was adopted. We

2938
01:39:29,219 --> 01:39:31,421
have since adopted a 90 day,

2939
01:39:31,421 --> 01:39:33,223
whatever six week period of

2940
01:39:33,223 --> 01:39:35,623
early voting before the

2941
01:39:36,626 --> 01:39:38,728
election. This contravenes the

2942
01:39:38,728 --> 01:39:39,963
current provisions of our

2943
01:39:39,963 --> 01:39:41,963
current Constitution, its

2944
01:39:43,990 --> 01:39:45,101
letter and its spirit.

2945
01:39:45,101 --> 01:39:47,501
Irrespective of the changes

2946
01:39:47,637 --> 01:39:49,873
from the prior Constitution.

2947
01:39:49,873 --> 01:39:51,873
>> Thank you gentlemen.

2948
01:39:53,944 --> 01:39:56,344
>> Senator Craig, the Senator

2949
01:39:56,813 --> 01:39:57,915
from Chesapeake.

2950
01:39:57,915 --> 01:40:00,315
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, now that

2951
01:40:01,485 --> 01:40:02,119
the the legal titans have

2952
01:40:02,119 --> 01:40:03,954
finished that scholarly lesson,

2953
01:40:03,954 --> 01:40:04,154
I was wondering if I could if I

2954
01:40:04,154 --> 01:40:06,123
could.

2955
01:40:06,123 --> 01:40:06,390
>> The senator resumes his

2956
01:40:06,390 --> 01:40:08,250
position.

2957
01:40:08,250 --> 01:40:09,360
>> Yes, MADAM PRESIDENT. MADAM

2958
01:40:09,360 --> 01:40:10,394
PRESIDENT, I want to address

2959
01:40:10,394 --> 01:40:12,329
what's happening here in

2960
01:40:12,329 --> 01:40:15,132
Richmond this week, not just

2961
01:40:15,132 --> 01:40:16,867
H.J. 6007 itself, which

2962
01:40:16,867 --> 01:40:18,369
disregards the clearly stated

2963
01:40:18,369 --> 01:40:20,170
will of Virginians to have

2964
01:40:20,170 --> 01:40:22,600
independently drawn

2965
01:40:22,600 --> 01:40:23,641
congressional maps in favor of

2966
01:40:23,641 --> 01:40:25,877
altering power structures in

2967
01:40:25,877 --> 01:40:27,879
Washington, but also this rush

2968
01:40:27,879 --> 01:40:29,413
to ram it through in what is

2969
01:40:29,413 --> 01:40:31,150
clearly a compromised and

2970
01:40:31,150 --> 01:40:32,283
abbreviated process. Because

2971
01:40:32,283 --> 01:40:34,252
process matters, MADAM

2972
01:40:34,252 --> 01:40:35,119
PRESIDENT, especially to

2973
01:40:35,119 --> 01:40:37,355
Virginians who hold sacred

2974
01:40:37,355 --> 01:40:38,423
their right and responsibility

2975
01:40:38,423 --> 01:40:40,792
as citizens of this great

2976
01:40:40,792 --> 01:40:42,260
Commonwealth to be participants

2977
01:40:42,260 --> 01:40:43,895
in their government, not just

2978
01:40:43,895 --> 01:40:46,164
on the receiving end of the

2979
01:40:46,164 --> 01:40:47,650
whims of this body. Because,

2980
01:40:47,650 --> 01:40:48,133
MADAM PRESIDENT, the part of

2981
01:40:48,133 --> 01:40:50,680
the process that's being

2982
01:40:50,680 --> 01:40:51,336
trampled on this week is indeed

2983
01:40:51,336 --> 01:40:53,104
the part that ensures citizens

2984
01:40:53,104 --> 01:40:55,407
are the ultimate authority in

2985
01:40:55,407 --> 01:40:57,242
making changes to our

2986
01:40:57,242 --> 01:40:58,510
Constitution. In 2020,

2987
01:40:58,510 --> 01:41:00,145
Democrats championed championed

2988
01:41:00,145 --> 01:41:01,980
a bipartisan redistricting

2989
01:41:01,980 --> 01:41:03,382
commission to protect

2990
01:41:03,382 --> 01:41:05,782
themselves, and voters approved

2991
01:41:07,319 --> 01:41:08,487
it with 66% support. It was

2992
01:41:08,487 --> 01:41:09,888
celebrated as a victory for

2993
01:41:09,888 --> 01:41:12,391
democracy and for fairness in

2994
01:41:12,391 --> 01:41:14,391
2020, Democrats said. The

2995
01:41:14,559 --> 01:41:17,290
people deserve fair, a fair,

2996
01:41:17,290 --> 01:41:18,397
nonpartisan process in 2025.

2997
01:41:18,397 --> 01:41:20,797
Democrats are seeking authority

2998
01:41:21,330 --> 01:41:23,202
to override that process for

2999
01:41:23,202 --> 01:41:25,370
political reasons. In 2020,

3000
01:41:25,370 --> 01:41:26,338
Democrats said courts and

3001
01:41:26,338 --> 01:41:28,338
commissions protect minorities

3002
01:41:28,907 --> 01:41:31,100
better than politicians. In

3003
01:41:31,100 --> 01:41:32,878
2025, Democrats are proposing

3004
01:41:32,878 --> 01:41:35,140
to give that power back to

3005
01:41:35,140 --> 01:41:36,150
politicians in a way that

3006
01:41:36,150 --> 01:41:38,150
prioritizes natural national

3007
01:41:38,170 --> 01:41:40,152
power structures over fair

3008
01:41:40,152 --> 01:41:41,454
representation. In 2020,

3009
01:41:41,454 --> 01:41:43,454
Democrats said. Gerrymandering

3010
01:41:44,557 --> 01:41:46,957
is cheating. In 2025, Democrats

3011
01:41:48,260 --> 01:41:50,229
are proposing H.J. 607 to

3012
01:41:50,229 --> 01:41:50,963
authorize mid-decade

3013
01:41:50,963 --> 01:41:53,363
redistricting to enable that

3014
01:41:54,133 --> 01:41:56,133
exact cheating. In 2020,

3015
01:41:56,536 --> 01:41:57,170
Democrats said voters have a

3016
01:41:57,170 --> 01:41:59,570
right to choose their

3017
01:41:59,905 --> 01:42:02,275
representatives in 2025. H.J.

3018
01:42:02,275 --> 01:42:04,811
607 seeks to strip this right

3019
01:42:04,811 --> 01:42:05,311
when politicians deem that

3020
01:42:05,311 --> 01:42:07,311
political dynamics in

3021
01:42:08,715 --> 01:42:11,840
Washington take precedent over

3022
01:42:11,840 --> 01:42:12,352
the concerns of its citizens.

3023
01:42:12,352 --> 01:42:13,987
That's what a complete

3024
01:42:13,987 --> 01:42:16,122
abandonment of principles looks

3025
01:42:16,122 --> 01:42:17,257
like. And it's what voters

3026
01:42:17,257 --> 01:42:19,657
across this Commonwealth have

3027
01:42:20,193 --> 01:42:22,896
had enough of. I'd like to be

3028
01:42:22,896 --> 01:42:24,564
clear about what H.J. 60707

3029
01:42:24,564 --> 01:42:26,500
actually does. It takes the

3030
01:42:26,500 --> 01:42:27,934
authority to redraw

3031
01:42:27,934 --> 01:42:29,236
congressional districts away

3032
01:42:29,236 --> 01:42:30,871
from the the Independent

3033
01:42:30,871 --> 01:42:32,871
Redistricting Commission. The

3034
01:42:33,573 --> 01:42:35,242
citizens voted 2 to 1 to create

3035
01:42:35,242 --> 01:42:37,100
in 2020 and gives it instead to

3036
01:42:37,100 --> 01:42:39,346
the General Assembly at any

3037
01:42:39,346 --> 01:42:41,415
point between now and OCTOBER

3038
01:42:41,415 --> 01:42:43,650
2030, triggered by the actions

3039
01:42:43,650 --> 01:42:44,418
of another state. To say it

3040
01:42:44,418 --> 01:42:46,186
another way, authority is

3041
01:42:46,186 --> 01:42:48,188
granted to the General Assembly

3042
01:42:48,188 --> 01:42:49,290
to use congressional

3043
01:42:49,290 --> 01:42:51,580
redistricting as a means of

3044
01:42:51,580 --> 01:42:52,259
manipulating power in

3045
01:42:52,259 --> 01:42:54,280
Washington, instead of ensuring

3046
01:42:54,280 --> 01:42:56,130
that every Virginian has fair

3047
01:42:56,130 --> 01:42:57,898
representation in Congress. To

3048
01:42:57,898 --> 01:42:59,100
make it worse, this very

3049
01:42:59,100 --> 01:43:00,368
consequential shift of power is

3050
01:43:00,368 --> 01:43:02,300
not triggered by the Virginians

3051
01:43:02,300 --> 01:43:04,172
that we represent, but rather

3052
01:43:04,172 --> 01:43:05,640
by the actions of a legislative

3053
01:43:05,640 --> 01:43:07,275
body of another state the

3054
01:43:07,275 --> 01:43:10,275
Virginians did not elect. This

3055
01:43:10,444 --> 01:43:12,346
is unprecedented in the history

3056
01:43:12,346 --> 01:43:15,583
of our nation, and for good

3057
01:43:15,583 --> 01:43:16,317
reason. We've been told this

3058
01:43:16,317 --> 01:43:17,510
week that this is an

3059
01:43:17,510 --> 01:43:19,510
extraordinary response to

3060
01:43:19,153 --> 01:43:20,288
extraordinary times. What's

3061
01:43:20,288 --> 01:43:22,490
being communicated here is that

3062
01:43:22,490 --> 01:43:24,158
in the history of our nation,

3063
01:43:24,158 --> 01:43:27,128
this is the first time that the

3064
01:43:27,128 --> 01:43:29,230
situation was so dire that the

3065
01:43:29,230 --> 01:43:30,932
very body entrusted to steward,

3066
01:43:30,932 --> 01:43:32,901
the steward, the laws of our

3067
01:43:32,901 --> 01:43:35,301
sovereign state would entangle

3068
01:43:35,303 --> 01:43:37,720
her Constitution, the very

3069
01:43:37,720 --> 01:43:38,940
basis basis of her sovereignty

3070
01:43:38,940 --> 01:43:41,420
in a way that undermines its

3071
01:43:41,420 --> 01:43:43,411
very purpose, an extraordinary

3072
01:43:43,411 --> 01:43:45,130
response indeed. I realize that

3073
01:43:45,130 --> 01:43:46,214
there are some strong opinions

3074
01:43:46,214 --> 01:43:48,150
in this chamber about the

3075
01:43:48,150 --> 01:43:50,185
choices that voters made in the

3076
01:43:50,185 --> 01:43:51,353
last presidential election. I

3077
01:43:51,353 --> 01:43:53,880
would remind the body that

3078
01:43:53,880 --> 01:43:54,323
those are the choices that the

3079
01:43:54,323 --> 01:43:56,291
voters of the United States

3080
01:43:56,291 --> 01:43:57,559
made. But, MADAM PRESIDENT, I

3081
01:43:57,559 --> 01:43:59,959
would suggest there's nothing

3082
01:44:00,195 --> 01:44:01,997
unusual nor extraordinary about

3083
01:44:01,997 --> 01:44:04,397
these strong feelings. We've

3084
01:44:04,500 --> 01:44:05,901
all been there at some point in

3085
01:44:05,901 --> 01:44:07,200
our lives. But, MADAM PRESIDENT,

3086
01:44:07,200 --> 01:44:08,170
principles that bend to

3087
01:44:08,170 --> 01:44:09,938
circumstances are not

3088
01:44:09,938 --> 01:44:11,974
principles at all, and our

3089
01:44:11,974 --> 01:44:13,175
Constitution exists to ensure

3090
01:44:13,175 --> 01:44:15,911
that regardless of what's going

3091
01:44:15,911 --> 01:44:17,847
on with current events, our

3092
01:44:17,847 --> 01:44:19,515
bedrock of principles stays

3093
01:44:19,515 --> 01:44:21,160
intact. As poorly conceived as

3094
01:44:21,160 --> 01:44:23,185
I believe the legislation

3095
01:44:23,185 --> 01:44:24,530
itself is, the disregard for

3096
01:44:24,530 --> 01:44:26,530
the constitutional amendment

3097
01:44:26,880 --> 01:44:27,323
process is equally concerning.

3098
01:44:27,323 --> 01:44:29,125
Virginia's Constitution

3099
01:44:29,125 --> 01:44:31,127
requires a clear, deliberate

3100
01:44:31,127 --> 01:44:32,610
process for amendments. Any

3101
01:44:32,610 --> 01:44:34,230
constitutional change must pass

3102
01:44:34,230 --> 01:44:35,665
the legislature twice with a

3103
01:44:35,665 --> 01:44:37,333
general election. The

3104
01:44:37,333 --> 01:44:39,202
intervening election between

3105
01:44:39,202 --> 01:44:40,269
those passages. This is an

3106
01:44:40,269 --> 01:44:41,337
intentionally slow and

3107
01:44:41,337 --> 01:44:42,972
deliberate process to ensure

3108
01:44:42,972 --> 01:44:45,108
the Constitution doesn't become

3109
01:44:45,108 --> 01:44:46,743
a tool for political maneuvers,

3110
01:44:46,743 --> 01:44:48,111
and to ensure that the people

3111
01:44:48,111 --> 01:44:50,547
of the Commonwealth have the

3112
01:44:50,547 --> 01:44:52,315
ultimate oversight and control.

3113
01:44:52,315 --> 01:44:53,483
The legislature gets two

3114
01:44:53,483 --> 01:44:54,350
opportunities to vote during

3115
01:44:54,350 --> 01:44:56,350
the constitutional amendment

3116
01:44:57,870 --> 01:44:58,254
process, and up to this point,

3117
01:44:58,254 --> 01:45:00,230
citizens have always had two

3118
01:45:00,230 --> 01:45:02,580
opportunities to vote as well.

3119
01:45:02,580 --> 01:45:02,993
The first time as the

3120
01:45:02,993 --> 01:45:04,895
intervening election, an

3121
01:45:04,895 --> 01:45:06,730
opportunity to respond to the

3122
01:45:06,730 --> 01:45:07,864
first passage of an amended

3123
01:45:07,864 --> 01:45:09,650
resolution. If the politicians

3124
01:45:09,650 --> 01:45:11,680
get out of line, the

3125
01:45:11,680 --> 01:45:12,200
intervening election is the

3126
01:45:12,200 --> 01:45:14,402
people's opportunity to replace

3127
01:45:15,138 --> 01:45:16,439
them. The second time is the

3128
01:45:16,439 --> 01:45:17,374
referendum after a second

3129
01:45:17,374 --> 01:45:19,760
passage in the General Assembly

3130
01:45:19,760 --> 01:45:20,243
this week. We've heard over and

3131
01:45:20,243 --> 01:45:21,845
over that people will have

3132
01:45:21,845 --> 01:45:23,514
their chance to vote as if

3133
01:45:23,514 --> 01:45:25,516
we're the ones granting them

3134
01:45:25,516 --> 01:45:26,316
that opportunity. But, MADAM

3135
01:45:26,316 --> 01:45:27,985
PRESIDENT, that right is

3136
01:45:27,985 --> 01:45:30,121
granted by the Virginia

3137
01:45:30,121 --> 01:45:32,122
Constitution and lies beyond

3138
01:45:32,122 --> 01:45:34,522
our discretion and indeed

3139
01:45:35,159 --> 01:45:36,360
beyond our jurisdiction. We did

3140
01:45:36,360 --> 01:45:37,962
not create this right, and we

3141
01:45:37,962 --> 01:45:39,530
cannot legally take it away

3142
01:45:39,530 --> 01:45:40,865
because we think that the

3143
01:45:40,865 --> 01:45:43,167
political winds make it ripe

3144
01:45:43,167 --> 01:45:44,635
for the picking. And yet that's

3145
01:45:44,635 --> 01:45:46,370
exactly what our friends on the

3146
01:45:46,370 --> 01:45:48,839
other side of the aisle are

3147
01:45:48,839 --> 01:45:50,274
trying to do here this week,

3148
01:45:50,274 --> 01:45:51,175
when article 12, section one

3149
01:45:51,175 --> 01:45:53,575
was updated in the

3150
01:45:53,578 --> 01:45:54,979
constitutional revision of 1971,

3151
01:45:54,979 --> 01:45:56,214
early voting did not exist. The

3152
01:45:56,214 --> 01:45:57,648
authors had no reason to

3153
01:45:57,648 --> 01:45:59,183
contemplate a 45 day early

3154
01:45:59,183 --> 01:46:00,318
voting period, because the only

3155
01:46:00,318 --> 01:46:02,320
way that anybody could vote

3156
01:46:02,320 --> 01:46:03,988
early was by absentee, which

3157
01:46:03,988 --> 01:46:06,570
had very strict requirements,

3158
01:46:06,570 --> 01:46:07,580
required an oath, and only took

3159
01:46:07,580 --> 01:46:08,126
place after the ballots were

3160
01:46:08,126 --> 01:46:10,194
printed, usually 2 to 3 weeks

3161
01:46:10,194 --> 01:46:12,330
prior to an election. To be

3162
01:46:12,330 --> 01:46:13,431
clear, the purpose for the

3163
01:46:13,431 --> 01:46:14,399
intervening election was so

3164
01:46:14,399 --> 01:46:16,468
that voters had the opportunity

3165
01:46:16,468 --> 01:46:17,969
to review the first passage of

3166
01:46:17,969 --> 01:46:19,804
the amending resolution and how

3167
01:46:19,804 --> 01:46:21,106
their representatives voted

3168
01:46:21,106 --> 01:46:23,108
before they cast their votes in

3169
01:46:23,108 --> 01:46:25,430
the next general election. And

3170
01:46:25,430 --> 01:46:28,113
to be equally clear, it was not

3171
01:46:28,113 --> 01:46:30,513
possible in 1971 to have 1.1

3172
01:46:31,316 --> 01:46:34,316
million voters cast their votes

3173
01:46:34,319 --> 01:46:36,355
45 days before Election Day or

3174
01:46:36,355 --> 01:46:37,255
well before Election Day. It

3175
01:46:37,255 --> 01:46:38,857
appears to me to be beyond

3176
01:46:38,857 --> 01:46:40,292
reasonable dispute that the

3177
01:46:40,292 --> 01:46:40,859
maneuvers this week

3178
01:46:40,859 --> 01:46:42,327
opportunistically undermined

3179
01:46:42,327 --> 01:46:43,328
the intent of the

3180
01:46:43,328 --> 01:46:45,197
constitutional amendment

3181
01:46:45,197 --> 01:46:46,865
process, and that the authority

3182
01:46:46,865 --> 01:46:48,567
that is being treated as

3183
01:46:48,567 --> 01:46:49,168
disposable is authority

3184
01:46:49,168 --> 01:46:51,236
reserved for the citizens. I

3185
01:46:51,236 --> 01:46:53,305
hope every Virginian hears this

3186
01:46:53,305 --> 01:46:55,740
loud and clear and reclaims

3187
01:46:55,740 --> 01:46:56,375
that authority using the power

3188
01:46:56,375 --> 01:46:58,110
of their vote. In the coming

3189
01:46:58,110 --> 01:47:00,790
days. Virginians deserve

3190
01:47:00,790 --> 01:47:02,281
assurance that the rules won't

3191
01:47:02,281 --> 01:47:04,216
change based on Partizan

3192
01:47:04,216 --> 01:47:06,552
calculation. Thank you, MADAM

3193
01:47:06,552 --> 01:47:08,552
PRESIDENT.

3194
01:47:09,550 --> 01:47:11,455
>> The senator from Stafford.

3195
01:47:11,991 --> 01:47:13,993
Oh, I'm sorry, the senator from

3196
01:47:13,993 --> 01:47:15,993
Chesapeake. Senator Craig.

3197
01:47:16,228 --> 01:47:17,129
>> Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT.

3198
01:47:17,129 --> 01:47:17,430
I rise to speak to the

3199
01:47:17,430 --> 01:47:19,331
resolution.

3200
01:47:19,331 --> 01:47:20,233
>> The senator has the floor.

3201
01:47:20,233 --> 01:47:21,400
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3202
01:47:21,400 --> 01:47:23,169
Members of this committee, I

3203
01:47:23,169 --> 01:47:24,470
want to talk about what's

3204
01:47:24,470 --> 01:47:26,172
really happening with H.J. 6007.

3205
01:47:26,172 --> 01:47:27,840
And I want to be direct. It's

3206
01:47:27,840 --> 01:47:29,142
not about Virginia. This is

3207
01:47:29,142 --> 01:47:31,411
about national power politics

3208
01:47:31,411 --> 01:47:33,279
playing out in Virginia on

3209
01:47:33,279 --> 01:47:34,800
Virginia stage, using

3210
01:47:34,800 --> 01:47:36,480
mid-decade redistricting as a

3211
01:47:38,170 --> 01:47:39,219
weapon. H.J. 6007 is not about

3212
01:47:39,219 --> 01:47:41,154
addressing implementation

3213
01:47:41,154 --> 01:47:42,155
issues with the commission.

3214
01:47:42,155 --> 01:47:43,757
It's about the Democratic

3215
01:47:43,757 --> 01:47:45,580
Congressional Campaign

3216
01:47:45,580 --> 01:47:46,459
Committee in Washington seeing

3217
01:47:46,459 --> 01:47:48,194
Virginia as a potential pickup

3218
01:47:48,194 --> 01:47:50,764
in their national strategy to

3219
01:47:50,764 --> 01:47:51,965
control the House of

3220
01:47:51,965 --> 01:47:53,965
Representatives. Washington

3221
01:47:54,367 --> 01:47:56,360
Democrats just need three more

3222
01:47:56,360 --> 01:47:58,672
seats nationally to retake the

3223
01:47:58,672 --> 01:47:59,806
House majority. Virginia has

3224
01:47:59,806 --> 01:48:01,241
six Democrats and five

3225
01:48:01,241 --> 01:48:03,241
Republicans in Congress.

3226
01:48:03,243 --> 01:48:05,243
National Democrat strategists

3227
01:48:08,215 --> 01:48:09,917
believe that with H.J. 6007 Mid

3228
01:48:09,917 --> 01:48:12,219
Decade Authority, they could

3229
01:48:12,219 --> 01:48:14,989
redraw a map and help flip a

3230
01:48:14,989 --> 01:48:17,424
seat or two or even ten. This

3231
01:48:17,424 --> 01:48:19,360
would directly serve National

3232
01:48:19,360 --> 01:48:21,950
Democrat interests, but it does

3233
01:48:21,950 --> 01:48:23,495
nothing to serve Virginia's

3234
01:48:23,998 --> 01:48:26,266
interests. The timing of H.J.

3235
01:48:26,266 --> 01:48:28,666
6007, positioned as an urgent

3236
01:48:29,700 --> 01:48:32,700
matter, was not authored based

3237
01:48:32,540 --> 01:48:33,241
on constituent demands. It was

3238
01:48:33,241 --> 01:48:35,476
authored based on instructions

3239
01:48:35,476 --> 01:48:37,476
from national leadership.

3240
01:48:38,120 --> 01:48:40,412
Here's what's remarkable the

3241
01:48:42,416 --> 01:48:43,351
same H.J. 6007 style logic is

3242
01:48:43,351 --> 01:48:45,751
being discussed in California

3243
01:48:45,987 --> 01:48:47,622
right now. It's coordinated.

3244
01:48:47,622 --> 01:48:49,157
This is a national Democrat

3245
01:48:49,157 --> 01:48:50,291
strategy, and Virginia

3246
01:48:50,291 --> 01:48:52,360
Democrats are taking their

3247
01:48:52,360 --> 01:48:54,760
marching orders from Washington

3248
01:48:54,963 --> 01:48:57,298
in 2020. I wasn't serving as a

3249
01:48:57,298 --> 01:48:59,434
senator, but I was in my 18th

3250
01:48:59,434 --> 01:49:01,136
year as chief of staff to then

3251
01:49:01,136 --> 01:49:03,271
Senator John Cosgrove. And

3252
01:49:03,271 --> 01:49:05,340
during that time, I was engaged

3253
01:49:05,340 --> 01:49:06,875
in bipartisan conversations

3254
01:49:06,875 --> 01:49:08,875
around redistricting.

3255
01:49:09,440 --> 01:49:10,579
Republicans held the majority,

3256
01:49:10,579 --> 01:49:12,979
and most Virginia Democrats

3257
01:49:13,248 --> 01:49:16,248
supported the creation of a

3258
01:49:16,251 --> 01:49:18,251
redistricting commission. Why?

3259
01:49:18,320 --> 01:49:20,155
Because when you're in the

3260
01:49:20,155 --> 01:49:22,155
minority, structural fairness

3261
01:49:23,910 --> 01:49:25,491
becomes strategic necessity. It

3262
01:49:26,962 --> 01:49:29,431
was a defensive move. It was

3263
01:49:29,431 --> 01:49:30,332
perfect. When you're in the

3264
01:49:30,332 --> 01:49:31,500
minority party, the

3265
01:49:31,500 --> 01:49:32,267
constitutional amendment

3266
01:49:32,267 --> 01:49:34,267
establishing the commission

3267
01:49:34,837 --> 01:49:36,380
passed overwhelmingly in

3268
01:49:36,380 --> 01:49:38,730
Virginia, including my own

3269
01:49:38,730 --> 01:49:41,730
district. It was a clear

3270
01:49:41,376 --> 01:49:44,376
mandate. The voters in Virginia,

3271
01:49:45,800 --> 01:49:47,800
then 2022 happened. Democrats

3272
01:49:48,550 --> 01:49:50,219
took control of the legislature.

3273
01:49:50,219 --> 01:49:51,754
So Washington sent a message to

3274
01:49:51,754 --> 01:49:53,754
Virginia. Democrat leadership

3275
01:49:55,570 --> 01:49:57,727
passed H.J. 6007 and help us

3276
01:49:57,727 --> 01:49:58,928
win nationally. And Virginia

3277
01:49:58,928 --> 01:50:00,396
Democrats dependent on National

3278
01:50:00,396 --> 01:50:02,796
Party support and National

3279
01:50:03,265 --> 01:50:05,665
Party money, began offering

3280
01:50:07,303 --> 01:50:08,371
H.J. 6007 Democrat leaders.

3281
01:50:08,371 --> 01:50:10,771
Legislators are consumed with

3282
01:50:11,174 --> 01:50:13,420
this resolution while they

3283
01:50:13,420 --> 01:50:15,812
focus on D.C. Mandated projects.

3284
01:50:15,812 --> 01:50:17,680
They're ignoring Virginia

3285
01:50:17,680 --> 01:50:19,883
problems. Because here's the

3286
01:50:19,883 --> 01:50:20,950
thing Virginia families are

3287
01:50:20,950 --> 01:50:22,385
struggling and they're

3288
01:50:22,385 --> 01:50:23,586
struggling with real issues,

3289
01:50:23,586 --> 01:50:24,954
and they demand state

3290
01:50:24,954 --> 01:50:26,954
government attention. The

3291
01:50:27,257 --> 01:50:28,959
rising cost of living. Families

3292
01:50:28,959 --> 01:50:31,359
are struggling to afford

3293
01:50:32,950 --> 01:50:34,950
housing, groceries, utilities,

3294
01:50:34,297 --> 01:50:37,601
health care. Access is still a

3295
01:50:37,601 --> 01:50:40,100
crisis in rural Virginia.

3296
01:50:40,370 --> 01:50:42,506
Schools need resources. They're

3297
01:50:42,506 --> 01:50:43,507
public safety concerns. We need

3298
01:50:43,507 --> 01:50:45,507
economic opportunity for

3299
01:50:46,543 --> 01:50:47,978
workers. Infrastructure needs

3300
01:50:47,978 --> 01:50:50,314
support for our farmers. Thank

3301
01:50:50,314 --> 01:50:53,314
you. Tammy French stability to

3302
01:50:53,650 --> 01:50:54,852
for small business owners. I

3303
01:50:54,852 --> 01:50:56,860
could go on. These are the

3304
01:50:56,860 --> 01:50:58,188
issues Virginia voters care

3305
01:50:58,188 --> 01:50:59,290
about. These are the issues

3306
01:50:59,290 --> 01:51:00,924
Virginia Democrats should be

3307
01:51:00,924 --> 01:51:02,526
focused on, especially five

3308
01:51:02,526 --> 01:51:04,495
days before a very important

3309
01:51:04,495 --> 01:51:05,363
election. This isn't Partizan

3310
01:51:05,363 --> 01:51:07,763
issue about redistricting. It's

3311
01:51:08,466 --> 01:51:10,301
about fundamental. It's about a

3312
01:51:10,301 --> 01:51:12,136
fundamental question should

3313
01:51:12,136 --> 01:51:13,771
state decisions serve state

3314
01:51:13,771 --> 01:51:16,171
interests or national party

3315
01:51:16,307 --> 01:51:17,308
interests? I want to direct a

3316
01:51:17,308 --> 01:51:18,643
question to Democrat

3317
01:51:18,643 --> 01:51:21,430
legislators supporting H.J.

3318
01:51:21,312 --> 01:51:22,847
6007. Did you support it

3319
01:51:22,847 --> 01:51:24,810
because your constituents

3320
01:51:24,810 --> 01:51:26,117
demanded you to? Did you

3321
01:51:26,117 --> 01:51:27,285
support it because you believe

3322
01:51:27,285 --> 01:51:29,860
it's right for Virginia? When

3323
01:51:29,860 --> 01:51:31,486
national Party leadership calls,

3324
01:51:31,622 --> 01:51:34,580
do your constituents come first

3325
01:51:34,580 --> 01:51:35,226
or second? When D.C.

3326
01:51:35,226 --> 01:51:36,427
Strategists want something and

3327
01:51:36,427 --> 01:51:38,827
Virginia voters want something

3328
01:51:39,497 --> 01:51:41,897
else whose interests prevails?

3329
01:51:43,340 --> 01:51:45,537
Six H.J. 607 is your answer to

3330
01:51:45,537 --> 01:51:46,471
those questions. It's a

3331
01:51:46,471 --> 01:51:48,871
disservice to the Virginians

3332
01:51:49,274 --> 01:51:51,276
who elected us. That's a

3333
01:51:51,276 --> 01:51:51,776
betrayal of the principle that

3334
01:51:51,776 --> 01:51:53,345
elected officials should

3335
01:51:53,345 --> 01:51:55,345
represent their constituents,

3336
01:51:55,614 --> 01:51:57,382
not national party committees.

3337
01:51:57,382 --> 01:51:59,382
Here's where Virginia

3338
01:52:00,520 --> 01:52:02,452
Republicans stand. We will

3339
01:52:03,321 --> 01:52:04,489
oppose H.J. 6007 as a tool

3340
01:52:04,489 --> 01:52:06,425
designed to serve D.C.

3341
01:52:06,425 --> 01:52:08,293
Interests rather than Virginia

3342
01:52:08,293 --> 01:52:09,962
interests. We will focus on the

3343
01:52:09,962 --> 01:52:12,331
real problems Virginia families

3344
01:52:12,331 --> 01:52:14,566
are facing. And again, cost of

3345
01:52:14,566 --> 01:52:16,435
living, health care, education,

3346
01:52:16,435 --> 01:52:17,369
jobs. We believe state

3347
01:52:17,369 --> 01:52:19,710
government should be

3348
01:52:19,710 --> 01:52:21,207
accountable to state voters,

3349
01:52:21,207 --> 01:52:23,607
not national party committees.

3350
01:52:24,143 --> 01:52:26,245
We will challenge H.J. 607 in

3351
01:52:26,245 --> 01:52:28,547
court and in the court of

3352
01:52:28,547 --> 01:52:30,282
public opinion. We will remind

3353
01:52:30,282 --> 01:52:32,117
voters that their state

3354
01:52:32,117 --> 01:52:35,117
government belongs to them, not

3355
01:52:35,254 --> 01:52:37,890
D.C. Political interest to

3356
01:52:37,890 --> 01:52:38,224
Virginia voters. Recognize

3357
01:52:38,224 --> 01:52:40,224
what's happening. Decisions

3358
01:52:41,594 --> 01:52:43,195
about H.J. 607 are being made

3359
01:52:43,195 --> 01:52:45,131
in Washington, not Richmond.

3360
01:52:45,131 --> 01:52:47,133
Your tax dollars will pay for

3361
01:52:47,133 --> 01:52:48,334
the future legal battles and

3362
01:52:48,334 --> 01:52:50,734
redistricting wars created by

3363
01:52:51,104 --> 01:52:52,305
this resolution. This is not

3364
01:52:52,305 --> 01:52:54,305
how representative government

3365
01:52:54,974 --> 01:52:56,776
is supposed to work. Virginians

3366
01:52:56,776 --> 01:52:58,111
deserve leaders who answer to

3367
01:52:58,111 --> 01:52:59,979
them. Our state government

3368
01:52:59,979 --> 01:53:02,515
should be focused on solving

3369
01:53:02,515 --> 01:53:04,830
Virginia problems, not playing

3370
01:53:04,830 --> 01:53:05,184
political chess. Republicans

3371
01:53:05,184 --> 01:53:06,986
believe Virginia should be

3372
01:53:06,986 --> 01:53:08,587
first. They should come first.

3373
01:53:08,587 --> 01:53:10,290
And we will not neglect

3374
01:53:10,290 --> 01:53:12,192
Virginia. Problems for national

3375
01:53:12,192 --> 01:53:13,327
political gain. Republicans

3376
01:53:13,327 --> 01:53:15,161
remain steadfast in their

3377
01:53:15,161 --> 01:53:16,997
commitment to the people of

3378
01:53:16,997 --> 01:53:19,232
Virginia. It has been my honor

3379
01:53:19,232 --> 01:53:21,301
for the last five days to be

3380
01:53:21,301 --> 01:53:23,636
away from my family, but to be

3381
01:53:23,636 --> 01:53:26,360
here fighting for Virginians.

3382
01:53:27,107 --> 01:53:29,107
Thank you.

3383
01:53:30,344 --> 01:53:32,744
>> Senator Durant, the senator

3384
01:53:33,580 --> 01:53:35,549
from Stafford.

3385
01:53:35,549 --> 01:53:36,350
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3386
01:53:36,350 --> 01:53:38,185
Speaking to the resolution.

3387
01:53:38,185 --> 01:53:39,186
>> Senator has the floor.

3388
01:53:39,186 --> 01:53:41,186
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, colleagues

3389
01:53:41,722 --> 01:53:44,910
of the Senate for more than two

3390
01:53:44,910 --> 01:53:45,859
centuries, Virginia has stood

3391
01:53:45,859 --> 01:53:47,928
at the crossroads of American

3392
01:53:47,928 --> 01:53:50,328
liberty. Our founders taught

3393
01:53:51,198 --> 01:53:53,334
the world a very simple truth.

3394
01:53:53,334 --> 01:53:55,936
Government exists to serve the

3395
01:53:55,936 --> 01:53:58,539
people, not to rule them. We

3396
01:53:58,539 --> 01:54:01,108
should be striving to live up

3397
01:54:01,108 --> 01:54:03,577
to those ideals, not racing to

3398
01:54:03,577 --> 01:54:05,977
the bottom of political

3399
01:54:06,800 --> 01:54:07,381
cynicism. Virginia must set the

3400
01:54:07,381 --> 01:54:08,516
example once again, reminding

3401
01:54:08,516 --> 01:54:09,283
the nation that principled

3402
01:54:09,283 --> 01:54:11,850
self-government is still

3403
01:54:11,850 --> 01:54:13,287
possible. And yet today, that

3404
01:54:13,287 --> 01:54:15,389
principle is under threat. In

3405
01:54:15,389 --> 01:54:16,391
just a few days, the people are

3406
01:54:16,391 --> 01:54:17,759
going to elect a governor.

3407
01:54:17,759 --> 01:54:18,893
They're going to elect an

3408
01:54:18,893 --> 01:54:20,395
attorney general, they're going

3409
01:54:20,395 --> 01:54:22,960
to elect a lieutenant governor,

3410
01:54:22,960 --> 01:54:23,310
and they're going to elect

3411
01:54:23,310 --> 01:54:25,700
every member of the House of

3412
01:54:25,700 --> 01:54:26,968
delegates. And yet, here we are,

3413
01:54:26,968 --> 01:54:27,902
nearly at the very end of that

3414
01:54:27,902 --> 01:54:29,370
election, being asked to

3415
01:54:29,370 --> 01:54:30,271
consider a resolution that

3416
01:54:30,271 --> 01:54:32,807
would redraw the political map

3417
01:54:32,807 --> 01:54:34,309
of Virginia while ballots are

3418
01:54:34,309 --> 01:54:36,144
still being cast. Right now,

3419
01:54:36,144 --> 01:54:38,130
Virginians are voting.

3420
01:54:38,130 --> 01:54:39,281
Candidates are on those ballots.

3421
01:54:39,281 --> 01:54:41,550
And this Senate is being asked

3422
01:54:41,550 --> 01:54:42,830
to change the rules of

3423
01:54:42,830 --> 01:54:44,830
representation while that

3424
01:54:44,860 --> 01:54:45,954
election is underway. That is

3425
01:54:45,954 --> 01:54:49,910
not proper. That is not fair.

3426
01:54:49,910 --> 01:54:50,826
And it is a dangerous precedent

3427
01:54:50,826 --> 01:54:52,127
for a chamber sworn to serve

3428
01:54:52,127 --> 01:54:54,396
the people, not to manipulate

3429
01:54:54,396 --> 01:54:57,132
their voice. Let's remember how

3430
01:54:57,132 --> 01:54:58,333
we got here. We've talked about

3431
01:54:58,333 --> 01:55:00,350
this numerous times, but it's

3432
01:55:00,350 --> 01:55:01,670
worth reminding. It is a rare

3433
01:55:01,670 --> 01:55:03,720
act of unity that this General

3434
01:55:03,720 --> 01:55:06,720
Assembly did what you thought

3435
01:55:07,610 --> 01:55:09,678
was possible. We voted and this

3436
01:55:09,678 --> 01:55:11,247
chamber 38 to 2, to create a

3437
01:55:11,247 --> 01:55:12,882
bipartisan, voter approved

3438
01:55:12,882 --> 01:55:14,383
redistricting commission. And

3439
01:55:14,383 --> 01:55:17,153
many of the members who are

3440
01:55:17,153 --> 01:55:20,153
here cast votes, supported that.

3441
01:55:20,523 --> 01:55:21,123
We came together. It was

3442
01:55:21,123 --> 01:55:22,858
Republicans, Democrats and

3443
01:55:22,858 --> 01:55:25,258
independents alike on the

3444
01:55:26,195 --> 01:55:28,264
ballot who agreed to end that

3445
01:55:28,264 --> 01:55:30,566
old system of self-serving

3446
01:55:30,566 --> 01:55:31,434
mapmaking. The people of

3447
01:55:31,434 --> 01:55:32,969
Virginia ratified that work

3448
01:55:32,969 --> 01:55:34,136
through a constitutional

3449
01:55:34,136 --> 01:55:36,239
amendment, saying with one

3450
01:55:36,239 --> 01:55:39,239
voice, the power to draw

3451
01:55:39,509 --> 01:55:42,344
political lines belongs to the

3452
01:55:42,344 --> 01:55:44,447
people, not to politicians.

3453
01:55:44,447 --> 01:55:46,182
Some of us said Virginians have

3454
01:55:46,182 --> 01:55:48,585
told us loud and clear, this is

3455
01:55:48,585 --> 01:55:49,285
what the voters want. This

3456
01:55:49,285 --> 01:55:51,621
package fully encompasses the

3457
01:55:51,621 --> 01:55:53,189
kind of reform Virginians have

3458
01:55:53,189 --> 01:55:56,393
asked for a long time. That's

3459
01:55:56,393 --> 01:55:58,793
not Partizan words. That's

3460
01:55:58,995 --> 01:56:00,597
words of principle. Some of you

3461
01:56:00,597 --> 01:56:01,898
promised Virginians that

3462
01:56:01,898 --> 01:56:03,967
politicians would no longer

3463
01:56:03,967 --> 01:56:06,403
draw their own maps, and some

3464
01:56:06,403 --> 01:56:08,271
of you took an oath to protect

3465
01:56:08,271 --> 01:56:10,507
that fair representation. So I

3466
01:56:10,507 --> 01:56:14,277
ask you, will you stand by that

3467
01:56:14,277 --> 01:56:16,580
promise? That was a covenant

3468
01:56:16,580 --> 01:56:18,382
that's now being threatened.

3469
01:56:18,382 --> 01:56:20,184
This resolution would dismantle

3470
01:56:20,184 --> 01:56:22,190
that commission. Let's make no

3471
01:56:22,190 --> 01:56:24,121
mistake about it. There is no

3472
01:56:24,121 --> 01:56:25,890
other way but to set it aside,

3473
01:56:25,890 --> 01:56:26,190
to seize back that pen and

3474
01:56:26,190 --> 01:56:27,224
withdraw Virginia's

3475
01:56:27,224 --> 01:56:29,224
congressional lines for

3476
01:56:30,270 --> 01:56:32,162
Partizan gain. Let's call it

3477
01:56:32,162 --> 01:56:33,297
what it is. It's not reform.

3478
01:56:33,297 --> 01:56:36,166
It's not modernization. It is

3479
01:56:36,166 --> 01:56:38,202
purely a political grab, a grab

3480
01:56:38,202 --> 01:56:39,690
that would tilt Virginia's

3481
01:56:39,690 --> 01:56:41,690
representations and silence

3482
01:56:41,105 --> 01:56:42,372
neither half of our voters and

3483
01:56:42,372 --> 01:56:45,372
undermine the very premise of

3484
01:56:45,443 --> 01:56:47,843
fair elections. That hypocrisy

3485
01:56:47,945 --> 01:56:49,480
is staggering. Many of the same

3486
01:56:49,480 --> 01:56:50,181
voices behind this effort has

3487
01:56:50,181 --> 01:56:52,160
spent years denouncing that

3488
01:56:52,160 --> 01:56:54,452
manipulation. And yet here we

3489
01:56:54,452 --> 01:56:55,286
stand, exactly where we were.

3490
01:56:55,286 --> 01:56:57,154
And if that isn't the height of

3491
01:56:57,154 --> 01:56:58,189
political cynicism, I don't

3492
01:56:58,189 --> 01:57:00,157
know what is. We've talked

3493
01:57:00,157 --> 01:57:01,250
about other states. We've

3494
01:57:01,250 --> 01:57:03,394
talked about we talked about

3495
01:57:03,394 --> 01:57:04,262
California and others as

3496
01:57:04,262 --> 01:57:05,964
justification. But again,

3497
01:57:05,964 --> 01:57:08,964
Virginia is not those other

3498
01:57:09,500 --> 01:57:11,690
states. We do not follow the

3499
01:57:11,690 --> 01:57:13,605
worst instincts of others. We

3500
01:57:13,605 --> 01:57:16,141
lead by the best traditions of

3501
01:57:16,141 --> 01:57:18,209
this Commonwealth. We are the

3502
01:57:18,209 --> 01:57:19,911
birthplace of this American

3503
01:57:19,911 --> 01:57:21,313
democracy. We are the words of

3504
01:57:21,313 --> 01:57:23,582
Jefferson and Madison and Mason

3505
01:57:23,582 --> 01:57:26,217
still echo through these very

3506
01:57:26,217 --> 01:57:28,200
halls. Power is not owned by

3507
01:57:28,200 --> 01:57:30,555
the powerful. It is on loan

3508
01:57:30,555 --> 01:57:32,240
from the people. This moment is

3509
01:57:32,240 --> 01:57:34,493
a turning point, a test of

3510
01:57:34,493 --> 01:57:35,961
whether we will still be worthy

3511
01:57:35,961 --> 01:57:38,361
heirs to that legacy.

3512
01:57:38,664 --> 01:57:40,265
Virginians have always prided

3513
01:57:40,265 --> 01:57:42,401
themselves on working together

3514
01:57:42,401 --> 01:57:44,303
across lines that divide others.

3515
01:57:44,303 --> 01:57:46,380
If we abandon that that spirit

3516
01:57:46,380 --> 01:57:48,730
now, that Virginia way, we will

3517
01:57:48,730 --> 01:57:49,275
lock ourselves into political

3518
01:57:49,275 --> 01:57:51,210
tribes that can no longer

3519
01:57:51,210 --> 01:57:53,610
cooperate or compromise. And

3520
01:57:54,213 --> 01:57:56,415
that is not the Virginia way.

3521
01:57:56,415 --> 01:57:58,450
That's why this resolution is

3522
01:57:58,450 --> 01:57:59,985
not just misguided. It's

3523
01:57:59,985 --> 01:58:01,153
dangerous because if we pass,

3524
01:58:01,153 --> 01:58:03,489
it will not merely be draw

3525
01:58:03,489 --> 01:58:04,657
lines on a map. We would draw

3526
01:58:04,657 --> 01:58:07,126
the lines between governed and

3527
01:58:07,126 --> 01:58:08,961
the government. If any of us

3528
01:58:08,961 --> 01:58:10,196
cast a vote to strip this power.

3529
01:58:10,196 --> 01:58:12,310
And I think all of us could

3530
01:58:12,310 --> 01:58:13,966
step back if one person said to

3531
01:58:13,966 --> 01:58:15,101
us, what are you really proud

3532
01:58:15,101 --> 01:58:16,369
of that you've accomplished

3533
01:58:16,369 --> 01:58:17,937
here and your work? We could

3534
01:58:17,937 --> 01:58:19,138
all think about it. There might

3535
01:58:19,138 --> 01:58:20,340
be some commission work that

3536
01:58:20,340 --> 01:58:21,941
we've delved into. There's one

3537
01:58:21,941 --> 01:58:23,176
thing that you come to your

3538
01:58:23,176 --> 01:58:25,177
mind you're really proud of it,

3539
01:58:25,177 --> 01:58:26,379
that you know you've moved the

3540
01:58:26,379 --> 01:58:27,480
needle to make life better in

3541
01:58:27,480 --> 01:58:29,115
this commonwealth, but nothing

3542
01:58:29,115 --> 01:58:30,283
else will not make one bit of

3543
01:58:30,283 --> 01:58:31,951
difference if you do this,

3544
01:58:31,951 --> 01:58:33,153
because they have forsaken that

3545
01:58:33,153 --> 01:58:35,422
one duty that defines us in

3546
01:58:35,422 --> 01:58:37,822
this constitutional republic to

3547
01:58:38,570 --> 01:58:41,570
represent the people, not to

3548
01:58:41,940 --> 01:58:44,264
rule over them. It really tests

3549
01:58:44,264 --> 01:58:46,366
the very fabric of this country.

3550
01:58:46,366 --> 01:58:48,335
Once enough people have been

3551
01:58:48,335 --> 01:58:49,102
left unrepresented, and we have

3552
01:58:49,102 --> 01:58:51,710
already seen states where

3553
01:58:51,710 --> 01:58:53,206
millions of voters no longer

3554
01:58:53,206 --> 01:58:53,940
have a voice because of this

3555
01:58:53,940 --> 01:58:55,142
gerrymandering. That is when

3556
01:58:55,142 --> 01:58:57,477
the greatest nation ever will

3557
01:58:57,477 --> 01:58:59,120
begin to be fully tested, to

3558
01:58:59,120 --> 01:59:00,847
strip Virginians of fair

3559
01:59:00,847 --> 01:59:02,983
representation in the middle of

3560
01:59:02,983 --> 01:59:05,352
an election is not is not it is.

3561
01:59:05,352 --> 01:59:07,454
It is a profound betrayal of

3562
01:59:07,454 --> 01:59:09,156
that trust. It is an assault on

3563
01:59:09,156 --> 01:59:10,958
the oath we swore. It is a

3564
01:59:10,958 --> 01:59:12,259
wound on the very heart of the

3565
01:59:12,259 --> 01:59:14,259
self-government. We should

3566
01:59:14,328 --> 01:59:16,230
never allow this. We should not

3567
01:59:16,230 --> 01:59:17,364
remain silent on it. And we

3568
01:59:17,364 --> 01:59:19,767
should not betray the people

3569
01:59:19,767 --> 01:59:23,137
who sent us here. Thank you,

3570
01:59:23,137 --> 01:59:25,137
MADAM PRESIDENT.

3571
01:59:26,400 --> 01:59:28,400
>> Senator Hackworth, the

3572
01:59:28,576 --> 01:59:29,944
senator from Tazewell.

3573
01:59:29,944 --> 01:59:32,344
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3574
01:59:33,181 --> 01:59:35,181
Speaking briefly to 6007.

3575
01:59:35,383 --> 01:59:36,584
>> The senator has the floor.

3576
01:59:36,584 --> 01:59:37,952
>> You know, MADAM PRESIDENT,

3577
01:59:37,952 --> 01:59:40,540
every time I come to Richmond,

3578
01:59:40,540 --> 01:59:41,889
I learn something new. And

3579
01:59:41,889 --> 01:59:43,491
today I learned just here in

3580
01:59:43,491 --> 01:59:44,525
this chamber that the senator

3581
01:59:44,525 --> 01:59:46,561
from Franklin knows how to

3582
01:59:46,561 --> 01:59:47,595
build houses. Who would have

3583
01:59:47,595 --> 01:59:49,163
knew that? Actually asked him

3584
01:59:49,163 --> 01:59:51,432
the name of his company. It was

3585
01:59:51,432 --> 01:59:54,350
bdk, which meant which? Which

3586
01:59:54,350 --> 01:59:55,336
means Billy. Don't know. So

3587
01:59:55,336 --> 01:59:57,380
that's why that he's not

3588
01:59:57,380 --> 01:59:59,438
building houses anymore. But

3589
02:00:00,241 --> 02:00:02,100
one thing that I do know, MADAM

3590
02:00:02,100 --> 02:00:03,578
PRESIDENT, is I have a

3591
02:00:03,578 --> 02:00:04,679
breakdown of the 2020

3592
02:00:04,679 --> 02:00:07,790
redistricting amendment vote in

3593
02:00:08,483 --> 02:00:10,883
Senate District 5 in 2020, and

3594
02:00:12,888 --> 02:00:15,691
my most blue precinct in Senate

3595
02:00:15,691 --> 02:00:17,292
District five voted

3596
02:00:17,292 --> 02:00:19,692
overwhelmingly at 86% to pass

3597
02:00:21,496 --> 02:00:23,232
this 86%. And, you know, I

3598
02:00:23,232 --> 02:00:25,200
remember getting calls asking

3599
02:00:25,200 --> 02:00:27,503
what? And I'm sure a lot of

3600
02:00:27,503 --> 02:00:29,605
members here, MADAM PRESIDENT,

3601
02:00:29,605 --> 02:00:31,173
got the same calls. What is

3602
02:00:31,173 --> 02:00:33,142
this? How do you how do you,

3603
02:00:33,142 --> 02:00:35,477
you know, explain this to me

3604
02:00:35,477 --> 02:00:37,112
because it was rather

3605
02:00:37,112 --> 02:00:39,114
complicated. And some of their

3606
02:00:39,114 --> 02:00:41,500
mind what we was trying to do.

3607
02:00:41,500 --> 02:00:44,153
And, you know, when we look at

3608
02:00:44,153 --> 02:00:45,287
the will of the voters of

3609
02:00:45,287 --> 02:00:47,687
Virginia, especially in Senate

3610
02:00:49,925 --> 02:00:52,325
District five, we have 68%, 73%,

3611
02:00:53,429 --> 02:00:54,931
69. The lowest that we had was

3612
02:00:54,931 --> 02:00:58,667
in my own county. That was in

3613
02:00:58,667 --> 02:01:00,360
the 60s. So for that reason,

3614
02:01:00,360 --> 02:01:03,360
MADAM PRESIDENT, I will be

3615
02:01:06,709 --> 02:01:09,109
voting against H.J. 6007.

3616
02:01:11,810 --> 02:01:13,481
>> The Senator from Lynchburg,

3617
02:01:14,717 --> 02:01:16,353
Senator Peake.

3618
02:01:16,353 --> 02:01:17,954
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3619
02:01:17,954 --> 02:01:18,254
I rise to speak to the

3620
02:01:18,254 --> 02:01:20,254
resolution.

3621
02:01:21,557 --> 02:01:23,930
>> Senator has the floor.

3622
02:01:23,930 --> 02:01:25,228
>> I'm not going to restate

3623
02:01:25,228 --> 02:01:28,970
most of my colleagues have have

3624
02:01:28,970 --> 02:01:29,332
given all of the the real good,

3625
02:01:29,332 --> 02:01:31,134
valuable constitutional reasons

3626
02:01:31,134 --> 02:01:33,203
why this is a bad idea and what

3627
02:01:33,203 --> 02:01:35,739
we're doing. I also point to

3628
02:01:35,739 --> 02:01:38,141
our colleague down the hall who

3629
02:01:38,141 --> 02:01:40,430
we don't. We rarely hear good

3630
02:01:40,430 --> 02:01:42,212
things from, but I would

3631
02:01:42,212 --> 02:01:45,212
Delegate Lee Ware from Powhatan

3632
02:01:45,315 --> 02:01:48,915
stated this on the first day,

3633
02:01:50,988 --> 02:01:53,290
you know, Texas embarking on a

3634
02:01:53,290 --> 02:01:55,290
mid-decade redistricting was

3635
02:01:56,427 --> 02:01:57,928
probably not a good idea. But

3636
02:01:57,928 --> 02:02:00,928
because they have embarked on

3637
02:02:01,320 --> 02:02:03,434
that endeavor does not mean

3638
02:02:03,434 --> 02:02:05,369
that we have to engage in that

3639
02:02:05,369 --> 02:02:07,400
endeavor. And that's all I'm

3640
02:02:07,400 --> 02:02:09,140
going to say on the real

3641
02:02:09,140 --> 02:02:10,407
constitutional grounds. On to

3642
02:02:10,407 --> 02:02:12,476
speak to the senator from

3643
02:02:12,476 --> 02:02:15,476
Henrico about us imposing on

3644
02:02:15,479 --> 02:02:18,480
his time. That is just now.

3645
02:02:18,480 --> 02:02:20,217
What if we go into next year

3646
02:02:20,217 --> 02:02:21,386
and we actually get to go into

3647
02:02:21,386 --> 02:02:22,286
the redistricting? I mean,

3648
02:02:22,286 --> 02:02:25,223
ladies and gentlemen of the

3649
02:02:25,223 --> 02:02:26,991
Senate, that would be almost

3650
02:02:26,991 --> 02:02:29,260
like having 2 or 3 Christmases

3651
02:02:29,260 --> 02:02:30,996
in one year. Are we really

3652
02:02:30,996 --> 02:02:33,297
deserving to have 2 or 3

3653
02:02:33,297 --> 02:02:35,333
redistricting in one decade? I

3654
02:02:35,333 --> 02:02:36,801
submit to you that, ladies and

3655
02:02:36,801 --> 02:02:38,690
gentlemen, we are not worthy of

3656
02:02:38,690 --> 02:02:40,205
the pleasures and joys. We have

3657
02:02:40,205 --> 02:02:43,975
not been so good that we should

3658
02:02:43,975 --> 02:02:46,975
have an extra redistricting in

3659
02:02:48,513 --> 02:02:52,113
this decade. And in spite of

3660
02:02:52,284 --> 02:02:55,884
that, I'm afraid we might. And

3661
02:02:56,154 --> 02:02:59,391
do we really want to redraw our

3662
02:02:59,391 --> 02:03:01,226
congressional districts to go

3663
02:03:01,226 --> 02:03:01,961
from 6 to 5, where we have

3664
02:03:01,961 --> 02:03:04,329
fairly equal representation in

3665
02:03:04,329 --> 02:03:07,320
Washington, D.C. Where each

3666
02:03:07,320 --> 02:03:09,267
side is fairly represented,

3667
02:03:09,267 --> 02:03:11,700
where depending on who's in

3668
02:03:11,700 --> 02:03:13,706
charge of the House or who's in

3669
02:03:13,706 --> 02:03:14,873
charge of the Senate or who's

3670
02:03:14,873 --> 02:03:17,409
in the white House, we have

3671
02:03:17,409 --> 02:03:19,409
pretty equal representations

3672
02:03:19,978 --> 02:03:22,381
with both parties. We have

3673
02:03:22,381 --> 02:03:24,490
relatively equal influence with

3674
02:03:24,490 --> 02:03:27,490
both parties. Depending on what

3675
02:03:28,354 --> 02:03:30,754
happens in these elections, 10

3676
02:03:32,892 --> 02:03:34,360
to 1 will destroy that. And

3677
02:03:34,360 --> 02:03:36,195
we've talked about the reasons

3678
02:03:36,195 --> 02:03:38,297
for an intervening election. So

3679
02:03:38,297 --> 02:03:40,133
now I'm talking to the citizens

3680
02:03:40,133 --> 02:03:41,534
of the Commonwealth of Virginia,

3681
02:03:41,534 --> 02:03:43,102
who I suspect about 8 million

3682
02:03:43,102 --> 02:03:44,337
out of the eight and a half are

3683
02:03:44,337 --> 02:03:46,539
gathered around their Apple

3684
02:03:46,539 --> 02:03:48,107
iPads. Watching us debate this

3685
02:03:48,107 --> 02:03:51,107
issue this morning, but they

3686
02:03:51,811 --> 02:03:54,614
can still have the final say on

3687
02:03:54,614 --> 02:03:57,140
Tuesday, today and tomorrow.

3688
02:03:57,116 --> 02:03:59,219
They can go vote for MADAM

3689
02:03:59,219 --> 02:04:00,987
PRESIDENT. And this will all

3690
02:04:00,987 --> 02:04:03,256
end. They can go vote for

3691
02:04:03,256 --> 02:04:05,656
Republican House of delegates,

3692
02:04:06,426 --> 02:04:10,260
and this will all end. So

3693
02:04:11,310 --> 02:04:13,431
citizens who voted 2 to 1

3694
02:04:13,800 --> 02:04:15,800
against Partizan gerrymandering

3695
02:04:16,169 --> 02:04:18,380
will still have the final say.

3696
02:04:18,380 --> 02:04:20,374
So wake up people who have not

3697
02:04:20,374 --> 02:04:21,942
voted yet. A million of you

3698
02:04:21,942 --> 02:04:24,942
have voted. 2 million of you

3699
02:04:25,812 --> 02:04:28,812
have not. 2.5 million. If you

3700
02:04:29,416 --> 02:04:31,816
don't like this fiasco.

3701
02:04:32,520 --> 02:04:34,221
Boondoggle travesty that we

3702
02:04:34,221 --> 02:04:35,956
have been called here a week

3703
02:04:35,956 --> 02:04:38,492
before the general election to

3704
02:04:38,492 --> 02:04:40,995
do something that is clearly

3705
02:04:40,995 --> 02:04:42,995
unconstitutional. People go

3706
02:04:43,297 --> 02:04:45,266
vote. There are 2.5 million of

3707
02:04:45,266 --> 02:04:46,367
you out there who have not

3708
02:04:46,367 --> 02:04:48,169
voted, who traditionally vote

3709
02:04:48,169 --> 02:04:51,169
in the governor's election. Put

3710
02:04:52,406 --> 02:04:55,760
a stop to this. Please go vote

3711
02:04:55,760 --> 02:04:57,812
Tuesday, NOVEMBER 4th. I can't

3712
02:04:57,812 --> 02:04:58,813
wait to see the results of that

3713
02:04:58,813 --> 02:05:00,813
election. MADAM PRESIDENT,

3714
02:05:07,588 --> 02:05:09,988
people speak against this.

3715
02:05:16,197 --> 02:05:18,597
>> The Senator from Roanoke.

3716
02:05:22,300 --> 02:05:24,300
Senator Suetterlein.

3717
02:05:24,105 --> 02:05:25,206
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3718
02:05:25,206 --> 02:05:27,142
Speaking to the resolution.

3719
02:05:27,142 --> 02:05:29,911
>> The senator has the floor.

3720
02:05:29,911 --> 02:05:32,113
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3721
02:05:32,113 --> 02:05:33,281
Gerrymandering was wrong when

3722
02:05:33,281 --> 02:05:35,283
Patrick Henry tried to

3723
02:05:35,283 --> 02:05:37,285
gerrymander James Madison in

3724
02:05:37,285 --> 02:05:40,122
1789. It was wrong here in

3725
02:05:40,122 --> 02:05:42,958
Virginia in 2011. It was wrong

3726
02:05:42,958 --> 02:05:44,559
here in Virginia in 2012. And

3727
02:05:44,559 --> 02:05:47,763
it is wrong anywhere. It is

3728
02:05:47,763 --> 02:05:48,964
happening today. For years,

3729
02:05:48,964 --> 02:05:50,964
Virginia Democrats declared

3730
02:05:51,600 --> 02:05:54,000
their support for redistricting

3731
02:05:54,103 --> 02:05:55,270
reform. And yet today, there is

3732
02:05:55,270 --> 02:05:57,270
significant Democratic Party

3733
02:05:58,340 --> 02:05:59,740
cheering for rolling back the

3734
02:05:59,740 --> 02:06:01,474
commission that was established

3735
02:06:02,277 --> 02:06:04,947
and instituting a ten one

3736
02:06:04,947 --> 02:06:06,947
congressional gerrymander. The

3737
02:06:07,483 --> 02:06:09,251
gerrymander carved up small

3738
02:06:09,251 --> 02:06:11,687
towns and put people in cities

3739
02:06:11,687 --> 02:06:13,322
and rural communities far from

3740
02:06:13,322 --> 02:06:14,991
their representatives. What's

3741
02:06:14,991 --> 02:06:17,159
being envisioned now would be

3742
02:06:17,159 --> 02:06:18,894
an even worse version of that.

3743
02:06:18,894 --> 02:06:21,960
And that's not right to the

3744
02:06:21,960 --> 02:06:22,632
people in the cities that are

3745
02:06:22,632 --> 02:06:25,301
represented by people far, far

3746
02:06:25,301 --> 02:06:28,400
away in rural areas or vice

3747
02:06:28,400 --> 02:06:30,106
versa. All for not because of a

3748
02:06:30,106 --> 02:06:32,475
larger common interest, but

3749
02:06:32,475 --> 02:06:34,110
simply because of a Partizan

3750
02:06:34,110 --> 02:06:35,778
effort. When the League of

3751
02:06:35,778 --> 02:06:38,470
Women Voters approached me

3752
02:06:38,470 --> 02:06:40,283
about the redistricting reform

3753
02:06:40,283 --> 02:06:41,951
about a decade ago, I was

3754
02:06:41,951 --> 02:06:43,520
supportive of the concept. I

3755
02:06:43,520 --> 02:06:45,822
was someone that had been

3756
02:06:45,822 --> 02:06:47,223
elected to a district that

3757
02:06:47,223 --> 02:06:48,758
included parts of Wytheville

3758
02:06:48,758 --> 02:06:50,326
and parts of Christiansburg and

3759
02:06:50,326 --> 02:06:53,630
parts of Rocky Mountain, parts

3760
02:06:53,630 --> 02:06:54,297
of Hillsville, and parts of so

3761
02:06:54,297 --> 02:06:56,166
many other counties that were

3762
02:06:56,166 --> 02:07:00,366
all divided. And I knew why we

3763
02:07:01,400 --> 02:07:03,373
needed reform. I was a little

3764
02:07:03,373 --> 02:07:05,750
skeptical, though, and cautious

3765
02:07:05,750 --> 02:07:06,310
because I suggested that

3766
02:07:06,310 --> 02:07:08,310
Democratic support for

3767
02:07:09,790 --> 02:07:11,479
redistricting reform might wane

3768
02:07:11,682 --> 02:07:13,417
when their political prospects

3769
02:07:13,417 --> 02:07:15,817
increased. And as William

3770
02:07:16,286 --> 02:07:17,988
Safire observed, quote, I've

3771
02:07:17,988 --> 02:07:20,424
been right and I've been

3772
02:07:20,424 --> 02:07:22,293
paranoid, and it's better to be

3773
02:07:22,293 --> 02:07:24,528
paranoid. A few years ago,

3774
02:07:24,528 --> 02:07:27,528
Democrats agreed to a medicaid

3775
02:07:27,597 --> 02:07:29,300
expansion work requirement

3776
02:07:29,300 --> 02:07:30,868
compromise and almost

3777
02:07:30,868 --> 02:07:33,268
immediately work to dismantle

3778
02:07:34,505 --> 02:07:35,740
that work requirement. The

3779
02:07:35,740 --> 02:07:37,740
bipartisan concealed carry

3780
02:07:38,141 --> 02:07:39,243
reciprocity agreement that was

3781
02:07:39,243 --> 02:07:41,643
negotiated by Governor Terry

3782
02:07:42,446 --> 02:07:43,347
McAuliffe, has faced constant

3783
02:07:43,347 --> 02:07:46,347
attacks from other members of

3784
02:07:47,485 --> 02:07:50,485
his party that also briefly

3785
02:07:50,621 --> 02:07:52,523
supported that compromise. And

3786
02:07:52,523 --> 02:07:55,930
here we are again, seeing a

3787
02:07:55,930 --> 02:07:57,262
bipartisan agreement fraying. I

3788
02:07:57,262 --> 02:07:58,960
fear that every time this

3789
02:07:58,960 --> 02:08:00,498
happens, it makes it far less

3790
02:08:00,498 --> 02:08:01,399
likely there will ever be any

3791
02:08:01,399 --> 02:08:03,799
more bipartisan agreements here

3792
02:08:04,402 --> 02:08:05,470
in the Commonwealth. The

3793
02:08:05,470 --> 02:08:07,238
PRESIDENT Mistakenly called for

3794
02:08:07,238 --> 02:08:09,238
redistricting changes

3795
02:08:09,441 --> 02:08:10,976
mid-decade, redistricting

3796
02:08:10,976 --> 02:08:13,976
changes in JULY, and Texas

3797
02:08:14,112 --> 02:08:15,413
started acting in AUGUST.

3798
02:08:15,413 --> 02:08:17,480
Instead of a full debate here

3799
02:08:17,480 --> 02:08:18,216
in Virginia. Then we find

3800
02:08:18,216 --> 02:08:20,216
ourselves considering a

3801
02:08:20,352 --> 02:08:22,352
gerrymandering amendment on

3802
02:08:24,156 --> 02:08:25,924
Halloween after a million votes

3803
02:08:25,924 --> 02:08:29,161
have been cast here in the

3804
02:08:29,161 --> 02:08:29,895
Commonwealth's election, the

3805
02:08:29,895 --> 02:08:31,895
redistricting commission was

3806
02:08:33,980 --> 02:08:34,900
ratified by two thirds of

3807
02:08:34,900 --> 02:08:37,102
voters five years ago. On the

3808
02:08:37,102 --> 02:08:38,871
same day, a smaller but

3809
02:08:38,871 --> 02:08:41,271
significant majority of voters

3810
02:08:41,607 --> 02:08:43,275
here in Virginia gave PRESIDENT

3811
02:08:43,275 --> 02:08:45,275
Biden the Commonwealth's

3812
02:08:45,344 --> 02:08:47,744
electoral votes. What's being

3813
02:08:49,281 --> 02:08:51,784
envisioned now is a quick

3814
02:08:51,784 --> 02:08:53,180
springtime referendum election

3815
02:08:53,180 --> 02:08:56,880
deemed too small for small town

3816
02:08:56,880 --> 02:08:57,990
mayor elections to reverse a

3817
02:08:57,990 --> 02:09:00,526
two thirds mandate delivered by

3818
02:09:00,526 --> 02:09:02,628
the voters on the same day

3819
02:09:02,628 --> 02:09:04,730
PRESIDENT Biden was elected.

3820
02:09:04,730 --> 02:09:06,565
Gerrymandering should be

3821
02:09:06,565 --> 02:09:08,401
rejected here. It should be

3822
02:09:08,401 --> 02:09:09,435
rejected. Everywhere in this

3823
02:09:09,435 --> 02:09:11,835
resolution should be rejected.

3824
02:09:13,172 --> 02:09:15,572
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3825
02:09:16,476 --> 02:09:17,877
>> Senator head, the senator

3826
02:09:17,877 --> 02:09:19,877
from Todd.

3827
02:09:19,979 --> 02:09:21,281
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3828
02:09:21,281 --> 02:09:22,315
Speaking to the resolution.

3829
02:09:22,315 --> 02:09:23,983
>> Senator has the floor.

3830
02:09:23,983 --> 02:09:26,383
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3831
02:09:27,220 --> 02:09:29,989
This is a so much has been said

3832
02:09:29,989 --> 02:09:31,925
and it's been been, first of

3833
02:09:31,925 --> 02:09:33,930
all, the my friend, the senator

3834
02:09:33,930 --> 02:09:35,195
from Roanoke just pointed out

3835
02:09:35,195 --> 02:09:36,129
it is Halloween. I do, for the

3836
02:09:36,129 --> 02:09:38,298
record, think that that is

3837
02:09:38,298 --> 02:09:39,199
probably an appropriate day for

3838
02:09:39,199 --> 02:09:41,340
us to be taking such scary

3839
02:09:41,340 --> 02:09:43,700
action as this, because this

3840
02:09:43,700 --> 02:09:46,273
whole thing has felt more like

3841
02:09:46,273 --> 02:09:48,108
a specter from beyond the grave.

3842
02:09:48,108 --> 02:09:50,511
And it's it's unholy. It is

3843
02:09:50,511 --> 02:09:53,714
just it is it is really awful

3844
02:09:53,714 --> 02:09:55,382
what we're doing here. But I'm

3845
02:09:55,382 --> 02:09:56,583
I'm perplexed by some of the

3846
02:09:56,583 --> 02:09:59,583
comments that I've heard from

3847
02:10:01,355 --> 02:10:03,390
the other side of the aisle.

3848
02:10:03,390 --> 02:10:05,125
The senator from from eastern

3849
02:10:05,125 --> 02:10:07,494
Fairfax started off this

3850
02:10:07,494 --> 02:10:08,962
morning with the amendment that

3851
02:10:08,962 --> 02:10:11,665
I had proposed to let us put

3852
02:10:11,665 --> 02:10:12,900
this back to the redistricting

3853
02:10:12,900 --> 02:10:14,335
commission, rather than it

3854
02:10:14,335 --> 02:10:16,203
being Partizan and attacking

3855
02:10:16,203 --> 02:10:17,471
the concept, saying that this

3856
02:10:17,471 --> 02:10:19,774
commission that we've got in

3857
02:10:19,774 --> 02:10:21,175
place is bad anyway because

3858
02:10:21,175 --> 02:10:23,411
it's not independent, which it

3859
02:10:23,411 --> 02:10:25,313
never claims to be, that it's

3860
02:10:25,313 --> 02:10:26,980
not nonpartizan, which it never

3861
02:10:26,980 --> 02:10:30,185
claims to be. It is a

3862
02:10:30,185 --> 02:10:31,180
bipartisan commission. But he

3863
02:10:31,180 --> 02:10:32,253
made comments that really

3864
02:10:32,253 --> 02:10:34,288
betrayed, I think, the real

3865
02:10:34,288 --> 02:10:37,250
intent, which is we want this

3866
02:10:37,250 --> 02:10:38,259
to be a Partizan decision that

3867
02:10:38,259 --> 02:10:40,962
disturbed me when I heard that,

3868
02:10:40,962 --> 02:10:44,562
and then I heard the the

3869
02:10:45,433 --> 02:10:47,535
senator from Central Fairfax

3870
02:10:47,535 --> 02:10:49,370
make reference to the fact that

3871
02:10:49,370 --> 02:10:52,370
in 2020, we made history in

3872
02:10:52,941 --> 02:10:55,100
Virginia because we moved

3873
02:10:55,100 --> 02:10:56,411
ourselves from being classified

3874
02:10:56,411 --> 02:10:59,681
as one of the states that had

3875
02:10:59,681 --> 02:11:01,681
the most gerrymandered

3876
02:11:02,500 --> 02:11:04,219
districts to one of the states

3877
02:11:04,219 --> 02:11:06,388
with the least gerrymandered

3878
02:11:06,388 --> 02:11:08,423
districts. And indeed, what we

3879
02:11:08,423 --> 02:11:09,391
propose, what we adopted, what

3880
02:11:09,391 --> 02:11:11,960
we did to our Constitution,

3881
02:11:11,960 --> 02:11:13,362
then to create the way that we

3882
02:11:13,362 --> 02:11:15,297
establish congressional

3883
02:11:15,297 --> 02:11:17,432
districts was so good that it's

3884
02:11:17,432 --> 02:11:19,234
being looked at and mirrored in

3885
02:11:19,234 --> 02:11:21,270
other places. I think we ought

3886
02:11:21,270 --> 02:11:22,571
to be proud of that. But here

3887
02:11:22,571 --> 02:11:25,107
we are seeking to dismantle

3888
02:11:25,107 --> 02:11:27,176
this in reaction to the actions

3889
02:11:27,176 --> 02:11:29,511
of some other states. You know,

3890
02:11:29,511 --> 02:11:31,413
we're we're the we're the

3891
02:11:31,413 --> 02:11:34,413
leader. We're the state that

3892
02:11:34,416 --> 02:11:36,850
when we got here first, we've

3893
02:11:36,850 --> 02:11:39,850
been a representative body. I

3894
02:11:39,522 --> 02:11:40,556
mean, the we've been here since

3895
02:11:40,556 --> 02:11:42,124
1607. We've been a

3896
02:11:42,124 --> 02:11:44,930
representative government in

3897
02:11:44,930 --> 02:11:45,929
Virginia since 1619, starting

3898
02:11:45,929 --> 02:11:47,129
the way the oldest

3899
02:11:47,129 --> 02:11:48,931
representative democracy in the

3900
02:11:48,931 --> 02:11:52,135
new World, we ought not be

3901
02:11:52,135 --> 02:11:54,535
following anybody because we

3902
02:11:55,400 --> 02:11:58,410
lead, we don't follow, we don't

3903
02:11:58,410 --> 02:12:00,176
react, we respond, we set the

3904
02:12:00,176 --> 02:12:02,478
example, and we have that all

3905
02:12:02,478 --> 02:12:04,113
together in the way that we do

3906
02:12:04,113 --> 02:12:05,381
redistricting now. And I you

3907
02:12:05,381 --> 02:12:06,983
know, I'm perplexed to why we

3908
02:12:06,983 --> 02:12:09,850
would, you know, maybe, maybe

3909
02:12:09,850 --> 02:12:10,253
if Stephen f Austin and Sam

3910
02:12:10,253 --> 02:12:11,521
Houston had stayed in Virginia

3911
02:12:11,521 --> 02:12:13,156
a little longer before going

3912
02:12:13,156 --> 02:12:14,424
down to Texas, they would have

3913
02:12:14,424 --> 02:12:17,260
gotten a little bit more seated

3914
02:12:17,260 --> 02:12:18,295
in the way that they should be

3915
02:12:18,295 --> 02:12:20,931
behaving down there. And we

3916
02:12:20,931 --> 02:12:22,165
wouldn't be in this, this

3917
02:12:22,165 --> 02:12:24,134
conversation, but we certainly

3918
02:12:24,134 --> 02:12:26,570
shouldn't be following suit on

3919
02:12:26,570 --> 02:12:28,271
something that has stirred up a

3920
02:12:28,271 --> 02:12:30,173
hornet's nest. When you can,

3921
02:12:30,173 --> 02:12:32,409
somebody has to be the adult in

3922
02:12:32,409 --> 02:12:33,977
the room. That should be who we

3923
02:12:33,977 --> 02:12:36,713
are. We are the adults in the

3924
02:12:36,713 --> 02:12:37,481
room and the adults in the room

3925
02:12:37,481 --> 02:12:39,490
is the one that say, enough of

3926
02:12:39,490 --> 02:12:41,185
this, we're going to stop it.

3927
02:12:41,185 --> 02:12:42,953
And the way we stop it is not

3928
02:12:42,953 --> 02:12:45,422
by continuing to do it. We stop

3929
02:12:45,422 --> 02:12:46,423
it. And the way we stop it is

3930
02:12:46,423 --> 02:12:48,158
to stick with our guns on this.

3931
02:12:48,158 --> 02:12:50,294
And then you look at what we

3932
02:12:50,294 --> 02:12:51,128
did in 2020 and look at the the

3933
02:12:51,128 --> 02:12:53,764
districts that we've got and

3934
02:12:53,764 --> 02:12:54,332
what they reflect as far as the

3935
02:12:54,332 --> 02:12:56,000
population of Virginia. We

3936
02:12:56,000 --> 02:12:57,101
adopted this. And then the next

3937
02:12:57,101 --> 02:12:59,501
congressional election we had

3938
02:12:59,803 --> 02:13:02,773
was just last year after the

3939
02:13:02,773 --> 02:13:04,809
new districts were drawn. And

3940
02:13:04,809 --> 02:13:07,209
in that election, Virginia

3941
02:13:10,348 --> 02:13:13,151
voted 46% for Donald Trump. And

3942
02:13:13,151 --> 02:13:14,585
54% for Kamala Harris. At the

3943
02:13:14,585 --> 02:13:16,254
same time, we reelected all of

3944
02:13:16,254 --> 02:13:18,289
our members of of Congress or

3945
02:13:18,289 --> 02:13:19,123
elected all of our members of

3946
02:13:19,123 --> 02:13:21,580
Congress. And what we ended up

3947
02:13:21,580 --> 02:13:23,261
with was out of 11 members of

3948
02:13:23,261 --> 02:13:25,290
Congress, five Republicans and

3949
02:13:25,290 --> 02:13:27,599
six Democrats. And if you do

3950
02:13:27,599 --> 02:13:30,401
the math on that, that gives us

3951
02:13:30,401 --> 02:13:32,401
45% Republicans and 55%

3952
02:13:32,838 --> 02:13:35,730
Democrat, which is an almost

3953
02:13:35,730 --> 02:13:36,474
perfect mirroring of the

3954
02:13:36,474 --> 02:13:38,474
overall statewide presidential

3955
02:13:39,177 --> 02:13:41,246
election vote. You can't get it

3956
02:13:41,246 --> 02:13:43,148
any better than that, folks.

3957
02:13:43,148 --> 02:13:45,984
You absolutely can't get it any

3958
02:13:45,984 --> 02:13:48,420
better than that. And it is our

3959
02:13:48,420 --> 02:13:50,622
job to represent the people,

3960
02:13:50,622 --> 02:13:52,900
the entirety of the people of

3961
02:13:52,900 --> 02:13:54,326
the Commonwealth as a

3962
02:13:54,326 --> 02:13:57,960
collective body, and each one

3963
02:13:57,960 --> 02:13:59,331
of us to represent them as our

3964
02:13:59,331 --> 02:14:01,731
constituents in our districts.

3965
02:14:02,301 --> 02:14:03,969
So we've got it right, whether

3966
02:14:03,969 --> 02:14:05,237
we like to admit it or not,

3967
02:14:05,237 --> 02:14:07,406
whether you like to admit it or

3968
02:14:07,406 --> 02:14:08,607
not, we got it right. And we

3969
02:14:08,607 --> 02:14:10,242
have good districts that need

3970
02:14:10,242 --> 02:14:12,144
to be left alone. But I'm also

3971
02:14:12,144 --> 02:14:13,112
concerned when we had the

3972
02:14:13,112 --> 02:14:14,279
arguments about the

3973
02:14:14,279 --> 02:14:16,181
constitutionality of this and

3974
02:14:16,181 --> 02:14:16,882
the 90 day issue in the

3975
02:14:16,882 --> 02:14:18,216
Constitution, whether that goes

3976
02:14:18,216 --> 02:14:20,986
back and forth, what confuses

3977
02:14:20,986 --> 02:14:23,890
me about that argument is that

3978
02:14:23,890 --> 02:14:25,725
you have the Constitution, but

3979
02:14:25,725 --> 02:14:27,159
we also have the code. I'm not

3980
02:14:27,159 --> 02:14:30,290
an attorney. I don't ever claim

3981
02:14:30,290 --> 02:14:31,997
to be one. Never wanted to be

3982
02:14:31,997 --> 02:14:33,299
one. Except maybe briefly.

3983
02:14:33,299 --> 02:14:35,167
Maybe MAY have wanted to be one

3984
02:14:35,167 --> 02:14:38,167
briefly. Then I thought better

3985
02:14:38,671 --> 02:14:41,107
of it. Well, I'm not being rude,

3986
02:14:41,107 --> 02:14:43,376
just my brother was one. I see

3987
02:14:43,376 --> 02:14:44,760
what that is one. And just

3988
02:14:44,760 --> 02:14:46,512
don't, don't don't need to. We

3989
02:14:46,512 --> 02:14:48,948
don't need to have two in the

3990
02:14:48,948 --> 02:14:51,500
family. But when I look at this

3991
02:14:51,500 --> 02:14:53,620
resolution on lines three, four

3992
02:14:53,620 --> 02:14:56,489
and five of the resolution, it

3993
02:14:56,489 --> 02:14:57,900
says proposing an amendment to

3994
02:14:57,900 --> 02:14:59,226
section six of the article of

3995
02:14:59,226 --> 02:15:02,226
article two of the Constitution

3996
02:15:02,629 --> 02:15:03,230
of Virginia and proposing an

3997
02:15:03,230 --> 02:15:05,565
amendment to the Constitution

3998
02:15:05,565 --> 02:15:07,100
of Virginia by adding in a

3999
02:15:07,100 --> 02:15:09,569
section or in the schedule a

4000
02:15:09,569 --> 02:15:12,569
section numbered six. Okay, so

4001
02:15:14,207 --> 02:15:15,309
we have an amendment proposed

4002
02:15:15,309 --> 02:15:18,345
here in the form of this

4003
02:15:18,345 --> 02:15:20,380
resolution. And then I look in

4004
02:15:20,380 --> 02:15:22,483
the code of Virginia in a

4005
02:15:22,483 --> 02:15:24,918
section that some have said is

4006
02:15:24,918 --> 02:15:26,186
obsolete, but it's still there,

4007
02:15:26,186 --> 02:15:28,522
which means it's still valid

4008
02:15:28,522 --> 02:15:29,723
and it still needs to be

4009
02:15:29,723 --> 02:15:30,991
enforced. And we all have a

4010
02:15:30,991 --> 02:15:33,260
duty to follow both the

4011
02:15:33,260 --> 02:15:36,230
Constitution and the laws of

4012
02:15:36,230 --> 02:15:39,230
Virginia. And it says in

4013
02:15:39,600 --> 02:15:41,600
section titled title 30,

4014
02:15:42,303 --> 02:15:44,538
section 30, Dash 13, that the

4015
02:15:44,538 --> 02:15:47,508
clerk of the House of delegates

4016
02:15:47,508 --> 02:15:49,100
shall have published all

4017
02:15:49,100 --> 02:15:51,278
proposed amendments to the

4018
02:15:51,278 --> 02:15:53,800
Constitution. This is one of

4019
02:15:53,800 --> 02:15:54,382
those from his office and to

4020
02:15:54,382 --> 02:15:56,384
the clerk of the Circuit court

4021
02:15:56,384 --> 02:15:58,850
of each county and city, two

4022
02:15:58,850 --> 02:15:59,287
copies of the proposed

4023
02:15:59,287 --> 02:16:01,890
amendments. And that's the ones

4024
02:16:01,890 --> 02:16:02,123
that don't get to that point

4025
02:16:02,123 --> 02:16:03,391
until they've passed, one of

4026
02:16:03,391 --> 02:16:05,259
which shall be posted at the

4027
02:16:05,259 --> 02:16:06,127
front door of the courthouse,

4028
02:16:06,127 --> 02:16:07,362
and the other shall be made

4029
02:16:07,362 --> 02:16:09,630
available for public inspection.

4030
02:16:09,630 --> 02:16:10,999
Every clerk of the circuit

4031
02:16:10,999 --> 02:16:13,701
court shall complete, shall not

4032
02:16:13,701 --> 02:16:16,701
MAY shall complete the posting

4033
02:16:17,605 --> 02:16:20,605
required not later than three

4034
02:16:20,608 --> 02:16:21,343
months prior to the next

4035
02:16:21,343 --> 02:16:23,511
ensuing general election of

4036
02:16:23,511 --> 02:16:25,780
members of the House of

4037
02:16:25,780 --> 02:16:27,315
delegates, and shall certify

4038
02:16:27,315 --> 02:16:29,251
such posting to the clerk of

4039
02:16:29,251 --> 02:16:31,386
the House of delegates and the

4040
02:16:31,386 --> 02:16:32,254
clerk of the House of delegates

4041
02:16:32,254 --> 02:16:33,655
shall report to the General

4042
02:16:33,655 --> 02:16:35,957
Assembly at its next regular

4043
02:16:35,957 --> 02:16:38,600
session. The session the action

4044
02:16:38,600 --> 02:16:40,495
taken by him under this section,

4045
02:16:40,495 --> 02:16:41,496
including the costs incurred in

4046
02:16:41,496 --> 02:16:43,265
the printing. Et cetera. Et

4047
02:16:43,265 --> 02:16:45,934
cetera. So there's no way we

4048
02:16:45,934 --> 02:16:47,236
can do this. I mean, you can do

4049
02:16:47,236 --> 02:16:48,704
this today. You're going to do

4050
02:16:48,704 --> 02:16:50,500
this today. You know that

4051
02:16:50,500 --> 02:16:51,340
you're going to do this today.

4052
02:16:51,340 --> 02:16:53,375
It's going to get the 21 votes.

4053
02:16:53,375 --> 02:16:54,109
You're going to pass it because

4054
02:16:54,109 --> 02:16:56,412
you're not going to pay any

4055
02:16:56,412 --> 02:16:57,613
attention to what the people

4056
02:16:57,613 --> 02:16:58,547
are screaming about out there,

4057
02:16:58,547 --> 02:17:00,115
or any of the arguments that

4058
02:17:00,115 --> 02:17:01,784
are valid than any of us are

4059
02:17:01,784 --> 02:17:03,219
going to have made. You're

4060
02:17:03,219 --> 02:17:05,421
going to do that. We know that.

4061
02:17:05,421 --> 02:17:06,355
But if you're going to follow

4062
02:17:06,355 --> 02:17:07,923
the law after you've done that,

4063
02:17:07,923 --> 02:17:10,159
you can't take this thing up

4064
02:17:10,159 --> 02:17:11,927
again and have it be valid and

4065
02:17:11,927 --> 02:17:14,130
legal unless you post it 90

4066
02:17:14,130 --> 02:17:15,397
days ahead of the next ensuing

4067
02:17:15,397 --> 02:17:18,334
election, which in this case,

4068
02:17:18,334 --> 02:17:20,136
to make that valid would be the

4069
02:17:20,136 --> 02:17:23,136
election that will take place

4070
02:17:24,807 --> 02:17:28,407
for the House of delegates in

4071
02:17:29,112 --> 02:17:30,980
2027. So by the time you got it

4072
02:17:30,980 --> 02:17:33,183
done and got it out there for a

4073
02:17:33,183 --> 02:17:34,170
vote, again, it wouldn't be

4074
02:17:34,170 --> 02:17:35,618
valid anyway because you've

4075
02:17:35,618 --> 02:17:38,618
already got an expiration date

4076
02:17:38,822 --> 02:17:39,989
on it that the clock would have

4077
02:17:39,989 --> 02:17:42,626
run out before you could ever

4078
02:17:42,626 --> 02:17:46,796
get it done. This is a reckless

4079
02:17:46,796 --> 02:17:47,897
action, guys. We're better than

4080
02:17:47,897 --> 02:17:50,897
that. In this commonwealth. The

4081
02:17:51,101 --> 02:17:52,869
people didn't ask for this.

4082
02:17:52,869 --> 02:17:55,710
Washington asked for this. The

4083
02:17:55,710 --> 02:17:56,940
Democratic Committee asked for

4084
02:17:56,940 --> 02:17:59,340
this. But your constituents

4085
02:17:59,509 --> 02:18:01,278
didn't ask for this. I suppose

4086
02:18:01,278 --> 02:18:02,579
that the possible exception of

4087
02:18:02,579 --> 02:18:04,114
that might be the senator from

4088
02:18:04,114 --> 02:18:05,983
Arlington, because her her, her

4089
02:18:05,983 --> 02:18:08,252
locality was the only one that

4090
02:18:08,252 --> 02:18:09,520
actually voted against it, but

4091
02:18:09,520 --> 02:18:11,355
only a smattering of those

4092
02:18:11,355 --> 02:18:13,123
voted against it. It was very,

4093
02:18:13,123 --> 02:18:15,259
very close election there. But

4094
02:18:15,259 --> 02:18:16,426
we're supposed to follow not

4095
02:18:16,426 --> 02:18:18,762
just the Constitution, but the

4096
02:18:18,762 --> 02:18:20,300
laws of the Commonwealth of

4097
02:18:20,300 --> 02:18:23,630
Virginia. And you can't do this

4098
02:18:24,201 --> 02:18:26,601
without violating the law.

4099
02:18:28,539 --> 02:18:30,939
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4100
02:18:32,543 --> 02:18:33,877
>> Senator McDougle. The

4101
02:18:33,877 --> 02:18:35,877
senator from Hanover.

4102
02:18:36,180 --> 02:18:37,470
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4103
02:18:37,470 --> 02:18:38,983
MADAM PRESIDENT, I rise to

4104
02:18:38,983 --> 02:18:41,152
speak to the resolution.

4105
02:18:41,152 --> 02:18:43,552
>> Senator has a floor.

4106
02:18:44,322 --> 02:18:47,322
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I must say

4107
02:18:47,825 --> 02:18:48,393
I listened to a lot of

4108
02:18:48,393 --> 02:18:50,261
discussions and some of my

4109
02:18:50,261 --> 02:18:52,363
colleagues have known for many

4110
02:18:52,363 --> 02:18:54,866
years, some for less time. Some

4111
02:18:54,866 --> 02:18:57,268
of the discussions we've had on

4112
02:18:57,268 --> 02:18:58,303
this floor, some of them we've

4113
02:18:58,303 --> 02:19:00,305
had privately, we've talked

4114
02:19:00,305 --> 02:19:02,305
about Trump Derangement

4115
02:19:03,107 --> 02:19:04,709
Syndrome. It is a real thing.

4116
02:19:04,709 --> 02:19:07,178
We've talked about the Schumer

4117
02:19:07,178 --> 02:19:10,178
shutdown because of health care,

4118
02:19:10,615 --> 02:19:12,150
not going to Americans, but to

4119
02:19:12,150 --> 02:19:14,419
going to other people not

4120
02:19:14,419 --> 02:19:16,819
legally present. We've heard

4121
02:19:17,923 --> 02:19:18,957
talk about dictators. I've

4122
02:19:18,957 --> 02:19:21,357
heard talk about the

4123
02:19:24,296 --> 02:19:26,296
Constitution. MADAM PRESIDENT,

4124
02:19:28,266 --> 02:19:30,502
I'm disappointed because these

4125
02:19:30,502 --> 02:19:32,902
conversations are about a

4126
02:19:32,971 --> 02:19:35,173
reaction to something that's

4127
02:19:35,173 --> 02:19:37,900
happening outside of Virginia.

4128
02:19:37,900 --> 02:19:39,178
And I'd reference Reagan and

4129
02:19:39,178 --> 02:19:41,947
what we talk about when she

4130
02:19:41,947 --> 02:19:43,248
does things I don't like a lot.

4131
02:19:43,248 --> 02:19:46,552
And this is something we do

4132
02:19:46,552 --> 02:19:49,155
talk about. We frequently see

4133
02:19:49,155 --> 02:19:51,560
that children will react and

4134
02:19:51,560 --> 02:19:54,560
say, well, they did it over

4135
02:19:54,560 --> 02:19:57,129
there, so we have to do it.

4136
02:19:57,129 --> 02:19:58,364
MADAM PRESIDENT, here in

4137
02:19:58,364 --> 02:20:01,701
Virginia, we don't have to do

4138
02:20:01,701 --> 02:20:03,302
that. We don't have to take

4139
02:20:03,302 --> 02:20:05,104
that bad step. My friends

4140
02:20:05,104 --> 02:20:07,306
across the aisle are talking

4141
02:20:07,306 --> 02:20:10,900
about the PRESIDENT, which they

4142
02:20:10,900 --> 02:20:12,178
term a dictator. MADAM

4143
02:20:12,178 --> 02:20:15,178
PRESIDENT, some of the actions

4144
02:20:16,449 --> 02:20:18,985
that I view as not being

4145
02:20:18,985 --> 02:20:21,385
democratic or favor democracy

4146
02:20:22,288 --> 02:20:24,457
or introducing resolutions with

4147
02:20:24,457 --> 02:20:25,959
the public, only has the

4148
02:20:25,959 --> 02:20:28,662
ability to see them for a

4149
02:20:28,662 --> 02:20:30,396
couple of days before they're

4150
02:20:30,396 --> 02:20:32,432
voted on. MADAM PRESIDENT, it

4151
02:20:32,432 --> 02:20:35,535
does not seem democratic to me

4152
02:20:35,535 --> 02:20:38,371
that it be done in the dark of

4153
02:20:38,371 --> 02:20:39,940
night, right before an election,

4154
02:20:39,940 --> 02:20:42,409
after over a million people

4155
02:20:42,409 --> 02:20:45,409
have voted. MADAM PRESIDENT, I

4156
02:20:45,412 --> 02:20:47,781
heard my colleague across the

4157
02:20:47,781 --> 02:20:48,515
aisle talk about how when the

4158
02:20:48,515 --> 02:20:50,150
original constitutional

4159
02:20:50,150 --> 02:20:53,150
amendment came through, he had

4160
02:20:54,387 --> 02:20:56,190
a year to reflect. MADAM

4161
02:20:56,190 --> 02:20:58,559
PRESIDENT, the members in the

4162
02:20:58,559 --> 02:21:01,895
body down the hall had three

4163
02:21:01,895 --> 02:21:05,495
days. The members here had four

4164
02:21:06,200 --> 02:21:08,350
days. MADAM PRESIDENT, I heard

4165
02:21:08,350 --> 02:21:09,470
talk about how the

4166
02:21:09,470 --> 02:21:11,470
redistricting commission was

4167
02:21:12,273 --> 02:21:14,673
not independent, not bipartisan.

4168
02:21:15,760 --> 02:21:18,676
All those all those things. And

4169
02:21:23,150 --> 02:21:26,530
we heard it worked. It worked.

4170
02:21:26,530 --> 02:21:27,321
So, MADAM PRESIDENT, I also

4171
02:21:27,321 --> 02:21:28,956
heard about other things that

4172
02:21:28,956 --> 02:21:31,492
the PRESIDENT Is doing, how

4173
02:21:31,492 --> 02:21:33,594
horrible this PRESIDENT Is

4174
02:21:33,594 --> 02:21:35,263
versus former presidents. MADAM

4175
02:21:35,263 --> 02:21:37,432
PRESIDENT, I remember in this

4176
02:21:37,432 --> 02:21:39,500
body, when a member who was

4177
02:21:39,500 --> 02:21:41,970
across the aisle decided to

4178
02:21:41,970 --> 02:21:43,638
retire so his daughter could

4179
02:21:43,638 --> 02:21:46,908
become a judge pursuant to our

4180
02:21:46,908 --> 02:21:49,770
rules, how a PRESIDENT From the

4181
02:21:49,770 --> 02:21:51,880
other side of the aisle had

4182
02:21:51,880 --> 02:21:53,215
members of this body

4183
02:21:53,215 --> 02:21:55,283
investigated and how grand

4184
02:21:55,283 --> 02:21:57,419
juries were convened for that,

4185
02:21:57,419 --> 02:21:59,220
I didn't find that to be

4186
02:21:59,220 --> 02:22:01,560
terribly democratic either. So

4187
02:22:01,560 --> 02:22:03,425
there's blame to be thrown

4188
02:22:03,425 --> 02:22:05,825
around. But, MADAM PRESIDENT,

4189
02:22:06,662 --> 02:22:08,897
when that occurred, we didn't

4190
02:22:08,897 --> 02:22:11,320
change the Constitution. We

4191
02:22:11,320 --> 02:22:13,369
didn't try to rush something

4192
02:22:13,369 --> 02:22:15,471
out when nobody had opportunity

4193
02:22:15,471 --> 02:22:18,641
to see it. The public had an

4194
02:22:18,641 --> 02:22:21,641
opportunity to digest it that

4195
02:22:22,344 --> 02:22:24,744
lacked transparency. Two wrongs

4196
02:22:25,514 --> 02:22:29,714
do not make a right, as has

4197
02:22:31,186 --> 02:22:34,230
already been said on this floor.

4198
02:22:34,230 --> 02:22:36,423
MADAM PRESIDENT, Senator from

4199
02:22:36,892 --> 02:22:38,527
said, we all are aware what the

4200
02:22:38,527 --> 02:22:41,397
vote will be in just a few

4201
02:22:41,397 --> 02:22:43,132
minutes. We also are aware that

4202
02:22:43,132 --> 02:22:46,335
there will be a lot of

4203
02:22:46,335 --> 02:22:48,504
conversations in the public,

4204
02:22:48,504 --> 02:22:50,306
probably on this floor again

4205
02:22:50,306 --> 02:22:53,142
and likely in the courts going

4206
02:22:53,142 --> 02:22:54,911
forward. But I want to make

4207
02:22:54,911 --> 02:22:56,879
sure that in that conversation,

4208
02:22:56,879 --> 02:22:58,681
we all know what we're talking

4209
02:22:58,681 --> 02:23:00,416
about. It has been termed this

4210
02:23:00,416 --> 02:23:04,160
is giving another option to the

4211
02:23:04,921 --> 02:23:07,123
people. MADAM PRESIDENT, I saw

4212
02:23:07,123 --> 02:23:09,123
some social media

4213
02:23:09,626 --> 02:23:12,295
communications from some of my

4214
02:23:12,295 --> 02:23:15,131
colleagues showing ten one this

4215
02:23:15,131 --> 02:23:17,600
is not giving the public an

4216
02:23:17,600 --> 02:23:19,402
option. This is to draw ten

4217
02:23:19,402 --> 02:23:21,402
Democratic congressional seats

4218
02:23:21,538 --> 02:23:22,239
and one Republican

4219
02:23:22,239 --> 02:23:24,639
congressional seat in Virginia.

4220
02:23:24,641 --> 02:23:28,241
This is not about options. This

4221
02:23:29,460 --> 02:23:30,314
is very directed. So to be

4222
02:23:30,314 --> 02:23:32,820
transparent, that's what this

4223
02:23:32,820 --> 02:23:35,318
vote is. You're saying that we

4224
02:23:35,318 --> 02:23:36,921
do not care about how we've

4225
02:23:36,921 --> 02:23:38,921
done things constitutionally.

4226
02:23:39,156 --> 02:23:40,157
We don't care about

4227
02:23:40,157 --> 02:23:42,557
transparency. We don't care

4228
02:23:43,126 --> 02:23:44,194
about fair districts. As the

4229
02:23:44,194 --> 02:23:46,194
senator from Henrico

4230
02:23:46,230 --> 02:23:48,630
articulated, we care about

4231
02:23:48,999 --> 02:23:51,100
making sure that there will be

4232
02:23:51,100 --> 02:23:53,401
ten Democratic seats from

4233
02:23:54,238 --> 02:23:56,638
Virginia next NOVEMBER. That's

4234
02:23:58,943 --> 02:24:01,943
what this vote is. MADAM

4235
02:24:02,446 --> 02:24:05,490
PRESIDENT, we will continue to

4236
02:24:05,490 --> 02:24:07,452
have different views on policy.

4237
02:24:07,452 --> 02:24:10,354
Some of us feel very strongly

4238
02:24:10,354 --> 02:24:11,556
that our energy prices are

4239
02:24:11,556 --> 02:24:13,124
higher, significantly because

4240
02:24:13,124 --> 02:24:16,227
of the Clean Economy Act. Some

4241
02:24:16,227 --> 02:24:18,290
of us feel that the tax on

4242
02:24:18,290 --> 02:24:19,397
employees only actually hurts

4243
02:24:19,397 --> 02:24:22,266
employees and puts less money

4244
02:24:22,266 --> 02:24:23,168
in their pockets. There are a

4245
02:24:23,168 --> 02:24:24,302
lot of things that we will

4246
02:24:24,302 --> 02:24:26,702
debate and discuss going

4247
02:24:28,406 --> 02:24:30,806
forward. But MADAM PRESIDENT,

4248
02:24:33,144 --> 02:24:36,347
this process is one that we

4249
02:24:36,347 --> 02:24:39,584
should not engage in because we

4250
02:24:39,584 --> 02:24:42,120
don't like things in Washington.

4251
02:24:42,120 --> 02:24:44,990
Virginians are better than this.

4252
02:24:44,990 --> 02:24:47,626
Two wrongs do not make a right.

4253
02:24:47,626 --> 02:24:51,496
The day of the dead is being

4254
02:24:51,496 --> 02:24:54,660
celebrated by many this weekend.

4255
02:24:54,660 --> 02:24:56,802
We should not be celebrating

4256
02:24:56,802 --> 02:25:00,402
the death of our democracy here

4257
02:25:04,760 --> 02:25:06,512
in Virginia along with them.

4258
02:25:06,512 --> 02:25:08,747
>> The Senator from Hampton,

4259
02:25:08,747 --> 02:25:10,516
Senator Locke.

4260
02:25:10,516 --> 02:25:12,151
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4261
02:25:12,151 --> 02:25:13,686
Speaking to the resolution.

4262
02:25:13,686 --> 02:25:15,120
>> Senator has the floor.

4263
02:25:15,120 --> 02:25:17,189
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'm not

4264
02:25:17,189 --> 02:25:19,558
going to say all of this stuff

4265
02:25:19,558 --> 02:25:21,227
that I had written down. I just

4266
02:25:21,227 --> 02:25:24,263
want to make two points. One,

4267
02:25:24,263 --> 02:25:26,798
let's be real and talk about

4268
02:25:26,798 --> 02:25:29,798
D.C. Strategy and hypocrisy.

4269
02:25:30,270 --> 02:25:32,572
But for two, vote swing in this

4270
02:25:32,572 --> 02:25:34,240
chamber and in the House of

4271
02:25:34,240 --> 02:25:36,208
delegates, we would still be

4272
02:25:36,208 --> 02:25:38,411
here in a special session

4273
02:25:38,411 --> 02:25:40,179
called by the governor. And

4274
02:25:40,179 --> 02:25:41,414
instead of receiving daily

4275
02:25:41,414 --> 02:25:43,683
sanctimonious missives as the

4276
02:25:43,683 --> 02:25:45,885
minority party on this side of

4277
02:25:45,885 --> 02:25:47,954
the aisle, we would be asking,

4278
02:25:47,954 --> 02:25:49,522
why are we in the middle of a

4279
02:25:49,522 --> 02:25:51,240
mid-decade effort to redistrict

4280
02:25:51,240 --> 02:25:54,240
in the Commonwealth of Virginia,

4281
02:25:54,294 --> 02:25:56,396
as dictated by the Lord of of

4282
02:25:56,396 --> 02:25:58,298
Pennsylvania Avenue, minus the

4283
02:25:58,298 --> 02:26:01,568
East Wing? And that's Lord with

4284
02:26:01,568 --> 02:26:03,970
a little l because be assured,

4285
02:26:03,970 --> 02:26:06,106
if the proverbial shoe was on

4286
02:26:06,106 --> 02:26:09,750
the other foot, a director from

4287
02:26:09,750 --> 02:26:11,277
D.C. To the governor would have

4288
02:26:11,277 --> 02:26:13,480
been adhered to quick, fast,

4289
02:26:13,480 --> 02:26:14,648
and in a hurry to undo the

4290
02:26:14,648 --> 02:26:16,648
constitutional amendment in

4291
02:26:18,218 --> 02:26:20,287
Virginia midstream. And not one

4292
02:26:20,287 --> 02:26:22,356
of you would be talking about

4293
02:26:22,356 --> 02:26:23,123
the sanctity of the bipartisan

4294
02:26:23,123 --> 02:26:25,123
redistricting commission, or

4295
02:26:26,960 --> 02:26:28,262
the needs of the voters or or

4296
02:26:28,262 --> 02:26:31,598
respect for the will of the

4297
02:26:31,598 --> 02:26:33,998
people. Instead, every effort

4298
02:26:34,167 --> 02:26:37,710
would be made to carve out as

4299
02:26:37,710 --> 02:26:40,700
many red seats as possible.

4300
02:26:40,700 --> 02:26:42,643
i've also heard that we are not

4301
02:26:42,643 --> 02:26:44,780
Texas. We are not North

4302
02:26:44,780 --> 02:26:47,114
Carolina, so I'm a bit baffled

4303
02:26:47,114 --> 02:26:50,114
by that hypocrisy to. I'm

4304
02:26:51,850 --> 02:26:53,485
baffled because since JANUARY,

4305
02:26:54,388 --> 02:26:57,388
we have been making decisions

4306
02:26:59,794 --> 02:27:00,628
based upon a plethora of of

4307
02:27:00,628 --> 02:27:04,228
eo's that have been sent down

4308
02:27:04,465 --> 02:27:07,268
from Washington, and they have

4309
02:27:07,268 --> 02:27:09,304
been incorporated into Virginia

4310
02:27:09,304 --> 02:27:11,704
policies, whether they made

4311
02:27:12,600 --> 02:27:14,476
sense or not, whether they

4312
02:27:14,476 --> 02:27:16,770
invalidated the Virginia code

4313
02:27:16,770 --> 02:27:18,146
or not. And they were sent out

4314
02:27:18,146 --> 02:27:19,447
to executive agencies and

4315
02:27:19,447 --> 02:27:21,847
institutions for those agencies

4316
02:27:23,251 --> 02:27:26,251
and institutions to adhere to.

4317
02:27:26,688 --> 02:27:29,880
21 state ags have challenged

4318
02:27:29,224 --> 02:27:31,624
those as unconstitutional, but

4319
02:27:33,228 --> 02:27:35,196
not ours. So don't talk to me

4320
02:27:35,196 --> 02:27:37,666
about we don't listen to what

4321
02:27:37,666 --> 02:27:39,500
other states do or what

4322
02:27:39,500 --> 02:27:41,403
Washington does, when in fact

4323
02:27:41,403 --> 02:27:44,390
we would be doing the exact

4324
02:27:44,390 --> 02:27:46,542
same thing if the shoe was on

4325
02:27:46,542 --> 02:27:49,542
the other foot. Thank you,

4326
02:27:49,845 --> 02:27:51,460
MADAM PRESIDENT.

4327
02:27:51,460 --> 02:27:53,446
>> Senator Favola, the senator

4328
02:27:53,782 --> 02:27:55,782
from Arlington.

4329
02:27:55,917 --> 02:27:58,317
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4330
02:27:58,487 --> 02:28:00,890
MADAM PRESIDENT, I rise to

4331
02:28:00,890 --> 02:28:02,958
speak in support of the House

4332
02:28:02,958 --> 02:28:04,293
Joint Resolution Senator has

4333
02:28:04,293 --> 02:28:07,630
the floor. Thank you, MADAM

4334
02:28:07,630 --> 02:28:09,131
PRESIDENT. To my colleagues on

4335
02:28:09,131 --> 02:28:11,634
the other side of the aisle,

4336
02:28:11,634 --> 02:28:14,303
one of the one of the common

4337
02:28:14,303 --> 02:28:16,720
themes of all your remarks is

4338
02:28:16,720 --> 02:28:19,720
well intentioned as they might

4339
02:28:19,142 --> 02:28:22,278
be had this ring of fear. And I

4340
02:28:22,278 --> 02:28:24,414
say to you, that is not what

4341
02:28:24,414 --> 02:28:26,949
this resolution is about. This

4342
02:28:26,949 --> 02:28:29,585
is a resolution of hope and

4343
02:28:29,585 --> 02:28:32,288
empowerment. We should never be

4344
02:28:32,288 --> 02:28:35,288
afraid of giving voters another

4345
02:28:36,592 --> 02:28:38,992
opportunity to voice their

4346
02:28:39,950 --> 02:28:41,164
concerns. That's what this is.

4347
02:28:41,164 --> 02:28:43,990
We're not redrawing anything

4348
02:28:43,990 --> 02:28:45,368
today. We're not doing anything

4349
02:28:45,368 --> 02:28:47,700
magical. We're saying to voters,

4350
02:28:47,700 --> 02:28:49,406
if this goes through the

4351
02:28:49,406 --> 02:28:50,306
process we have laid out and

4352
02:28:50,306 --> 02:28:52,309
we've explained that multiple

4353
02:28:52,309 --> 02:28:53,343
times, should the

4354
02:28:53,343 --> 02:28:55,110
constitutional amendment go

4355
02:28:55,110 --> 02:28:57,481
before the voters, they will

4356
02:28:57,481 --> 02:28:58,982
have the final say. We are in

4357
02:28:58,982 --> 02:29:01,184
no way undermining the

4358
02:29:01,184 --> 02:29:04,354
principles that all of us have

4359
02:29:04,354 --> 02:29:06,757
stood for over time. All of us.

4360
02:29:06,757 --> 02:29:09,193
I just think we need to point

4361
02:29:09,193 --> 02:29:12,793
out that part of our democracy

4362
02:29:13,630 --> 02:29:15,298
is actually holding lawmakers

4363
02:29:15,298 --> 02:29:18,350
accountable, and part of our

4364
02:29:18,350 --> 02:29:19,636
role is defending Virginians.

4365
02:29:19,636 --> 02:29:22,439
And those are two really

4366
02:29:22,439 --> 02:29:24,141
important jobs that we must

4367
02:29:24,141 --> 02:29:24,908
embrace. We were given the

4368
02:29:24,908 --> 02:29:26,908
constitutional authority to

4369
02:29:28,712 --> 02:29:29,580
embrace, and we need to do that.

4370
02:29:29,580 --> 02:29:31,415
And in terms of the

4371
02:29:31,415 --> 02:29:32,316
accountability piece, I mean,

4372
02:29:32,316 --> 02:29:34,385
we have a PRESIDENT Who went

4373
02:29:34,385 --> 02:29:36,187
out and actually said, people

4374
02:29:36,187 --> 02:29:38,189
who disagree with me are my

4375
02:29:38,189 --> 02:29:40,191
enemy. And why don't you

4376
02:29:40,191 --> 02:29:42,360
Republican states go ahead and

4377
02:29:42,360 --> 02:29:44,395
silence those voices, silence

4378
02:29:44,395 --> 02:29:46,164
the voices who disagree with my

4379
02:29:46,164 --> 02:29:48,199
policies, even though those

4380
02:29:48,199 --> 02:29:49,634
policies are harmful, they're

4381
02:29:49,634 --> 02:29:51,369
harmful to millions of

4382
02:29:51,369 --> 02:29:53,769
Americans, and they're harmful

4383
02:29:54,500 --> 02:29:56,405
to Virginians. They're harmful.

4384
02:29:56,641 --> 02:29:58,510
We have to remember, the

4385
02:29:58,510 --> 02:30:00,411
federal government is a strong

4386
02:30:00,411 --> 02:30:03,810
fiscal partner. It used to be

4387
02:30:03,810 --> 02:30:04,115
it used to be a strong fiscal

4388
02:30:04,115 --> 02:30:07,115
partner with Virginia and a

4389
02:30:07,318 --> 02:30:09,787
number of states. Our Medicaid

4390
02:30:09,787 --> 02:30:11,787
expansion dollars, we're

4391
02:30:12,223 --> 02:30:13,725
getting 90% of the costs of

4392
02:30:13,725 --> 02:30:16,125
that from the federal

4393
02:30:17,362 --> 02:30:19,264
government, nearly 700,000

4394
02:30:19,264 --> 02:30:20,999
working Americans have health

4395
02:30:20,999 --> 02:30:23,399
insurance because the federal

4396
02:30:23,568 --> 02:30:24,569
government was willing to

4397
02:30:24,569 --> 02:30:26,569
incentivize states to

4398
02:30:28,373 --> 02:30:30,420
participate. Those are for

4399
02:30:30,420 --> 02:30:32,244
Virginians who are benefiting

4400
02:30:32,244 --> 02:30:33,412
from this. When we decided to

4401
02:30:33,412 --> 02:30:35,412
participate in Medicaid

4402
02:30:37,516 --> 02:30:38,584
expansion in 2016, I think when

4403
02:30:38,584 --> 02:30:40,984
we actually got everything

4404
02:30:41,286 --> 02:30:43,686
implemented, we expected about

4405
02:30:43,989 --> 02:30:45,224
$2 billion in economic activity

4406
02:30:45,224 --> 02:30:47,920
to flow through the

4407
02:30:47,920 --> 02:30:49,492
Commonwealth. That meant new

4408
02:30:50,463 --> 02:30:52,531
jobs. That meant more access to

4409
02:30:52,531 --> 02:30:54,133
health care, especially in our

4410
02:30:54,133 --> 02:30:55,434
areas that are underserved.

4411
02:30:55,434 --> 02:30:57,670
Many many of you across the

4412
02:30:57,670 --> 02:30:59,238
aisle are representing those

4413
02:30:59,238 --> 02:31:00,606
areas that are underserved. We

4414
02:31:00,606 --> 02:31:03,609
wanted to stand with you, and

4415
02:31:03,609 --> 02:31:04,810
we did, and we led the way so

4416
02:31:04,810 --> 02:31:07,210
Virginians could get health

4417
02:31:07,413 --> 02:31:08,948
care. But again, the federal

4418
02:31:08,948 --> 02:31:11,948
government was a strong fiscal

4419
02:31:12,118 --> 02:31:13,986
partner. I do want to say snap,

4420
02:31:13,986 --> 02:31:16,986
okay, we know those benefits

4421
02:31:17,857 --> 02:31:19,726
are paid for by the federal

4422
02:31:19,726 --> 02:31:21,726
government. 800,000 Virginians

4423
02:31:21,962 --> 02:31:24,970
receive Snap benefits, and now

4424
02:31:24,970 --> 02:31:26,266
they're all at risk. All of

4425
02:31:26,266 --> 02:31:29,680
them are food banks are just

4426
02:31:29,680 --> 02:31:31,905
overflowing with demand. How do

4427
02:31:31,905 --> 02:31:34,107
you think people feel who need

4428
02:31:34,107 --> 02:31:36,209
these programs to support their

4429
02:31:36,209 --> 02:31:38,311
families, to gain financial

4430
02:31:38,311 --> 02:31:40,514
security, to stand on their own,

4431
02:31:40,514 --> 02:31:42,820
which is what we all want,

4432
02:31:42,820 --> 02:31:44,482
right? Self-Reliance. We've all

4433
02:31:44,917 --> 02:31:47,540
had speeches on that. The

4434
02:31:47,540 --> 02:31:49,222
programs that are being cut by

4435
02:31:49,222 --> 02:31:50,290
PRESIDENT Trump and his

4436
02:31:50,290 --> 02:31:52,290
Republican allies are

4437
02:31:52,826 --> 02:31:54,261
undermining the financial

4438
02:31:54,261 --> 02:31:56,661
security of hundreds of

4439
02:31:57,197 --> 02:31:59,233
thousands of Virginians. How do

4440
02:31:59,233 --> 02:32:00,167
you think they feel when the

4441
02:32:00,167 --> 02:32:02,803
PRESIDENT Goes out and says,

4442
02:32:02,803 --> 02:32:03,370
people who disagree with me, I

4443
02:32:03,370 --> 02:32:05,205
don't want to hear about it.

4444
02:32:05,205 --> 02:32:07,207
People who disagree with me, I

4445
02:32:07,207 --> 02:32:08,208
don't want to hear their voices.

4446
02:32:08,208 --> 02:32:10,711
I want my policies, quote,

4447
02:32:10,711 --> 02:32:13,470
PRESIDENT Trump. I want them to

4448
02:32:13,470 --> 02:32:15,149
continue. This is all about

4449
02:32:15,149 --> 02:32:17,549
cutting the Social Security

4450
02:32:18,319 --> 02:32:19,620
safety net or the safety net.

4451
02:32:19,620 --> 02:32:21,656
That's what this was about.

4452
02:32:21,656 --> 02:32:24,225
They gave big, big tax cuts to

4453
02:32:24,225 --> 02:32:25,826
the ultra wealthy. But ordinary

4454
02:32:25,826 --> 02:32:28,226
Virginians are struggling. Why

4455
02:32:28,796 --> 02:32:31,365
would we not give Virginians

4456
02:32:31,365 --> 02:32:34,335
the opportunity after this very

4457
02:32:34,335 --> 02:32:36,137
measured process goes through

4458
02:32:36,137 --> 02:32:38,139
all the hoops that have been

4459
02:32:38,139 --> 02:32:41,750
laid out in our Constitution

4460
02:32:41,750 --> 02:32:43,211
and in our laws. Why would we

4461
02:32:43,211 --> 02:32:45,611
not give Virginians the

4462
02:32:46,800 --> 02:32:47,281
opportunity to voice their

4463
02:32:47,281 --> 02:32:49,617
concerns? There's no reason.

4464
02:32:49,617 --> 02:32:51,453
Don't be afraid. There's no

4465
02:32:51,453 --> 02:32:54,453
reason to not give individuals

4466
02:32:55,123 --> 02:32:57,725
that opportunity. None at all.

4467
02:32:57,725 --> 02:32:59,600
I'm not going to presuppose how

4468
02:32:59,600 --> 02:33:00,895
they'll vote. I don't know

4469
02:33:00,895 --> 02:33:03,231
what's going to happen in APRIL.

4470
02:33:03,231 --> 02:33:04,466
I never would have presumed

4471
02:33:04,466 --> 02:33:08,300
we'd be in the situation we're

4472
02:33:08,300 --> 02:33:10,304
in now, where the rule of law

4473
02:33:10,304 --> 02:33:13,675
no longer seems to be the

4474
02:33:13,675 --> 02:33:14,443
guiding principle, where our

4475
02:33:14,443 --> 02:33:17,145
Constitution is not honored by

4476
02:33:17,145 --> 02:33:19,447
federal lawmakers. I never

4477
02:33:19,447 --> 02:33:20,382
would have guessed we would be

4478
02:33:20,382 --> 02:33:22,284
in this situation. I have no

4479
02:33:22,284 --> 02:33:24,190
idea where we'll be in APRIL,

4480
02:33:24,190 --> 02:33:26,880
but I can tell you this the way

4481
02:33:26,880 --> 02:33:27,156
things are moving now, it's

4482
02:33:27,156 --> 02:33:29,156
important enough that

4483
02:33:29,258 --> 02:33:31,160
Virginians be able to weigh in

4484
02:33:31,160 --> 02:33:33,896
in APRIL. This is a very

4485
02:33:33,896 --> 02:33:36,296
measured, a very measured

4486
02:33:36,532 --> 02:33:38,000
policy that we would put before

4487
02:33:38,000 --> 02:33:40,603
them, very measured. And you

4488
02:33:40,603 --> 02:33:43,973
know that. So let's not be

4489
02:33:43,973 --> 02:33:45,875
fearful. Let's be hopeful.

4490
02:33:45,875 --> 02:33:47,875
Let's embrace our

4491
02:33:48,611 --> 02:33:50,813
responsibilities both to ensure

4492
02:33:50,813 --> 02:33:52,882
accountability and to fight for

4493
02:33:52,882 --> 02:33:54,250
our working Virginians. Let's

4494
02:33:54,250 --> 02:33:57,250
be proud. MADAM PRESIDENT, I

4495
02:33:57,720 --> 02:34:01,320
renew my motion that we support

4496
02:34:01,557 --> 02:34:02,992
this House joint resolution.

4497
02:34:02,992 --> 02:34:04,294
>> Senator Surovell, the

4498
02:34:04,294 --> 02:34:05,595
Senator from eastern Fairfax

4499
02:34:05,595 --> 02:34:07,397
County.

4500
02:34:07,397 --> 02:34:08,164
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4501
02:34:08,164 --> 02:34:10,366
Speaking to the motion.

4502
02:34:10,366 --> 02:34:11,334
>> Senator has the floor.

4503
02:34:11,334 --> 02:34:12,969
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4504
02:34:12,969 --> 02:34:14,104
I want to hit a couple of

4505
02:34:14,104 --> 02:34:15,305
things just to make sure our

4506
02:34:15,305 --> 02:34:17,407
record is clear. Then talk

4507
02:34:17,407 --> 02:34:19,376
about why we need to pass this.

4508
02:34:19,376 --> 02:34:20,243
So first of all, I know there's

4509
02:34:20,243 --> 02:34:22,212
been some chatter about some 90

4510
02:34:22,212 --> 02:34:23,380
day rule. Got really hot a few

4511
02:34:23,380 --> 02:34:25,615
days ago. Senator from

4512
02:34:25,615 --> 02:34:27,184
Rockingham and I had a little

4513
02:34:27,184 --> 02:34:30,530
colloquy about that where I

4514
02:34:30,530 --> 02:34:32,222
think I think I made clear that

4515
02:34:32,222 --> 02:34:34,357
this 90 day thing in the

4516
02:34:34,357 --> 02:34:36,927
Constitution is dates to the

4517
02:34:36,927 --> 02:34:39,960
Constitution of 1870, back when

4518
02:34:39,960 --> 02:34:40,197
people used to go to the

4519
02:34:40,197 --> 02:34:41,398
courthouse on their horse on

4520
02:34:41,398 --> 02:34:43,266
Saturday mornings to get their

4521
02:34:43,266 --> 02:34:44,902
news for what's going on in the

4522
02:34:44,902 --> 02:34:46,937
county. In 1971, that got

4523
02:34:46,937 --> 02:34:49,339
eliminated. And for some reason

4524
02:34:49,339 --> 02:34:51,108
it was they failed to eliminate

4525
02:34:51,108 --> 02:34:52,409
from the code because it was

4526
02:34:52,409 --> 02:34:55,279
parallel language in the code.

4527
02:34:55,279 --> 02:34:56,146
But just for the record, it's

4528
02:34:56,146 --> 02:34:58,282
important to note that last

4529
02:34:58,282 --> 02:34:59,450
last week we had a meeting of

4530
02:34:59,450 --> 02:35:01,318
this entity we created called

4531
02:35:01,318 --> 02:35:03,718
the Code Commission. Code

4532
02:35:04,155 --> 02:35:06,560
Commission had a meeting to

4533
02:35:06,560 --> 02:35:07,792
update and codify title 30.

4534
02:35:07,792 --> 02:35:08,993
That's the title that relates

4535
02:35:08,993 --> 02:35:11,950
to the General Assembly. And

4536
02:35:11,950 --> 02:35:12,630
one of the things the Code

4537
02:35:12,630 --> 02:35:15,300
Commission did was recommended

4538
02:35:15,733 --> 02:35:18,236
to delete section 3013 from the

4539
02:35:18,236 --> 02:35:19,103
Code of Virginia. And in the

4540
02:35:19,103 --> 02:35:21,380
drafting note that was handed

4541
02:35:21,380 --> 02:35:22,600
to the Code Commission before

4542
02:35:22,600 --> 02:35:23,507
they unanimously, and on a

4543
02:35:23,507 --> 02:35:24,275
bipartisan basis, voted to

4544
02:35:24,275 --> 02:35:26,310
remove this code section from

4545
02:35:26,310 --> 02:35:27,579
the code, which I've heard many

4546
02:35:27,579 --> 02:35:29,180
people saying is so important

4547
02:35:29,180 --> 02:35:30,915
and so critical to this

4548
02:35:30,915 --> 02:35:33,170
drafting note says this section

4549
02:35:33,170 --> 02:35:34,520
is proposed for repeal

4550
02:35:34,520 --> 02:35:35,153
provisions in the first

4551
02:35:35,153 --> 02:35:36,254
paragraph. In article four,

4552
02:35:36,254 --> 02:35:36,921
section seven and ten of

4553
02:35:36,921 --> 02:35:37,989
Constitution Virginia are

4554
02:35:37,989 --> 02:35:39,190
redundant provisions in the

4555
02:35:39,190 --> 02:35:40,325
second paragraph, which I just

4556
02:35:40,325 --> 02:35:42,293
talked about, predate the code

4557
02:35:42,293 --> 02:35:43,628
of 1919 and are not reflective

4558
02:35:43,628 --> 02:35:45,430
of the modern constitutional

4559
02:35:45,430 --> 02:35:46,231
amendment process. So in other

4560
02:35:46,231 --> 02:35:48,266
words, they recommended to

4561
02:35:48,266 --> 02:35:49,267
remove it from the code because

4562
02:35:49,267 --> 02:35:50,735
it's not consistent with the

4563
02:35:50,735 --> 02:35:53,135
Constitution. In other words,

4564
02:35:53,205 --> 02:35:54,973
it's not constitutional. And so

4565
02:35:54,973 --> 02:35:57,242
when we meet in JANUARY and we

4566
02:35:57,242 --> 02:35:58,543
codify title 30, we're going to

4567
02:35:58,543 --> 02:36:00,450
be deleting that code section

4568
02:36:00,450 --> 02:36:01,246
from the code unless members of

4569
02:36:01,246 --> 02:36:03,282
the code commission and I would

4570
02:36:03,282 --> 02:36:04,850
note, including the minority

4571
02:36:04,850 --> 02:36:06,652
leader, choose to change his

4572
02:36:06,652 --> 02:36:08,620
vote. MADAM PRESIDENT, I'll

4573
02:36:08,620 --> 02:36:10,620
yield.

4574
02:36:10,622 --> 02:36:11,123
>> Senator from Hanover has the

4575
02:36:11,123 --> 02:36:12,991
floor.

4576
02:36:12,991 --> 02:36:14,259
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I heard my

4577
02:36:14,259 --> 02:36:16,395
name used in vain, so I thought

4578
02:36:16,395 --> 02:36:18,297
I'd better rise for a question.

4579
02:36:18,297 --> 02:36:20,232
Does the gentleman. Is the

4580
02:36:20,232 --> 02:36:22,968
gentleman aware that the Code

4581
02:36:22,968 --> 02:36:24,269
Commission operates on? Well,

4582
02:36:24,269 --> 02:36:26,305
is gentleman aware that the

4583
02:36:26,305 --> 02:36:28,740
Code Commission did not take a

4584
02:36:28,740 --> 02:36:29,942
final vote at that meeting? And

4585
02:36:29,942 --> 02:36:31,444
there were a number of changes

4586
02:36:31,444 --> 02:36:33,145
suggested, and it was in

4587
02:36:33,145 --> 02:36:34,914
concept. And the return, the

4588
02:36:34,914 --> 02:36:36,148
final version back for review

4589
02:36:36,148 --> 02:36:38,117
at our next meeting.

4590
02:36:38,117 --> 02:36:38,384
>> Senator Surovell has the

4591
02:36:38,384 --> 02:36:40,860
floor now.

4592
02:36:40,860 --> 02:36:41,120
>> I've never served on the

4593
02:36:41,120 --> 02:36:42,288
code commission. Senator

4594
02:36:42,288 --> 02:36:44,189
Edwards always wanted it to be

4595
02:36:44,189 --> 02:36:46,192
his. He would never let any of

4596
02:36:46,192 --> 02:36:47,326
us play with his toys, so I've

4597
02:36:47,326 --> 02:36:48,928
never served there. But I

4598
02:36:48,928 --> 02:36:50,330
checked with staff. It was my

4599
02:36:50,330 --> 02:36:51,297
understanding from staff that

4600
02:36:51,297 --> 02:36:52,298
there was a unanimous vote

4601
02:36:52,298 --> 02:36:53,266
taken to support that

4602
02:36:53,266 --> 02:36:54,233
recommendation, to remove it

4603
02:36:54,233 --> 02:36:55,602
from the code.

4604
02:36:55,602 --> 02:36:56,936
>> Senator from Hanover.

4605
02:36:56,936 --> 02:36:58,438
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, so I ask

4606
02:36:58,438 --> 02:37:01,307
the gentleman again. So were

4607
02:37:01,307 --> 02:37:03,900
you not aware that it was a in

4608
02:37:03,900 --> 02:37:05,612
concept and the final version

4609
02:37:05,612 --> 02:37:06,312
has not yet been produced to

4610
02:37:06,312 --> 02:37:08,147
return back to the code

4611
02:37:08,147 --> 02:37:09,349
Commission or and are you not

4612
02:37:09,349 --> 02:37:10,150
aware that there's no bill

4613
02:37:10,150 --> 02:37:12,118
that's actually been proposed

4614
02:37:12,118 --> 02:37:12,352
or introduced to be moved

4615
02:37:12,352 --> 02:37:13,553
forward?

4616
02:37:13,553 --> 02:37:14,421
>> Senator. Surovell.

4617
02:37:14,421 --> 02:37:15,655
>> First of all, MADAM

4618
02:37:15,655 --> 02:37:17,557
PRESIDENT, I yield.

4619
02:37:17,557 --> 02:37:19,957
>> That is correct, Senator.

4620
02:37:20,961 --> 02:37:23,163
>> And secondly, I'm not aware

4621
02:37:23,163 --> 02:37:25,980
of the specifics of the actions.

4622
02:37:25,980 --> 02:37:26,266
All I'm aware of is that staff

4623
02:37:26,266 --> 02:37:27,935
told me there was a unanimous

4624
02:37:27,935 --> 02:37:29,200
vote taken to support that

4625
02:37:29,200 --> 02:37:30,137
recommendation, which I just

4626
02:37:30,137 --> 02:37:31,672
stated. That's my understanding.

4627
02:37:31,672 --> 02:37:33,340
But I wasn't there. You were.

4628
02:37:33,340 --> 02:37:33,974
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would the

4629
02:37:33,974 --> 02:37:34,241
Senator yield for additional

4630
02:37:34,241 --> 02:37:36,210
questions?

4631
02:37:36,210 --> 02:37:37,477
>> Will the Senator yield? And

4632
02:37:37,477 --> 02:37:39,790
has everybody had been running

4633
02:37:39,790 --> 02:37:41,282
roughshod over the rules? I

4634
02:37:41,282 --> 02:37:42,182
decided to just let it be.

4635
02:37:42,182 --> 02:37:43,551
>> It's all good, MADAM

4636
02:37:43,551 --> 02:37:44,185
PRESIDENT. It's been a long

4637
02:37:44,185 --> 02:37:45,419
debate. I yield.

4638
02:37:45,419 --> 02:37:46,220
>> The Senator yields. Senator

4639
02:37:46,220 --> 02:37:47,955
from Hanover has the floor.

4640
02:37:47,955 --> 02:37:50,570
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4641
02:37:50,570 --> 02:37:52,457
MADAM PRESIDENT, was the

4642
02:37:52,593 --> 02:37:54,295
Senator aware that the then

4643
02:37:54,295 --> 02:37:55,529
Democratic clerk of the House

4644
02:37:55,529 --> 02:37:57,970
of delegates, Suzette Denslow,

4645
02:37:57,970 --> 02:37:59,166
on the last constitutional

4646
02:37:59,166 --> 02:38:01,102
amendment, sent a letter that

4647
02:38:01,102 --> 02:38:02,937
would comport with that code

4648
02:38:02,937 --> 02:38:04,138
section for which was not

4649
02:38:04,138 --> 02:38:06,730
presented by staff to the

4650
02:38:06,730 --> 02:38:08,800
members of the Code Commission

4651
02:38:08,800 --> 02:38:10,177
for their discussion or debate.

4652
02:38:10,177 --> 02:38:11,446
>> Senator from eastern Fairfax

4653
02:38:11,446 --> 02:38:12,280
County.

4654
02:38:12,280 --> 02:38:13,948
>> I've seen a letter

4655
02:38:13,948 --> 02:38:15,183
circulated on Twitter. I

4656
02:38:15,183 --> 02:38:16,918
haven't talked with MISS

4657
02:38:16,918 --> 02:38:18,553
Denslow to find out if she did

4658
02:38:18,553 --> 02:38:20,155
that or not in the brief time

4659
02:38:20,155 --> 02:38:21,289
she served as clerk. But I've

4660
02:38:21,289 --> 02:38:22,190
also heard that clerk Nadeau

4661
02:38:22,190 --> 02:38:24,125
says that's not something he

4662
02:38:24,125 --> 02:38:26,261
does, but this is all hearsay.

4663
02:38:26,261 --> 02:38:28,630
I've read on on the internet.

4664
02:38:28,630 --> 02:38:29,197
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would the

4665
02:38:29,197 --> 02:38:29,464
Senator yield for additional

4666
02:38:29,464 --> 02:38:31,366
question?

4667
02:38:31,366 --> 02:38:33,168
>> Additional question? Senator

4668
02:38:33,168 --> 02:38:34,202
Surovell sure. I'll yield.

4669
02:38:34,202 --> 02:38:36,602
Senator yields. The senator

4670
02:38:36,805 --> 02:38:37,439
from Hanover has the floor.

4671
02:38:37,439 --> 02:38:39,839
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4672
02:38:40,241 --> 02:38:43,445
I'd ask the Senator if he is

4673
02:38:43,445 --> 02:38:45,247
aware of the fact that any sort

4674
02:38:45,247 --> 02:38:47,490
of communication of that form,

4675
02:38:47,490 --> 02:38:50,385
or the fact that it still was

4676
02:38:50,385 --> 02:38:52,200
presented in the last 40 years,

4677
02:38:52,200 --> 02:38:53,188
that information was not

4678
02:38:53,188 --> 02:38:55,588
presented at the Code

4679
02:38:55,958 --> 02:38:57,759
Commission in its discussion by

4680
02:38:57,759 --> 02:38:59,395
staff or members of the

4681
02:38:59,395 --> 02:39:02,395
committee prior to its last

4682
02:39:02,765 --> 02:39:03,933
meeting, but has been presented

4683
02:39:03,933 --> 02:39:05,601
since the last meeting.

4684
02:39:05,601 --> 02:39:07,202
>> Senator Surovell.

4685
02:39:07,202 --> 02:39:08,504
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'm not a

4686
02:39:08,504 --> 02:39:10,500
member of the AUGUST Code

4687
02:39:10,500 --> 02:39:11,140
Commission. I'm not aware of

4688
02:39:11,140 --> 02:39:12,407
what's been presented, what

4689
02:39:12,407 --> 02:39:13,342
hasn't. But I do know is that

4690
02:39:13,342 --> 02:39:15,411
the Constitution of Virginia

4691
02:39:15,411 --> 02:39:15,845
was changed to delete this

4692
02:39:15,845 --> 02:39:17,413
requirement and that

4693
02:39:17,413 --> 02:39:19,480
publication, 90 days in advance

4694
02:39:19,480 --> 02:39:20,216
of this election is not

4695
02:39:20,216 --> 02:39:21,450
constitutional mandate like it

4696
02:39:21,450 --> 02:39:23,620
formerly was. And therefore

4697
02:39:23,620 --> 02:39:24,820
anything in the code saying

4698
02:39:24,820 --> 02:39:25,588
that I would think is

4699
02:39:25,588 --> 02:39:27,230
unconstitutional.

4700
02:39:27,230 --> 02:39:28,291
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, with

4701
02:39:28,291 --> 02:39:28,557
Senator yield for additional

4702
02:39:28,557 --> 02:39:29,859
question.

4703
02:39:29,859 --> 02:39:31,600
>> Additional questions.

4704
02:39:31,600 --> 02:39:33,620
Senator Surovell, sir. Senator

4705
02:39:33,620 --> 02:39:34,297
yields the Senator from Hanover.

4706
02:39:34,297 --> 02:39:35,531
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, does the

4707
02:39:35,531 --> 02:39:37,266
Senator concede that this

4708
02:39:37,266 --> 02:39:39,936
provision has been in the Code

4709
02:39:39,936 --> 02:39:42,405
of Virginia at least since that

4710
02:39:42,405 --> 02:39:44,240
1971 constitutional revision?

4711
02:39:44,240 --> 02:39:44,440
>> Senator Surovell has the

4712
02:39:44,440 --> 02:39:45,175
floor.

4713
02:39:45,175 --> 02:39:46,309
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would

4714
02:39:46,309 --> 02:39:48,144
agree that there have been

4715
02:39:48,144 --> 02:39:49,790
versions of it. It's been

4716
02:39:49,790 --> 02:39:51,247
recodified a couple of times as

4717
02:39:51,247 --> 02:39:52,349
different sort of ministerial

4718
02:39:52,349 --> 02:39:54,840
changes were made to it that

4719
02:39:54,840 --> 02:39:56,860
related to other code sections

4720
02:39:56,860 --> 02:39:57,187
through time, at least in my

4721
02:39:57,187 --> 02:39:58,121
review of the legislative

4722
02:39:58,121 --> 02:39:59,220
history. So some version of it,

4723
02:39:59,220 --> 02:40:00,323
yes.

4724
02:40:00,323 --> 02:40:02,125
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would,

4725
02:40:02,125 --> 02:40:02,392
Senator yield for additional

4726
02:40:02,392 --> 02:40:04,392
question?

4727
02:40:04,461 --> 02:40:05,462
>> Another question, Senator

4728
02:40:05,462 --> 02:40:06,463
Surovell. Sure. Senator yields

4729
02:40:06,463 --> 02:40:08,980
Senator from Hanover.

4730
02:40:08,980 --> 02:40:09,266
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, would the

4731
02:40:09,266 --> 02:40:11,935
Senator agree that he's either

4732
02:40:11,935 --> 02:40:15,205
been in the House or Senate for

4733
02:40:15,205 --> 02:40:17,205
approximately 18 years now?

4734
02:40:17,374 --> 02:40:19,374
>> Senator Surovell.

4735
02:40:20,544 --> 02:40:22,312
>> No, it's been about 16 years.

4736
02:40:22,312 --> 02:40:24,882
Might seem like 18 years, but

4737
02:40:24,882 --> 02:40:27,117
it's only been 16. Okay.

4738
02:40:27,117 --> 02:40:28,152
>> So, MADAM PRESIDENT, with

4739
02:40:28,152 --> 02:40:28,619
the senator, yield for

4740
02:40:28,619 --> 02:40:29,753
additional questions.

4741
02:40:29,753 --> 02:40:30,287
>> Additional questions.

4742
02:40:30,287 --> 02:40:32,156
Senator Surovell. Senator

4743
02:40:32,156 --> 02:40:33,390
yields. Senator from Hanover.

4744
02:40:33,390 --> 02:40:36,260
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I would ask

4745
02:40:36,260 --> 02:40:37,361
that in those 16 years of his

4746
02:40:37,361 --> 02:40:39,997
service in either the House or

4747
02:40:39,997 --> 02:40:41,632
Senate, has he ever introduced

4748
02:40:41,632 --> 02:40:43,968
legislation to remove this code

4749
02:40:43,968 --> 02:40:45,169
section from the Code of

4750
02:40:45,169 --> 02:40:48,406
Virginia that he does not now

4751
02:40:48,406 --> 02:40:50,341
feel should be followed by the

4752
02:40:50,341 --> 02:40:52,410
ministerial members of this

4753
02:40:52,410 --> 02:40:54,545
body or the clerks across the

4754
02:40:54,545 --> 02:40:55,379
Commonwealth of Virginia?

4755
02:40:55,379 --> 02:40:57,150
>> Senator Surovell has the

4756
02:40:57,150 --> 02:40:58,283
floor.

4757
02:40:58,283 --> 02:41:00,510
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, first of

4758
02:41:00,510 --> 02:41:03,387
all, I'd say to the senator,

4759
02:41:03,387 --> 02:41:04,922
don't tempt me. I'd like to put

4760
02:41:04,922 --> 02:41:07,325
in lots of bills. Number one.

4761
02:41:07,325 --> 02:41:08,993
Number two, this would be the

4762
02:41:08,993 --> 02:41:10,895
perfect kind of bill I would

4763
02:41:10,895 --> 02:41:13,264
put in if we didn't have bill

4764
02:41:13,264 --> 02:41:14,232
limits. And number three, MADAM

4765
02:41:14,232 --> 02:41:16,167
PRESIDENT, we have the bodies

4766
02:41:16,167 --> 02:41:18,736
like the Code Commission to

4767
02:41:18,736 --> 02:41:20,472
take care of sweeping out

4768
02:41:20,472 --> 02:41:21,506
unnecessary code provisions

4769
02:41:21,506 --> 02:41:23,141
like this when they recodified

4770
02:41:23,141 --> 02:41:25,577
titles, which is what they've

4771
02:41:25,577 --> 02:41:26,377
proposed to do. So I don't

4772
02:41:26,377 --> 02:41:28,800
think that's necessary. And no,

4773
02:41:28,800 --> 02:41:29,414
I haven't put that bill in.

4774
02:41:29,414 --> 02:41:31,414
>> Senator from Hanover.

4775
02:41:31,750 --> 02:41:32,317
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4776
02:41:32,317 --> 02:41:34,717
MADAM PRESIDENT, maybe this

4777
02:41:35,587 --> 02:41:37,890
will be the final question. Ask

4778
02:41:37,890 --> 02:41:40,492
the Senator if he's aware of

4779
02:41:40,492 --> 02:41:43,328
the letter dated APRIL 9th,

4780
02:41:43,328 --> 02:41:45,640
2019, from a g. Paul Nadeau on

4781
02:41:45,640 --> 02:41:46,298
the House of delegates

4782
02:41:46,298 --> 02:41:48,200
letterhead, addressed to clerks

4783
02:41:48,200 --> 02:41:49,935
of the Circuit Court,

4784
02:41:49,935 --> 02:41:51,470
referencing proposed amendments

4785
02:41:51,470 --> 02:41:54,390
to the Constitution of Virginia

4786
02:41:54,390 --> 02:41:57,209
for posting. That reads, as you

4787
02:41:57,209 --> 02:41:58,244
MAY be aware, code section 3013

4788
02:41:58,244 --> 02:42:00,120
of the Code of Virginia directs

4789
02:42:00,120 --> 02:42:01,547
the clerk of the House of

4790
02:42:01,547 --> 02:42:02,815
delegates to have published all

4791
02:42:02,815 --> 02:42:04,383
proposed amendments to the

4792
02:42:04,383 --> 02:42:06,783
Constitution of Virginia in

4793
02:42:07,887 --> 02:42:10,220
fulfillment of that statutory

4794
02:42:10,220 --> 02:42:11,824
requirement. Please find below

4795
02:42:11,824 --> 02:42:12,992
links to the five proposed

4796
02:42:12,992 --> 02:42:14,260
constitutional amendments to

4797
02:42:14,260 --> 02:42:16,329
the Constitution of Virginia

4798
02:42:16,329 --> 02:42:17,463
that were agreed to by the

4799
02:42:17,463 --> 02:42:19,980
General Assembly. They're

4800
02:42:19,980 --> 02:42:20,933
listed, and at the end, he

4801
02:42:20,933 --> 02:42:22,168
thanks them for their

4802
02:42:22,168 --> 02:42:24,568
cooperation in this matter.

4803
02:42:25,939 --> 02:42:29,175
Were you aware that the House

4804
02:42:29,175 --> 02:42:30,760
clerk, Nadeau, did send a

4805
02:42:30,760 --> 02:42:32,178
letter to that effect? Because

4806
02:42:32,178 --> 02:42:34,814
I think you indicated he had

4807
02:42:34,814 --> 02:42:36,150
never sent one. So you're aware

4808
02:42:36,150 --> 02:42:38,150
of that 2019 letter?

4809
02:42:38,585 --> 02:42:39,686
>> There's a senator first

4810
02:42:39,686 --> 02:42:41,254
yield.

4811
02:42:41,254 --> 02:42:42,989
>> Yeah. I'll yield.

4812
02:42:42,989 --> 02:42:43,223
>> And does the senator wish to

4813
02:42:43,223 --> 02:42:45,125
respond?

4814
02:42:45,125 --> 02:42:47,361
>> Sure. I'll be happy to

4815
02:42:47,361 --> 02:42:48,695
answer again. I haven't I don't

4816
02:42:48,695 --> 02:42:50,664
talk to Clerk Nadeau a whole

4817
02:42:50,664 --> 02:42:52,365
lot anymore. Ever since I left

4818
02:42:52,365 --> 02:42:54,401
the other body, I run run into

4819
02:42:54,401 --> 02:42:56,336
him every once in a while. But

4820
02:42:56,336 --> 02:42:57,337
I did read, I believe, either

4821
02:42:57,337 --> 02:42:59,138
on Twitter and a newspaper

4822
02:42:59,138 --> 02:43:00,440
story or somewhere, that the

4823
02:43:00,440 --> 02:43:01,508
speaker spoke with Clerk Nadeau

4824
02:43:01,508 --> 02:43:03,477
about whether he does this

4825
02:43:03,477 --> 02:43:05,877
regularly, and he indicated

4826
02:43:06,646 --> 02:43:07,181
that he did not. So that was my

4827
02:43:07,181 --> 02:43:09,581
understanding of what the

4828
02:43:09,816 --> 02:43:12,816
public record was. I'm not

4829
02:43:12,853 --> 02:43:14,688
familiar with that letter.

4830
02:43:14,688 --> 02:43:16,290
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I thank the

4831
02:43:16,290 --> 02:43:18,292
Senator and I hope that he'll

4832
02:43:18,292 --> 02:43:20,961
go back and look at that letter

4833
02:43:20,961 --> 02:43:22,496
from MR. Nadeau from 2019 so he

4834
02:43:22,496 --> 02:43:22,929
could familiarize himself with

4835
02:43:22,929 --> 02:43:24,929
it.

4836
02:43:25,990 --> 02:43:26,330
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4837
02:43:26,330 --> 02:43:27,101
MAY I resume.

4838
02:43:27,101 --> 02:43:28,168
>> Senator MAY continue.

4839
02:43:28,168 --> 02:43:29,136
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

4840
02:43:29,136 --> 02:43:31,536
Ladies, gentlemen. So in

4841
02:43:32,206 --> 02:43:33,374
addition to the this 90 day

4842
02:43:33,374 --> 02:43:34,575
requirement that we're in the

4843
02:43:34,575 --> 02:43:35,309
process of repealing right now,

4844
02:43:35,309 --> 02:43:37,945
that hasn't been in our

4845
02:43:37,945 --> 02:43:39,313
Constitution for over 54 years.

4846
02:43:39,313 --> 02:43:41,181
There was also some talk about

4847
02:43:41,181 --> 02:43:43,184
early voting. And when that

4848
02:43:43,184 --> 02:43:45,453
began and I while I was sitting

4849
02:43:45,453 --> 02:43:46,421
here, I pulled an article from

4850
02:43:46,421 --> 02:43:48,189
2009 written by James Alcorn in

4851
02:43:48,189 --> 02:43:50,589
the Richmond Public Interest

4852
02:43:51,426 --> 02:43:52,159
Law Review, in which MR. Alcorn

4853
02:43:52,159 --> 02:43:55,159
notes the history of absentee

4854
02:43:55,229 --> 02:43:56,231
voting in Virginia. And he said,

4855
02:43:56,231 --> 02:43:58,766
first of all, it dates back to

4856
02:43:58,766 --> 02:43:59,901
the Civil War, when the members

4857
02:43:59,901 --> 02:44:01,690
of the Virginia Confederate

4858
02:44:01,690 --> 02:44:03,438
Armed Services, absent from

4859
02:44:03,438 --> 02:44:04,573
their homes because of the

4860
02:44:04,573 --> 02:44:05,974
presence of the public enemy,

4861
02:44:05,974 --> 02:44:07,342
were permitted to vote absentee.

4862
02:44:07,342 --> 02:44:10,450
So that's when it started in

4863
02:44:10,450 --> 02:44:11,212
our state was in the Civil War.

4864
02:44:11,212 --> 02:44:13,448
Then it talks about how

4865
02:44:13,448 --> 02:44:15,183
absentee voting became more

4866
02:44:15,183 --> 02:44:16,718
widespread when we allowed

4867
02:44:16,718 --> 02:44:19,718
soldiers during World War One

4868
02:44:21,156 --> 02:44:22,324
to vote absentee, and then

4869
02:44:22,324 --> 02:44:23,124
other states questioned the

4870
02:44:23,124 --> 02:44:25,124
constitutionality of absentee

4871
02:44:25,160 --> 02:44:27,228
voting, but was upheld by the

4872
02:44:27,228 --> 02:44:29,398
Supreme Court of Virginia in

4873
02:44:29,398 --> 02:44:31,300
1928 1928. This has been going

4874
02:44:31,300 --> 02:44:32,167
on. People have been you know

4875
02:44:32,167 --> 02:44:34,336
what? People have been voting

4876
02:44:34,336 --> 02:44:36,238
before, before Election day,

4877
02:44:36,238 --> 02:44:38,638
since 1928, since 1864. Can you

4878
02:44:40,420 --> 02:44:42,377
believe that? This early voting

4879
02:44:42,377 --> 02:44:44,313
folks, is not a new thing? And

4880
02:44:44,313 --> 02:44:45,214
stop telling the voters it's a

4881
02:44:45,214 --> 02:44:47,490
new thing and stop pretending

4882
02:44:47,490 --> 02:44:48,984
like it's a new thing. It's not

4883
02:44:48,984 --> 02:44:52,584
new at all. It's over, what,

4884
02:44:53,956 --> 02:44:55,224
160 years old now? Now, MADAM

4885
02:44:55,224 --> 02:44:57,227
PRESIDENT, I'll make sure that

4886
02:44:57,227 --> 02:45:00,329
the record is clear on that.

4887
02:45:00,329 --> 02:45:02,640
Now, with regard to this

4888
02:45:02,640 --> 02:45:04,640
underlying amendment, there's

4889
02:45:05,167 --> 02:45:07,970
been a lot of talk today about

4890
02:45:07,970 --> 02:45:09,271
about how we shouldn't get all

4891
02:45:09,271 --> 02:45:11,541
hot and bothered by what other

4892
02:45:11,541 --> 02:45:13,309
states are doing about or about

4893
02:45:13,309 --> 02:45:15,709
what the Trump administration

4894
02:45:15,879 --> 02:45:18,147
is doing to our state and to

4895
02:45:18,147 --> 02:45:19,983
our country. I take I take

4896
02:45:19,983 --> 02:45:22,180
offense at that. I didn't get

4897
02:45:22,180 --> 02:45:25,618
elected to this body just to

4898
02:45:27,157 --> 02:45:28,792
focus on. The the, you know,

4899
02:45:28,792 --> 02:45:30,930
local curiosities of what

4900
02:45:30,930 --> 02:45:33,129
happens in my, my, my little

4901
02:45:33,129 --> 02:45:34,630
community. Remember, I

4902
02:45:34,630 --> 02:45:36,700
represent the homes of George

4903
02:45:36,700 --> 02:45:38,680
Washington and George Mason.

4904
02:45:38,680 --> 02:45:40,700
George Mason wrote a document

4905
02:45:40,700 --> 02:45:41,304
that ended up being the first

4906
02:45:41,304 --> 02:45:43,373
declaration of rights that was

4907
02:45:43,373 --> 02:45:44,374
ever adopted in the world,

4908
02:45:44,374 --> 02:45:46,750
ended up being parroted all

4909
02:45:46,750 --> 02:45:48,770
across the country. George

4910
02:45:48,770 --> 02:45:49,179
Washington put his butt on the

4911
02:45:49,179 --> 02:45:51,682
line. He put his neck on the

4912
02:45:51,682 --> 02:45:52,816
line. He put he was one of the

4913
02:45:52,816 --> 02:45:54,151
wealthiest people in America.

4914
02:45:54,151 --> 02:45:55,619
He put everything on the line

4915
02:45:55,619 --> 02:45:57,888
because of what was happening

4916
02:45:57,888 --> 02:45:59,956
to what was then the colony of

4917
02:45:59,956 --> 02:46:02,125
Virginia, and then the people

4918
02:46:02,125 --> 02:46:04,561
of America. And what they

4919
02:46:04,561 --> 02:46:06,300
decided to do was take a stand

4920
02:46:06,300 --> 02:46:07,331
against monarchical tyranny.

4921
02:46:07,331 --> 02:46:09,533
They decided to take a stand

4922
02:46:09,533 --> 02:46:11,969
against somebody who thought he

4923
02:46:11,969 --> 02:46:13,470
was a king. Our state, you all

4924
02:46:13,470 --> 02:46:14,710
should remember. I think

4925
02:46:14,710 --> 02:46:15,639
everybody does remember where

4926
02:46:15,639 --> 02:46:17,274
the birthplace of American

4927
02:46:17,274 --> 02:46:19,900
democracy, Washington,

4928
02:46:19,900 --> 02:46:21,245
Jefferson, Madison, Mason, they

4929
02:46:21,245 --> 02:46:23,547
created a republic where people

4930
02:46:23,547 --> 02:46:25,148
would govern themselves through

4931
02:46:25,148 --> 02:46:27,148
fair representation, something

4932
02:46:28,585 --> 02:46:30,188
called democracy representation,

4933
02:46:30,188 --> 02:46:31,456
meaning people who vote get to

4934
02:46:31,456 --> 02:46:32,623
pick their elected officials

4935
02:46:32,623 --> 02:46:34,459
and their elected officials

4936
02:46:34,459 --> 02:46:36,361
make the government. That's a

4937
02:46:36,361 --> 02:46:38,761
founding principle of our

4938
02:46:39,297 --> 02:46:41,265
country. When Patrick Henry

4939
02:46:41,265 --> 02:46:43,100
said, give me liberty or give

4940
02:46:43,100 --> 02:46:44,535
me death in this Capitol, he

4941
02:46:44,535 --> 02:46:45,603
meant the liberty of these

4942
02:46:45,603 --> 02:46:46,938
people to choose their own

4943
02:46:46,938 --> 02:46:49,107
government, a government that

4944
02:46:49,107 --> 02:46:51,376
would make decisions for them.

4945
02:46:51,376 --> 02:46:52,760
And not the liberty of

4946
02:46:52,760 --> 02:46:53,144
political parties to rig

4947
02:46:53,144 --> 02:46:55,144
elections through

4948
02:46:55,347 --> 02:46:57,214
gerrymandering, to rig the

4949
02:46:57,214 --> 02:46:59,840
outcome of a national election.

4950
02:46:59,840 --> 02:47:01,820
That isn't what Patrick Henry

4951
02:47:01,820 --> 02:47:03,154
stood for right down the street

4952
02:47:03,154 --> 02:47:03,956
at Churchill when he said that.

4953
02:47:03,956 --> 02:47:05,900
When Jefferson wrote,

4954
02:47:05,900 --> 02:47:06,290
governments derive their just

4955
02:47:06,290 --> 02:47:07,893
powers from the consent of the

4956
02:47:07,893 --> 02:47:10,293
governed, he meant actual

4957
02:47:10,395 --> 02:47:11,129
consent, not consent that's

4958
02:47:11,129 --> 02:47:13,129
manufactured artificially by

4959
02:47:13,498 --> 02:47:15,467
some computer programs that

4960
02:47:15,467 --> 02:47:17,169
decide what a body is going to

4961
02:47:17,169 --> 02:47:19,569
look like. When Madison

4962
02:47:19,605 --> 02:47:20,405
designed our system of checks

4963
02:47:20,405 --> 02:47:21,306
and balances, he understood no

4964
02:47:21,306 --> 02:47:23,706
branch should be allowed

4965
02:47:24,710 --> 02:47:26,710
unchecked power. Gerrymandering

4966
02:47:30,215 --> 02:47:33,180
has broken that system. When

4967
02:47:33,180 --> 02:47:35,180
Virginians adopted our

4968
02:47:35,821 --> 02:47:37,223
redistricting system, this

4969
02:47:37,223 --> 02:47:39,223
amendment not independent

4970
02:47:39,425 --> 02:47:41,425
commission, not bipartisan

4971
02:47:41,494 --> 02:47:42,495
commission, not nonpartisan

4972
02:47:42,495 --> 02:47:45,495
commission, but when we adopted

4973
02:47:45,964 --> 02:47:48,234
it in good faith. Republican

4974
02:47:48,234 --> 02:47:51,234
controlled states have gone the

4975
02:47:52,104 --> 02:47:53,873
opposite direction. California

4976
02:47:53,873 --> 02:47:54,707
created a commission. New York

4977
02:47:54,707 --> 02:47:56,707
created a commission.

4978
02:47:57,643 --> 02:48:00,790
Republican states did not. And

4979
02:48:00,790 --> 02:48:02,248
when Virginians voted for this,

4980
02:48:02,248 --> 02:48:04,170
they did not envision what's

4981
02:48:04,170 --> 02:48:05,185
happening in our country today.

4982
02:48:05,185 --> 02:48:07,286
Nobody did because nobody

4983
02:48:07,286 --> 02:48:09,222
thought it was humanly possible.

4984
02:48:09,222 --> 02:48:11,357
Nobody thought that the

4985
02:48:11,357 --> 02:48:14,357
Republican Party would just hop

4986
02:48:14,527 --> 02:48:17,663
in line and not even fight back

4987
02:48:17,663 --> 02:48:19,663
against government tyranny.

4988
02:48:20,667 --> 02:48:21,267
Nobody envisioned a tyrant who

4989
02:48:21,267 --> 02:48:23,236
would ignore our constitution,

4990
02:48:23,236 --> 02:48:26,272
our law, on a daily basis. No

4991
02:48:26,272 --> 02:48:28,774
one. I never thought I'd see

4992
02:48:28,774 --> 02:48:31,378
the day when a Republican

4993
02:48:31,378 --> 02:48:33,246
PRESIDENT Enacts by fiat.

4994
02:48:33,246 --> 02:48:36,150
According to the economist. We

4995
02:48:36,150 --> 02:48:37,484
heard from at odu, from odu, at

4996
02:48:37,484 --> 02:48:38,118
the Senate Finance Committee

4997
02:48:38,118 --> 02:48:40,120
meeting just two weeks ago, the

4998
02:48:40,120 --> 02:48:41,287
largest tax increase as a

4999
02:48:41,287 --> 02:48:43,256
percentage of gdp in the last

5000
02:48:43,256 --> 02:48:44,910
50 years without a vote of

5001
02:48:44,910 --> 02:48:46,930
Congress. That's what the

5002
02:48:46,930 --> 02:48:47,294
tariffs are, folks. Make no

5003
02:48:47,294 --> 02:48:49,429
mistake, the largest tax

5004
02:48:49,429 --> 02:48:50,263
increase in the last 50 years,

5005
02:48:50,263 --> 02:48:53,990
the percentage of gdp. I

5006
02:48:53,990 --> 02:48:55,336
haven't heard a peep. Not a

5007
02:48:55,336 --> 02:48:56,270
peep out of a single Republican

5008
02:48:56,270 --> 02:48:58,205
in this state. I've heard about

5009
02:48:58,205 --> 02:49:00,410
it from Rand Paul. I've heard

5010
02:49:00,410 --> 02:49:01,208
about it from a few other

5011
02:49:01,208 --> 02:49:03,477
people that have the courage to

5012
02:49:03,477 --> 02:49:04,344
speak out. And I've heard a

5013
02:49:04,344 --> 02:49:05,212
bunch of rural Republicans that

5014
02:49:05,212 --> 02:49:06,380
are upset that they can't sell

5015
02:49:06,380 --> 02:49:08,215
their soybeans, that Trump's

5016
02:49:08,215 --> 02:49:09,350
trying to sell their cattle to

5017
02:49:09,350 --> 02:49:10,584
Argentina right now. But I

5018
02:49:10,584 --> 02:49:12,860
haven't heard a single thing

5019
02:49:12,860 --> 02:49:13,187
out of people who purport to

5020
02:49:13,187 --> 02:49:15,189
represent the rural people of

5021
02:49:15,189 --> 02:49:16,657
this state. While tariffs ruin

5022
02:49:16,657 --> 02:49:17,324
the economy, the largest tax

5023
02:49:17,324 --> 02:49:20,924
increase. So much for the party

5024
02:49:21,228 --> 02:49:24,699
of Reagan. But a tax increase

5025
02:49:24,699 --> 02:49:27,699
like that is taxation without

5026
02:49:28,236 --> 02:49:30,636
representation. I never thought

5027
02:49:30,738 --> 02:49:33,141
I would see United States

5028
02:49:33,141 --> 02:49:34,442
Congress completely abdicate

5029
02:49:34,442 --> 02:49:36,511
their responsibility to conduct

5030
02:49:36,511 --> 02:49:38,911
any kind of government

5031
02:49:39,130 --> 02:49:41,316
oversight to the PRESIDENT.

5032
02:49:41,316 --> 02:49:41,950
It's gotten so bad that

5033
02:49:41,950 --> 02:49:44,119
PRESIDENT Trump even called

5034
02:49:44,119 --> 02:49:45,920
himself the speaker last week.

5035
02:49:45,920 --> 02:49:47,322
I never thought I'd see a

5036
02:49:47,322 --> 02:49:49,524
United States Supreme Court

5037
02:49:49,524 --> 02:49:51,260
who's completely abdicated its

5038
02:49:51,260 --> 02:49:52,160
responsibility to enforce our

5039
02:49:52,160 --> 02:49:54,560
Constitution and limit the

5040
02:49:54,963 --> 02:49:56,698
power of the different bodies.

5041
02:49:56,698 --> 02:49:58,333
A Supreme Court has thrown out

5042
02:49:58,333 --> 02:49:59,935
norms, centuries and centuries

5043
02:49:59,935 --> 02:50:01,536
of norms established by

5044
02:50:01,536 --> 02:50:03,936
Virginians like John Marshall

5045
02:50:06,942 --> 02:50:08,243
called stare decisis. Virginia

5046
02:50:08,243 --> 02:50:10,178
voters did not envision the

5047
02:50:10,178 --> 02:50:11,246
federal power grab that we see

5048
02:50:11,246 --> 02:50:12,347
today. They didn't imagine

5049
02:50:12,347 --> 02:50:14,149
Texas, Missouri, Indiana. And

5050
02:50:14,149 --> 02:50:16,886
by the way, a couple of hours

5051
02:50:16,886 --> 02:50:17,853
ago, Ohio engaging in the most

5052
02:50:17,853 --> 02:50:19,853
extreme Partizan gerrymandering

5053
02:50:21,223 --> 02:50:23,250
in American history. This is a

5054
02:50:23,250 --> 02:50:25,250
coordinated national strategy

5055
02:50:26,295 --> 02:50:28,630
to grab power. And the

5056
02:50:28,630 --> 02:50:29,264
fundamental problem here, the

5057
02:50:29,264 --> 02:50:31,567
fundamental problem that we are

5058
02:50:31,567 --> 02:50:34,369
giving ourselves the option to

5059
02:50:34,369 --> 02:50:36,138
address is the Virginia cannot

5060
02:50:36,138 --> 02:50:39,738
fight with one hand tied behind

5061
02:50:40,175 --> 02:50:41,544
its back. We joined this

5062
02:50:41,544 --> 02:50:44,280
country as part of the

5063
02:50:44,280 --> 02:50:46,415
Constitution back in 1883 by

5064
02:50:46,415 --> 02:50:48,951
making a deal with the other

5065
02:50:48,951 --> 02:50:51,521
states that we would all treat

5066
02:50:51,521 --> 02:50:55,121
each other a certain way. We'd

5067
02:50:55,358 --> 02:50:57,226
all be fair to each other. We

5068
02:50:57,226 --> 02:50:58,270
embraced fair redistricting

5069
02:50:58,270 --> 02:50:59,395
because we believe in good

5070
02:50:59,395 --> 02:51:01,640
government. But what we did

5071
02:51:01,640 --> 02:51:03,464
this, the Republicans doubled

5072
02:51:04,401 --> 02:51:06,236
down on gerrymandering. The

5073
02:51:06,236 --> 02:51:08,538
result? Democrats might be able

5074
02:51:08,538 --> 02:51:10,273
to win more votes nationwide,

5075
02:51:10,273 --> 02:51:13,409
but still be locked out of

5076
02:51:13,409 --> 02:51:15,780
Congress for a decade, even

5077
02:51:15,780 --> 02:51:16,579
though winning election after

5078
02:51:16,579 --> 02:51:18,148
election after election after

5079
02:51:18,148 --> 02:51:20,548
election nationwide by more

5080
02:51:21,417 --> 02:51:23,453
votes. That's not democracy.

5081
02:51:23,453 --> 02:51:27,490
It's not what we signed up for,

5082
02:51:27,490 --> 02:51:29,426
and it's not sustainable. We

5083
02:51:29,426 --> 02:51:33,260
have an election coming up in

5084
02:51:34,970 --> 02:51:36,970
2026. Those 2026 midterms are

5085
02:51:36,133 --> 02:51:37,601
going to be a referendum, a

5086
02:51:37,601 --> 02:51:39,670
referendum on our nation's

5087
02:51:39,670 --> 02:51:41,872
direction. But you know what?

5088
02:51:41,872 --> 02:51:44,272
If gerrymandering has already

5089
02:51:46,777 --> 02:51:48,312
decided the outcome? The

5090
02:51:48,312 --> 02:51:51,215
people's voice is going to be

5091
02:51:51,215 --> 02:51:53,170
silenced. That's not democracy.

5092
02:51:53,170 --> 02:51:54,850
The constitutional remedy for

5093
02:51:54,850 --> 02:51:55,419
administration that goes off

5094
02:51:55,419 --> 02:51:56,954
its track is congressional

5095
02:51:56,954 --> 02:51:58,589
oversight. But that remedy is

5096
02:51:58,589 --> 02:51:59,390
meaningless if gerrymandering

5097
02:51:59,390 --> 02:52:01,390
makes it mathematically

5098
02:52:02,626 --> 02:52:04,495
impossible for people, for the

5099
02:52:04,495 --> 02:52:07,165
opposition, to actually win an

5100
02:52:07,165 --> 02:52:08,332
election. We're not arguing

5101
02:52:08,332 --> 02:52:09,934
that Democrats deserve to

5102
02:52:09,934 --> 02:52:11,360
control Congress, but we are

5103
02:52:11,360 --> 02:52:13,436
arguing that voters should

5104
02:52:13,504 --> 02:52:14,710
decide who controls Congress.

5105
02:52:14,710 --> 02:52:16,710
Gerrymandering is preventing

5106
02:52:18,309 --> 02:52:20,678
that. Now, I want to make clear

5107
02:52:20,678 --> 02:52:21,345
our founders were not native.

5108
02:52:21,345 --> 02:52:23,881
They were not naive idealists.

5109
02:52:23,881 --> 02:52:25,490
They understood power.

5110
02:52:25,490 --> 02:52:26,985
Washington didn't defeat the

5111
02:52:26,985 --> 02:52:28,850
British by refusing to fight.

5112
02:52:28,850 --> 02:52:29,688
Jefferson didn't expand

5113
02:52:29,688 --> 02:52:31,256
democracy by deferring to his

5114
02:52:31,256 --> 02:52:32,591
opponents. Madison didn't

5115
02:52:32,591 --> 02:52:34,359
protect our Constitution by

5116
02:52:34,359 --> 02:52:35,493
allowing enemies to subvert it.

5117
02:52:35,493 --> 02:52:37,195
John Marshall didn't empower

5118
02:52:37,195 --> 02:52:39,263
the Supreme Court by sticking

5119
02:52:39,263 --> 02:52:40,932
his head in the sand. Patrick

5120
02:52:40,932 --> 02:52:43,268
Henry, you know, he also didn't

5121
02:52:43,268 --> 02:52:45,570
say, you know, the king of

5122
02:52:45,570 --> 02:52:46,137
England. That's some guy across

5123
02:52:46,137 --> 02:52:47,205
the ocean. He's not here in

5124
02:52:47,205 --> 02:52:49,441
Virginia. We don't need to

5125
02:52:49,441 --> 02:52:50,341
worry about some of the

5126
02:52:50,341 --> 02:52:51,760
arguments I've heard today. You

5127
02:52:51,760 --> 02:52:52,343
didn't hear Virginians saying,

5128
02:52:52,343 --> 02:52:54,279
well, the Tea Party is just

5129
02:52:54,279 --> 02:52:55,180
some little Massachusetts thing,

5130
02:52:55,180 --> 02:52:57,616
not part of the fight here in

5131
02:52:57,616 --> 02:52:58,750
Virginia. Maybe there were some

5132
02:52:58,750 --> 02:52:59,985
that said it. They ended up

5133
02:52:59,985 --> 02:53:01,119
leaving the state after the

5134
02:53:01,119 --> 02:53:02,721
revolution. We faced a hard

5135
02:53:02,721 --> 02:53:03,155
choice today, maintaining our

5136
02:53:03,155 --> 02:53:04,560
commitment to fair

5137
02:53:04,560 --> 02:53:05,323
redistricting while watching

5138
02:53:05,323 --> 02:53:07,192
Republicans gerrymander their

5139
02:53:07,192 --> 02:53:08,927
way into permanent power. Or we

5140
02:53:08,927 --> 02:53:10,162
need to acknowledge that when

5141
02:53:10,162 --> 02:53:13,366
only one side plays by the

5142
02:53:13,366 --> 02:53:15,766
rules, the rules become

5143
02:53:18,170 --> 02:53:20,105
unilateral disarmament. Now,

5144
02:53:20,105 --> 02:53:21,700
some people might call this a

5145
02:53:21,700 --> 02:53:22,842
power grab. I've heard that

5146
02:53:22,842 --> 02:53:24,210
called a couple of times today.

5147
02:53:24,210 --> 02:53:25,445
That's not what it is. This is

5148
02:53:25,445 --> 02:53:26,178
about whether our democratic

5149
02:53:26,178 --> 02:53:27,146
system will function as

5150
02:53:27,146 --> 02:53:28,448
intended, whether our voters

5151
02:53:28,448 --> 02:53:29,481
will have a meaningful choice,

5152
02:53:29,481 --> 02:53:30,449
whether Congress can check

5153
02:53:30,449 --> 02:53:31,217
executive power, whether

5154
02:53:31,217 --> 02:53:33,119
gerrymandering has rendered

5155
02:53:33,119 --> 02:53:34,387
that function impossible. I

5156
02:53:34,387 --> 02:53:36,550
would prefer a federal law

5157
02:53:36,550 --> 02:53:37,256
banning Partizan gerrymandering

5158
02:53:37,256 --> 02:53:38,424
nationwide. I would support

5159
02:53:38,424 --> 02:53:40,260
that constitutional amendment

5160
02:53:40,260 --> 02:53:42,228
in a heartbeat. The us Supreme

5161
02:53:42,228 --> 02:53:43,429
Court had a chance to do it

5162
02:53:43,429 --> 02:53:44,931
when they could have adopted

5163
02:53:44,931 --> 02:53:46,599
the vote waste theory in the

5164
02:53:46,599 --> 02:53:48,167
Wisconsin case, it was there a

5165
02:53:48,167 --> 02:53:49,335
few years ago. They chose to

5166
02:53:49,335 --> 02:53:50,690
punt. Look what's happened. But

5167
02:53:50,690 --> 02:53:52,469
absent those solutions, we

5168
02:53:53,607 --> 02:53:55,141
can't allow certain Partizan

5169
02:53:55,141 --> 02:53:57,210
tyrannical majority to continue

5170
02:53:57,210 --> 02:53:58,378
to gerrymander itself into

5171
02:53:58,378 --> 02:53:59,546
permanent power while we sit

5172
02:53:59,546 --> 02:54:02,546
around inside our commitment to

5173
02:54:02,849 --> 02:54:03,483
principle. Virginia's role as

5174
02:54:03,483 --> 02:54:04,551
the birthplace of democracy

5175
02:54:04,551 --> 02:54:06,951
gives us a special

5176
02:54:07,254 --> 02:54:08,588
responsibility not to stand by

5177
02:54:08,588 --> 02:54:10,988
idly while democracy is

5178
02:54:11,570 --> 02:54:13,293
dismantled. But it's our job as

5179
02:54:13,293 --> 02:54:15,195
the leading colony in the state

5180
02:54:15,195 --> 02:54:17,300
that created our country to

5181
02:54:17,300 --> 02:54:19,333
defend it with every tool at

5182
02:54:19,333 --> 02:54:20,467
our disposal. That is what we

5183
02:54:20,467 --> 02:54:22,102
are called to do. And that's

5184
02:54:22,102 --> 02:54:24,700
why this body was created. By

5185
02:54:24,700 --> 02:54:25,739
the way, if you go back and

5186
02:54:25,739 --> 02:54:26,973
look at the history books, the

5187
02:54:26,973 --> 02:54:29,973
Senate didn't even exist until

5188
02:54:30,277 --> 02:54:32,212
1776. So we're not asking for

5189
02:54:32,212 --> 02:54:33,413
immediate action. We're we're

5190
02:54:33,413 --> 02:54:35,382
just asking for a serious

5191
02:54:35,382 --> 02:54:36,216
conversation about whether our

5192
02:54:36,216 --> 02:54:38,616
current approach is sustainable

5193
02:54:38,953 --> 02:54:40,287
to American democracy. We need

5194
02:54:40,287 --> 02:54:42,223
to study the impact in other

5195
02:54:42,223 --> 02:54:42,956
states of gerrymandering. We

5196
02:54:42,956 --> 02:54:44,125
need to study different

5197
02:54:44,125 --> 02:54:45,927
scenarios. We need to engage

5198
02:54:45,927 --> 02:54:47,995
the public. We should have a

5199
02:54:47,995 --> 02:54:49,230
debate. I welcome the debate.

5200
02:54:49,230 --> 02:54:51,265
Let's have a debate over the

5201
02:54:51,265 --> 02:54:52,466
next three months. Let's have a

5202
02:54:52,466 --> 02:54:54,569
debate over the next six months.

5203
02:54:54,569 --> 02:54:55,669
Let's have it. I'm sure we're

5204
02:54:55,669 --> 02:54:57,104
going to hear it again in

5205
02:54:57,104 --> 02:54:59,741
JANUARY. We need to make sure

5206
02:54:59,741 --> 02:55:00,308
that Virginia is not

5207
02:55:00,308 --> 02:55:01,175
permanently disadvantaged in

5208
02:55:01,175 --> 02:55:03,575
the fight for congressional

5209
02:55:05,580 --> 02:55:07,282
control. MADAM PRESIDENT, what

5210
02:55:07,282 --> 02:55:09,150
do you do when one side refuses

5211
02:55:09,150 --> 02:55:10,185
to play by the rules? Do you

5212
02:55:10,185 --> 02:55:11,253
maintain your principles and

5213
02:55:11,253 --> 02:55:12,153
accept defeat, or do you

5214
02:55:12,153 --> 02:55:13,521
recognize that preserving

5215
02:55:13,521 --> 02:55:14,989
democracy, sometimes requiring

5216
02:55:14,989 --> 02:55:16,591
tools you find distasteful to

5217
02:55:16,591 --> 02:55:18,591
prevent permanent entrenchment

5218
02:55:19,160 --> 02:55:20,270
of minority rule? We owe it to

5219
02:55:20,270 --> 02:55:21,195
our constituents to have this

5220
02:55:21,195 --> 02:55:23,131
conversation. We owe it to

5221
02:55:23,131 --> 02:55:24,332
democracy to consider all the

5222
02:55:24,332 --> 02:55:25,500
options. We owe it to our

5223
02:55:25,500 --> 02:55:27,135
future generations to ensure

5224
02:55:27,135 --> 02:55:28,469
that people, not the mapmakers,

5225
02:55:28,469 --> 02:55:30,500
pick their representatives and

5226
02:55:30,500 --> 02:55:32,908
decide who's in control of the

5227
02:55:32,908 --> 02:55:34,308
federal government. The 2026

5228
02:55:34,308 --> 02:55:35,143
elections are coming. The

5229
02:55:35,143 --> 02:55:37,245
American people are going to go

5230
02:55:37,245 --> 02:55:38,413
to the polls expecting their

5231
02:55:38,413 --> 02:55:39,514
votes to actually count. But if

5232
02:55:39,514 --> 02:55:41,514
gerrymandering is already

5233
02:55:41,750 --> 02:55:44,750
decided, their outcome in Texas,

5234
02:55:45,687 --> 02:55:47,687
Missouri, Florida, Ohio,

5235
02:55:50,590 --> 02:55:51,226
Indiana. North Carolina, those

5236
02:55:51,226 --> 02:55:52,594
votes are going to be

5237
02:55:52,594 --> 02:55:54,950
meaningless. Our Virginia votes

5238
02:55:54,950 --> 02:55:56,164
are going to be meaningless. So

5239
02:55:56,164 --> 02:55:57,333
we honor Virginia's founders

5240
02:55:57,333 --> 02:55:59,101
today by not clinging to

5241
02:55:59,101 --> 02:56:00,235
principle while losing power,

5242
02:56:00,235 --> 02:56:01,203
but by understanding, as they

5243
02:56:01,203 --> 02:56:02,304
did, that the preservation of

5244
02:56:02,304 --> 02:56:04,140
democratic government sometimes

5245
02:56:04,140 --> 02:56:05,941
requires us to match the

5246
02:56:05,941 --> 02:56:07,209
tactics of those who would

5247
02:56:07,209 --> 02:56:08,978
destroy it. This amendment, if

5248
02:56:08,978 --> 02:56:10,413
we choose to present it to

5249
02:56:10,413 --> 02:56:11,280
voters next spring, will give

5250
02:56:11,280 --> 02:56:13,216
Virginians the ability to

5251
02:56:13,216 --> 02:56:14,717
return to the forefront of

5252
02:56:14,717 --> 02:56:16,319
protecting American democracy,

5253
02:56:16,319 --> 02:56:20,519
and I'm proud to support it. I

5254
02:56:26,950 --> 02:56:29,950
would hope we'd vote yes.

5255
02:56:39,750 --> 02:56:42,750
>> The question is. Shall House

5256
02:56:45,482 --> 02:56:47,500
Joint Resolution 6007 be agreed

5257
02:56:47,500 --> 02:56:48,385
to? Those in favor of that

5258
02:56:48,385 --> 02:56:50,860
motion will record their votes.

5259
02:56:50,860 --> 02:56:52,389
Aye. Those opposed? No. Are the

5260
02:56:52,389 --> 02:56:54,224
senators ready to vote? Of all

5261
02:56:54,224 --> 02:56:56,159
the senators voted, does any

5262
02:56:56,159 --> 02:56:59,159
Senator desire to change their

5263
02:57:00,564 --> 02:57:01,498
vote? The clerk will close the

5264
02:57:01,498 --> 02:57:03,498
roll.

5265
02:57:04,334 --> 02:57:06,334
>> Ayes 21. No 16.

5266
02:57:07,204 --> 02:57:09,204
>> Ayes 21. No 16. The

5267
02:57:10,774 --> 02:57:12,876
resolution is agreed to.

5268
02:57:12,876 --> 02:57:14,876
>> Memorial resolution.

5269
02:57:15,713 --> 02:57:17,948
>> The Senator from Prince

5270
02:57:17,948 --> 02:57:19,283
Edward. For what purpose does

5271
02:57:19,283 --> 02:57:21,285
the Senator from Hampton Rise?

5272
02:57:21,285 --> 02:57:23,420
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, prior to

5273
02:57:23,420 --> 02:57:25,556
taking up Senate Resolution 704,

5274
02:57:25,556 --> 02:57:26,991
I have a motion.

5275
02:57:26,991 --> 02:57:29,391
>> The Senator MAY stated.

5276
02:57:29,493 --> 02:57:30,361
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, prior

5277
02:57:30,361 --> 02:57:32,730
review of resolutions related

5278
02:57:32,730 --> 02:57:34,730
to normally

5279
02:57:35,199 --> 02:57:37,340
come before the Committee on

5280
02:57:37,340 --> 02:57:39,170
Rules. So therefore I ask I

5281
02:57:39,170 --> 02:57:41,372
move that Senate Resolution 704

5282
02:57:41,372 --> 02:57:43,407
be submitted to the Committee

5283
02:57:43,407 --> 02:57:45,407
on Rules.

5284
02:57:47,645 --> 02:57:49,645
>> Without objection, Senate

5285
02:57:51,716 --> 02:57:54,116
resolution 704 is remanded to

5286
02:58:01,426 --> 02:58:04,426
the Committee on Rules. Senator

5287
02:58:08,660 --> 02:58:10,660
Surovell. Calendar completion.

5288
02:58:10,101 --> 02:58:12,103
>> And query the clerk that

5289
02:58:12,103 --> 02:58:14,103
complete today's calendar.

5290
02:58:15,707 --> 02:58:16,174
>> No, sir. I'm just kidding.

5291
02:58:16,174 --> 02:58:17,976
>> Okay.

5292
02:58:17,976 --> 02:58:19,277
>> Yes, sir. It does.

5293
02:58:19,277 --> 02:58:20,946
>> Thank you. And thanks for

5294
02:58:20,946 --> 02:58:23,346
lunch today. And breakfast.

5295
02:58:24,150 --> 02:58:24,283
>> MADAM Speaker. MADAM

5296
02:58:24,283 --> 02:58:25,851
PRESIDENT.

5297
02:58:25,851 --> 02:58:26,351
>> Senator from Mecklenburg.

5298
02:58:26,351 --> 02:58:28,120
Senator Mulkey.

5299
02:58:28,120 --> 02:58:29,870
>> Can I have a point of

5300
02:58:29,870 --> 02:58:31,870
personal privilege?

5301
02:58:31,256 --> 02:58:33,158
>> Senator MAY stated.

5302
02:58:33,158 --> 02:58:35,427
>> Since I was supposed to be

5303
02:58:35,427 --> 02:58:37,620
with a victim of domestic

5304
02:58:37,620 --> 02:58:39,531
violence today at court, I'm

5305
02:58:39,531 --> 02:58:41,133
going to take a few minutes to

5306
02:58:41,133 --> 02:58:43,235
speak on the behalf of domestic

5307
02:58:43,235 --> 02:58:45,371
violence victims. And I know

5308
02:58:45,371 --> 02:58:47,439
that we all want to get home,

5309
02:58:47,439 --> 02:58:48,807
including myself. But today is

5310
02:58:48,807 --> 02:58:51,110
the last day of Domestic

5311
02:58:51,110 --> 02:58:52,378
Violence Awareness Month, and

5312
02:58:52,378 --> 02:58:54,446
as we have been here this week,

5313
02:58:54,446 --> 02:58:56,615
a lot has been said about

5314
02:58:56,615 --> 02:58:59,552
political violence and how we

5315
02:58:59,552 --> 02:59:01,287
condemn that. And there's a lot

5316
02:59:01,287 --> 02:59:04,287
of passion about that subject

5317
02:59:07,360 --> 02:59:10,296
and as it should be. But. The

5318
02:59:10,296 --> 02:59:12,640
very the gentleman from, I

5319
02:59:12,640 --> 02:59:14,464
believe, Prince George, King

5320
02:59:15,568 --> 02:59:17,370
George, King George gave a very

5321
02:59:17,370 --> 02:59:20,370
passionate account of a story

5322
02:59:23,543 --> 02:59:26,543
when his family was, was.

5323
02:59:27,180 --> 02:59:29,749
Singled out, a threat to his

5324
02:59:29,749 --> 02:59:32,749
family, his wife, his children,

5325
02:59:32,852 --> 02:59:35,550
child, children and himself.

5326
02:59:35,550 --> 02:59:36,323
Their life was threatened and

5327
02:59:36,323 --> 02:59:38,258
how life changing that was and

5328
02:59:38,258 --> 02:59:40,527
how they would never forget

5329
02:59:40,527 --> 02:59:42,696
about that. And he asked a

5330
02:59:42,696 --> 02:59:45,165
question, I think he said, can

5331
02:59:45,165 --> 02:59:47,701
you imagine how that felt? And

5332
02:59:47,701 --> 02:59:50,604
I sit here and I said, yes, I

5333
02:59:50,604 --> 02:59:54,204
can. How about every day for 30

5334
02:59:54,541 --> 02:59:56,910
years, every day? And it made

5335
02:59:56,910 --> 03:00:00,481
me think even further that what

5336
03:00:00,481 --> 03:00:02,115
if that threat was in your very

5337
03:00:02,115 --> 03:00:04,752
own home? And what if that

5338
03:00:04,752 --> 03:00:06,190
threat came from the very

5339
03:00:06,190 --> 03:00:08,989
person that you were supposed

5340
03:00:08,989 --> 03:00:11,692
to go to and say, protect me

5341
03:00:11,692 --> 03:00:13,260
from this threat, protect me

5342
03:00:13,260 --> 03:00:15,996
from this person, that's going

5343
03:00:15,996 --> 03:00:17,331
to hurt me? What if that threat

5344
03:00:17,331 --> 03:00:18,932
came from the very person that

5345
03:00:18,932 --> 03:00:20,670
said, they're going to love and

5346
03:00:20,670 --> 03:00:22,670
protect you for the rest of

5347
03:00:22,670 --> 03:00:23,504
your life? And what if that

5348
03:00:23,504 --> 03:00:25,139
threat came from the person

5349
03:00:25,139 --> 03:00:27,341
that should help you find

5350
03:00:27,341 --> 03:00:30,941
somewhere safe to go and stay

5351
03:00:31,145 --> 03:00:33,800
so that you wouldn't get hurt?

5352
03:00:33,800 --> 03:00:35,950
That's what victims that I help

5353
03:00:35,950 --> 03:00:38,190
every day deal with in my

5354
03:00:38,190 --> 03:00:39,320
nonprofit. And today I was

5355
03:00:39,320 --> 03:00:41,389
supposed to be at court with

5356
03:00:41,389 --> 03:00:43,570
one holding their hand because

5357
03:00:43,570 --> 03:00:46,657
the courts are not friendly to

5358
03:00:47,428 --> 03:00:49,264
victims. And so in the United

5359
03:00:49,264 --> 03:00:51,980
States, around 24 people per

5360
03:00:51,980 --> 03:00:53,234
minute are victims of physical

5361
03:00:53,234 --> 03:00:56,370
violence, rape and stalking by

5362
03:00:56,370 --> 03:00:58,206
an intimate partner. 1 in 3

5363
03:00:58,206 --> 03:00:59,407
women and 1 in 10 men

5364
03:00:59,407 --> 03:01:01,209
experience some form of

5365
03:01:01,209 --> 03:01:04,450
physical violence by a partner

5366
03:01:04,450 --> 03:01:05,180
in their lifetime. 85% of

5367
03:01:05,180 --> 03:01:07,580
domestic violence victims are

5368
03:01:09,170 --> 03:01:12,170
women. Every day, nearly three

5369
03:01:12,587 --> 03:01:15,557
three women are killed by an

5370
03:01:15,557 --> 03:01:17,259
intimate partner. A woman

5371
03:01:17,259 --> 03:01:19,259
experiences physical abuse

5372
03:01:23,398 --> 03:01:25,667
every nine seconds. Only 1 in 5

5373
03:01:25,667 --> 03:01:28,670
domestic violence victims with

5374
03:01:28,103 --> 03:01:30,103
physical injuries seeks

5375
03:01:30,706 --> 03:01:33,106
treatment. But the sad

5376
03:01:33,542 --> 03:01:35,411
statistic is that most domestic

5377
03:01:35,411 --> 03:01:37,811
violence incidents are never

5378
03:01:38,180 --> 03:01:40,449
reported, including mine. In 30

5379
03:01:40,449 --> 03:01:43,385
years. Never once, never once

5380
03:01:43,385 --> 03:01:46,588
did I call 911. Never once did

5381
03:01:46,588 --> 03:01:50,188
I tell my parents. Never once

5382
03:01:52,328 --> 03:01:53,996
did I tell anyone. The question.

5383
03:01:53,996 --> 03:01:55,565
You always hear. Why didn't you

5384
03:01:55,565 --> 03:01:57,666
leave? Why didn't you just walk

5385
03:01:57,666 --> 03:01:59,202
out the door? I mean, I was a

5386
03:01:59,202 --> 03:02:00,636
successful business person. My

5387
03:02:00,636 --> 03:02:01,571
husband and I, we owned a

5388
03:02:01,571 --> 03:02:02,939
business together. Very

5389
03:02:02,939 --> 03:02:05,339
successful. The reasons we

5390
03:02:06,275 --> 03:02:08,440
don't leave, we fear our

5391
03:02:08,440 --> 03:02:10,444
abusers. Violent behavior will

5392
03:02:11,147 --> 03:02:14,147
escalate. We fear the threats

5393
03:02:15,151 --> 03:02:18,210
that we'll be killed. We fear

5394
03:02:18,210 --> 03:02:19,222
that we'll have no financial

5395
03:02:19,222 --> 03:02:21,240
ability to take care of

5396
03:02:21,240 --> 03:02:23,125
ourselves. There's nowhere to

5397
03:02:23,125 --> 03:02:24,928
go. We believe that our

5398
03:02:24,928 --> 03:02:27,196
religious beliefs do not look

5399
03:02:27,196 --> 03:02:29,933
favorably upon divorce. We want

5400
03:02:29,933 --> 03:02:32,235
our children to have two

5401
03:02:32,235 --> 03:02:35,835
parents, and the list goes on

5402
03:02:44,147 --> 03:02:48,652
and on. It makes me think of a

5403
03:02:48,652 --> 03:02:52,389
story. We had a vigil last week.

5404
03:02:52,389 --> 03:02:55,989
Of the lady that we honored,

5405
03:02:56,260 --> 03:02:58,280
Jackie and Jackie. She was an

5406
03:02:58,280 --> 03:03:01,280
older lady, an elderly lady,

5407
03:03:01,265 --> 03:03:03,466
and Jackie had also never

5408
03:03:03,466 --> 03:03:05,803
called 911 because all of her

5409
03:03:05,803 --> 03:03:08,803
abuse was mental and emotional.

5410
03:03:11,108 --> 03:03:13,210
And Jackie had decided for her

5411
03:03:13,210 --> 03:03:14,812
was also 30 years, and she had

5412
03:03:14,812 --> 03:03:18,182
just had enough and she could

5413
03:03:18,182 --> 03:03:20,510
not take another day. And so

5414
03:03:20,510 --> 03:03:22,153
Jackie made a plan. She found a

5415
03:03:22,153 --> 03:03:23,187
place that she could rent, and

5416
03:03:23,187 --> 03:03:25,223
she told her daughter, I'm

5417
03:03:25,223 --> 03:03:27,580
leaving, I'm going to leave him.

5418
03:03:27,580 --> 03:03:29,227
I'm finally going to leave him.

5419
03:03:29,227 --> 03:03:31,262
And and that she had planned

5420
03:03:31,262 --> 03:03:32,830
when he wouldn't be there, that

5421
03:03:32,830 --> 03:03:34,165
she was going to leave. And

5422
03:03:34,165 --> 03:03:37,165
Jackie had her suitcase packed,

5423
03:03:37,468 --> 03:03:39,337
and he was a fine, upstanding

5424
03:03:39,337 --> 03:03:42,337
gentleman. He ran a homeless

5425
03:03:43,740 --> 03:03:44,209
shelter, and everybody thought

5426
03:03:44,209 --> 03:03:45,944
he was the greatest guy on

5427
03:03:45,944 --> 03:03:47,312
earth. The the conditions to

5428
03:03:47,312 --> 03:03:49,214
stay in his homeless shelter

5429
03:03:49,214 --> 03:03:51,850
was you had to go to church

5430
03:03:51,850 --> 03:03:53,151
with him, and you had to be

5431
03:03:53,151 --> 03:03:56,151
drug free. And everybody loved

5432
03:03:57,189 --> 03:03:58,423
him, including myself. And the

5433
03:03:58,423 --> 03:04:00,225
day Jackie had her suitcase

5434
03:04:00,225 --> 03:04:02,461
packed and was going out the

5435
03:04:02,461 --> 03:04:04,162
door, and she was on the phone

5436
03:04:04,162 --> 03:04:06,231
with her daughter, he happened

5437
03:04:06,231 --> 03:04:08,967
to come back home and he picked

5438
03:04:08,967 --> 03:04:10,368
up his gun and he killed her

5439
03:04:10,368 --> 03:04:12,471
because that's what's happened.

5440
03:04:12,471 --> 03:04:15,707
And that's why we don't leave.

5441
03:04:15,707 --> 03:04:17,376
We know the real threat is when

5442
03:04:17,376 --> 03:04:20,379
we leave. That's when we get

5443
03:04:20,379 --> 03:04:22,470
killed, is after we leave or

5444
03:04:22,470 --> 03:04:24,516
when we're leaving, and when we

5445
03:04:24,516 --> 03:04:28,621
try to walk out that door. And

5446
03:04:28,621 --> 03:04:32,570
that's why we don't leave. And

5447
03:04:32,570 --> 03:04:33,392
so I just want you to listen

5448
03:04:33,392 --> 03:04:35,610
and hear. I know y'all don't

5449
03:04:35,610 --> 03:04:36,295
want to hear about this subject.

5450
03:04:36,295 --> 03:04:38,130
It's not a popular subject to

5451
03:04:38,130 --> 03:04:39,198
talk about. It's not a fun

5452
03:04:39,198 --> 03:04:42,198
subject. Nobody wants to hear

5453
03:04:42,435 --> 03:04:45,400
about it. But I want you on

5454
03:04:45,400 --> 03:04:48,374
this month of awareness to hear

5455
03:04:48,374 --> 03:04:50,143
it and to know. And I know that

5456
03:04:50,143 --> 03:04:54,130
I think it's one fourth of this

5457
03:04:54,130 --> 03:04:57,250
body's is attorneys. And and I

5458
03:04:57,250 --> 03:05:00,686
want you to know that the

5459
03:05:00,686 --> 03:05:01,187
courtroom is another place that

5460
03:05:01,187 --> 03:05:03,587
victims of abuse get

5461
03:05:04,224 --> 03:05:06,224
revictimized, because family

5462
03:05:06,726 --> 03:05:09,726
courts are not friendly to

5463
03:05:09,763 --> 03:05:12,163
victims, because people don't

5464
03:05:14,100 --> 03:05:15,702
understand that most victims of

5465
03:05:15,702 --> 03:05:17,470
domestic abuse end up with a

5466
03:05:17,470 --> 03:05:20,470
mental illness because of their

5467
03:05:21,942 --> 03:05:24,942
abuse, and they're often often

5468
03:05:25,712 --> 03:05:27,481
referred to as crazy. And

5469
03:05:27,481 --> 03:05:29,984
probably by the time they get

5470
03:05:29,984 --> 03:05:31,652
to a courtroom, they are crazy.

5471
03:05:31,652 --> 03:05:34,154
Many of them suffer from

5472
03:05:34,154 --> 03:05:36,554
anxiety, depression. For myself,

5473
03:05:38,792 --> 03:05:41,361
I have ptsd. I was even not

5474
03:05:41,361 --> 03:05:43,630
granted a renewal of the fourth

5475
03:05:43,630 --> 03:05:45,132
time of a protective order

5476
03:05:45,132 --> 03:05:47,670
since I left 11 years ago,

5477
03:05:47,670 --> 03:05:49,103
because I took three ptsd drugs,

5478
03:05:49,103 --> 03:05:52,703
and the judge decided that I

5479
03:05:55,209 --> 03:05:57,110
was a drug addict. So if you

5480
03:05:57,110 --> 03:06:00,581
are an attorney, I would beg of

5481
03:06:00,581 --> 03:06:03,581
you to learn about narcissistic

5482
03:06:03,851 --> 03:06:05,851
behaviors, about coercion,

5483
03:06:07,355 --> 03:06:08,289
about how manipulative,

5484
03:06:08,289 --> 03:06:11,158
manipulative you know what I'm

5485
03:06:11,158 --> 03:06:13,427
saying? That abusers can be and

5486
03:06:13,427 --> 03:06:16,970
how they present themselves and

5487
03:06:16,970 --> 03:06:17,331
how they use children as

5488
03:06:17,331 --> 03:06:19,466
possessions not because they

5489
03:06:19,466 --> 03:06:22,203
want them, but because that is

5490
03:06:22,203 --> 03:06:24,639
the best and easiest way to

5491
03:06:24,639 --> 03:06:28,239
hurt a mother. And these roles

5492
03:06:29,811 --> 03:06:33,314
can be reversed as well. And

5493
03:06:33,314 --> 03:06:35,517
when you're vetting judges, oh

5494
03:06:35,517 --> 03:06:36,418
my GOD, please, if they're

5495
03:06:36,418 --> 03:06:39,721
going to be in the juvenile

5496
03:06:39,721 --> 03:06:42,157
courts, don't just get your

5497
03:06:42,157 --> 03:06:45,157
best friends buddy. Make sure

5498
03:06:45,393 --> 03:06:47,229
they know. The job they're

5499
03:06:47,229 --> 03:06:51,429
going to be doing and how they

5500
03:06:53,301 --> 03:06:55,136
serve, how they how they. This

5501
03:06:55,136 --> 03:06:57,439
is people's lives. These are

5502
03:06:57,439 --> 03:06:59,839
children's lives. These are

5503
03:07:05,147 --> 03:07:07,547
women's lives. It's probably

5504
03:07:08,350 --> 03:07:09,485
the biggest disappointment I

5505
03:07:09,485 --> 03:07:11,553
had when I came here to the

5506
03:07:11,553 --> 03:07:13,890
General Assembly is how the

5507
03:07:13,890 --> 03:07:15,457
judicial process works. I

5508
03:07:15,457 --> 03:07:16,992
thought I was coming up here

5509
03:07:16,992 --> 03:07:19,228
with my 50 questions about what

5510
03:07:19,228 --> 03:07:21,196
how you're going to serve in

5511
03:07:21,196 --> 03:07:23,980
the courtroom. And I found out

5512
03:07:23,980 --> 03:07:25,234
it's just who knows who and

5513
03:07:25,234 --> 03:07:28,234
what party you're with. So

5514
03:07:31,474 --> 03:07:33,776
disappointing. And since my

5515
03:07:33,776 --> 03:07:34,443
notes are everywhere because

5516
03:07:34,443 --> 03:07:36,179
I've just been writing them

5517
03:07:36,179 --> 03:07:39,810
down everywhere I go this week,

5518
03:07:39,810 --> 03:07:42,251
I gotta find my final thing I

5519
03:07:42,251 --> 03:07:44,387
have to say about this. No, I

5520
03:07:44,387 --> 03:07:45,154
don't think the government can

5521
03:07:45,154 --> 03:07:47,156
fix this problem. No, I

5522
03:07:47,156 --> 03:07:48,324
definitely don't. I don't think

5523
03:07:48,324 --> 03:07:49,192
the government can fix any

5524
03:07:49,192 --> 03:07:51,227
problem. I mean, just look at

5525
03:07:51,227 --> 03:07:52,962
what we've done this week. But

5526
03:07:52,962 --> 03:07:55,131
I hope and pray that Virginia

5527
03:07:55,131 --> 03:07:57,330
can set an example for the rest

5528
03:07:57,330 --> 03:07:58,535
of the country in its support

5529
03:07:58,535 --> 03:08:01,535
for advocacy, not only for

5530
03:08:01,838 --> 03:08:03,139
intervention of victims, but

5531
03:08:03,139 --> 03:08:04,641
also for prevention and helping

5532
03:08:04,641 --> 03:08:06,343
young people learn a different

5533
03:08:06,343 --> 03:08:09,790
way of life that they MAY be

5534
03:08:09,790 --> 03:08:11,982
learning in their own homes so

5535
03:08:11,982 --> 03:08:14,351
that we can stop this vicious

5536
03:08:14,351 --> 03:08:16,453
cycle. I also hope that

5537
03:08:16,453 --> 03:08:18,221
Virginia can set an example by

5538
03:08:18,221 --> 03:08:20,557
being the state that gets it

5539
03:08:20,557 --> 03:08:22,826
right in our courtrooms, and

5540
03:08:22,826 --> 03:08:23,961
where victims are protected and

5541
03:08:23,961 --> 03:08:27,561
children are not allowed to use

5542
03:08:29,299 --> 03:08:32,899
be used as property. And that

5543
03:08:33,604 --> 03:08:37,804
they don't end up with a parent

5544
03:08:42,980 --> 03:08:45,516
that is the abuser. Thank you.

5545
03:08:45,516 --> 03:08:47,916
>> Senator Hashmi, the senator

5546
03:08:48,180 --> 03:08:49,920
from Richmond City.

5547
03:08:49,920 --> 03:08:51,522
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5548
03:08:51,522 --> 03:08:51,989
I rise for a point of personal

5549
03:08:51,989 --> 03:08:53,557
privilege.

5550
03:08:53,557 --> 03:08:55,125
>> The senator has the floor.

5551
03:08:55,125 --> 03:08:57,525
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5552
03:08:57,561 --> 03:09:01,565
First, I just want to thank our

5553
03:09:01,565 --> 03:09:04,235
colleague for her words, her

5554
03:09:04,235 --> 03:09:07,235
personal testimony, and I hope

5555
03:09:07,872 --> 03:09:09,941
that she knows how deeply

5556
03:09:09,941 --> 03:09:12,576
moving her testimony has been

5557
03:09:12,576 --> 03:09:16,176
and that she is fully supported

5558
03:09:16,481 --> 03:09:19,170
by members of this body. Thank

5559
03:09:19,170 --> 03:09:21,417
you for sharing, MADAM

5560
03:09:21,553 --> 03:09:22,954
PRESIDENT. I rise also to thank

5561
03:09:22,954 --> 03:09:25,223
our colleagues who have

5562
03:09:25,223 --> 03:09:26,491
sacrificed a week of their

5563
03:09:26,491 --> 03:09:28,590
their lives, their professional

5564
03:09:28,590 --> 03:09:31,590
and personal personal lives to

5565
03:09:31,229 --> 03:09:33,765
join us today, this whole week,

5566
03:09:33,765 --> 03:09:37,680
to work hard to respond to the

5567
03:09:37,680 --> 03:09:39,237
urgency of the moment at hand.

5568
03:09:39,237 --> 03:09:41,600
I want to highlight that the

5569
03:09:41,600 --> 03:09:43,308
work that we've been engaged in

5570
03:09:43,308 --> 03:09:46,908
this week is to strengthen, not

5571
03:09:47,512 --> 03:09:49,247
to dilute. As many have argued,

5572
03:09:49,247 --> 03:09:51,247
Virginia's redistricting

5573
03:09:52,517 --> 03:09:54,152
process. It is about the people,

5574
03:09:54,152 --> 03:09:56,355
and it is about honesty.

5575
03:09:56,355 --> 03:09:59,291
Honesty about what is happening

5576
03:09:59,291 --> 03:10:01,660
all across this nation. Honesty

5577
03:10:01,660 --> 03:10:03,295
about the crisis points that we

5578
03:10:03,295 --> 03:10:05,798
are facing, honesty about the

5579
03:10:05,798 --> 03:10:07,299
intentional damage that is

5580
03:10:07,299 --> 03:10:09,301
being inflicted on the various

5581
03:10:09,301 --> 03:10:11,701
communities that we represent,

5582
03:10:12,138 --> 03:10:14,390
our farmers, our veterans, our

5583
03:10:14,390 --> 03:10:16,390
rural families, seniors,

5584
03:10:17,376 --> 03:10:19,178
immigrants, lgbtq family and

5585
03:10:19,178 --> 03:10:21,414
friends, children in poverty,

5586
03:10:21,414 --> 03:10:23,783
and so many more. We must

5587
03:10:23,783 --> 03:10:25,184
remind ourselves that yes, we

5588
03:10:25,184 --> 03:10:27,584
are Virginians, and critically

5589
03:10:28,454 --> 03:10:30,956
as well, we are Americans.

5590
03:10:30,956 --> 03:10:33,359
America is in crisis, and

5591
03:10:33,359 --> 03:10:35,595
Virginia has the opportunity to

5592
03:10:35,595 --> 03:10:37,296
respond in this most

5593
03:10:37,296 --> 03:10:39,365
precipitous moment. This is a

5594
03:10:39,365 --> 03:10:41,200
moment that we must meet with

5595
03:10:41,200 --> 03:10:44,360
urgency, and it is incumbent on

5596
03:10:44,360 --> 03:10:47,273
us to act. It is incumbent on

5597
03:10:47,273 --> 03:10:49,709
us to answer the calls of

5598
03:10:49,709 --> 03:10:51,344
Virginians in every corner of

5599
03:10:51,344 --> 03:10:54,470
the Commonwealth, who have made

5600
03:10:54,470 --> 03:10:57,470
one message loud and clear.

5601
03:10:57,450 --> 03:11:00,186
They are angry at the direction

5602
03:11:00,186 --> 03:11:01,855
of this country. Across our

5603
03:11:01,855 --> 03:11:04,570
country, we're witnessing a

5604
03:11:04,570 --> 03:11:06,860
crisis of faith in our

5605
03:11:06,860 --> 03:11:08,261
democracy and a crisis in

5606
03:11:08,261 --> 03:11:10,661
democracy itself. The refusal

5607
03:11:10,664 --> 03:11:13,433
to accept the results of the

5608
03:11:13,433 --> 03:11:15,433
2020 election engendered the

5609
03:11:16,570 --> 03:11:18,271
violence of the insurrection of

5610
03:11:18,271 --> 03:11:20,340
JANUARY 6th, 2021. And while

5611
03:11:20,340 --> 03:11:22,576
that tragic moment and the

5612
03:11:22,576 --> 03:11:24,976
horrific images of people

5613
03:11:25,345 --> 03:11:27,314
storming our us Capitol

5614
03:11:27,314 --> 03:11:29,714
continue to resonate powerfully

5615
03:11:30,170 --> 03:11:33,220
in our minds, that tragedy has

5616
03:11:33,220 --> 03:11:35,489
been compounded even further

5617
03:11:35,489 --> 03:11:37,889
over the subsequent years.

5618
03:11:38,358 --> 03:11:40,358
Since 2020, we've seen

5619
03:11:40,594 --> 03:11:42,430
amplified efforts to discredit

5620
03:11:42,430 --> 03:11:45,166
the lawful results of elections,

5621
03:11:45,166 --> 03:11:47,566
to consolidate political power

5622
03:11:49,103 --> 03:11:52,306
and to rewrite the basic rules

5623
03:11:52,306 --> 03:11:54,575
of fair and equal participation.

5624
03:11:54,575 --> 03:11:56,975
Statehouses across the nation,

5625
03:11:56,978 --> 03:11:59,113
from Florida to Texas to Ohio,

5626
03:11:59,113 --> 03:12:01,315
have taken up revisionist

5627
03:12:01,315 --> 03:12:03,217
history, along with the

5628
03:12:03,217 --> 03:12:05,987
redrawing of maps and the

5629
03:12:05,987 --> 03:12:08,890
writing of laws in order to

5630
03:12:08,890 --> 03:12:10,489
prioritize party and politics

5631
03:12:10,992 --> 03:12:13,261
over the people. These are not

5632
03:12:13,261 --> 03:12:14,996
isolated incidents, nor are

5633
03:12:14,996 --> 03:12:17,232
they happening in a vacuum.

5634
03:12:17,232 --> 03:12:19,634
There is a clear and direct

5635
03:12:19,634 --> 03:12:21,436
line from the centuries of

5636
03:12:21,436 --> 03:12:23,436
dispossession,

5637
03:12:24,305 --> 03:12:26,305
disenfranchisement and

5638
03:12:26,474 --> 03:12:28,874
dehumanization of black and

5639
03:12:30,112 --> 03:12:33,480
brown people. There is a clear

5640
03:12:33,480 --> 03:12:34,583
line to what is happening today.

5641
03:12:34,583 --> 03:12:37,219
There is also a clear and

5642
03:12:37,219 --> 03:12:40,222
direct line from Jim Crow, from

5643
03:12:40,222 --> 03:12:43,580
segregation and redlining to to

5644
03:12:43,580 --> 03:12:46,161
what we are seeing today. These

5645
03:12:46,161 --> 03:12:48,397
are not and I would like to

5646
03:12:48,397 --> 03:12:50,332
remind us about the words of

5647
03:12:50,332 --> 03:12:52,468
Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine,

5648
03:12:52,468 --> 03:12:54,360
whose words helped to give

5649
03:12:54,360 --> 03:12:57,360
birth to American liberty. He

5650
03:12:57,172 --> 03:13:00,420
warned us long ago, the right

5651
03:13:00,420 --> 03:13:03,579
of voting is the primary right

5652
03:13:03,579 --> 03:13:05,848
by which all other rights are

5653
03:13:05,848 --> 03:13:07,383
protected. And when that right

5654
03:13:07,383 --> 03:13:09,519
is manipulated or subverted,

5655
03:13:09,519 --> 03:13:11,821
when lines are drawn in ways

5656
03:13:11,821 --> 03:13:14,123
that suppress voters, every

5657
03:13:14,123 --> 03:13:16,125
other right is undermined. The

5658
03:13:16,125 --> 03:13:18,461
right to vote and the right to

5659
03:13:18,461 --> 03:13:20,163
fair representation are

5660
03:13:20,163 --> 03:13:21,931
foundational. Our foundational

5661
03:13:21,931 --> 03:13:24,931
to the right to economic

5662
03:13:25,201 --> 03:13:27,300
justice, the right to social

5663
03:13:27,300 --> 03:13:29,405
justice, the right to civic

5664
03:13:29,405 --> 03:13:31,700
engagement. And so when we

5665
03:13:31,700 --> 03:13:33,407
fight for fair representation,

5666
03:13:33,543 --> 03:13:36,120
we are actually fighting for

5667
03:13:36,120 --> 03:13:37,647
better wages. We are protecting

5668
03:13:37,647 --> 03:13:40,416
health care and health care

5669
03:13:40,416 --> 03:13:42,118
access. We are responding to

5670
03:13:42,118 --> 03:13:44,518
the dismantling of public

5671
03:13:44,955 --> 03:13:47,900
education. This effort is not

5672
03:13:47,900 --> 03:13:49,900
just about protecting

5673
03:13:49,292 --> 03:13:51,692
representation. It is quite

5674
03:13:52,229 --> 03:13:54,629
literally about access, equity

5675
03:13:55,980 --> 03:13:57,401
and justice. If we in Virginia

5676
03:13:57,401 --> 03:13:59,350
fail to act, we risk the we

5677
03:13:59,350 --> 03:14:01,170
risk following the same path

5678
03:14:01,170 --> 03:14:03,206
that we have seen elsewhere, a

5679
03:14:03,206 --> 03:14:05,142
path that replaces trust with

5680
03:14:05,142 --> 03:14:06,443
cynicism, and where voters

5681
03:14:06,443 --> 03:14:08,478
believe that the outcome is

5682
03:14:08,478 --> 03:14:11,315
rigged even before the first

5683
03:14:11,315 --> 03:14:14,585
ballot is cast. That is how

5684
03:14:14,585 --> 03:14:16,420
democracies falter, not with

5685
03:14:16,420 --> 03:14:18,420
one tragic, magnificent

5686
03:14:18,555 --> 03:14:21,225
collapse, but with the steady

5687
03:14:21,225 --> 03:14:23,227
erosion, the steady erosion of

5688
03:14:23,227 --> 03:14:25,227
fair representation, one

5689
03:14:25,529 --> 03:14:28,299
district at a time, not with a

5690
03:14:28,299 --> 03:14:31,680
bang, but with a whimper. As

5691
03:14:31,680 --> 03:14:34,370
the poet T.S. Eliot warned,

5692
03:14:34,370 --> 03:14:36,206
Thomas Paine also reminded us

5693
03:14:36,206 --> 03:14:38,242
those who expect to reap the

5694
03:14:38,242 --> 03:14:40,444
blessings of freedom must

5695
03:14:40,444 --> 03:14:42,844
undergo the fatigue of

5696
03:14:43,314 --> 03:14:46,314
supporting it. And this moment

5697
03:14:46,584 --> 03:14:48,386
right here, right now, is our

5698
03:14:48,386 --> 03:14:50,188
collective fatigue. It is the

5699
03:14:50,188 --> 03:14:52,588
hard work of protecting

5700
03:14:52,957 --> 03:14:55,125
democracy from the slow decay

5701
03:14:55,125 --> 03:14:57,125
of vile self-interest,

5702
03:14:57,128 --> 03:14:59,230
contemptuous disregard for the

5703
03:14:59,230 --> 03:15:01,299
rule of law, and the

5704
03:15:01,299 --> 03:15:03,299
debilitating destruction of

5705
03:15:04,169 --> 03:15:06,404
demagoguery. So we have been

5706
03:15:06,404 --> 03:15:07,639
called upon to act with courage

5707
03:15:07,639 --> 03:15:10,375
and conviction, and some have

5708
03:15:10,375 --> 03:15:12,277
asked, why now? Why the urgency?

5709
03:15:12,277 --> 03:15:14,713
Some have accused us on this

5710
03:15:14,713 --> 03:15:16,214
side of the aisle of playing

5711
03:15:16,214 --> 03:15:18,614
craven political theater. And

5712
03:15:19,170 --> 03:15:21,860
as we all know, the theatrics

5713
03:15:21,860 --> 03:15:24,356
does have a certain role to

5714
03:15:24,356 --> 03:15:26,758
play in politics. However, the

5715
03:15:26,758 --> 03:15:29,194
serious nature of this moment

5716
03:15:29,194 --> 03:15:32,531
is far beyond theatrics, and it

5717
03:15:32,531 --> 03:15:34,166
is also well beyond the

5718
03:15:34,166 --> 03:15:36,166
hysterics of hypocrisy.

5719
03:15:37,200 --> 03:15:39,538
Virginia is among the states

5720
03:15:39,538 --> 03:15:41,373
that have felt the immediate

5721
03:15:41,373 --> 03:15:43,475
and immense economic pain from

5722
03:15:43,475 --> 03:15:44,677
the chaos of the Trump

5723
03:15:44,677 --> 03:15:46,780
administration. We know that he

5724
03:15:46,780 --> 03:15:49,148
is eroding the rule of law and

5725
03:15:49,148 --> 03:15:51,417
his relentless pursuit of power.

5726
03:15:51,417 --> 03:15:52,284
We know that we must face the

5727
03:15:52,284 --> 03:15:54,684
moment with urgency, rather

5728
03:15:55,521 --> 03:15:57,256
than sit on the sidelines as we

5729
03:15:57,256 --> 03:15:59,992
watch our democracy be stripped

5730
03:15:59,992 --> 03:16:02,161
away in ways that will take

5731
03:16:02,161 --> 03:16:04,430
generations to repair. All

5732
03:16:04,430 --> 03:16:06,365
across Virginia, tens of

5733
03:16:06,365 --> 03:16:08,765
thousands of our constituents

5734
03:16:09,135 --> 03:16:11,237
have marched, they have rallied.

5735
03:16:11,237 --> 03:16:14,407
They have called upon us to act,

5736
03:16:14,407 --> 03:16:15,141
to take a stance, to respond to

5737
03:16:15,141 --> 03:16:17,343
the chaos and destruction of

5738
03:16:17,343 --> 03:16:19,743
Trump's Washington with more

5739
03:16:20,246 --> 03:16:23,830
than just empty words. And this

5740
03:16:23,830 --> 03:16:25,351
week, we did just that. And

5741
03:16:25,351 --> 03:16:27,860
Virginians are proud. So today

5742
03:16:27,860 --> 03:16:29,656
is the first step in an

5743
03:16:29,656 --> 03:16:31,257
endeavor to stand up against

5744
03:16:31,257 --> 03:16:34,600
the unlawful power grabs and

5745
03:16:34,600 --> 03:16:37,130
return power back to the people

5746
03:16:37,130 --> 03:16:40,300
of Virginia. It is through our

5747
03:16:40,300 --> 03:16:42,202
actions today that we MAY give

5748
03:16:42,202 --> 03:16:45,202
Virginians a voice in deciding

5749
03:16:46,440 --> 03:16:47,307
the future of America. Madam

5750
03:16:47,307 --> 03:16:48,975
president, I conclude my

5751
03:16:48,975 --> 03:16:51,211
comments with a reminder of

5752
03:16:51,211 --> 03:16:54,211
what Abraham Lincoln urged of

5753
03:16:55,820 --> 03:16:57,751
us, his fellow citizens in 1862,

5754
03:16:57,751 --> 03:17:00,530
that in moments of grave crisis,

5755
03:17:00,530 --> 03:17:03,530
moments of historic urgency, we

5756
03:17:03,624 --> 03:17:05,250
are called to act boldly and

5757
03:17:05,250 --> 03:17:08,250
with full determination. It is

5758
03:17:08,462 --> 03:17:11,231
Lincoln who said the dogmas of

5759
03:17:11,231 --> 03:17:14,100
the quiet past are inadequate

5760
03:17:14,100 --> 03:17:16,337
to the stormy present. The

5761
03:17:16,337 --> 03:17:18,720
occasion is piled high with

5762
03:17:18,720 --> 03:17:21,720
difficulty, and we must rise

5763
03:17:21,308 --> 03:17:24,145
with that occasion. As our case

5764
03:17:24,145 --> 03:17:27,810
is new, we must think anew and

5765
03:17:27,810 --> 03:17:30,810
act anew. We must disenthrall

5766
03:17:30,584 --> 03:17:32,190
ourselves, and then we will

5767
03:17:32,190 --> 03:17:34,550
save our country. MADAM

5768
03:17:34,550 --> 03:17:37,550
PRESIDENT, we have just taken

5769
03:17:37,158 --> 03:17:38,992
our first steps in disenthrall

5770
03:17:38,992 --> 03:17:41,992
ourselves from the dogmas of

5771
03:17:42,196 --> 03:17:45,196
that quiet past. Thank you,

5772
03:17:46,401 --> 03:17:48,401
MADAM PRESIDENT.

5773
03:17:48,903 --> 03:17:51,303
>> Senator ciphers. The Senator

5774
03:17:52,307 --> 03:17:54,750
from Prince Edward.

5775
03:17:54,750 --> 03:17:55,844
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I rise for

5776
03:17:55,844 --> 03:17:56,945
a point of personal privilege.

5777
03:17:56,945 --> 03:17:59,345
>> The Senator MAY continue.

5778
03:18:01,216 --> 03:18:02,484
>> MADAM PRESIDENT. I'm. I'm

5779
03:18:02,484 --> 03:18:04,252
disappointed that that we were

5780
03:18:04,252 --> 03:18:07,220
not able to hear a resolution

5781
03:18:07,220 --> 03:18:09,224
today that didn't require

5782
03:18:09,224 --> 03:18:12,940
anyone to agree with all of the

5783
03:18:12,940 --> 03:18:15,530
views of of Charlie Kirk, but

5784
03:18:15,530 --> 03:18:18,166
rather to agree that one of the

5785
03:18:18,166 --> 03:18:20,269
most fundamental principles and

5786
03:18:20,269 --> 03:18:21,690
values that we share as

5787
03:18:21,690 --> 03:18:23,172
Americans is the idea that we

5788
03:18:23,172 --> 03:18:25,107
should be able to speak our

5789
03:18:25,107 --> 03:18:27,176
minds in open debate, and that

5790
03:18:27,176 --> 03:18:29,278
we, when we come together in

5791
03:18:29,278 --> 03:18:31,480
open debate and speak our minds

5792
03:18:31,480 --> 03:18:33,880
clearly and respectfully, that

5793
03:18:34,516 --> 03:18:36,285
we avoid, as Charlie Kirk said

5794
03:18:36,285 --> 03:18:39,285
many times, really bad things

5795
03:18:39,288 --> 03:18:40,356
from happening. I don't think

5796
03:18:40,356 --> 03:18:42,291
there's any I don't think

5797
03:18:42,291 --> 03:18:44,226
there's any doubt, MADAM

5798
03:18:44,226 --> 03:18:46,863
PRESIDENT, that our country has

5799
03:18:46,863 --> 03:18:48,130
become more and more and more

5800
03:18:48,130 --> 03:18:51,130
divided, that it has become

5801
03:18:51,233 --> 03:18:53,235
more and more and more partizan.

5802
03:18:53,235 --> 03:18:55,638
And based on the the things

5803
03:18:55,638 --> 03:18:57,600
that are going on this week,

5804
03:18:57,600 --> 03:18:59,375
that we are resorting to more

5805
03:18:59,375 --> 03:19:02,245
and more and more extreme ways

5806
03:19:02,245 --> 03:19:04,547
of dealing with that. But,

5807
03:19:04,547 --> 03:19:06,449
MADAM PRESIDENT, we are in a

5808
03:19:06,449 --> 03:19:08,518
period here where political

5809
03:19:08,518 --> 03:19:11,154
violence has become a repeating

5810
03:19:11,154 --> 03:19:13,223
theme. And if there's a body of

5811
03:19:13,223 --> 03:19:14,491
members in the United States of

5812
03:19:14,491 --> 03:19:18,910
America that should be able to

5813
03:19:19,280 --> 03:19:20,663
stand up and say that above all

5814
03:19:20,663 --> 03:19:23,320
else, we believe in respectful

5815
03:19:23,320 --> 03:19:25,969
debate. We believe that we can

5816
03:19:25,969 --> 03:19:28,438
duke it out on the floor, but

5817
03:19:28,438 --> 03:19:30,173
be kind to each other in the in

5818
03:19:30,173 --> 03:19:32,420
the hallways of the General

5819
03:19:32,420 --> 03:19:33,176
Assembly or on the streets of

5820
03:19:33,176 --> 03:19:36,213
America, that we would be able

5821
03:19:36,213 --> 03:19:38,810
to set the example that

5822
03:19:38,810 --> 03:19:40,810
regardless of political

5823
03:19:40,283 --> 03:19:42,353
divisions, everyone in America

5824
03:19:42,353 --> 03:19:44,154
should enjoy that same

5825
03:19:44,154 --> 03:19:46,323
privilege and should practice

5826
03:19:46,323 --> 03:19:48,325
practice those same principles.

5827
03:19:48,325 --> 03:19:51,325
So, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'm deeply

5828
03:19:51,462 --> 03:19:53,230
disappointed. But my hope is

5829
03:19:53,230 --> 03:19:55,980
that as we move forward in this

5830
03:19:55,980 --> 03:19:57,234
body and in this country, that

5831
03:19:57,234 --> 03:19:59,136
we can find ways to rise above

5832
03:19:59,136 --> 03:20:02,136
these differences, that we can

5833
03:20:02,573 --> 03:20:04,973
agree to universally condemn

5834
03:20:05,443 --> 03:20:06,410
political violence, and that we

5835
03:20:06,410 --> 03:20:09,346
can seek to come together on

5836
03:20:09,346 --> 03:20:13,170
the things that we can agree on

5837
03:20:13,170 --> 03:20:15,417
without this, this absolute

5838
03:20:16,420 --> 03:20:18,122
stone wall, when it comes to

5839
03:20:18,122 --> 03:20:20,358
things that we don't. At the

5840
03:20:20,358 --> 03:20:22,590
very least, MADAM PRESIDENT, my

5841
03:20:22,590 --> 03:20:23,261
hope is that we can hear each

5842
03:20:23,261 --> 03:20:25,430
other out and that we can be

5843
03:20:25,430 --> 03:20:27,398
heard out without the fear of

5844
03:20:27,398 --> 03:20:29,798
of violent retribution. Thank

5845
03:20:32,470 --> 03:20:34,439
you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5846
03:20:34,439 --> 03:20:36,839
>> Senator Saleem, the senator

5847
03:20:37,141 --> 03:20:38,376
from central Fairfax County.

5848
03:20:38,376 --> 03:20:40,145
>> MADAM PRESIDENT, I rise on

5849
03:20:40,145 --> 03:20:41,413
the point of personal privilege.

5850
03:20:41,413 --> 03:20:43,415
>> The Senator MAY say on.

5851
03:20:43,415 --> 03:20:45,116
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5852
03:20:45,116 --> 03:20:48,219
As a Virginian, as a public

5853
03:20:48,219 --> 03:20:49,254
servant and as a muslim, when I

5854
03:20:49,254 --> 03:20:51,756
ran for office, I believe that

5855
03:20:51,756 --> 03:20:52,257
serving your community is one

5856
03:20:52,257 --> 03:20:54,393
of the highest form of

5857
03:20:54,393 --> 03:20:56,795
gratitude. But lately, we have

5858
03:20:56,795 --> 03:20:57,996
seen a troubling rise in

5859
03:20:57,996 --> 03:21:00,165
Islamophobia across our nations.

5860
03:21:00,165 --> 03:21:02,434
And even here in Virginia,

5861
03:21:02,434 --> 03:21:04,770
Muslim candidates and public

5862
03:21:04,770 --> 03:21:06,710
servants have been harassed,

5863
03:21:06,710 --> 03:21:09,710
called, foreign, or treated as

5864
03:21:09,441 --> 03:21:11,343
their faith, treated as though

5865
03:21:11,343 --> 03:21:12,177
their faith makes them less

5866
03:21:12,177 --> 03:21:14,646
American. This is wrong. This

5867
03:21:14,646 --> 03:21:17,160
is un-American. This is

5868
03:21:17,160 --> 03:21:18,350
dangerous. We're also seeing

5869
03:21:18,350 --> 03:21:20,350
national leaders, including

5870
03:21:20,419 --> 03:21:22,755
PRESIDENT Trump and his

5871
03:21:22,755 --> 03:21:24,356
administration, use rhetoric

5872
03:21:24,356 --> 03:21:26,458
that demonizes Muslim public

5873
03:21:26,458 --> 03:21:28,360
figures or candidates,

5874
03:21:28,360 --> 03:21:31,731
portraying them as a threat to

5875
03:21:31,731 --> 03:21:33,933
this nation. This kind of fear

5876
03:21:33,933 --> 03:21:36,268
mongering does not unite us. It

5877
03:21:36,268 --> 03:21:38,971
divides us. It undermines the

5878
03:21:38,971 --> 03:21:41,474
value that makes America strong.

5879
03:21:41,474 --> 03:21:43,420
Our founders understood

5880
03:21:43,420 --> 03:21:45,211
something profound. Freedom of

5881
03:21:45,211 --> 03:21:47,346
religion isn't just about

5882
03:21:47,346 --> 03:21:48,800
worship, it's about dignity.

5883
03:21:48,800 --> 03:21:50,416
Thomas Jefferson wrote the

5884
03:21:50,416 --> 03:21:52,618
Virginia Statute for religious

5885
03:21:52,618 --> 03:21:54,187
freedom right here in our

5886
03:21:54,187 --> 03:21:55,354
Commonwealth, because he knew

5887
03:21:55,354 --> 03:21:57,390
government has no place

5888
03:21:57,390 --> 03:21:59,626
deciding who belongs based on

5889
03:21:59,626 --> 03:22:00,427
their faith. That principle is

5890
03:22:00,427 --> 03:22:02,328
being tested again. But the

5891
03:22:02,328 --> 03:22:05,328
answer cannot be silence. It

5892
03:22:05,398 --> 03:22:07,400
has to be solidarity. When we

5893
03:22:07,400 --> 03:22:09,400
see Islamophobia, anti-Semitism,

5894
03:22:09,903 --> 03:22:12,271
or any act of hate, we must say

5895
03:22:12,271 --> 03:22:14,474
clearly this is not Virginia,

5896
03:22:14,474 --> 03:22:16,376
this is not America. My faith

5897
03:22:16,376 --> 03:22:18,376
teaches me compassion,

5898
03:22:19,790 --> 03:22:21,479
perseverance, and standing here

5899
03:22:22,616 --> 03:22:23,550
as a muslim Virginian, I am a

5900
03:22:23,550 --> 03:22:26,550
proof that our democracy still

5901
03:22:27,254 --> 03:22:30,123
has room for hope. So I hope we

5902
03:22:30,123 --> 03:22:31,425
can ensure that no child in

5903
03:22:31,425 --> 03:22:33,427
Virginia grows up thinking that

5904
03:22:33,427 --> 03:22:35,950
their faith is a barrier to

5905
03:22:35,950 --> 03:22:38,950
leadership. And I also hope

5906
03:22:38,565 --> 03:22:39,633
that we all support in building

5907
03:22:39,633 --> 03:22:42,330
a commonwealth where our

5908
03:22:42,636 --> 03:22:43,437
diversity is not our weakness,

5909
03:22:43,437 --> 03:22:45,837
but our greatest strength.

5910
03:22:50,945 --> 03:22:53,345
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5911
03:22:53,914 --> 03:22:56,314
>> Senator Locke, the Senator

5912
03:22:56,383 --> 03:22:58,219
from Hampton.

5913
03:22:58,219 --> 03:22:59,587
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5914
03:22:59,587 --> 03:23:00,540
I rise on a point of personal

5915
03:23:00,540 --> 03:23:00,354
privilege.

5916
03:23:00,354 --> 03:23:02,189
>> Senator.

5917
03:23:02,189 --> 03:23:03,391
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5918
03:23:03,391 --> 03:23:04,992
MADAM PRESIDENT, this week,

5919
03:23:04,992 --> 03:23:06,160
each day we received a

5920
03:23:06,160 --> 03:23:08,160
political communication from

5921
03:23:09,630 --> 03:23:10,364
the governor. These missives

5922
03:23:10,364 --> 03:23:12,400
chastised Democrats as though

5923
03:23:12,400 --> 03:23:13,670
we were children and not an

5924
03:23:13,670 --> 03:23:15,670
independent branch of

5925
03:23:15,436 --> 03:23:16,370
government, quite capable of

5926
03:23:16,370 --> 03:23:18,406
making decisions and policy

5927
03:23:18,406 --> 03:23:20,141
choices independent of his

5928
03:23:20,141 --> 03:23:21,509
office. I would like to address

5929
03:23:21,509 --> 03:23:23,244
a couple of things he has

5930
03:23:23,244 --> 03:23:25,346
chosen to focus on in these

5931
03:23:25,346 --> 03:23:27,346
unwarranted missives. First,

5932
03:23:28,115 --> 03:23:30,251
the government shutdown is not

5933
03:23:30,251 --> 03:23:33,870
the fault of Democrats. Last

5934
03:23:33,870 --> 03:23:36,870
time I checked, there's a

5935
03:23:36,324 --> 03:23:39,324
trifecta in D.C. Executive,

5936
03:23:39,561 --> 03:23:41,629
legislative, and judicial. They

5937
03:23:41,629 --> 03:23:43,298
control everything. The problem

5938
03:23:43,298 --> 03:23:46,201
they have is an inability to

5939
03:23:46,201 --> 03:23:47,969
govern. They and he believe

5940
03:23:47,969 --> 03:23:49,971
that if they say it enough and

5941
03:23:49,971 --> 03:23:52,971
repeat it enough, everyone will

5942
03:23:53,308 --> 03:23:55,344
believe it. Well, people losing

5943
03:23:55,344 --> 03:23:57,746
their jobs did not start with

5944
03:23:57,746 --> 03:23:59,414
the government shutdown. Media

5945
03:23:59,414 --> 03:24:01,182
blackouts did not start with

5946
03:24:01,182 --> 03:24:03,151
the government shutdown. All

5947
03:24:03,151 --> 03:24:06,321
the cuts and slaps at health

5948
03:24:06,321 --> 03:24:08,190
care, education, housing and

5949
03:24:08,190 --> 03:24:10,590
disruptions to communities did

5950
03:24:10,759 --> 03:24:11,960
not start with the government

5951
03:24:11,960 --> 03:24:13,960
shutdown. The government

5952
03:24:15,264 --> 03:24:17,330
shutdown has exacerbated a

5953
03:24:17,330 --> 03:24:19,535
gaping wound caused by an

5954
03:24:19,535 --> 03:24:21,303
administration that does not

5955
03:24:21,303 --> 03:24:23,703
care about people. Only

5956
03:24:24,940 --> 03:24:27,340
unchecked power grabs. Second,

5957
03:24:27,510 --> 03:24:29,440
while I find it admirable that

5958
03:24:29,440 --> 03:24:32,440
the governor now cares about

5959
03:24:32,181 --> 03:24:33,583
food insecurity and has issued

5960
03:24:33,583 --> 03:24:36,583
a state of emergency relative

5961
03:24:37,953 --> 03:24:40,122
to Snap, why not ask those who

5962
03:24:40,122 --> 03:24:41,390
chose to cut funds out of the

5963
03:24:41,390 --> 03:24:43,626
program in hb one in the first

5964
03:24:43,626 --> 03:24:46,362
place? To think about those in

5965
03:24:46,362 --> 03:24:49,362
need? Further, the governor has

5966
03:24:50,633 --> 03:24:52,680
issued a total of 438 vetoes

5967
03:24:52,680 --> 03:24:56,268
over three and a half years. Of

5968
03:24:57,240 --> 03:24:59,640
the 438 vetoes, 111 were bills

5969
03:25:00,610 --> 03:25:02,345
that put Virginians first.

5970
03:25:02,345 --> 03:25:04,380
Those bills addressed housing,

5971
03:25:04,380 --> 03:25:06,780
health care, economic security,

5972
03:25:07,183 --> 03:25:09,152
and voting rights. For someone

5973
03:25:09,152 --> 03:25:11,540
who claims to care about the

5974
03:25:11,540 --> 03:25:13,454
concerns of Virginians, is

5975
03:25:13,623 --> 03:25:15,920
telling that a quarter of his

5976
03:25:15,920 --> 03:25:18,920
vetoes have blocked the very

5977
03:25:18,261 --> 03:25:21,465
issues he claims he wants to

5978
03:25:21,465 --> 03:25:23,934
fix. The math just ain't math.

5979
03:25:23,934 --> 03:25:25,168
Finally, I want to address the

5980
03:25:25,168 --> 03:25:27,771
attacks that have been levied

5981
03:25:27,771 --> 03:25:30,107
against us regarding political

5982
03:25:30,107 --> 03:25:32,109
violence. I would like to know

5983
03:25:32,109 --> 03:25:34,378
how we're defining it. There's

5984
03:25:34,378 --> 03:25:36,447
absolutely no one on this side

5985
03:25:36,447 --> 03:25:39,316
of the aisle who does not

5986
03:25:39,316 --> 03:25:41,716
oppose political violence in

5987
03:25:42,153 --> 03:25:46,353
any form that it takes. I knew

5988
03:25:48,125 --> 03:25:50,525
Speaker Melissa Hortman. And

5989
03:25:52,163 --> 03:25:55,299
was not only horrified by what

5990
03:25:55,299 --> 03:25:58,603
happened to her and her husband

5991
03:25:58,603 --> 03:26:01,472
and Senator John Hoffman, but

5992
03:26:01,472 --> 03:26:03,475
was completely appalled by the

5993
03:26:03,475 --> 03:26:05,875
response of PRESIDENT Trump

5994
03:26:06,811 --> 03:26:09,781
that he was not even familiar

5995
03:26:09,781 --> 03:26:11,683
with her murder and would have

5996
03:26:11,683 --> 03:26:14,683
lowered the flags had Governor

5997
03:26:14,919 --> 03:26:18,519
Wallace asked him to. Why did

5998
03:26:19,570 --> 03:26:21,926
the governor have to ask him to?

5999
03:26:21,926 --> 03:26:23,795
It seems that there are double

6000
03:26:23,795 --> 03:26:26,795
standards when it comes to

6001
03:26:26,965 --> 03:26:28,965
political violence. Utterances

6002
03:26:29,167 --> 03:26:31,167
regarding political violence.

6003
03:26:31,303 --> 03:26:34,273
Let us not clutch our

6004
03:26:34,273 --> 03:26:36,107
moralistic pearls and point

6005
03:26:36,107 --> 03:26:38,507
fingers. If we're not

6006
03:26:38,610 --> 03:26:41,413
condemning the actions of any

6007
03:26:41,413 --> 03:26:44,160
and all acts that occur. Spare

6008
03:26:44,160 --> 03:26:45,150
me the selective compassion and

6009
03:26:45,150 --> 03:26:47,150
sympathy and strategic

6010
03:26:49,488 --> 03:26:51,657
indifference. Is it political

6011
03:26:51,657 --> 03:26:53,425
violence to enslave people

6012
03:26:53,425 --> 03:26:56,195
against their will, yet refuse

6013
03:26:56,195 --> 03:26:58,997
to even support a resolution

6014
03:26:58,997 --> 03:27:01,333
acknowledging the same? Is it

6015
03:27:01,333 --> 03:27:03,733
political violence to lynch

6016
03:27:05,104 --> 03:27:07,540
people for whatever unnamed sin,

6017
03:27:07,540 --> 03:27:10,209
yet not support a resolution

6018
03:27:10,209 --> 03:27:12,577
acknowledging the same? Again,

6019
03:27:12,577 --> 03:27:14,977
spare me the selective

6020
03:27:16,682 --> 03:27:19,885
compassion. I would like to end.

6021
03:27:19,885 --> 03:27:21,320
With a story shared with me by

6022
03:27:21,320 --> 03:27:23,623
one of my former students.

6023
03:27:23,623 --> 03:27:24,557
She's a brilliant young woman

6024
03:27:24,557 --> 03:27:26,957
who just recently graduated

6025
03:27:27,192 --> 03:27:29,295
from uva Law School. After

6026
03:27:29,295 --> 03:27:31,695
graduating from Hampton, she

6027
03:27:32,765 --> 03:27:36,350
took a job on Capitol Hill that

6028
03:27:36,350 --> 03:27:37,360
that evolved from her time as a

6029
03:27:37,360 --> 03:27:39,436
fellow with the Congressional

6030
03:27:41,174 --> 03:27:43,676
Black Caucus. That job was in

6031
03:27:43,676 --> 03:27:45,812
the office of the House

6032
03:27:45,812 --> 03:27:48,212
Majority Whip, Congressman Jim

6033
03:27:49,150 --> 03:27:51,415
Clyburn. His office was

6034
03:27:51,651 --> 03:27:54,510
directly across from Speaker

6035
03:27:55,989 --> 03:27:59,589
Nancy Pelosi. She was at work

6036
03:28:02,362 --> 03:28:04,464
on JANUARY 6th, 2021. On that

6037
03:28:04,464 --> 03:28:07,401
day, when the Capitol was

6038
03:28:07,401 --> 03:28:09,401
stormed by insurrectionists,

6039
03:28:11,710 --> 03:28:14,671
she and other staffers had to

6040
03:28:14,808 --> 03:28:16,808
barricade themselves inside

6041
03:28:18,178 --> 03:28:20,178
Congressman Clyburn's office.

6042
03:28:21,182 --> 03:28:23,684
She heard people coming up the

6043
03:28:23,684 --> 03:28:26,684
stairs and pounding on the

6044
03:28:27,354 --> 03:28:29,556
congressman's door. She told me

6045
03:28:29,556 --> 03:28:32,259
that they had to push against

6046
03:28:32,259 --> 03:28:35,620
that door to keep people from

6047
03:28:35,620 --> 03:28:37,462
breaking into the congressman's

6048
03:28:46,107 --> 03:28:48,643
office, calling from for Jim.

6049
03:28:48,643 --> 03:28:50,545
They heard people going over to

6050
03:28:50,545 --> 03:28:51,512
Speaker Pelosi's office yelling,

6051
03:28:51,512 --> 03:28:53,140
Where is Nancy? And breaking

6052
03:28:53,140 --> 03:28:54,282
into the speaker's office? She

6053
03:28:54,282 --> 03:28:57,282
and the staffers managed to

6054
03:29:00,655 --> 03:29:03,655
keep that door closed. But

6055
03:29:03,992 --> 03:29:05,159
afterwards. She said that even

6056
03:29:05,159 --> 03:29:07,462
though they survived that day,

6057
03:29:07,462 --> 03:29:09,564
even though they didn't think

6058
03:29:09,564 --> 03:29:12,233
that they would, they had to

6059
03:29:12,233 --> 03:29:15,233
undergo months of therapy, and

6060
03:29:16,938 --> 03:29:18,106
many of them still do.

6061
03:29:18,106 --> 03:29:21,106
Political violence comes in all

6062
03:29:22,100 --> 03:29:26,210
forms and affects all of us in

6063
03:29:26,247 --> 03:29:29,247
many ways. I have relinquished

6064
03:29:31,219 --> 03:29:33,210
my state license plates. And

6065
03:29:33,210 --> 03:29:35,421
upgraded my home security

6066
03:29:36,258 --> 03:29:38,193
because of it. So don't point a

6067
03:29:38,193 --> 03:29:41,193
finger at me because three

6068
03:29:41,263 --> 03:29:44,863
would be pointing back at you.

6069
03:29:46,802 --> 03:29:49,202
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

6070
03:29:49,672 --> 03:29:52,720
>> Senator Peake, the senator

6071
03:29:52,875 --> 03:29:54,276
from Lynchburg. Thank you.

6072
03:29:54,276 --> 03:29:56,312
>> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

6073
03:29:56,312 --> 03:29:56,579
I rise to a point of personal

6074
03:29:56,579 --> 03:29:58,280
privilege.

6075
03:29:58,280 --> 03:29:59,315
>> Senator has the floor.

6076
03:29:59,315 --> 03:30:01,951
>> And I'm going to hearken

6077
03:30:01,951 --> 03:30:04,860
back to some of the priors,

6078
03:30:04,860 --> 03:30:06,486
points of personal privilege.

6079
03:30:07,289 --> 03:30:10,526
It appears here we are on

6080
03:30:10,526 --> 03:30:13,620
OCTOBER 31st, four days before

6081
03:30:13,620 --> 03:30:14,263
a statewide election. And I

6082
03:30:14,263 --> 03:30:16,199
swear, I believe that one of

6083
03:30:16,199 --> 03:30:17,867
our members might be running

6084
03:30:17,867 --> 03:30:19,803
for statewide office based on

6085
03:30:19,803 --> 03:30:22,803
the prior point of personal

6086
03:30:24,240 --> 03:30:25,141
privilege. And the name of

6087
03:30:25,141 --> 03:30:27,541
Abraham Lincoln was brought

6088
03:30:28,578 --> 03:30:30,460
into play. And the plight of

6089
03:30:30,460 --> 03:30:32,615
our black and brown citizens

6090
03:30:32,615 --> 03:30:35,615
was brought into play. Thank

6091
03:30:37,220 --> 03:30:40,356
goodness, in this very body, a

6092
03:30:40,356 --> 03:30:43,956
member of the party of Lincoln

6093
03:30:44,394 --> 03:30:47,994
sits above us all. An immigrant

6094
03:30:48,598 --> 03:30:50,998
from Jamaica, elected to

6095
03:30:51,601 --> 03:30:54,601
statewide office, sits above us

6096
03:30:55,739 --> 03:30:59,939
all. That is what we stand for

6097
03:31:00,644 --> 03:31:03,146
in the Republican Party. Oh,

6098
03:31:03,146 --> 03:31:05,549
that's who we nominated to be

6099
03:31:05,549 --> 03:31:07,840
the next governor of the

6100
03:31:07,840 --> 03:31:09,286
Commonwealth of Virginia. We do

6101
03:31:09,286 --> 03:31:11,522
have an election coming up. And

6102
03:31:11,522 --> 03:31:13,290
so at this time, I had not

6103
03:31:13,290 --> 03:31:16,600
anticipated, I honestly had not

6104
03:31:16,600 --> 03:31:18,950
planned on imposing on y'all's

6105
03:31:18,950 --> 03:31:21,310
time the week of this last week

6106
03:31:21,310 --> 03:31:24,100
of OCTOBER. But here we are,

6107
03:31:24,100 --> 03:31:27,100
MADAM PRESIDENT, thank you for

6108
03:31:27,304 --> 03:31:29,473
the past four years where you

6109
03:31:29,473 --> 03:31:32,276
have led this chamber with

6110
03:31:32,276 --> 03:31:34,612
grace, dignity and excellence.

6111
03:31:34,612 --> 03:31:35,947
Thank you for your service to

6112
03:31:35,947 --> 03:31:38,347
the Commonwealth as the

6113
03:31:39,116 --> 03:31:42,716
PRESIDENT Of this body. And in

6114
03:31:43,187 --> 03:31:44,723
four days, I can't wait to have

6115
03:31:44,723 --> 03:31:46,591
you elected as the next

6116
03:31:46,591 --> 03:31:48,559
governor of the Commonwealth of

6117
03:31:48,559 --> 03:31:50,959
Virginia. Thank you, MADAM

6118
03:31:55,300 --> 03:31:57,101
PRESIDENT.

6119
03:31:57,101 --> 03:31:59,671
>> Is there any other business

6120
03:31:59,671 --> 03:32:01,306
to come before the Senate?

6121
03:32:01,306 --> 03:32:03,675
Hearing? None. The clerk will

6122
03:32:03,675 --> 03:32:03,875
report any announcements on the

6123
03:32:03,875 --> 03:32:05,377
desk.

6124
03:32:05,377 --> 03:32:06,478
>> There are no announcements,

6125
03:32:06,478 --> 03:32:08,478
MADAM PRESIDENT.

6126
03:32:10,382 --> 03:32:12,782
>> The Senator from Portsmouth.

6127
03:32:13,685 --> 03:32:15,487
Senator Lucas.

6128
03:32:15,487 --> 03:32:15,754
>> Good afternoon, MADAM

6129
03:32:15,754 --> 03:32:16,955
PRESIDENT.

6130
03:32:16,955 --> 03:32:18,955
>> Good afternoon.

6131
03:32:19,157 --> 03:32:22,157
>> MADAM PRESIDENT. I move that

6132
03:32:22,294 --> 03:32:25,294
the Senate do now recess

6133
03:32:27,299 --> 03:32:29,699
pursuant to Hjr 6001 until

6134
03:32:30,703 --> 03:32:33,103
reconvened with at least 48

6135
03:32:33,539 --> 03:32:35,474
hours notice by the call of the

6136
03:32:35,474 --> 03:32:36,420
chair of Senate Committee on

6137
03:32:36,420 --> 03:32:37,710
Rules.

6138
03:32:37,710 --> 03:32:39,411
>> The question is, shall the

6139
03:32:39,411 --> 03:32:41,811
Senate recess, pursuant to

6140
03:32:42,214 --> 03:32:44,214
House Joint Resolution 6001,

6141
03:32:44,984 --> 03:32:47,586
until reconvened with at least

6142
03:32:47,586 --> 03:32:48,454
48 hours notice, by the call of

6143
03:32:48,454 --> 03:32:50,156
the chair of the Senate

6144
03:32:50,156 --> 03:32:51,557
Committee on Rules. All in

6145
03:32:51,557 --> 03:32:53,426
favor of that motion will say

6146
03:32:53,426 --> 03:32:56,195
aye. Those opposed? No. The

6147
03:32:56,195 --> 03:32:57,163
ayes have it. The motion is

6148
03:32:57,163 --> 03:33:00,763
agreed to. The Senate stands in