McDonnell Petitions Feds for Immigration Enforcement Deal

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) has petitioned the federal government to allow some Virginia State Police officers to perform some immigration enforcement duties.  This would fall under the “287g” program.

Currently, state police policy gives troopers the option of asking about immigration status when it is relevant to a criminal investigation.

"Our policy does not mandate that it be asked," state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. "If it’s relevant to bringing an investigation to a conclusion, then the question will be asked."

McDonnell disclosed his continued effort to secure an agreement during a news conference in which he was asked to comment on this week’s opinion from Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that police in Virginia may inquire about the immigration status of people they stop or arrest.

The governor said Cuccinelli’s opinion generally tracked one McDonnell issued as attorney general in 2007.

Under current Virginia law, law enforcement officers are required to inquire about the immigration status of all persons taken to jail for another suspected crime.

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Sen. Cuccinelli (R-VA)?

Bearing Drift’s Alan Moore speculates that we could be seeing Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli running for Jim Webb’s Senate seat in 2012.  I don’t think so.  The very traits that have made Cuccinelli such a star AG in his first year would go to waste in the US Senate.  Cuccinelli was a solid legislator, but not a star.  Allowed to run his own shop in the AG’s office have allowed Cuccinelli to come into his own.

I can see Cuccinelli running for governor in 2013, but not running for the US Senate.  If he ran, he would certainly be a favorite.  However, I can then envisage a miserable Sen. Cuccinelli.  OR … perhaps we would get another Jim DeMint.

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Fear the Cooch

It seems that the national GOP establishment is a tad squeamish about Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli.  Little wonder.  Virginia went for Obama in 2008.  The establishment GOP types thought anti-Obama backlash might yield victories by nice, safe, MODERATE Republicans.  Instead, Virginia elected Bob McDonnell AND Cuccinelli.

“We agree with his positions, we don’t like his style,” said a senior official with a national Republican organization. He spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of antagonizing Cuccinelli allies.

Why do they fear the Cooch?

Cuccinelli offers no apologies for his stands, which delight the tea party wing of the GOP. His federal lawsuits are just a way of making good on his campaign to fight what he views as unconstitutional federal usurpation of states’ rights.

“What we have started on in these first two months is … reasserting the state’s role vis-a-vis the federal government in determining its own destiny and in pushing back on the growing, overreaching federal power,” Cuccinelli said during a recent interview with The Associated Press. “And that isn’t just a Democrat occurrence. That happened under Republicans, as well.”

The 41-year-old Cuccinelli is a pugnacious, ruggedly handsome champion of the right who is able to publicly articulate its beliefs and aims without sounding shrill or mean. And he has clashed with what he considers apostates within his own party as much as he has Democrats.

Read more

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STOP THE MANDATE!

As noted in an earlier post, Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens of Virginia to void ObamaCare.  You can help to support Cuccinelli’s efforts.

General Cuccinelli has launched a petition supporting the suit and calling for the courts to STOP THE MANDATE!  Show your support and fight this unprecedented attack on our liberty.

Also support the Club for Growth’s new ObamaCare page – RepealIt.org  Join thousands of Americans and leaders such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is supporting the repeal.

H/T – Bearing Drift

We also recommend that you read Jim Hoeft’s excellent post on Cuccinelli and the lawsuit.

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Cuccinelli to File Suit Against ObamaCare

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced that he will file suit, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, challenging the constitutionality of ObamaCare.  In a statement last night:

At no time in our history has the government mandated its citizens buy a good or service.

Cuccinelli also argues that the bill past by the US House yesterday (the Senate passed the same bill last Christmas Eve) creates a conflict between the federal government and the Commonwealth:

"We believe the federal law is unconstitutional as it is based on the commerce clause. Simply put, not buying insurance is not engaging in commerce."

"If you are not engaged in commerce, the federal government cannot regulate this inaction. Just being alive is not interstate commerce. If it were, Congress could regulate every aspect of our lives."

In earlier interviews, Cuccinelli stated that he would file such a suit in Virginia’s Eastern District, also known as the “Rocket Docket” for it’s speed in handling cases.

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Ken Cuccinelli … On Liberty

While the nation’s “economic pie” can be grown through good economic policies, the “liberty pie” is a zero-sum game – it doesn’t grow or shrink – and there are only two slices:  government power and citizens’ liberty.  If the current notions of centralized health care are enacted, government’s raw power over citizens’ lives will increase, and their liberty will be reduced by the same amount.

So writes Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in this month’s issue of the American Spectator.  (sorry, the actual article won’t be available online until April)

Cuccinelli is fast becoming one of the leaders of the conservative movement.  While Cuccinelli has been using the power of his office to fight federal tyranny in the courts, he is also using the pen to make a reasoned argument for all that conservatives hold dear.

During the current resurgence of the conservative movement and the semi-conservative populism inherent among the tea parties, some may dismiss the need for the intellectual strength displayed by officials like Cuccinelli.  Don’t be fooled.  Without its intellectual underpinnings, the conservative movement never would have grown beyond the Bob Taft years.

As I have noted here in the past – Yes, it is important to believe the right things.  However, without a firm understanding of WHY we believe what we do, those beliefs will not survive the test of time.  This is precisely why we need elected officials like General Cuccinelli.

Yes, we all know that ObamaCare is bad policy.  We all know that it would be fiscally disastrous.  We all know that the world’s best health care system would be greatly diminished.  Yet, Cuccinelli has managed to succinctly explain why we should fight ObamaCare – even IF these things were not the case.  If we wish to forfeit our God given individual liberty for a promised blanket of economic security then America ceases to be that shining city.  Liberty forfeited is liberty lost forever.

Thanks Ken.

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Cuccinelli Redefining Role of Virginia AG?

Bob Holsworth at Virginia Tomorrow argues that Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli is redefining the office’s role, much like Jim Gilmore did during his term as AG.  Holsworth defines the new “Cuccinelli doctrine”:

It is the job of the Virginia Attorney General to identify and counter instances where the federal government may be unconstitutionally or illegally extending authority over the states.

Interesting.  While I question whether or not this redefinition will have the political legs of Gilmore’s move of making the AG “Virginia’s Top Cop”, Cuccinelli’s recent actions on behalf of the Commonwealth regarding states’ rights and federal mandates is more substantively important.  In a short period of time Cuccinelli is proving himself to be a conservative’s conservative.

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Cuccinelli – Hurt Can Raise Money During Legislative Session

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has issued an opinion that Virginia Sen. Robert Hurt (R-Pittsylvania) can raise money for his congressional race during this year’s General Assembly session.  Virginia law prohibits members of the legislature from raising money while the legislature is in session.  Cuccinelli’s opinion states that this prohibition does not apply to federal races.  Hurt is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA).  According to Cuccinelli:

However, it is my further opinion that such prohibition does not restrict fundraising activity related to a campaign for federal office. Finally, it is my opinion that federal law pre-empts Virginia’s fundraising prohibition when a General Assembly member solicits or accepts contributions solely for a federal office.

This opinion is in line with the practice in other states – states with far more stringent campaign finance laws than those of the Commonwealth.  However, some of Hurt’s opponents for the GOP nod are not convinced:

"Although it may be legal, it certainly isn’t ethical," said Laurence Verga, a private real estate investor from Ivy and one of Hurt’s rivals in the June 8 primary. "The American people are tired of career politicians like Senator Hurt who put their personal aspirations above their ethical obligations."

Verga said the intent of the 1997 law that forbids Virginia lawmakers from accepting contributions was to "prevent lobbyists from buying votes."

While Delmarva Dealings has not been a supporter of Hurt’s campaign, Cuccinelli’s opinion was the right call.

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Desperate AG Candidate Plays Race Card

Democrat Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon has not only fallen in the polls (he’s running 15 points behind GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli), he has fallen to the depths of playing the race card.  In his last debate with Cuccinelli before the election, Shannon called Cuccinelli a de facto racist for supporting state’s rights.

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Ken Cuccinelli Endorsed by Virginia FOP

GOP Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli has received the endorsement of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.  According to FOP President Tommy Edwards:

 

"Ken Cuccinelli’s outstanding recognition of the problems faced by the Supreme Court Case Melendez Diaz, his early and outspoken push for a Special Session, and its ultimate success which will allow the prosecution of certain cases to proceed – is a testament to his skill, knowledge and support of the law enforcement community."

The Virginia State FOP, which represents 8600 law enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth is considered to be the most important endorsement in the Virginia AG’s race.

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