Since Election Day, I have been crazy busy having conversations with constituents, colleagues, and allies to help me determine my legislative agenda for the 2020 session.

While I still have time to finalize what legislation I will be introducing, I have pre-filed requests for 68 different bills I am considering.

That's a lot of bills! In fact, I know that's way too many for me to work on in the less than four weeks we have before crossover in the nine-week session, and I have tremendous respect for the legislative services staff who has to wade through my myriad of proposed bills and other proposed legislation submitted by the other 139 delegates and senators.

Why did I put in so many suggestions?  Probably because we've waited a long time in the minority, and many of my progressive bills over the last four years never received a fair hearing. So I have lots of things I've tried that I would like to try again in a majority-Democratic legislature. And I have lots of new ideas and great ideas that came from my constituents. So many, that it's kind of like a dam bursting.

My guess is I'll file about half of the bills I'm considering. Those I don't introduce I may well hand over to my colleagues for them to introduce.

I'd love to hear from you about which legislation you think I should prioritize.

Tell me at my Monthly Meetup tomorrow, Sunday, December 8, from 1-3 pm, at Los Tios in Del Ray (2615 Mt. Vernon Avenue).

This will be my last meetup before the start of session!

I hope you'll attend to help me finalize my legislative agenda.

And once I do...

To be the first to hear my complete legislative agenda for 2020, please save the date of Sunday, January 5th, 4-6pm, for my Back to Richmond event, which will be at the home of Helen Morris in Old Town. More details to come. 

As you already know if you read my Primer on Gerrymandering, or the many articles in Blue Virginia (Make sure you check out the left column of this newsletter!), I think gerrymandering is unfair. And for that reason, I have come to oppose the constitutional amendment on gerrymandering, which, I fear, would allow the conservative Supreme Court to make gerrymandering much, much worse in Virginia.

Instead, I will be introducing redistricting reform legislation this year to take the political gamesmanship entirely out of gerrymandering.

If you want to hear the difference between my proposals and the proposed Virginia constitutional amendment, I highly encourage you to attend a debate I'll be having with Brian Cannon, Executive Director of OneVirginia2021, this Wednesday December 11 at 8 pm.

Debate with Brian Cannon of OneVirginia2021 on Redistricting
Wednesday, December 11
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Marymount University - Phelan Hall
2807 N. Glebe Road, Arlington
RSVP Here (for free!)

(There's a dinner at 7 pm you can RSVP and pay for.
The debate itself begins at 8 pm and is free.)

I expect a respectful but vigorous debate.

After all, if Virginia makes the wrong decision, we could have a PERMANENT UNCHANGEABLE REPUBLICAN GERRYMANDER. In fact, that's precisely what I fear the proposed constitutional gerrymandering amendment might well do.

If you can't make the live debate -- and you'll want to, because the audience can ask questions! -- you can watch the debate livestreamed and archived by clicking here.

Gerrymandering Shouldn't Be a Game

But if it were, how would you play it?

Do you know how to gerrymander?

Learn how on Friday, December 20!

How can you prevent something if you don't know exactly how it's done?

How can you call something unfair if you don't understand exactly why it's unfair?

Would you like to practice gerrymandering?
In the safety of someone else's dining room?
Without harming any real people in the process?
And maybe even raise a bit of money for your hard-working Delegate?

Come join me on Friday December 20th at 6:30 pm at the home of Alexandria's Clerk-Elect Greg Parks and his husband, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Lord, to learn everything you ever wanted to know about gerrymandering.

Want to practice yourself

the dark arts of gerrymandering?
 

But only in play

without actually subverting democracy?
 

RSVP here
 

Learn how to play the game of gerrymandering.

So we can work to take the gamesmanship out of gerrymandering.

If you want to know my views on gerrymandering, read my Primer on Gerrymandering or scroll up and click on some of the Blue Virginia articles and videos in the left-hand column. 

The ramp is highlighted in red on the map below:

You can review project information at the VDOT website. If you aren't able to attend the meeting, you can email VDOT at [email protected]. Please reference "I-395/Seminary Road HOV Ramp" in the subject line. Or you may submit written comments by Dec 31, 2019 to Abi Lerner, VDOT, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.