It seems appropriate to release this installment for the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Jefferson-Jackson Weekend, which, according to the Washington Post, includes an address by Del. Ward Armstrong (D-Henry), but “no A-list speaker.” With Armstrong getting dissed by the Post, we thought we ought to feature him here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nywT-cMAYs

Check out the YouTube Video.

In the first installment of the Puckish Parliamentarian, Armstrong, the House Minority Leader, returns to his favorite grandstanding topic for the 2010 Session—electricity rates.

Seeking one more chance to talk about a bill Armstrong himself admits won’t actually solve a problem, he offered a motion to discharge a committee, a rarely-used motion, which Del. Lacey Putney (I-Bedford), currently in his 49th year in the House, never recalls being agreed to.

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) handles opposition to the motion for the Majority. The real fun starts when Del. Joe Johnson (D-Abingdon), the Puck in this installment of the Puckish Parliamentarian, engages Armstrong in a series of questions.

Del. Armstrong’s motion failed, 26-69. The Democratic Caucus has 39 members, only 2 out of 3 supported their leader.

Gov. McDonnell had already signed HB 1308, a bill by Del. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson), that actually provided immediate relief on electric bills.

Del. Clay Athey (R-Warren), chair of the Caucus’ policy committee, hosted the briefing.

Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), majority whip, discussed HB 174, which would include anyone injured in military service in the Wounded Warrior program, without regard to whether the injury was sustained in a combat area, as well as HB 419, which prepares Virginia to lead the way in technology improvements in veterans claims processing.

Del. John O’Bannon (R-Henrico) discussed HJR 33, proposing a constitutional amendment to allow localities to exempt 100%-disable veterans from property taxes.

Del. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) discussed HB 479, which would provide burial vaults at cost to eligible veterans and their family members interred at state-operated veterans’ cemeteries.

Del. Chris Stolle (R-Virginia Beach) discussed HB 1118, which would exempt from taxes payments from the Virginia Military Family Relief Fund.

Photos from the briefing are on our Facebook page.