Monday, October 22, 2012

Cuccinelli not responsible for investigating vote suppression, yet (headlines failing to match the story)



A Republican employee of a vendor was caught throwing away voter registrations, and the media lazily and wrongfully blames the Attorney General of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli for failing to investigate.

A twenty-three year old overzealous dweeb does something truly heinous

On October 18, 2012, Colin Small a 23 year old from Pennsylvania was arrested for throwing away 8 voter registration forms in a dumpster in Rockingham County.  It is unknown the reason for throwing away the forms, but the following theories have been suggested:

            1. It is part of a broad conspiracy to defraud voters.
            2. Colin failed to submit the forms by the deadline, and panicked.

Regardless, everyone seems to agree that Colin worked for a company called Pinpoint that was doing contracting work for the Republican Party of Virginia.

Soliciting voter registration applications and not submitting them, thereby resulting in disenfranchisement of voters, is truly heinous.

Don McEachin shows (once again) how little he knows about the law and Virginia government

In the wake of this mess, Virginia's former Democratic candidate for Attorney General stepped up demanding that Attorney General Cuccinelli investigate the actions of Colin Small.  State Senator McEachin should know that AG Cuccinelli does not have the power to initiate an investigation. 

McEachin either does not understand or does not care about the law here, and the media has taken off with the story.

What criminal investigative powers does the Attorney General have?

AG Cuccinelli has limited criminal investigative powers as enumerated in the Virginia Constitution and statutes.

Article V § 15 of the Virginia Constitution governs the Attorney General and says nothing about investigative powers of any kind.

Under Va. Code § 2.2-511 the Virginia Attorney General has the power to initiate criminal investigations in limited circumstances, specifically:

"A. Unless specifically requested by the Governor to do so, the Attorney General shall have no authority to institute or conduct criminal prosecutions in the circuit courts of the Commonwealth except in cases involving (i) violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (§ 4.1-100 et seq.), (ii) violation of laws relating to elections and the electoral process as provided in § 24.2-104 . . ."

AG Cuccinelli can investigate electoral crimes as provided in Va. Code § 24.2-104, which states in relevant part:

"When the State Board is of the opinion that the public interest will be served, it may request the Attorney General, or other attorney designated by the Governor for the purpose, to assist the attorney for the Commonwealth of any jurisdiction in which election laws have been violated."

The "State Board" in this instance is the State Board of Elections ["SBE"].

Additionally under Va. Code § 24.2-104:

"The attorney for the Commonwealth or a member of the electoral board of any county or city may make a request, in writing, that the Attorney General appoint a committee to make an immediate investigation of the election practices in that city or county . . ."

In no manner can AG Cuccinelli initiate an investigation himself.  The Governor can authorize the investigation under Va. Code § 2.2-511 and the SBE, local Commonwealth's Attorney (Constitutionally elected prosecutor), or local electoral board member can initiate the investigation under Va. Code § 24.2-104.


The left gets this (mostly) wrong

In light of McEachin's statements, the left has mercilessly pushed this story as a failing of AG Cuccinelli, but only in the headlines of articles.  When reading into the text of the articles, the accusation against AG Cuccinelli has absolutely no substance.

Headlines are as follows:






AG Cuccinelli seeks responsibility and McEachin doubles down on stupidity

In response to the demands being placed on AG Cuccinelli, he responded to McEachin by requesting that the Attorney General's office be given additional authority to initiate investigations of election law violations without waiting for a request from the SBE. 

According to the Washington Post McEachin responded as follows:

"McEachin (D-Richmond) said he has seen the letter [from Cuccinelli] and suggested that political motivations could be the reason Cuccinelli is not pursuing the issue."

I am beginning to hope McEachin runs statewide again.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Power over Virginia property rights can be returned to the citizens in 2012



Virginia has a rare and important statewide matter on the ballot for November.  In addition to the Presidential election, Virginia has a statewide ballot measure where voters will get to decide if private property continues to have meaning or if politically connected developers can seize your property when it is deemed to benefit the public coffers.

An opportunity to permanently curtail the power of both the state and local government in Virginia is upon us.

History

In 2005 the Supreme Court eviscerated the right to keep one's own property when faced with private developers seeking a larger commercial development in the decision of Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005).  Lower middle class residents sought to prevent the City of New London Connecticut from taking their property via eminent domain as the owners argued the property was not being taken for "public use" as required by the 5th Amendment.

Our antagonist in this story, Pfizer, Inc. wanted to build a large scale commercial development, and seizing the property of private homeowners was necessary to achieve Pfizer's goal.  The City of New London used the power of eminent domain, claiming that the improvement to the property would be a "public use."  This public use was couched in terms of increased tax revenue and a wealthier citizenry.

The Supreme Court essentially stated there are no bounds to "public use" as anything that financially benefits a government could now be considered public use.

The uproar among private citizens believing in keeping their small portion of the American dream was heard throughout state legislatures nationwide as laws were passed to placate their worries.  Virginia moved quickly and successfully to pass laws restricting eminent domain to actual public uses at the local level. 

The Dillon Rule

Virginia is a Dillon rule state.  In short the Dillon rule indicates that a local government only has those powers granted to it by the statewide government.  If the Virginia General Assembly decides to grant or revoke a power to a locality, the locality must abide by that grant or revocation.

As localities are governed by the Dillon rule, the General Assembly curtailed the power of localities to use eminent domain to take private property for purposes of bolstering a tax base.

Private property was safe, or so it seemed.

What is actually on the ballot in November 2012?

Oddly, finding anything other than innuendo about the property rights amendment in November is exceedingly difficult.  The public should understand both the provision on the ballot, and the actual language in the amendment.

The language you will see on the ballot is as follows:

"Shall Section 11 of Article I (Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended (i) to require that eminent domain only be exercised where the property taken or damaged is for public use and, except for utilities or the elimination of a public nuisance, not where the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development; (ii) to define what is included in just compensation for such taking or damaging of property; and (iii) to prohibit the taking or damaging of more private property than is necessary for the public use?"

This description is generally accurate, but omits the primary criticism of opponents of the amendment.

The actual text of the Amendment to the Virginia Constitution is as follows:

That the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby private property, the right to which is fundamental, shall be damaged or taken except for public use. No private property shall be damaged or taken for public use without just compensation to the owner thereof. No more private property may be taken than necessary to achieve the stated public use. Just compensation shall be no less than the value of the property taken, lost profits and lost access, and damages to the residue caused by the taking. The terms "lost profits" and "lost access" are to be defined by the General Assembly. A public service company, public service corporation, or railroad exercises the power of eminent domain for public use when such exercise is for the authorized provision of utility, common carrier, or railroad services. In all other cases, a taking or damaging of private property is not for public use if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development, except for the elimination of a public nuisance existing on the property. The condemnor bears the burden of proving that the use is public, without a presumption that it is.

We will come back to the text in a moment.

The controversy over the Property Rights Amendment

Those in favor:  Those in favor of the Amendment appear to be general private property advocates and broadly speaking, farming interests.  They express that we need to enshrine the definition of public use in the Virginia Constitution.  Further, proponents appear to desire that compensation for any taking of private property take into consideration lost profits and lost access.  These are generally not included in the calculation of compensation.  It should be noted that the terms "lost profits" and "lost access" are to be defined by the General Assembly."

Those opposed: Those opposed were local governments through their voluntary collective associations.

Now it seems that the Virginia Association of Counties no longer opposes the Amendment.

The Virginia Municipal League appears to still oppose the Amendment largely due to the "lost profits" issue. 

Apparently the Virginia Democrat powers that be ["VADemSCC"] also oppose the property rights amendment due to the cost and complexity of compliance for local governments.  Additionally, the VADemSCC also feels the Amendment is merely duplicative. 

Why the Amendment is extremely beneficial

Private property rights are not safe, but can be much safer.

1. The Dillon rule allows for grants and revocations of powers.  Although today public use is limited for local governments, a future general assembly might slowly water down the definition of public use.  The doctrine of entrenchment prevents a current legislature form binding future legislatures.  The only solution to prevent the watering down of fundamental rights is this Constitutional Amendment.

2. The General Assembly has been laboring under NO RESTRICTIONS.  Although the General Assembly can pass a law restricting the Governor's office from exercising eminent domain at the state level, that law can be undone completely, or exceptions made on a whim by a subsequent General Assembly.  Once enshrined in the Virginia Constitution, these restrictions can not be undone on a whim or one simple exception.

3. This Amendment contains the holy grail of eminent domain opponents.  Although not discussed in any detail, compensation must be made for "damaged" property, and not just property taken in total.  This allows a landowner to be compensated for something referred to as a "regulatory taking."  This is an instance in which a regulation reduces the value of property.  This is an incredible curb to government power, and significantly bolsters the rights of private landowners of all kinds.

Those opposed neither want to acknowledge nor contest the above three benefits, as the public at large tends to support private property rights in concept. 

Virginia residents, please be sure to register and vote to protect your rights in November.


Monday, June 25, 2012

Individual mandate unlikely to be struck down

In the waning hours before release of the opinion, I am compelled to make my prediction regarding the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare.

I believe the individual mandate will not be struck down.

Specifically, one or more of the following, on stare decisis grounds or on the grounds that it is a political question, will rule that the government with a rational basis may compel the purchase of a product pursuant to the commerce clause: Scalia, Roberts, or Kennedy.

I believe the states themselves will be considered to not have standing to challenge the individual mandate, and this will likely be a 6-3 or 7-2 decision.

I believe that the states' challenge on Medicaid grounds will be defeated unanimously.

I believe one or more of the following will rule against the challengers to the individual mandate due to either a lack of ripeness, failure to comply with the anti tax injunction act, or complete lack of standing: Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, Kagan, or Kennedy.

If all of the above happens, then the individual mandate will not be struck down, but will not be deemed constitutional.  The fight will be left for another day.

I hope I am incorrect...

Friday, January 13, 2012

Virginia Ballot will only include Ron Paul and Mitt Romney


In an opinion of nearly unfettered legal accuracy Judge John A. Gibney  of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled today that Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and John Huntsman would not be added to the Virginia Republican primary ballot in 2012.  Opinion here.

In an attempt to get this published before the long weekend my summary will be brief. 

Laches control the day

Judge Gibney ruled against the excluded candidates based on the equitable doctrine of laches.

"Laches requires the proof of two elements: (1) lack of diligence by the party against whom the defense is asserted, and (2) prejudice to the party asserting the defense." Slip Op. p. 9.

Regarding element one the Judge said "the candidates waited almost half a year before seeking judicial relief . . . [and] displayed an unreasonable and inexcusable lack of diligence."  Slip Op. p. 11.  Regarding element two the Judge said, "it is too late for the Court to allow [the candidates] to gather more signatures--the absentee ballots must go out now."  Slip Op. p. 12.

This is consistent with my warning on January 27, 2012, my analysis of the Perry lawsuit later that day, and my prediction from this morning.

This is the entire case, the rest of the opinion is surplusage for the parties to address on appeal.

Additional points

The Judge ruthlessly mocked my standing argument, although he utilized a hybrid version in the laches analysis.

For those interested look at the major 4th Circuit election law case on the issue of standing quoted in the brief, you may recognize some of the counsel of record.  Miller v. Brown, Slip Op. p. 12.

Finally Judge Gibney slams the argument that the 10,000 signature requirement is unconstitutional going so far as to mock Perry's counsel for not having even raised it for the preliminary injunction.  I took a more measured approach on January 27, but I still agree with all of Judge Gibney's harsh analysis on this point.


Ultimately this means there will be two candidates on the ballot in March.  Only two professional campaigns remain.

Updates to come later...

UPDATE: The 4th Circuit has already denied the emergency appeal.  Always good coverage from Richard Winger, here.

Prediction: Perry ballot access lawsuit in Virginia will not result in favorable preliminary injunction

It is approximately 11:30 AM on Friday January 13, hopefully this prediction gets out before a ruling is made.

Although it appears that Judge Gibney believes that the petitioner residency requirement for signature gatherers in Virginia is unconstitutional (it is an open question in the 4th Circuit), I believe the preliminary injunction to get Perry, and the others on the ballot will be denied.

The main reason is that the relief requested is equitable, and Perry waited too long to bring the suit when he could have done so in the fall.

Prediction brought to you by your northern Virginia "non-domestic equity" practitioner.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Joe Morrissey wants to tax you for choosing plastic over paper


Desired partly by environmentalists, partly by people who like taxes, partly by the nanny-statists who think the government should intrude on everything in our lives, and partly by those who think that paper is so preferred over plastic that everyone should think like them, the plastic bag tax may be coming to Virginia.

Del. Joe Morissey (D - Highland Springs) (storied past ignored for purposes of this post) is proposing a $.20 tax on all plastic bags "provided to the consumer by retailers in grocery stores, convenience stores, or drug stores."  HB 124.  In addition to the tax, retailers are incentivized to impose the tax by allowing the retailer to keep a portion of the tax, and by suffering substantial penalties for failing to charge for plastic bags.

The odd result of this is that instead of charging for plastic, most stores in Virginia would likely convert to an all paper bag system.  No tax would need to be collected, and consumers would lose their choice among their shopping bag options.  Next they will regulate the shape and thickness of paper bags to ensure optimum recyclability and minimum landfill usage. 

I am sure the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia appreciate the government overreach in controlling our shopping habits.

Not to worry.  This is exactly the kind of bill that dies an early death in subcommittee.