Virginia’s Senate Democrats on Friday announced the new chairs of the chamber’s committees, including Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, as head of the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Lucas’ chairmanship is significant in more ways than one. She is the first Black person to hold the post. Also, in succeeding the former co-chairs, Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, and Sen. George Barker, D-Fairfax, her chairmanship underscores a significant power shift from Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads. (Howell is retiring. Barker lost his seat in a June Democratic primary.)
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Lucas, a senator since 1992, posted a fiery message about the chairmanship on X, formerly Twitter.
“Wanted to say hi today to all the haters, catfish and political thugs who worked so hard over the years to prevent this day from coming,” she wrote.
“There was a time they would not even let me onto this committee — and now I am the Chairman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.”
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, succeeds Lucas as chair of the Education and Health panel that traditionally hears bills on high-profile issues such as abortion and school choice. Hashmi, a senator since 2020, is former director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Reynolds Community College.
The other committee chairmanships Senate Democrats announced Friday are:
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources — Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax;
Commerce and Labor — Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville;
General Laws and Technology — Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria;
Judiciary — new Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax;
Local Government — Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William;
Privileges and Elections — Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach;
Rehabilitation and Social Services — Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington;
Rules — Senate Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton; and
Transportation — Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax.
Today in history: Nov. 17
1800: The Capitol
In 1800, Congress held its first session in the partially completed U.S. Capitol building.
1869: The Suez Canal
In 1869, the Suez Canal opened in Egypt.
1973: Richard Nixon
In 1973, President Richard Nixon told Associated Press managing editors in Orlando, Florida: “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.”
1979: Freed Hostages
In 1979, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini (ah-yah-TOH’-lah hoh-MAY’-nee) ordered the release of 13 Black and/or female American hostages being held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
1997: Temple of Hatshepsut
In 1997, 62 people, most of them foreign tourists, were killed when militants opened fire at the Temple of Hatshepsut (haht-shehp-SOOT’) in Luxor, Egypt; the attackers, who also hacked their victims, were killed by police.
2003: Arnold Schwarzenegger
In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the 38th governor of California.
2011: Occupy Wall Street
Ten years ago: Occupy Wall Street protesters clogged streets and tied up traffic around the U.S. to mark two months since the movement’s birth and signal they weren’t ready to quit, despite the breakup of many of their encampments by police.
2012: Egypt Train Accident
In 2012, a speeding train crashed into a bus carrying Egyptian children to their kindergarten, killing 48 children and three adults.
2018: Argentina
In 2018, Argentina’s navy announced that searchers had found a submarine that disappeared a year earlier with 44 crewmen aboard; the government said it would be unable to recover the vessel.
2020: Christopher Krebs
One year ago: President Donald Trump fired the nation’s top election security official, Christopher Krebs, who had refuted Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud and vouched for the integrity of the vote.
2020: Kevin McCarthy
One year ago: Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California easily won reelection as House Republican leader.
2021: Young Dolph
Rapper Young Dolph, widely admired in the hip-hop community for his authenticity and fierce independence, was shot and killed inside a cookie shop in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. (Two men have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.)
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