Senator Deeds' legislative agenda this year was designed to continue moving us forward and give a stronger voice to Virginians from all walks of life. His leadership in the State Senate is earning praise from all over the Commonwealth:
Deeds on the Cover of the Virginia Sheriff's Association Magazine
"Senator R. Creigh Deeds is a supporter of the Virginia Sheriffs' Association. During the 2008 session of the General Assembly, he introduced legislation to provide funding for the staffing of Sheriffs' Offices at a level of 1 Deputy per 1,500 population." -Virginia Sheriff, Spring 2008
In addition to working to provide our law enforcement professionals with the tools and the training they need to keep us safe, and they pay they deserve, Deeds also passed new laws that address public safety. On behalf of Governor Kaine, Deeds sponsored a bill to require all public colleges and universities to develop and maintain emergency response plans. Working with the National Organization to Protect Children, he passed Alicia's Law, which will bolster the capacity for Virginia's two Internet Crimes Against Children task forces to find and prosecute child predators.
Newspapers Around Virginia Endorse Deeds' Redistricting Reform
"If ever there was a moment ripe for redistricting reform in Virginia, this is it. The Senate is controlled by Democrats; the House is held by the GOP. Neither party can be sure it will retain its advantage come 2011, after the next census. To be sure, Republicans, having suffered a string of setbacks in recent statewide and legislative races, are fearful of further defeats; they may therefore attempt to lock down their slender advantage in the House while they still can by maintaining the current, blatantly partisan system." -Washington Post
"The Senate has passed a bill to remove partisanship from redistricting. Responsibility for drawing electoral lines would be transferred from the Assembly to an independent commission. The House Committee on Privileges and Elections is slated to consider this legislation this morning. It has an opportunity to do the right thing-and to protect the commonwealth's integrity." -Richmond Times Dispatch
"Bipartisan/nonpartisan redistricting is one of the most important reforms we need in the Commonwealth of Virginia... Thankfully our State Senator, Creigh Deeds, is leading a charge to change the way that the democratic process works in Virginia, so that the democratic process might actually WORK in Virginia." -Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris
Democratic Activists Applaud Deeds' Work to Protect Our Environment
"Thanks to Senator Creigh Deeds, a green building initiative has been included in this year's state budget! His budget amendment requires all new and renovated state-owned facilities to be designed and constructed according to criteria set forth by either Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Green Globes" - Eileen Levandoski on VBDems.org
"This is excellent news from Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-25). I would certainly hope that the General Assembly passes, and Tim Kaine signs into law, this legislation. It's time for Virginia to take the ‘LEED' on global warming." -Raising Kaine, "Creigh Deeds Takes the ‘LEED'"
Praise for Senator Deeds Efforts to Close the Gun Show Loophole
Senator Deeds offered a compromise measure to close the gun show loophole because he believed it was incumbent upon leaders in the General Assembly to recognize the flaws in our background check statutes and bring lawmakers together to fix it.
"Creigh Deeds offered an amendment to the gun show loophole bill today in an attempt to save the bill-an amendment which while deemed a "compromise" was something solidly worth supporting that would have closed the gun show loophole for good. To me that is no compromise-that is a solid progressive victory, so I totally endorse and support the Deeds amendment." -Not Larry Sabato
"Despite Senator Creigh Deeds' valiant attempts to salvage a bill that closed down the gun show loophole last week, the Senate Courts of Justice committee voted it down, 9-6." -Eileen Levandoski on VBDems.org
