Michael Martz
Times-Dispatch
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Past articles by Michael:
Northam hits 'pause' on Virginia's Medicaid work requirement
Gov. Ralph Northam has directed Virginia's Medicaid program to "pause" negotiations with the federal government on approval of a work requirement that was central to a political deal last year → Read More
Pay, not pension reform, may be first priority for state work force
RICHMOND — A new push to reform the Virginia Retirement System already has collided with a potentially more pressing concern over pay for state employees in the face of major turnover in the workforce in the next five years and the deferral of promised raises this year because of a revenue shortfall. → Read More
State budget shortfall tops $266 million, defers public employee raises
Virginia came up more than $266.3 million short of its revenue forecast in the last fiscal year, which will force the state to defer promised raises for state employees, teachers, college faculty, sheriff’s deputies and other state-supported local employees. → Read More
Virginia wins $165 million grant to unlock 'Atlantic Gateway' with rail and highway improvements
Virginia has won a $165 million federal grant to unlock what it calls the “Atlantic Gateway” to speed passenger rail, freight trains and highway vehicles through one of the most congested corridors on the East Coast. → Read More
Almost 5,000 felons registered to vote after rights restoration
Almost 5,000 felons have registered to vote in Virginia a little more than a month after Gov. Terry McAuliffe restored their civil rights by an executive action that is now under legal challenge by General Assembly Republicans. → Read More
McAuliffe budget veto could open door for Medicaid expansion
RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe is reopening the door to expanding Virginia's Medicaid program by vetoing a provision of the state budget that he said unconstitutionally ties all spending in the $105 billion document to a bar against accepting federal funding to expand health coverage of uninsured Virginians. → Read More
State employee raises could be imperiled by declining revenues
A 3-percent raise scheduled for state employees and college faculty could be delayed or lost if Virginia's lagging revenues don't catch up to projects by the end of June. → Read More
Felon voting rights restoration was 'greatest day as governor,' McAuliffe says
RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the day he acted to restore voting and other civil rights to more than 206,000 felons "was my greatest day as governor." → Read More
Two-day bike ride from Richmond to NoVA marks next step in cycling boom
The Richmond region is hoping for another bicycling boost to tourism from the inaugural “RVA to DC” bike ride planned over two days in July. → Read More
Governor pushes back on budget for economic development funds and authority
Gov. Terry McAuliffe wants General Assembly budget leaders to find more money for economic development initiatives to fuel research into new technologies and allow him to use his executive authority to seal major business deals. → Read More
High-proof grain alcohol bill powers through assembly, alarms higher education officials
Legislation to allow 151-proof clear grain alcohol to be sold in Virginia liquor stores has moved through the General Assembly with the speed of, well, white lightning, prompting public health officials at colleges and universities to ask Gov. Terry McAuliffe to veto the bill. → Read More
Budget expected to include pay raises for state workers
The House Appropriations Committee will propose to pay off pension contributions that were deferred six years ago during a budget crisis and use the savings to finance a raise for state employees of more than 2 percent in the first year of the pending two-year budget. → Read More
GO Virginia legislation OK'd by full House, Senate committee
RICHMOND — Legislation to create a new framework for regional economic development initiatives powered out of the House of Delegates Tuesday, as well as the Senate Finance Committee. → Read More
House committee approves state tolling policy, but battle continues over I-66
RICHMOND — Legislation to establish a state policy on where tolls may be imposed and how they are collected cruised through a House committee Thursday, but an attempt to find a compromise over tolls on a portion of Interstate 66 remains under construction. → Read More
Forest Service says pipeline company misrepresented surveyors' qualifications
The U.S. Forest Service has accused the Atlantic Coast Pipeline of misrepresenting the qualifications of contractors hired to conduct soil surveys that are critical to evaluating the safety of extending the proposed natural gas pipeline through national forests in Virginia and West Virginia. → Read More
Gov. McAuliffe hails Supreme Court decision to uphold Obamacare subsidies
RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe today hailed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding federal health care subsidies and renewed his push for Medicaid expansion. → Read More
ABC shakes up leadership of enforcement division
Law enforcement is under new management at the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. → Read More
Virginia lawmakers send budget to McAuliffe
The House of Delegates has voted 94-5 to adopt amendments to the state's two-year budget, joining the Senate, which voted 38-1 earlier today to back the spending plan. → Read More
State weighs changes in benefits for public safety employees injured in line of duty
The line of duty led Suffolk police officer James Winslow into the woods in pursuit of a suspected car thief more than 2½ years ago. → Read More
Legislators say 'nothing's changed' in campus sexual assault debate
State legislative leaders aren't backing off plans to tackle reporting of sexual violence on university and college campuses, even though Rolling Stone magazine has cast doubt on its account of a fraternity gang rape at the University of Virginia. → Read More