By pulling the cork on the state’s 76-year-old liquor monopoly,Gov. Bob McDonnell says it’ll be easier forVirginians to buy their booze. But greater convenience in the form of more stores would not guarantee what cost-conscious drinkers thirst for: lower prices. “For the most part, the customer experience, as it relates to prices, will not change,”  Read more »

Key factoids/estimates concerning the Commonwealth of Virginia and the privatization of alcohol: 18 states, including Virginia, that hold liquor monopolies 334 the number of Virginia ABC stores, one per 23,260 people $231 million Virginia profits and taxes from sales in fiscal 2010 $675 million Virginia’s gross sales from liquor in fiscal 2010 $300 million to $500 McDonnell’s  Read more »

Soon Gov. Bob McDonnell will decant his plan to privatize liquor sales in the commonwealth. The notion has been kicking around for decades, and has received little serious consideration — until now. Even though Virginia would be joining 32 other states in treating hard spirits the same way they treat beer and wine, the change faces surprisingly  Read more »

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced additional appointments to his administration under the Commerce and Trade, Public Safety, and Transportation secretariats.  McDonnell announced appointments to four boards of visitors: James Madison University; Longwood University; University of Mary Washington; and, the State Board for Community Colleges.  He also announced appointments to two other Virginia boards  Read more »

From The Office of Governor Bob McDonnell RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today a comprehensive plan to reduce the costs associated with reopening Virginia’s previously closed rest areas and raise new revenues in the process. Commenting on his cost-saving strategy, Governor McDonnell noted, “With more than 30 million visitors passing through these rest areas  Read more »

Obama is set to announce that he will extend the moratorium on permits to drill new deepwater wells for six months and delay or cancel specific projects off the coasts of Alaska and Virginia.  This is bad news for Governor Bob McDonnell, who had planned to have proceeds from offshore drilling pay for transportation improvements.  Read more »

From the Office of Governor Bob McDonnell RICHMOND – Today, Governor Bob McDonnell announced his Administration’s first step forward in implementing tolling along Virginia’s border.  An application has been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration to toll Interstate 95 near the North Carolina Border. Speaking about the application, Governor McDonnell noted “After a careful review  Read more »

From the Office of Governor Bob McDonnell RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the ability for Virginia transportation Boards and Commissions to broadcast public meetings live via the Internet.  Any public body in the Transportation Secretariat that holds its open meetings at the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Richmond will have the ability  Read more »

The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have both passed Governor Bob McDonnell’s proposal to increase the speed limit to 70 mph in rural and less populated areas.  The increase in speed limit will help get travelers to their destinations quicker, without increasing the danger.  McDonnell commented, “This is an important early step towards our  Read more »

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today in a press release “that all of Virginia’s 19 shuttered rest stops and welcome centers will begin reopening starting in mid-February.  All facilities will be reopened by April 15th.”  The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted unanimously to overturn it’s decision to reduce the number of state rest stop and welcome centers  Read more »