Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Virginia AG makes up his own laws

Homer Simpson once observed that international waters are the land the law forgot. But the high seas have nothing on Virginia under Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II.

Now Cuccinelli has ruled that state colleges and universities aren't allowed to protect gays from discrimination. Why? Because Cuccinelli says so.

Cuccinelli says that the state legislature hasn't specifically authorized colleges to have such policies. But the legislature hasn't prohibited such policies either. In other words, Cuccinelli is making things up as he's going along.

In issuing this ruling, Cuccinelli has singlehandedly invalidated antidiscrimination policies at colleges all across the state.

This elitist ruling speaks volumes of how the newly "elected" Cuccinelli will treat laws. If Virginia was a free bargaining state (which it isn't), would he ignore the state's free bargaining laws? Is he just going to say minimum wage laws don't apply? Ken Cuccinelli is quickly proving that he has an agenda.

In the few months he's been in office, Cuccinelli had already proven his disregard of the law: He's filed petitions trying to block an EPA ruling that correctly states that climate change poses a threat to people.

What may be the most important point is that Ken Cuccinelli doesn't even understand what the job of Attorney General is. His job is supposed to be to make sure laws are followed and enforced - not to act as a second legislature.

(Source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/CUCC06_20100305-222004/328673;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030501582.html)

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