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Cannabis, gambling interests in Va. drive up lobbying registrations

By The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — More companies and groups in Virginia are getting into the political influence game ahead of a legislative session than they have in past years.

Lobbying data collected by the Virginia Public Access Project shows that 86 companies and groups, like business associations, registered lobbyists for the first time between May and December last year.

That’s highest number since at least 2007 and up from 54 the year before.

Much of the increase was driven by the cannabis and gambling industries. Virginia is expanding its medical marijuana program and momentum is building to decriminalize small amounts of the drug.

Lawmakers will also be considering a wide variety of gambling-related bills this year, from expanding sports betting to allowing casinos.

The session starts next week.

America 250: Catherine Bauer’s vision for affordable housing continues to resonate today

By Linh Bui
Catherine Bauer devoted her life to improving housing for low-income families and has been called the "mother of public housing." "A brilliant woman who thought that we ought to treat housing as a public good, the way we treat the fire department or the police department," said Elizabeth Deakin, professor emerita at the University of California, Berkeley. "That doesn't mean there's not a big role for the private sector, but it also means that the public sector has responsibilities to make sure we're okay."
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