“The primary is something that's going to be dominating the headlines for quite a while. It will be something that will be continually talked about and fresh in people's minds.”
“I don't know if boring is the right word to describe the coming year. But it's not likely there will be anything controversial. It's going to be a status quo kind of year. The Legislature is in an enviable position as to what to do with all the extra money that is coming in.”
“It's an off budget year, so there is not as much going on in that regard. However, there may be a desire to spend some of the higher revenues that are coming in. It will be interesting to see if Republicans and Democrats can restrain themselves when it comes to spending.”
“Virginia enjoys an equal-to status with the federal government when it comes to meat inspection. Right now, Virginia runs the meat-inspection program because of that agreement. But if we were to allow the sale of products that weren't inspected or slaughtered in an approved facility, we would be less than equal in status with the federal government, so the federal government would take over our inspection program, and the inspectors on that level would be much more stringent.”
“We're reviewing the scope of what degree of confidentiality is necessary to protect the pueblos' interest, but to also balance that with the need for the public to be allowed to know what's going on in federal court.”
“We have always believed that dairy products and meat products should be inspected before sale, and dairy products should not only be inspected, but should be pasteurized.”
“We still believe that dairy products sold should be pasteurized. We believe that to be the safest way to go. However, if the General Assembly seeks to add an exemption, we believe that, number one, the farm should be inspected for safety and cleanliness, and two, the product should be tested to ensure that it is free of pathogens.”
