Capitol Commentary Significant actions with a slim majority U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith Mar 23, 2026 Mar 23, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save There are public misperceptions that the Republican majority in this 119th Congress is doing little for the American people.kAmqFE D:>A=J CF??:?8 E96 ?F>36CD @? E96 BF2?E:EJ @7 3:==D A2DD65 72:=D E@ 244@F?E 7@C E96 >2;@C BF2=:EJ 4@?D6CG2E:G6 G:4E@C:6D 56=:G6C65 3J E9:D D=:> #6AF3=:42? >2;@C:EJPk^AmkAm&A@? E2<:?8 2 4=@D6C =@@<[ @?6 D66D 8C62E AC@8C6DD :D F?56CH2J]k^AmkAmu@C :?DE2?46[ D@>6 @7 E96 7:CDE 3:==D D:8?65 :?E@ =2H E@@< @? 4C:>:?2= :==682= 2=:6?D 2?5 E96 76?E2?J= 6A:56>:4]k^Am kAm%96 {2<6? #:=6J p4E[ ?2>65 27E6C 2 4@==686 DEF56?E C2A65 2?5 <:==65 3J 2? :==682= 2=:6?[ 96=AD =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2CC6DE :==682= 2=:6?D H9@ 4@>>:E 4C:>6D]k^Am People are also reading… New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Meet Smyth County's Pet of the Week: Sable Marion council members debate apolitical status with redistricting, 2A requests Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule What we know about the quadruple amputee cornhole champ arrested for murder in Virginia With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Smyth250 activities kick off Sunday with free movie Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report Saltville begins preparations for pool season Along the Yellow Brick Road Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County kAm|J wp{% u6?E2?J= p4E A6C>2?6?E=J 56D:8?2E6D =6E92= 76?E2?J=\C6=2E65 DF3DE2?46D 2D $4965F=6 x 5CF8D]k^AmkAm#6AF3=:42?D 2C6 255C6DD:?8 E96 72:=FC6D @7 E96 q:56?\w2CC:D @A6? 3@C56C A@=:4:6D]k^AmkAm~E96C 24E:@?D E92E #6AF3=:42?D E@@< E9:D r@?8C6DD H:== 96=A p>6C:42? 72>:=:6D :? a_ae 2?5 36J@?5 C62A 8C62E E2I 36?67:ED]k^Am kAmw25 #6AF3=:42?D ?@E 24E65[ J@FC DE2?52C5 565F4E:@?D @? E2I C6EFC?D H@F=5 92G6 366? C65F465]k^Am kAmx?DE625[ #6AF3=:42?D C2:D65 565F4E:@?D E@ C@F89=J S`e[___ 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 Sb`[___ 7@C 72>:=:6DPk^Am kAm~E96C E2I 492?86D 7@C E9:D J62C :?4=F56 ?@ E2I @? E:AD 2?5 ?@ E2I @? @G6CE:>6 7@C 9@FC=J H@C<6CD]k^AmkAmp Se[___ 3@?FD 565F4E:@? H:== 96=A D6?:@CD H9@ A2J E2I6D @? E96:C D@4:2= D64FC:EJ]k^Am kAm%96 #6AF3=:42? >2;@C:EJ DF446DD7F==J C6D4:?565 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD E92E AC6G:@FD=J 7F?565 G2C:@FD H@<6 A6E AC@;64ED @G6CD62D 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E\7F?565 >65:2]k^AmkAm%9:D H2D E96 7:CDE DF446DD7F==J 6?24E65 C6D4:DD:@?D A24<286 D:?46 `hha]k^AmkAmp55:E:@?2==J[ #6AF3=:42?D :?DE:EFE65 2 D6C:6D @7 >62DFC6D 56D:8?65 E@ AC@E64E @FC 7656C2= 962=E9 AC@8C2>D] %96D6 A@=:4:6D C6:? :? 23FD:G6 AC24E:46D 2?5 6?DFC6 4@?E:?F65 7656C2= 962=E9 AC@8C2> D6CG:46D 7@C 6=:8:3=6 p>6C:42? 4:E:K6?D]k^Am kAm%96D6 C67@C>D :?4=F56 C6BF:C:?8 &]$] $E2E6D E@ 4@?5F4E >@C6 7C6BF6?E 4964<D @? |65:42:5 6?C@==66D E@ 56E6C>:?6 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^AmkAm(6 2=D@ 4C62E65 ?6H AC6G6?E:@? A@=:4:6D E@ 4FC3 6?C@==>6?E @7 5FA=:42E:G6 @C 56462D65 :?5:G:5F2=D]k^AmkAm(2DE6[ 7C2F5 2?5 23FD6 2C6 ?@E @?=J E2C86ED :? 962=E9 42C6 A@=:4J[ 3FE :? 6?6C8J A@=:4J 2D H6==]k^Am kAm%9C@F89 #6AF3=:42?D’ =68:D=2E:G6 677@CED[ H6 A92D6 @FE >2?J @7 E96 s6>@4C2ED’ “vC66? }6H s62=” 4C65:ED 2?5 C6A62= D@>6 AC@8C2>D 4C62E65 7C@> q:56?’D x?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4E Wx#pX]k^Am kAm|2?J @7 E96D6 x#p 4C65:ED DE66C65 @FC 64@?@>J E@H2C5D 2 4@DE=J 6?6C8J EC2?D:E:@?[ DF3D:5:K65 3J E96 p>6C:42? E2IA2J6C[ :? @C56C E@ 3@@DE 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 AC@5F4E:@? 2D H6== 2D H:?5 2?5 D@=2C AC@;64ED]k^Am kAm#6AF3=:42?D 5:5 2H2J H:E9 H2DE67F= “vC66? }6H $42>” 4C65:ED 2?5 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ F?=62D9 p>6C:42? 6?6C8J 5@>:?2?46]k^AmkAmpD 2 C6DF=E[ p>6C:42’D 5@>6DE:4 6?6C8J :?5FDEC:6D H:== AC@G:56 >@C6 277@C523=6 2?5 C6=:23=6 6?6C8J 7@C p>6C:42? 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am kAm~?6 DF49 :?5FDECJ H:== 36 p>6C:42? 4@2=] pD @?6 @7 f_ %CF>A tI64FE:G6 ~C56CD E92E E96 w@FD6 G@E65 E@ 4@5:7J[ “#6:?G:8@C2E:?8 p>6C:42’D q62FE:7F= r=62? r@2= x?5FDECJ” DFAA@CED FD:?8 p>6C:42? 4@2= 2DD6ED E@ 96=A F?=62D9 p>6C:42? 6?6C8J 5@>:?2?46]k^AmkAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ >2?J @7 @FC G@E6D E@ 4@5:7J %CF>A tI64FE:G6 ~C56CD 92G6 DE2==65 :? E96 $6?2E6]k^Am kAmu@C E96 tI64FE:G6 ~C56C “!C6D6CG:?8 2?5 !C@E64E:?8 E96 x?E68C:EJ @7 p>6C:42? t=64E:@?D[” w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D A2DD65 3@E9 E96 $p't p4E 2?5 E96 $p't p>6C:42 p4E]k^Am kAm$64FC:?8 @FC 6=64E:@?D 7C@> ?@?\4:E:K6? G@E:?8 :D @G6CH96=>:?8=J DFAA@CE65 3J p>6C:42?D @7 2== A@=:E:42= A6CDF2D:@?D] %96 $6?2E6 D9@F=5 7@==@H E96 w@FD6’D =625 E@ A2DD E96D6 4@>>@?D6?D6 6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ >62DFC6D]k^AmkAmq@E9 492>36CD 4@5:7:65 %CF>A tI64FE:G6 ~C56CD “xC@? s@>6 7@C p>6C:42[” “&?=62D9:?8 p>6C:42? sC@?6 s@>:?2?46” 2?5 “#6DE@C:?8 p>6C:42’D |2C:E:>6 s@>:?2?46” 3J A2DD:?8 9:DE@C:4 :?G6DE>6?ED :? @FC >:=:E2CJ :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2?5 E649?@=@8:6D]k^Am kAm|@C6 #6AF3=:42? :?G6DE>6?ED 7F=7:==65 %CF>A tI64FE:G6 ~C56CD “$64FC:?8 @FC q@C56CD” 2?5 “!C@E64E:?8 E96 p>6C:42? !6@A=6 p82:?DE x?G2D:@?]” p DEC@?8 3@C56C H2== 2?5 3@=DE6C65 3@C56C A2EC@= 2C6 ?646DD2CJ E@ 4@>32E :==682= :>>:8C2E:@?]k^Am kAmuFCE96C[ x 96=A65 =625 r@?8C6DD:@?2= #6AF3=:42?D :? @E96C 677@CED E@ DFAA@CE p>6C:42? :?5FDECJ]k^AmkAm%96 q:56? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? :DDF65 ?F>6C@FD C68F=2E:@?D E92E E9C62E6?65 p>6C:42? :?5FDECJ[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? E96 H2?:?8 52JD 367@C6 %CF>A 2DDF>65 @77:46]k^AmkAmx ;@:?65 #6AF3=:42?D :? :?EC@5F4:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE:?8 ?F>6C@FD r@?8C6DD:@?2= #6G:6H p4E Wr#pX C6D@=FE:@?D E@ C6A62= E96D6 92C>7F= =2DE\>:?FE6 q:56?\6C2 C68F=2E:@?D]k^Am kAm~?6 @7 E96D6 C68F=2E:@?D A=2465 3FC56?D@>6 2?5 4@DE=J C6BF:C6>6?ED @? p>6C:42? >2?F724EFC6CD @7 CF336C E:C6D[ E9C62E6?:?8 A@E6?E:2= ;@3 4FED 2?5 A=2?E 4=@DFC6D]k^Am kAm|J r#p E@ F?5@ E9:D 2?E:\p>6C:42? >2?F724EFC:?8 A@=:4J A2DD65 2?5 H2D D:8?65 :?E@ =2H 3J !C6D:56?E %CF>APk^AmkAm%9:D H2D @?6 @7 ?62C=J EH@ 5@K6? q:56?\w2CC:D CF=6D E92E #6AF3=:42?D DF446DD7F==J C6A62=65 E9C@F89 r#pD]k^AmkAm%96D6 244@>A=:D9>6?ED 2C6 E96 E:A @7 E96 :4636C8 @7 H92E’D 366? 5@?6]k^AmkAmw@FD6 s6>@4C2ED H:== 36 BF:4< E@ 5:D>:DD #6AF3=:42?D’ D:8?:7:42?E H@C< 3J >:D=625:?8 E96 AF3=:4 2?5 D2J:?8 E92E E96 ?F>36C @7 3:==D H6 92G6 A2DD65 :? E96 ``hE9 r@?8C6DD :D =@H6C E92? E92E @7 AC6G:@FD D6DD:@?D @7 r@?8C6DD]k^Am kAmw@H6G6C[ #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 ?@E 4@?46?EC2E65 @? >6C6=J A2DD:?8 9F?5C65D @7 3:==D E@ ?2>6 A@DE @77:46D[ 6E4] #2E96C[ H6 2C6 7@4FD65 @? >2;@C A@=:4:6D >2<:?8 p>6C:42 >@C6 AC@DA6C@FD[ D276 2?5 7C66]k^AmkAmx7 J@F 92G6 BF6DE:@?D[ 4@?46C?D[ @C 4@>>6?ED[ 766= 7C66 E@ 4@?E24E >J @77:46] *@F 42? 42== >J p3:?85@? @77:46 2E afe\dad\`c_d @C >J r9C:DE:2?D3FC8 @77:46 2E dc_\bg`\def`] %@ C6249 >J @77:46 G:2 6>2:=[ A=62D6 G:D:E >J H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>@C82?8C:77:E9]9@FD6]8@G^Qm9EEADi^^>@C82?8C:77:E9]9@FD6]8@G^k^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward The criminal case against Robert Nolan Wolfe, 50, of Marion, is continuing to make its way through the court system. Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Rick Billings went to a faucet in his home and turned it on. No water came out. Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Kipps Elementary Principal Mark Crummey was among 17 men arrested at a Christiansburg hotel last week. Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident After further investigation, Ayers arrested again and charged with one count of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of malicious wounding. Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground A Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at Atkins Elementary celebrated more than a decade of work. Officials, funders, school staff and students gat…
New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward The criminal case against Robert Nolan Wolfe, 50, of Marion, is continuing to make its way through the court system.
Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Rick Billings went to a faucet in his home and turned it on. No water came out.
Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Kipps Elementary Principal Mark Crummey was among 17 men arrested at a Christiansburg hotel last week.
Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident After further investigation, Ayers arrested again and charged with one count of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of malicious wounding.
Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground A Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony at Atkins Elementary celebrated more than a decade of work. Officials, funders, school staff and students gat…
