Every January, during session at the Virginia General Assembly, The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy hosts a lobby day with the focus on social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. This year was no different. Hundreds of people from their member congregations — Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and also those not affiliated with any particular faith community — came together to meet with their legislators. Buses arrived from Roanoke and Northern Virginia. Folks drove from Tidewater.
At the opening session, participants were seated according to Senate members. We were given talking-point “cheat” sheets based on the committees our legislators serve on. The issues of the day included restricting the use of attack dogs in prisons, sick leave for grocery and home health workers, increasing penalties for child labor violations, raising the minimum wage to $15 and expanding Medicaid to 88,000 low-income children.
There were five of us in Ryan McDougle’s (R) district (SD-26) and at least one from SD-10 (John McGuire-R), but I was the only Hanoverian there for SD-26. We huddled to plan our spiels and then we walked to the new General Assembly building for our appointment, which had been scheduled in advance by the VICPP.
When we arrived at Sen. McDougle’s suite, we were told that he was not there. The receptionist called his legislative assistant who was chilly, prickly, and disinterested. He told us that there was no record of us having an appointment.
Fumbling with his phone for several minutes, he said he could give us only 10 minutes due to another appointment. We each said our piece quickly, as he looked at his watch several times. He did not offer his business card nor did he ask for ours. He could not tell us where McDougle’s office was in the community. There was no guest book at the front desk and no one asked for our names or contact information. It was a truly WTF moment.
Apparently, constituent relations and social justice are just not McDougle’s thing. Since he doesn’t show up for appointments, we must hit him with emails, snail mail and phone calls frequently. When we figure out where his local office is, we can visit there also.
As of crossover (the halfway point of session when bills that have passed in their own chambers “crossover” to the other chamber), McDougle had voted nay on the Senate floor for health insurance coverage for low-income and immigrant kids which would save money by reducing uncompensated care payments to hospitals.
He voted nay in committee for sick leave benefits and he voted against the $15.00 minimum wage. He did support limitations on the use of attack dogs in juvenile facilities, but not in adult institutions. The increase in fines for child labor penalties was continued to 2025.
Good trouble is waiting for us. Reach out to your legislators:
Buddy Fowler | delbfowler@house.virginia.gov
Scott Wyatt | delswyatt@house.virginia.gov
Ryan McDougle | senatormcdougle@senate.virginia.gov
John McGuire | senatormcguire@senate.virginia.gov
