VCC Spring 2021

V irginia C apitol C onnections , S pring 2021 30 A ssociations AARPVirginia –804.344.3059 David DeBiasi, ddebiasi@aarp.org Alliance for Construction Excellence (ACE) J. T. Thomas, Chairman , 703.658.4383 Fraternal Order of Police, VA State Lodge John Ohrnberger, johrnb@aol.com Speech-Language-HearingAssociation ofVirginia (SHAV) Amy Barnett, President • www.shav.org Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education Dr. Brenda D. Long, Executive Director , 540.760.250 Virginia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy https://vamft.wordpress.com/ Virginia Association of Realtors Terri Suit, CEO , o) 804.249.5702 c) 804.381.1222 Martin Johnson, Senior VP of Gov. Relations , c) 804.514.9830 Anthony Reedy, VP of Political Operations , 804.249.5719 Mary Lawson, Vice-President of Legislative Affairs , 540.230.6310 Erin Barton, Deputy Legislative Counsel , 804.249.5033 Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Ray LaMura, President , 804.780.1776 Virginia Coalition of Police and Deputy Sheriffs Chip Condon, President , 1.800.913.2727 Virginia Education Association –804.648.5801 Dr. James J. Fedderman, President Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Keith H. Johnson, President , 703.777.0435 Keith.Johnson@loudoun.gov Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Robert Bragg, President , 434.882.8238 Virginia School Counselor Association Julia Taylor, Chair ; Lauren Kershner, Assistant Chair www.vsca.org Virginia State Firefighters Association Ken Brown, President , 804.971.7983 Voter Registrars Association of Virginia Allison Robbins, President , 276.328.8331 E ateries Rueger’s Restaurant & Bar 901 Bank Street, Richmond • 804.343.7300 (Inside The Commonwealth) S ervices Gus’s Shoe Repair 528 East Main Street, Richmond • 804.782.6959 www.shoerepairrichmond.com H otels Berkeley Hotel (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.780.1300 • 1200 East Cary Street, Richmond The Commonwealth (Per diem rates offered, restrictions apply) 804.343.7300 • 901 Bank Street, Richmond Adjacent to General Assembly Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown (Special Session rates available) 804.788.0900 • 555 East Canal Street, Richmond Linden Row Inn (Special Session rates available) 804.225.5841 • 100 East Franklin Street, Richmond Politics and Spring Training by David Bailey “It will interfere with Spring Training.” This chilling comment seemed to say it all, though I failed to understand. It seems a long time ago, near the end of 2000, when the Joint Rules Committee received the final report of its Citizen’s Advisory Board concerning potential changes in the legislative process. One of the proposals involved delaying the opening date of regular sessions by two weeks to the 4thWednesday in January.Why the delay? To provide time so the General Assembly staff, particularly Legislative Services, could celebrate late December and early January holidays. The only comment heard in Joint Rules, “It will interfere with Spring Training.” And I thought the comment tongue-in-cheek humor. Three months later, March 2, 2001, we left for Fort Lauderdale. Sometime during the eight games in eight days, seven teams in five ball parks, I understood the good Senator’s delightful line, “It will interfere with Spring Training.” Spring Training punctuates the change of seasons between the end of the session and the reconvened day. This annual rite of passage makes boys out of men, reminding that life is more than cerebral political games. This journey clears the cobwebs, refreshes the spirit, putting it all in perspective. Prior to 2001 my only experience with Spring Training involved a short trip from Evergreen, Va. to Danville, Va., a generation ago, to see the Indians and the Giants. My brother still admires his Bob Feller autographed ball; mine fromWillie Mays became a gift long ago to Ted Croy as he made his way from Bridgewater into professional baseball. Spring Training 2001 in Florida, or equally so in Arizona, is a journey into another world. Even with so many intriguing interruptions jumping from newsprint about Florida’s legislature convening. . . . Virginia’s continuing inability to agree to an amended budget. . . . the blackmailing of a Florida lobbyist. . . . It was the Politics of Spring Training that overwhelmed southpaw and right sides of the cranium. The Politics of Spring Training . . . . Managers, umpires, players old and young, interesting fans, 7th Inning stretches in late afternoon sun. . . . Smoke free stadium in Ft. Myers. . . . No smoking in the stands in Jupiter, Port St. Lucie and Dodgertown. Aging stars attempting to play yet another season, and younger stars waiting and waiting. . . Pitchers left in to see if they could get out of difficulties long after they would have been pulled in a regular game. . . . An aspiring young player from Puerto Rico, traded from the Cardinals to the Orioles. . . . The players from Cuba that my friend had assisted a few years ago as they sought political asylum and then as they escaped a greedy agent. . . . Hustle of younger players wearing numbers 40 and higher. . . . Older players with their batboy sons. . . . Telling my almost 4-year-old grandson, Bailey, about Spring Training. . . . Sharing pictures, balls, cups and caps. . . Senator, now I understand. It might just interfere with Spring Training! 20 Years Ago in the QM This article originally appeared in the Spring 2001 issue of Virginia Capitol Connections Quarterly Magazine. V