Northern Virginia lawmakers are already rejoicing over Gov. Bob McDonnell’s announcement today that he will support updating the formula that determines how much state money each school system receives.

The news isn’t as great for Richmond-area school districts, which could lose millions of dollars in state education funding.

McDonnell’s decision is a departure from the proposed budget left to him by outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine who proposed freezing the formula, called the local composite index, for one year.

But the proposed freeze caused an uproar in some Northern Virginia localities which would have lost about $128.3 million in state funding, according to McDonnell’s office.

Freshman legislator Del. Mark L. Keam, D-Fairfax, sent out a news release this evening, saying, “Last year, candidate McDonnell campaigned as ‘Fairfax’s Own.’  I’m very glad to see that Governor McDonnell is living up to this campaign promise.  I look forward to continuing to work with him on a bipartisan basis to promote Fairfax County’s interests in Richmond.”

Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax, said in a release that “This is a huge victory for Northern Virginia and we thank Governor McDonnell for his support of our region!“

But Northern Virginia’s gain is the Richmond area’s loss. Local school divisions, already grappling with big budget deficits, have been waiting to see whether the composite index would change for the 2010-11 school year.

Richmond city and Chesterfield County would be hit the hardest if the index is updated. Facing more than a $17 million shortfall already, Richmond would add $9 million in lost state revenue. Chesterfield would lose an additional $4 million in state funds, pushing its budget deficit from $42 million to $46 million.

Hanover County would lose $900,000 in state funding, while Henrico County would lose $450,000.

To read more, click here.

While snow was starting to accumulate in Richmond on Friday morning, we sat down with first lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell in the lady’s parlor of the Executive Mansion.

In her first formal interview since her husband’s inauguration, the mother of five spoke about her priorities as first lady, attempts to adjust her family to life in the governor’s mansion and what Bob McDonnell bought her for a wedding gift (you’ll never guess). The family is still settling into the new quarters but plans to entertain guests—some campaign staffers—at a Superbowl party this afternoon.

You can read the story here and keep an eye out for more on the first lady in the next couple of months.

President Barack Obama today announced his intent to appoint Gov. Bob McDonnell to the Council of Governors. 

The Council will work with the secretary of defense, the secretary of homeland security and other national security advisors to exchange information and advice on matters pertaining to the National Guard, homeland defense and coordination of state and federal military activities, according to the White House. 

McDonnell is among 10 new appointees, from both political parties.

The others are:
Vermont Gov. James H. Douglas,  Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire,  Arizona Gov. Janice K. Brewer,  Puerto Rico Gov. Luis G. Fortuño,  Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry,  Missouri Gov. Jeremiah W. Nixon,  Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley,  North Carolina Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue and   South Dakota Gov. M. Michael Rounds.

“I am pleased that these governors of exceptional experience have agreed to join the Council of Governors,“ Obama said in a statement announcing his picks.  “This bipartisan team strengthens the partnership between our state governments and the federal government when it comes to ensuring our national preparedness and homeland defense.” 

Gov. Bob McDonnell participated in his first formal meetings with members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation this morning.

He met on Capitol Hill with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (a former Virginia governor), Sen. Jim Webb, Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th and Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th. McDonnell was scheduled to meet for 30 minutes with each member.

While there were no formal media availabilities, we are told that the topics up for discussion were federal and state collaboration, education, energy and jobs.

After the meetings and a lunch appearance at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting, McDonnell headed back to Richmond.

An effort to ban plastic shopping bags was sacked in a dinner time subcommittee meeting yesterday.

The measure, introduced by Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, would have blocked stores from giving out plastic bags unless they are durable plastic bags with handles or specifically made for reuse. 

He argued that the bags harm the environment, aren’t catching on for large scale recycling and can take at least a quarter century to degrade, but lawmakers took an unrecorded vote to table the bill after listening to a string of lobbyists from the retail and chemical manufacturing industries oppose the measure.

Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and Del. R. Lee Ware Jr., R-Powhatan, were among the lawmakers who voted against the measure. 

Morrissey is holding a news conference this afternoon to talk about his bill and a measure introduced by Del. Adam P. Ebbin, D-Alexandria, which would assess a five-cent disposable bag fee on paper and plastic bags.

Retail groups argued in yesterday evening’s subcommittee meeting that there are model programs underway in the state to encourage plastic bag recycling and they would like to continue those efforts before an outright ban.

“We know it’s a problem,“ said Margaret Ballard, with the Virginia Retail Federation.

She added that retailers are already struggling with a poor economy and plastic bags are much cheaper. Paper bags, she estimated, can cost four times as much as plastic bags. Reusable canvas bags are “very expensive.“

But a vote for business was a vote against farmers, Morrissey said.

Henrico County farmer Wilmer Stoneman, associate director of government relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau, supported the bill, telling lawmakers that the bags tangle farm equipment, threaten crop quality and endanger livestock.

Cotton farmers have trouble with plastic bags covering the fields and mixing into the cotton bales. He said the problem extends to the loom, because if a cotton T-shirt resists dye because there is plastic in the cotton, they can trace it all the way back to the farmer.

“So it’s an economic issue,“ he said. 

Stoneman farms about 100 acres under the I-295 bridge in Henrico and said he sees firsthand the number of bags that scatter the fields.

So, we should put the plastic bag people out of business.  I’m sure they will enjoy losing their jobs along with the rest of us.