By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND – Toll companies are donating to political campaigns this elections season hoping to take advantage of $1.5 billion in public-private investments for roads, bridges and tunnels.

Bill McMorris | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — The City of Alexandria’s threat to seize a parking lot owned by a local boat club has led one state lawmaker to reconsider his position on eminent domain.

By Peter J. Smith | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — Virginia volunteered to lead the way in developing a TurboTax-type system for processing veterans’ disability claims, but delays and a lack of progress have forced the state to abandon the project.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Virginia Republicans are so optimistic they will win two new state Senate districts that they are setting their sites on other districts in the quest to capture a slim majority in the General Assembly‘s upper chamber.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — In a move to save tax dollars, state officials are working to cap the number of paid time-off hours state employees can bank.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — State officials have launched initiatives to curb fraud, abuse and errors in the state’s most expensive social program, Medicaid.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Former state employee Betty Banks earned more than 2,000 hours of sick time and 400 hours of vacation time during her 30-year career.

By Peter J. Smith | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — President Barack Obama said his $447-billion American Jobs Act will create thousands of jobs in Virginia, but one savings measure included in his plan threatens jobs in Virginia’s poorest region.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — President Barack Obama’s proposed infusion of $742 million into Virginia for teachers and first responders comes with strings attached for taxpayers.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Virginia drivers may be asked to pay tolls along Interstate 95, but the revenue from the tolls would contribute little to needed road maintenance and construction throughout the state.