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Interests Birding Archives Community Rogues' Gallery Signs of the Times
Interests Birding Archives Community Rogues' Gallery Signs of the Times
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Delegate Paul Harris was born in Charlottesville, Va, in 1964, and completed his undergraduate education in Political Science at Hampton University in 1986. He recieved his J.D. from George Washington University in 1995. Harris ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997 and has been serving as the 58th district's representative since 1998 (committee assignments: Courts of Justice, Education, Conservation and Natural Resources, Claims, Interstate Cooperation ). He currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Monica Michelle Lamont, and children Paul Jr, Alexandra, and Alanah, where he is a member of the Baptist church, Charlottesville-Albemarle and Greene County Chambers of Commerce, Albemarle County Republican Committee, Ducks Unlimited, Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Assn.; D.A.R.E., and the Boys and Girls Club.
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Harris Affronted
"Delegate Paul C. Harris, R-Albemarle County, said in a House floor speech on Thursday that he felt the Legislative Black Caucus had 'affronted' him by leaving him out of a floor ceremony honoring a black World War II veteran belatedly given a Navy award for heroism" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 13, 1998).
"If there is any notion that I am going to be slighted or affronted publicly in this body or in any other venue, I respectfully submit to the members of the caucus they have certainly chosen the wrong person,' Harris said. 'Don't think that I am going to be toyed with or played with. I never intend to be affronted again" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 13, 1998).
"The caucus chairman, Delegate Jerrauld C. Jones, D-Norfolk, said Harris was trying to have his non-membership in the caucus both ways" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 13, 1998).
"'In a meeting of the Black Caucus, it was decided that we would join together and give the gentleman the kind of recognition that we thought he deserved,' said Delegate Flora D. Crittenden, D-Newport News and sponsor of the resolution honoring Jones. 'I think we all here are trying to fight for equal opportunity and inclusion ... but we do it in different manners'" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 13, 1998).
"I respect his decision not to join the Black Caucus, and I think I have treated him with respect,' she said. 'If the gentleman wishes to join us in our deliberations and activities, he is welcome to do so" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, March 13, 1998).
"Four weeks into his freshman legislative session, Delegate Paul C. Harris, R-Albemarle County, has, in his own words, 'ruffled some feathers" ... The 52-47 defeat of his 'family impact statement' came a few days after Harris surprised some members of the House Courts of Justice Committee by insisting that one of its most powerful members, House Democratic Leader C. Richard Cranwell of Vinton, be gaveled out of order as he questioned a witness" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, February 17, 1998).
"'During the course of his presentation, Mr. Cranwell was constantly interrupting,' Harris said. 'I told the chairman right in front of everybody that Mr. Cranwell was out of order ... Harris said all but three Democrats opposed his 'family impact statement' bill when it barely survived a Saturday floor session and that all 50 Democrats voted against it Sunday, when it was killed. 'I guess they wanted to send some kind of message,' Harris said on Monday. He said he guesses part of the reason the measure was targeted was a message for 'when I sort of tried to put Mr. Cranwell in order'" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, February 17, 1998).
Paul Harris won his landslide victory on November 4, 1997 with a campaign slogan of 'Faith, Family, and Freedom'. Now he "is preparing a bill that would require state agencies to evaluate the impact new regulations might have on families" (Bob Gibson, Daily Progress, January 4, 1998).
He defines a family as "'a group of individuals related by blood, marriage or adoption who live together as a single household' ... The Republican said he does not intend same sex partners to count as families. 'I am opposed to same-sex marriages,' Harris said. 'I think Virginia has to stay a state where that is not recognized'" (Bob Gibson, Daily Progress, January 4, 1998).
A summary and status of HB 1212 Administrative Process Act/ family impact statement, for which Paul Harris is Patron, follows.
Administrative Process Act; family impact statement. Requires, as a part of the economic impact analysis conducted by the Department of Planning and Budget in cooperation with the regulatory agency, a determination of the impact of the regulation of family well-being. The bill defines family well-being as a regulatory action which (i) strengthens or erodes the stability of the family, particularly the marital commitment; (ii) strengthens or erodes the authority and rights of parents in the education, nurture, and supervision of theirchildren; or (iii) increases or decreases disposable family income.
Full text:
01/26/98 House: Presented & ordered printed 986003276
Status:
01/26/98 House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
01/28/98 House: Assigned to General Laws sub-committee: 5
02/12/98 House: Reported from General Laws with amds. (26-Y 0-N)
02/12/98 House: Read first time
02/13/98 House: Passed by for the day
02/14/98 House: Read second time
02/14/98 House: Committee amendments agreed to
02/14/98 House: Motion to refer to committee rejected (48-Y 52-N)
02/14/98 House: VOTE: (48-Y 52-N)
02/14/98 House: Engrossed by House as amended (52-Y 47-N)
02/14/98 House: VOTE: ENGROSSMENT (52-Y 47-N)
02/15/98 House: Read third time and defeated by House (48-Y 51-N)
02/15/98 House: VOTE: PASSAGE (48-Y 51-N)
Power Sharing
At the League of Women Voters Annual Legislative Luncheon on January
2nd, Delegate-elect Paul Clinton Harris, Sr. (R-Albemarle) "said House
Democrats should try sharing power with a growing number of Republicans.
'It's not a question of if Republicans take control, it's just a question
of when. The answer to that is 1999, if not sooner. And elephants are known
to have big memories'. Harris called the Democratic majorities on major
committees in the House 'lopsided,' and noted that the House Appropriations
Committee has 17 Democrats, four Republicans and one independent" (Bob
Gibson, Daily Progress, January 3, 1998).
Working Moms
On Thursday, October 16th, Paul Harris met with Murray High School students to talk about his candidacy. About freedom, Harris said, "'every person should have the opportunity to maximize his God-given talents.' When several students in the class asked why mothers and children should be penalized by having welfare benefits limited, Harris responded, 'I don't think it's a penalty on the mother to say you are responsible for raising your child.'" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, October 19, 1997).
"He told one student whose mother received welfare benefits that 'your witnessing your mother having to struggle will make you a much stronger person.' 'The greatest benefit to the child is to grow up in a household where the mother works,' Harris said" (Bob Gibson, The Daily Progress, October 19, 1997).