Bob Marshall (Virginia politician)

Robert G. Marshall
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 1992
Preceded by	Joan Hardie Munford (redistricted)
Personal details
Born	(1944-05-03) May 3, 1944 Takoma Park, Maryland
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Catherine Ann Fonseca
Children	Teresa, Christopher, Mary Clare, Joseph, Thomas
Residence	Manassas, Virginia
Alma mater	Montgomery Junior College, Belmont Abbey College, California State University
Occupation	Consultant
Committees	Counties, Cities and Towns; Finance; Science and Technology
Website	http://www.delegatebob.com

Robert G. "Bob" Marshall (born May 3, 1944 in Takoma Park, Maryland) is a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 13th District, currently serving his 7th term. His district includes portions of Prince William and Loudoun counties.

He was recently a candidate for the United States Senate seat being vacated by John Warner. On May 31, 2008, Marshall lost the Republican nomination to Jim Gilmore who received 50.3% of the vote. Gilmore received 65 votes more than Marshall.

Background

Delegate Marshall received his education from Montgomery College, Belmont Abbey College, and California State University. Before election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1991, Marshall was a staffer for the American Life League, an organization which opposes all forms of abortion and birth control. After his election, he continued to work for the organization as a research consultant. He belongs to the All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, Virginia. His sister is actress Paula Marshall.

Gun Control Legislation

In 2000, Marshall was the sole patron of H.B. 350[1] and H.B. 351[2] in the Virginia General Assembly. These bills made it a Class 6 Felony to possess a gun on any public property in the state of Virginia even with a concealed carry permit. Marshall's bills were absorbed into a larger gun control bill and enacted. In 2000, a Virginia school teacher named Deena Esteban[3] was sentenced to a year in prison after accidentally bringing a handgun onto public property in a ruling based on Marshall's legislation. Deena Esteban was in possession of a concealed carry permit and was not engaging in any threatening actions.

The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-Second Amendment organization, unsuccessfully lobbied Marshall to withdraw his legislation at the time.[4]

Marshall/Newman Amendment

Marshall sponsored the Marshall-Newman Amendment to the state constitution that prohibited same-sex marriage as well as civil unions, domestic partnerships, and "other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." It also prohibits the recognition of other states' such legal arrangements. It was approved in a 2006 referendum by 57% to 43%.

The text of the adopted amendment is as follows:

Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.

Resolution of no confidence

On Sunday, September 18, 2007, Marshall introduced a resolution of "of no confidence in the policies of the current House of Delegates Republican Leadership as pursued from 2002 to the present". Among Marshall's complaints were "Allowing government spending to increase at new record levels of spending" and "The Republican Leadership makes policy decisions in a small closed group and in a secretive manner without benefit of wide Caucus input or knowledge and in late 2006 prepared a transportation bill which Caucus members were expected to accept without discussion or critical input, i.e. HB 3202, which bill placed the responsibility for increasing taxes on appointed officials selected by statute, and included a first time ever tax on services, a tax on home sales during a declining housing market, and enacted severe Abusive Driver Fee penalties; and which violated the principles of George Mason’s Declaration of Rights and Magna Charta (1215) that citizens "cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uses without their own consent, or that of their representatives so elected." (Contrast this with the unprecedented claim supported by the Governor, the Attorney General and the Speaker of the House that, "The General Assembly’s ability and power to delegate taxation is not constrained.")". Furthermore, Marshall cites a "refusal to demand fiscal accountability from Governor Warner by ignoring the will of the House in failing to follow up on properly passed resolutions seeking an accounting by Governor Warner and his Cabinet on implementing the recommendations of the 2002 Wilder Commission report on Efficiency and Effectiveness in Government Spending".

Morning after pill

Bob Marshall drew gales of laughter in the Virginia House of Delegates when he stated "...Abortion, done early on. Even if it weren't, we have no business passing this garbage out and making these co-eds chemical Love Canals for these frat house playboys in Virginia. We have no business passing this stuff out."

The measure went on to pass 54-46.

Abortion, birth control, and women

In 1989, when Marshall was working as the research director of the American Life League, he told the Boston Globe that all forms abortion and birth control. "We're against the IUD and pills, too. They don't prevent ovulation and conception, they prevent implantation, which is abortion."

According to the Globe, Marshall also "railed" against Norplant, a contraceptive not-yet-marketed at the time that is implanted under the skin and works for up to five years. "It's a real tribute to women's intelligence," Marshall told the reporter. "They feel so irresponsible they can't do something once a day?"

When asked about abortion in the case of incest, Marshall replied that sometimes incest is voluntary. In response to abortions in the case of rape, Marshall said, "Your origins should not be held against you [referring to the victim's unborn child]. The woman becomes a sin-bearer of the crime, because the right of a child predominates over the embarrassment of the woman."

Immigration panel controversy

In September 2007, State Senator John Watkins was overwhelmingly voted the chair of Virginia Commission on Immigration, 16-3. Marshall, however, refused to give up his interim chair and "panel members had to wrestle the gavel away from Marshall". Marshall then challenged Watkins to a debate. [5]

Regional Tax Authorities

In 2006 the General Assembly passed House Bill 3202[6] which authorized Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads to raise revenue through regional authorities, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority respectively. Revenues raised by these authorities were intended to be used for regional transportation improvements.

Delegate Bob Marshall was strongly critical of this legislation during floor debate. On the house floor in April 2007 he remarked "I cannot vote for this bill because there are too many subterfuges in here trying to avoid responsibility and accountability. Members of these regional governments -- and they are regional governments -- don't even have to vote on this until December. What's interesting about December? It's a month and a half after the election. They can all promise 'I'm not going to vote to raise any taxes' and then afterward they can vote to do it."

After the bill passed over his objections, Marshall lead an effort in conjunction with elected officials in Loudoun County, Virginia to have it overturned by the courts. Marshall's brief argued that the state Constitution did not authorize the establishment of unelected government bodies with the authority to impose and collect taxes. Article 7, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia states: "No ordinance or resolution... imposing taxes, or authorizing the borrowing of money shall be passed except by a recorded affirmative vote of a majority of all members elected to the governing body."

The Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously ruled this legislation unconstitutional on February 29, 2008, siding with Marshall.

"the General Assembly has failed to adhere to the mandates of accountability and transparency that the Constitution requires when the General Assembly exercises the legislative taxing authority permitted by the Constitution."

The ruling surprised many proponents of HB3202. One newspaper describe the effect of the ruling as "hitting the General Assembly like a bomb", and the director of the Hampton Roads Regional Transportation Authority characterized the decision as "nuclear".

Senate campaign

On January 7 2008, Marshall announced that he was running for John Warner's U.S. Senate seat. He was running against former Governor Jim Gilmore for the Republican nomination. Marshall ran well to Gilmore's right, claiming Gilmore is too soft on abortion. While Gilmore supports abortion during the first eight weeks of pregnancy, Marshall opposes abortion in all circumstances.

External links

• Official website
• U.S. Senate Campaign Homepage
• Virginia House of Delegates: Bio for Robert G. Marshall (2008 session)
• Virginia Public Access Project: Robert G. Marshall
• Virginia House Bill 350, 2000 Session, Text
• Court overturns Virginia transport tax Washington Times, February 29, 2008