A version of this originally appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on January 16, 2015
There's nothing like being a witness to history, is there?
And just this week, Virginians were served up a heaping helping of history when the first work-release member of the House of Delegates took his seat in the General Assembly.
News reports say Del. Joe Morrissey's ankle bracelet was discreetly hidden beneath a pant leg when he appeared at the Capitol on Wednesday. Invisible, unless he casually crossed his ankles, I suppose.
As long as the General Assembly can wrap up its business every day before 7:30 p.m. - the witching hour, when Morrissey needs to be back in his jail cell - Fightin' Joe will be able to serve his constituents and help craft laws that others will break.
The spectacle of an inmate serving as a part-time lawmaker is the sort of far-fetched plot we might expect from a Will Ferrell or Seth Rogen movie. A farce set in New Jersey or Illinois, perhaps. Certainly not in Virginia, the birthplace of presidents.
Wait. Who are we kidding? This is starting to look like the new normal for the Old Dominion.
Former Del. Phil Hamilton of Newport News is already behind bars, serving a 9-1/2-year federal prison sentence for extortion and bribery. On Feb. 9, former Gov. Bob McDonnell - also a former member of the House of Delegates - will be headed to federal prison on felony corruption convictions - unless the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals steps in and rescues him, that is.
Given recent history, was anyone really surprised Tuesday when voters in the free-wheeling 74th House District sent a man who's doing time back to the Statehouse?
The Henrico County Democrat resigned his seat after his conviction and almost immediately announced he would run as an independent in the hastily called special election. A few weeks later, Morrissey defeated his closest opponent - Democrat Kevin Sullivan - by almost 600 votes.
Ouch. That loss must really sting. My condolences, Mr. Sullivan.
The voters in this reliably Democratic district made their choice: They want the man who's currently in jail to represent them in the General Assembly.
So what's next?
Members of the House appear to be taking the Amish approach to Morrissey: They're shunning him. He's lost his committee assignments and has been given a remote office far away from the chamber's power brokers.
Nevertheless, by Thursday afternoon Morrissey was back in business, introducing 10 pieces of legislation, including one constitutional amendment. Most deal with crime.
There is one troubling sign, however. Seems Morrissey has begun referring to himself in the third person.
"I'm confident in Joe Morrissey," he declared, "and I'm confident things will work out exactly the way they are supposed to."
Several Democratic leaders issued an indignant statement Wednesday, disowning Morrissey and making vague noises about punishing him further. Republicans are also reported to be considering their options, which could be to either censure Morrissey or to try to expel him from the General Assembly.
Neither is appropriate. Morrissey was elected by Virginia voters who were aware of his conviction. His colleagues should accept that.
Besides, the General Assembly has a bad habit of killing valuable time on dopey distractions and leaving important matters to the end of the session. They need to get to work and stop wasting time.
Ignore Morrissey. The man made history this week. No need for histrionics.
