Yet again, as on so many other issues, Bob McDonnell has demonstrated cowardice, not courage. This time, it's in an area that is absolutely fundamental to being an American: our right to vote. Sadly, as Sen. McEachin explains in his statement (see below), McDonnell apparently believes that "Virginians' constitutional rights are optional," or at least that they're trumped by his own "partisan, divisive, rightwing, radical agenda." Well, sorry Transvaginal Bob, but those rights are not in any way optional, nor can you make this issue go away by hiding it late on a Friday afternoon when most people are getting ready for their weekends. Nice try, though. Heh.
Senator McEachin Decries Signing of Voter Suppression Act Henrico – Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today issued this statement about Governor McDonnell signing Senate Bill 1, the voter suppression bill. Senator McEachin said, “I am disappointed and dismayed that the governor and his Republican allies in the General Assembly continue their partisan, divisive, rightwing, radical agenda unabated. Whether it is women’s health, or the civil rights of LGBT citizens or voting rights, the Republicans continue to act as if Virginians' constitutional rights are optional. “The right to vote, to participate in our country’s electoral process is the most basic right of a citizen. The very foundation of our democracy is the right to vote and when we put impediments before our citizens’ voting rights, we endanger our very form of government. “This bill will cost significant resources in training and administration for election officials. In this economy, as we have too few dollars for education, public safety and transportation, we should not be wasting valued monies to suppress voting. This is now a costly boondoggle and an affront to Virginians and the Constitution.”
P.S. Also see ProgressVA's statement on the "flip."
P.P.S. Screwing with democracy is, apparently, what Bob McDonnell's sorry excuse for a party does these days.
ProgressVA Statement on Bob McDonnell’s Refusal to Veto Voter Suppression Legislation
Legislation will increase obstacles to voting for thousands of Virginians while executive order could cost taxpayers millions
Governor Bob McDonnell demonstrated yet again today that his allegiances lie with his extreme right-wing allies, not Virginia families. McDonnell refused to veto voter suppression legislation that will make it harder for thousands of Virginians to cast a ballot. ProgressVA Executive Director Anna Scholl released the following statement.
“We’re disappointed in Governor McDonnell’s refusal to heed the calls of thousands of Virginians and veto this unnecessary and expensive voter suppression legislation. Unfortunately, Virginians’ constitutional rights have been caught between Bob McDonnell’s allegiance to his right-wing allies and his Vice Presidential aspirations. This legislation and the accompanying executive order are an expensive fix to a nonexistent problem. We’ve never solved anything in this country with less democracy and we shouldn’t start now.”
Over fifteen hundred ProgressVA members contacted their representatives and Governor McDonnell urging opposition to this legislation. Additionally, a coalition of organizations including Virginia New Majority, Virginia Organizing, the Virginia Interfaith Center, and Alliance for Progressive Values delivered 6740 petition signatures to Governor McDonnell calling for his veto.
According to The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, the cost to the Commonwealth of new staff training and administration and instituting a voter education campaign around new voting requirements could cost taxpayers millions.
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