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Key VA Senate Money Subcommittee Defeats Governor Youngkin’s Tax Giveaways for the Wealthy

By
Blue Virginia
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4

See below for a press release from The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis on the VA Senate Finance and Appropriations Resources Subcommittee rejecting Youngkin’s crazy/irresponsible/regressive proposed “big tax cuts for the wealthy and a tax increase for families with low income.”

Also, see below for a press release from Progress Virginia, explaining that “Governor Youngkin’s tax plan nickels-and-dimes working families to pay for a tax cut for his rich friends, and we’re glad members of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Resource Subcommittee said ‘no way.’”

Governor Youngkin’s Tax Plan: More Money For His Rich Friends, Higher Costs For Everyone Else

Richmond, Virginia—Working families in our community would pay more for everything from a bar of soap to their Netflix subscription under Governor Youngkin’s tax package, while the top 1% of earners would enjoy a nearly $10,000 tax cut. Today, we’re celebrating that the Senate Finance Committee saw through the Governor’s campaign rhetoric and voted SB 632 to continue it to next year. Governor Youngkin’s plan would have cost $3.46 billion, which would have largely funded a tax cut for the wealthiest Virginians. The plan would have raised taxes for households in the bottom 20% of incomes, added a brand-new tax on streaming services, and significantly increased the sales tax, which disproportionately impacts low-income families.

“Governor Youngkin’s tax plan nickels-and-dimes working families to pay for a tax cut for his rich friends, and we’re glad members of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Resource Subcommittee said ‘no way.’” LaTwyla Mathias, Executive Director at Progress Virginia, said. “Governor Youngkin is trying to take the money we need for public schools and affordable housing and give it away to folks who simply don’t need it. He’s made his priorities clear, but we’re not going to let him trade favors with his wealthy donors at the expense of our community. We’re grateful to the Finance Committee for voting SB 632 down, and we will work hard to make sure that these bad ideas don’t show up in our budget.”

Background: 

Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says “I can’t think of a more important thing than standing by Ukraine and fixing our border – real time”

By
lowkell
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6

See below for video of Sen. Mark Warner’s weekly chat with the press. This week, topics covered included:

  • the start of Black History Month and “the enormous contributions made by Black Americans to America’s history and Virginia’s history”;
  • the crucial importance of the U.S. supporting Ukraine in “its war against Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion”;
  • the need to deal with “the mess at the border,” yet “now that a solution set has been laid out…the very same people who were saying we need this are now trying to walk away because former President Trump is for political reasons only trying to say don’t solve the border now, let him use it as a campaign issue – I find that repugnant” (and the need “to start voting on this bill next week”);
  • the attack on U.S. soldiers in Jordan and the need to “strike back forcefully” but NOT “broaden this conflict in the Middle East at this moment in time” (Sen. Warner noted that even Trump didn’t attack targets in Iran itself) and how it’s “better to get this right than to simply do it quickly”);
  • the “long-overdue” need to put meaningful restrictions on social media companies, including amending Section 230, and how Congress is “batting zero” on this; fears of Russia and others interfering with our elections, including via social media, and the need to do something about this;
  • the tax bill passed in the US House and how the US Senate should also pass it;
  • the Houthis’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the possible need to take out their “command and control”;
  • the “Elmo post”;
  • etc.

Sen. Tim Kaine For Virginia Announces Senior Staff

By
Blue Virginia
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5

From the Kaine for US Senate campaign:

Kaine For Virginia Announces Senior Staff

Richmond, VA — Kaine for Virginia is announcing numerous senior staff hires. Senator Kaine released the following statement:

“As a City Councilmember and Mayor, I cut crime, built schools, expanded jobs, and grew the population in Richmond. As Governor, I led Virginia to be America’s Best Managed State, the Best State for Business and the Best State for children. As Senator, I have fought for our troops and their families on the Armed Services Committee, secured major wins in expanding educational opportunities, lowered prescription drug costs, and expanded access to health care for all Americans.

“But I didn’t do it alone. Success depends on a great team. That’s why I’m excited to announce these senior staff members joining our campaign team who are battle-tested and know what it takes to win competitive races. With my long record of delivering for the Commonwealth and these talented individuals, our campaign is in a strong position to make the case to Virginians about my record of lowering costs for hardworking families, delivering for military families, and protecting democracy at home and abroad – and building on the progress we have made.”  

Kaine for Virginia’s campaign senior staff includes the following:

  • Keren Charles Dongo, Campaign Manager: Keren has been a long-time senior advisor to Senator Kaine, serving in multiple roles including state director and served as his campaign manager in 2018, leading to Senator Kaine’s largest margin of victory. She was the director of the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2012, which was responsible for Democratic victories in Virginia up and down the ballot and was an advisor to Representative Bobby Scott.
  • Jenny Nadicksbernd, Senior Advisor: Jenny has been a long-time senior advisor to Senator Kaine and will continue in that role overseeing all of the fundraising operations. Through her efforts, Jenny has led Senator Kaine to record-breaking fundraising.
  • Ivana Hall, Political Director: Most recently she was the Deputy Campaigns Director at the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2023 legislative campaign helping to keep their democratic majority, in 2021 as the Field Director at the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and in 2019 as the Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director at the Democratic Party for Virginia for state legislative races. Other recent work she’s proud of is serving as the Distributed Director on the Reproductive Freedom Campaign in Michigan to codify Roe into the constitution in 2022 and serving the Organizing Director in 2020 for the Pennsylvania Dems and Biden/Harris Campaign.
  • Yazan Hanouneh, Digital Director: Yazan most recently served as Deputy Digital Director for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in her official office, where he helped message on Democrats’ many legislative accomplishments across the President Pro Tempore’s digital platforms—in addition to highlighting her leadership chairing the Senate HELP and Appropriations Committees. Before that, he served as a Digital Strategist for the Tina Smith for Minnesota campaign in 2020.
  • Arif Hasan, Research Director and Rapid Response Strategist: Arif is a veteran political research strategist who has worked on numerous competitive races in battleground states. He was most recently the Research Director on Governor Steve Sisolak’s 2022 re-election campaign in Nevada. He has also worked for the Biden-Harris Transition Team and the DCCC, where he led research efforts for frontline Congressional races including in Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania and Michigan that were critical in defending the House majority.
  • Michael Beyer, Communications Director: Michael most recently worked as Communications Director for Brandon Presley for Mississippi, where he led communications for the closest gubernatorial race in Mississippi in a generation. He has also worked as a Senior Communications Advisor at the Ohio Democratic Party, several gubernatorial races in New Hampshire and at the Democratic Governors Association, helping to re-elect Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and elect Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

The announced senior staff members join a highly-experienced consultant team that has been with Senator Kaine since he ran for Lieutenant Governor and knows what it takes to win tough races in Virginia.

President Biden Takes On Big Pharma and Is Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

By
Blue Virginia
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3

From the White House Press Office:

President Biden Takes On Big Pharma and Is Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

After decades of opposition, President Biden enacted a law that finally takes on Big Pharma and gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will save millions of seniors money on some of the costliest prescription drugs on the market –and today, Medicare will send initial offers to manufacturers of the first ten drugs selected for drug price negotiation to help bring down the price of these prescription drugs.  This is the first time ever that Medicare is not accepting the drug prices the pharmaceutical companies set.The drug price negotiation program is a prime example of the ways the Administration is working to lower costs for American families. In 2022, nine million seniors on Medicare were prescribed the ten drugs selected for the first round of drug price negotiation. These individuals spent an estimated $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022 alone for these drugs, which are used to treat some of the most common conditions like blood clots, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and more. Some seniors spent nearly $6,500 out-of-pocket for a single one of these drugs – while Big Pharma continued to make record profits, ripping off American taxpayers and the seniors their drugs aim to treat.

New report highlights Big Pharma price gouging

A new report released today shows that in 2022, Big Pharma charged Americans two to three times more than what they charged people in other OECD countries for the same drugs, even when accounting for rebates and discounts. As one example, U.S. gross prices for insulin – a drug that has been around for 100 years and costs drug companies just $10 a vial to make – were on average almost ten times the price in the United States than in comparison countries.

This comes as large drug companies spent nearly $750 billion on self-enriching stock buybacks and dividends over the last decade. Big Pharma also executed over $135 billion in mergers and acquisitions in 2023 alone, while passing the cost to consumers. And six of ten of the drugs selected for this year’s negotiation program raised their prices in the first month of 2024 – after all ten drugs were already priced three to eight times higher in the United States than in other countries.

President Biden’s drug price negotiation program finally takes on Big Pharma’s exorbitant price gouging of seniors, allowing Medicare to put money back in the pockets of American families. By negotiating lower prices for these drugs – and dozens more in the years that follow – the Biden Administration is creating a new and better deal for patients.

Drug price negotiation could have a significant impact on seniors

Until the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare was prohibited from directly negotiating prescription drug prices to get the best deal for seniors, even as other government agencies that provide health services actively negotiate lower drug prices. The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Defense, and Medicaid all have the power to negotiate drug prices, and they pay less than Medicare, on average, for top-selling brand-name drugs. In 2017, the Government Accountability Office found that the VA paid on average 49 percent less per unit for the same brand-name drugs offered through the VA health system than Medicare Part D paid.

Big Pharma and House Republicans continue to attack popular drug price negotiation program

Americans from all backgrounds and ages overwhelmingly support Medicare being able to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, with eight in ten adults in favor of the federal government negotiating drug prices.

At the same time, Big Pharma is litigating nine lawsuits against Medicare Drug Price Negotiation. They’re hoping the courts will do what they could not get done in Congress: block Medicare from negotiating lower prices for seniors and families. And House Republicans are all too eager to come to drug companies’ defense. House Republicans have pledged to eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act, have vowed to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits, are trying to kick millions of Americans off affordable health care, and would keep drug prices high for seniors and American families.

President Biden won’t stand for that. He is laser focused on lowering costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and making sure his Inflation Reduction Act gives more seniors, people with disabilities, and families more breathing room.

Later this year, new, negotiated prices for the first ten prescription drugs selected for the negotiation program are scheduled to be announced. Over the next four years, Medicare will select up to 60 drugs for negotiation – and up to 20 additional drugs per year after that.

Beyond that, millions of seniors with diabetes are already benefitting from the $35 cap for a month’s supply of insulin under the President’s Inflation Reduction Act. Fifteen million Americans are saving $800 per year on health insurance premiums. And seniors that took the 47 drugs covered by Medicare Part B that hiked prices faster than inflation in 2023 had lower coinsurance, with some enrollees saving as much as $618 per dose.

No matter how many times House Republicans try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden knows how it is delivering for American families, and his Administration will continue the fight to lower health care costs for more Americans.

###

Thursday News: “EU approves €50B Ukraine aid as Viktor Orbán folds”; “With Inflation Down, Shouldn’t the Fed Loosen Up?”; Trump-Controlled GOP Doesn’t Want ANYTHING Passed That Might Make Biden “Look Good”; “MAGA Goes to War on Swift”

By
lowkell
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24

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, February 1.

By 357-70 Vote, US House Passes Bipartisan Legislation To Expand Child Tax Credit, Boost Affordable Housing

By
Blue Virginia
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1

See below for reactions to tonight’s passage (by an overwhelming 357-70 vote) by the U.S. House of ” bipartisan legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).”  The Virginia delegation voted 9-2 in favor of the legislation, with only Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA03) and Rep. Bob Good (R-VA05) voting no.

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation To Expand Child Tax Credit, Boost Affordable Housing

January 31, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee and a member of the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, today voted for bipartisan legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which the House of Representatives pass on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 357-70.

Beyer spoke during floor debate in favor of the bill:

“This bill is not perfect; no bill ever is. But this act is win, win, win: 400,000 children will be lifted out of poverty, 200,000 new affordable homes will be built, and research and development – the absolute essential investment for economic prosperity – will be incentivized again. Politics is the art of the possible; in a divided Congress, that is the best we can do.”

The Ways and Means Committee previously voted to favorably report H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, on a vote of 40-3. Text of the bill is available here, with a section-by-section summary here.

The legislation includes provisions that would (per the Senate Finance Committee):

  • Expand access to the child tax credit with a phased increase to the refundable portion of the child tax credit for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
  • Eliminate a penalty for larger families by ensuring the child tax credit phase-in is applied fairly to families with multiple children.
  • Offer a one-year income “lookback” provision to create flexibility for taxpayers to use either current- or prior-year income to calculate the child tax credit in 2024 or 2025, similar to bipartisan action taken six times in the past 15 years.
  • Adjust the tax credit for inflation starting in 2024.
  • Increase the supply of low-income housing by enhancing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit with increased state allocations and a reduced tax-exempt bond financing requirement.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the bill would benefit 16 million children in low-income families and “lift as many as 400,000 children above the poverty line” in its first year, with more even more set to benefit in 2025.

Beyer served on the House Committee on Ways and Means during the drafting of the American Rescue Plan Act, which included the expanded Child Tax Credit of 2021 that drove the largest reduction in child poverty in American history. He made support and advocacy for the expanded Child Tax Credit a key focus during his tenure as Chairman of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, and remains a leading voice on the Ways and Means Committee supporting revival of the expanded CTC.

Beyer is a lead cosponsor of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

***************************

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11):

“The tax deal we just passed is a win for America’s children. Extending the Child Tax Credit will benefit 16 million kids – including 12,000 right here in VA-11 – and lift another 500,000 out of poverty.   Proud to cast this vote tonight.”

**************

Spanberger Votes to Provide Tax Relief to Virginia Families, Increase Child Tax Credit

The Congresswoman Voted to Pass a Major Deal to Expand the Child Tax Credit, Eliminate Penalties for Larger Families, & Provide Inflation Relief

The Spanberger-Supported Tax Bill Would also Cut Red Tape for Virginia Small Businesses & Help Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House to increase the refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) for Virginia families, cut red tape for small businesses, and help spur new affordable housing development.

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would increase the refundable portion of the CTC to $1,800 for 2023, $1,900 for 2024, and $2,000 for 2025. The bipartisan bill would also require the U.S. Treasury Department to recalculate the credit amount based on these changes for taxpayers who have already filed their 2023 taxes early. Additionally, the bipartisan tax deal would eliminate penalties for larger families to make sure this updated CTC phase-in is applied fairly to families with multiple children. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would adjust the CTC for inflation starting in 2024.

These changes would benefit an estimated 367,000 Virginia children who do not receive the full CTC amount — or any amount at all — under current law. Right now, Virginia children are ineligible for the full $2,000 per-child CTC if their families lack earnings or have earnings that are too low.

“Far too many families across the Commonwealth live paycheck to paycheck. For many of these families, just one emergency could lead to financial ruin,” said Spanberger. “When we expanded the Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Plan back in 2021, we slashed child poverty rates — and thousands of Virginia families breathed a sigh of relief when it came to keeping the lights on, paying for childcare, or filling up their cars. This tax deal brings our focus back on working families. Additionally, this tax relief would not only help keep families financially secure, but it would make commonsense changes to help our Commonwealth’s small businesses stay afloat, grow, and hire more Virginians.”

Spanberger also called on the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act amid the launch of the 2023 tax filing season this week.

“To make sure Virginia families can benefit from this relief during the current tax filing season, our friends in the U.S. Senate need to send this bill to President Biden’s desk as soon as possible,” added Spanberger. “And when this bill is signed into law, I will be pushing my colleagues in Congress — as well as the Biden Administration — to provide easily digestible guidance to the American people about what these changes mean for their taxes. Going forward, we need to make sure this bill is providing new peace of mind, not creating new confusion.”

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would also help increase the supply of affordable housing by:

  • Enhancing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. This public-private partnership has a demonstrated track record of success — including in Virginia. Specifically, the tax deal would increase state allocations for this program and reduce the tax-exempt bond financing requirement.

A recent analysis found that the Commonwealth of Virginia would see the sixth-largest increase in affordable rental homes in the country due to the proposed Low-Income Housing Tax Credit expansion.

Additionally, the bipartisan tax relief bill includes several commonsense provisions that would increase support for Virginia’s small businesses. Specifically, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act would provide relief to Main Street businesses by:

  • Expanding the small business expensing cap. The tax deal would increase the amount of investment that a small business can immediately write off to $1.29 million, an increase above the $1 million cap enacted in 2017.
  • Cutting red tape. The bill would adjust the reporting threshold for businesses that use subcontract labor from $600 to $1,000 and index for inflation. This reform would mark the first update to this threshold since the 1950s.
  • Protecting businesses’ bottom lines. The bill includes continued flexibility for businesses forced to borrow at higher interest rates to meet their payroll obligations and expand their operations.
  • Providing 100-percent expensing. The Spanberger-supported tax deal would restore full and immediate expensing for investments in machines, equipment, and vehicles.

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act is supported by both Virginia-based and nationwide organizations, including the Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia United Way, Rappahannock United Way, Virginia Education Association, RESULTS Virginia, No Kid Hungry Virginia, Commonwealth Institute for Financial Analysis, People Incorporated, MomsRising, Ready Nation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Retail Federation, National Association of Home Builders, National Restaurant Association, Feeding America, National Urban League, National Association of Realtors, Save the Children, Bipartisan Policy Center, and many more.

“Virginia Farm Bureau is supportive of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. The legislation will provide much-needed relief for Virginia’s farms, and farm families, who are struggling against the headwinds of inflation, high interest rates, and ever-increasing costs of production. Among other provisions, this legislation would increase the amount farmers can deduct on equipment purchases, return bonus depreciation to 100% for property through 2025, and raise the 1099 threshold. These initiatives will reduce costs and allow farmers to invest in their operations, creating jobs and stabilizing America’s food supply chain. Virginia Farm Bureau appreciates Congresswoman Spanberger’s efforts to ensure the tax code supports Virginia’s farmers.” — Wayne F. Pryor, President & CEO, Virginia Farm Bureau

“We know expanding the Child Tax Credit works to end hunger and poverty. When it was temporarily expanded during the pandemic, child poverty fell at an unprecedented rate. While this proposal doesn’t restore all the policies we had hoped to see, we believe it is a meaningful step in the right direction that could have an immediate impact on nearly 300,000 kids across Virginia. We urge lawmakers to act quickly to support families struggling to make ends meet.” — Sarah Steely, Director, No Kid Hungry Virginia.

“Our children can’t learn when they are hungry, had a sleepless night from lack of heat, or are absent because the car broke down on the way to school. Too often, families that experience poverty and low incomes face tremendous barriers to learning. A good anti-poverty policy for children is also good education policy. It’s time to renew our commitment to families and child well-being and expand this tax option.” — Dr. James Fedderman, President, Virginia Education Association.

“The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) has been crucial to our efforts to develop quality affordable housing in Virginia’s Seventh District and throughout the Commonwealth. Increasing the LIHTC from 9% to 12.5% will provide much-needed additional support for our and other developer’s efforts to help meet the unprecedented demand from thousands of Virginians in need of an affordable place to call home, work, and raise a family in. We thank Rep. Spanberger for supporting this important relief.” — Bryan Phipps, President & CEO, People Incorporated.

“Rappahannock United Way supports the Child Tax Credit. Proposed changes can mean more lower-income families with multiple children could qualify for higher credits. Over 39% of households in our community earn income at or below the ALICE Threshold. So, tax credits like the Child Tax Credit are a much-needed financial boost to hard working ALICE families.” — Janel S. Donohue, President, Rappahannock United Way.

“RESULTS Virginia strongly supports the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, HR 7024. The proposed expansion of the Child Tax Credit will bring welcome relief to millions of children currently denied the full credit because their family’s earnings are too low, including 367,000 children in Virginia. Millions of children will benefit meaningfully from the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, and RESULTS Virginia urges swift passage of this proposed bipartisan tax deal.” — Randy Rosso, Co-Leader, RESULTS Virginia.

“The Child Tax Credit is a proven tool that has been shown to reduce poverty, improve educational outcomes, and give families the flexible economic support they need to take care of their families. This is important now more than ever — 41% of families with children in Virginia reported last fall that they were experiencing difficulty paying for household expenses. I am excited to see that the bipartisan and widely supported tax package that would expand the CTC is moving to a vote in the House. Improving the Child Tax Credit will benefit nearly 300,000 children in Virginia in the first year, providing a much needed boost to the families who need it most.” — Ashley Kenneth, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

For a technical summary of the bill, click here.

BACKGROUND

Spanberger has long worked to provide tax relief to Virginia’s working families — including through her support of the American Rescue Plan, which temporarily expanded the CTC from $2,000 per child to as much as $3,600 per child in 2021. Click here to read Spanberger discuss her support for a strengthened CTC in a July 2021 Richmond Times-Dispatch op-ed.

 

VA07, VA10, etc. Democratic Congressional Campaign Finance Numbers for 4Q23 Coming In…

By
lowkell
-
13

Yes, it’s that time again…campaign finance numbers for Congressional candidates are being posted for the final quarter of 2023. See the FEC website and below as fundraising numbers for 4Q23 come in for key/competitive races in VA07 (to succeed Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor of Virginia and NOT running for reelection to Congress after three terms) and VA10 Democratic candidates (to succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who is retiring due to unfortunate/tragic health issues). Also, check out the numbers for also-key/competitive VA02 – for Democratic Missy Cotter Smasal and Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans. I’ll add more numbers that jump out at me from other districts…

VA02

  • Missy Cotter Smasal (D): $110,672 in total receipts in 4Q23; $93,850 cash on hand
  • Rep. Jen Kiggans (R): $399,686 in total receipts in 4Q23; $1,504,729 cash on hand

VA07 Dems

  • Eugene Vindman: $2,029,813 in total receipts in 4Q23; $1,095,983 cash on hand.
  • Margaret Franklin: $122,894 total receipts in 4Q23; $115,309 cash on hand
  • Briana Sewell: $101,354 in total receipts in 4Q23; $97,201 cash on hand
  • Elizabeth Guzman: $43,589 total receipts in 4Q23; $42,145 cash on hand

VA10 Dems

  • Dan Helmer: $622,160 in total receipts in 4Q23 (note: includes a $21,100 loan from the candidate); $538,788 cash on hand
  • Krystle Kaul: $604,044 in 4Q23 total receipts (note: this includes a $447,800 loan “made or guaranteed by the candidate”); $567,490 in cash on hand.
  • Eileen Filler-Corn: $385,605 in 4Q23 total receipts; $293,020 cash on hand.
  • Suhas Subramanyam: $271,902 in total receipts in 4Q23, $242,349 in cash on hand.
  • Jennifer Boysko: $201,402 in 4Q23 total receipts; $156,931 cash on hand
  • Atif Qarni: $182,397 in 4Q23 total receipts (note: includes a $50,000 candidate contribution); $181,053 cash on hand
  • David Reid: $123,716 in 4Q23 total receipts; $104,565 cash on hand.
  • Travis Nembhard: $61,943 in 4Q23 total receipts; $59,627 cash on hand
  • Michelle Maldonado: $38,960 in 4Q23 total receipts; $37,662 in cash on hand
  • Brandon Garay: $5,411 in 4Q23 total receipts; $1,049 cash on hand
  • Mark Leighton: $1,240 cash on hand

VA05 Republicans

  • John McGuire: $212,422 in 4Q23 total receipts; $204,924 in cash on hand
  • Rep. Bob Good: $205,305 in 4Q23 total receipts; $269,661 cash on hand

US Senate

  • Sen. Tim Kaine: $1,501,777 in 4Q23 total receipts; $7,742,487 cash on hand
  • Hung Cao: $490,636 in 4Q23 total receipts; $528,281 cash on hand
  • Ron Vitiello: $228,155 in 4Q23 total receipts; $91,742 cash on hand
  • Scott Parkinson: $112,554 in 4Q23 total receipts; $430,877 cash on hand
  • Chuck Smith: $92,712 in 4Q23 total receipts; $50,265 cash on hand
  • Jonathan Emord: $72,772 in 4Q23 total receipts; $23,978 cash on hand

VA01

  • Rep. Rob Wittman (R): $334,816 in 4Q23 total receipts; $1,350,052 cash on hand
  • Herb Jones (D): $4,642 in 4Q23 total receipts; $238,094 cash on hand
  • Leslie Mehta (D): $5,295 in 4Q23 total receipts; $5,295 cash on hand

Virginia Latino Caucus Releases its 2024 Legislative Agenda

By
Blue Virginia
-
0

From the Virginia Latino Caucus:

RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia Latino Caucus (VLC) is pleased to share its legislative and policy agenda now that the 2024 General Assembly session is underway in Richmond.

VLC Members Delegates Alfonso López, Phil Hernández, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, and Marty Martínez are proud to highlight bills in the General Assembly this session that are important to our community.

“The VLC’s bill priorities will help benefit all Virginia families, not just Latinos and immigrants,” said Del. Alfonso López (D-Arlington). “By increasing funding for public education, making sure families can put food on the table, and expanding access to healthcare for ALL Virginia residents, we are showing that the Commonwealth is serious about listening to its residents’ concerns.”

“As a father to two children, it is extremely concerning to know that many Virginia families are struggling to balance childcare costs and other critical expenses,” said Del. Phil Hernández (D-Norfolk). “The bills included in this policy agenda, including my proposed improvements to the Child Care Subsidy Program, are effective first steps in ensuring the needs of Virginia families are met.”

“As the representative of a House District that is nearly 50% Latino, I am acutely aware of the need for the VLC’s bill priorities, such as increased funding for ELL education, to pass,” said Del. Lopes Maldonado (D-Manassas). “For too long, Virginia’s immigrant and ELL groups have had to navigate their local communities without the full support they need, and these bills and policy initiatives will help prepare them to be more integrated Virginia residents.”

“Alongside many other Virginia families, many of the Commonwealth’s Hispanic residents and families are struggling with housing and rental costs,” said Del. Marty Martínez (D-Leesburg). “A number of the bills contained in this VLC bill priority list will provide additional resources for tenants and strengthen protections in the landlord-tenant relationship.”

These bill priorities have been decided on after consulting with Latino and Latino-adjacent advocacy groups. It consists of a series of proposals supported by the VLC in the 2024 legislative session, focused centrally on reforms that will improve the economic, political, and social conditions of Latino Virginians and of marginalized communities across the Commonwealth. The following are the VLC’s policy priorities this session:

Support:

Education

HB 211 (Martínez) – Changes from once every seven years to every two years the frequency with which the Department of Education is required to audit each education preparation program for compliance with relevant law relating to student coursework and mastery in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction.

HB 386 (Hernández) – Increases the number of specialized student support positions required to be employed by each local school board from at least three to at least four such positions per 1,000 students in the local school division. Such specialized student support positions include school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts, and other licensed health and behavioral positions.

HB 1247/SB 272 (Lopes Maldonado/Hashmi) – Requires state funding to be provided to support divisionwide ratios of ELL students in average daily membership to full-time equivalent teaching positions. Current law requires state funding to be provided to support one teaching position per 50 ELL students, regardless of the identified English proficiency level of such students.

SB 227 (Hashmi) – Adjusts Standards of Quality (SoQ) funding calculations performed by the Department of Education.

SB 228 (Hashmi) – Requires state funding to be provided to cover the actual average school division cost to educate children with disabilities and a per-pupil SoQ funding add-on for English language learner (ELL) and special education students.

Housing

HB 192 (Martínez)- Establishes the Landlord and Tenant Fairness Act that requires any landlord who owns more than nine rental units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than nine rental units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth, to meet certain requirements with respect to the advertisement of any rental unit, the charging of application fees, and terms of rental agreements.

HB 955 (López) – Requires landlords (at the request of the tenant) to include a summary page with any written rental agreement offered to a prospective tenant in a language other than English in an area where that language is commonly used. The summary page shall include the duration of the lease, the amount of rent and the date upon which such rent shall be due, an explanation of any deposits and late fees that may be charged, and any termination provisions.

HB 957 (López) – Provides a rebuttable presumption of a landlord’s material noncompliance with the rental agreement if the leased premises was condemned by an appropriate authority due to the owner’s refusal or failure to fix a condition for which he was served a condemnation notice, unless such condition was caused by an act of God. The bill requires a court, when such rebuttable presumption is established, to award the tenant the amount of three months’ rent, any prepaid rent, and any security deposit paid by the tenant.

Healthcare

HB 970/SB 231 (Tran/Hashmi) – Establishes a health coverage program in Virginia available to children from low-income families regardless of immigration status.

Immigration

HB 956/SB 332 (López/Salim) – Reduces from 12 months to 364 days the maximum term of confinement in jail for a Class 1 misdemeanor.

HB 962 (López) – Removes the term “alien” as it pertains to persons who are not citizens or nationals of the United States and replaces it with synonymous language throughout the Code of Virginia.

Workers’ Protections

HB 1 (Ward) – Increases the minimum wage from the current rate of $12.00 per hour to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026.

HB 157 (McClure) – Eliminates the exemptions from Virginia’s minimum wage requirements for persons employed as farm laborers or farm employees and certain temporary foreign workers.

Taxes and Social Services

HB 407 (Hernández) – Provides that any family that receives public assistance through Medicaid or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children shall be deemed categorically eligible to receive assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program.

HB 408 (Hernández) – Requires the Department of Education to periodically reimburse child care providers that are vendors through the Child Care Subsidy Program on the basis of authorized child enrollment but provides that if any such enrolled child is absent from the provider for 10 or more days during one month, the Department shall periodically reimburse such provider on the basis of such child’s attendance.

HB 621/SB 183 (Price/Rouse) – Allows eligible low-income taxpayers to claim a refundable income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the federal earned income tax credit claimed that year by the taxpayer for the same taxable year. The bill also states that individuals who would have been entitled to the federal equivalent of this credit but for the fact that the individual, the individual’s spouse, or one or more of the individual’s children does not have a valid social security number are eligible to claim this credit.

HB 969 (Tran) – Creates a tax credit for taxable years 2024 through 2028 for individuals whose households include dependents younger than the age of 18. The bill provides that the amount of the credit will be equal to $500 for each such dependent whose family Virginia adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed $100,000.

Public Safety and Judicial

HB 470 (Martínez) – Authorizes an attorney or guardian ad litem representing a minor, or a parent, guardian, or other representative of a minor, to file a petition for a child in need of services with the clerk of the juvenile and domestic relations district court. Under current law, such petitions are required to be filed with an intake officer and are prohibited from being filed directly with the clerk.

HB 972 (López) – Provides that no Virginia court shall inquire into the immigration status of any defendant unless such inquiry is relevant to the offense for which such defendant is being prosecuted. The bill requires that before the start of proceedings, Virginia courts shall advise any defendant that immigration consequences are possible if such defendant is convicted of a criminal violation of state or local law.

HB 1454/SB 246 (López/McPike) – Extends the validity of limited-duration licenses and driver privilege cards and permits to match the validity of driver’s licenses under current law.

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The Virginia Latino Caucus (VLC) is the legislative caucus representing Virginia’s diverse Hispanic and Latino community in the Virginia General Assembly. The VLC’s mission is to advance legislation and policies in the General Assembly that will improve the lives of Latinos, New Americans, and other underrepresented communities across the Commonwealth. This email was sent out by Lopez for Delegate on behalf of the Virginia Latino Caucus. 

Wednesday News: “Why the U.S. economy is beating the world”; “GOP Blames Biden for Border Crisis That GOP Refuses to Solve”; “Why MAGA fears Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl”; “Senate Democrats move to block Youngkin’s parole board chair”

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by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, January 31.

Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Rips Donald Trump for His “Abhorrent” “Blame America First” Rhetoric re: Attack on US Servicemen in Jordan

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lowkell
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See below for video fo Sen. Tim Kaine nailing it on two important issues: 1) Donald Trump’s “abhorrent,” “blame America first”  blather regarding the attack on U.S. servicemen in Jordan; 2) the “laughable” House Republican impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas – “this is the Speaker’s attempt to throw a sop to a right-wing faction within his caucus” – it’s “going nowhere.”

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