Virginia Republicans Continue to Employ Staff with Ties to Alleged Criminal Activity Employees from Strategic Allied Consulting working at Five Offices Around Virginia
FALLS CHURCH, VA – Six Republican “Victory Offices,” including one in Fairfax County, are employing former staffers from the same firm that hired Colin Small, who was arrested yesterday on multiple felony counts for throwing away completed voter registration forms in Harrisonburg.
Staffers from the discredited firm are operating out of Victory Offices in Springfield, Sterling, Bristow, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, in addition to the Harrisonburg office tied to the original incident. The staffers are now engaged in absentee ballot outreach, another area for potential election fraud.
Earlier this month, the Republican Party of Virginia fired Strategic Allied Consulting after reports surfaced about alleged voter fraud from their activities in Florida. However, many of those staffers, including Mr. Small, were immediately rehired as independent contractors by Virginia Victory 2012, the official Republican organization working to elect Mitt Romney in Virginia.
“It’s outrageous that the Republicans would continue to employ people who have ties to this kind of criminal activity,” said Fairfax County Democrats Chair Cesar del Aguila. “It’s likely that what happened in Harrisonburg was not an isolated incident. Reportedly these employees have moved from voter registration suppression since the filing deadline passed earlier this week to absentee ballot outreach. We urge anyone who believes they submitted an absentee ballot application through a third party to contact their local board of election to verify that it has been received. We encourage everyone who qualifies to vote in-person absentee to avoid potential interference with their right to vote. The information is on our website at www.fairfaxdemocrats.org.”
“There is a level of disrespectfulness and outright lawlessness being demonstrated in this election that exceeds anything we have seen before,” said del Aguila. “We have received reports complete with license plate number of Republican activists who are destroying Democratic campaign signs around the county, voters being harassed for accepting Democratic sample ballots and cars being vandalized for sporting Democratic bumper stickers, ” said del Aguila. “The people’s right to express their political views and their right to vote should not be infringed by those who disagree with them. That’s un-American. We encourage people witnessing such criminal behavior to report it to the local police.”
The following is a list of Victory Offices that are still employing former SAC staff:
Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, received the top rating from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on the organization’s Congressional Scorecard for the 112th Congress. Moran also received a 100 percent rating in the 110th and 111th Congresses.
“The Human Rights Campaign serves as one of the strongest voices for LGBT equality. I am honored to receive this rating from such a well-respected organization,” said Rep. Moran. “The momentum for equal rights for all continues to grow. With the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in our nation’s military, two U.S. Courts of Appeals’ rulings against the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, and a clear statement of support for marriage equality from President Obama, things are moving in the right direction and moving fast. But a great deal of work remains to ensure equal rights for all Americans. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the supporters of HRC in their ongoing fight for basic civil rights.”
Moran’s rating of 100 percent puts him far above the House of Representatives average score of 40 percent. The HRC ratings were determined by analyzing a Member’s position on 10 pieces of legislation and provisions before the House of Representatives. Included were Rep. Moran’s support for an inclusive Violence Against Women Act, cosponsorship of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Respect for Marriage Act, and the Uniting American Families Act, and votes against amendments that would have limited the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” HRC also noted that Rep. Moran supports marriage equality.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
But now that we’re 18 days out from the election, Mr. “Severely Conservative” wants you to think he was “severely kidding” about everything he’s said over the last year. He told folks he was “the ideal candidate” for the Tea Party, now suddenly he’s saying, “what, who, me?” He’s forgetting what his own positions are, and he’s betting that you will too.
I mean he’s changing up so much – backtracking and sidestepping. We’ve gotta name this condition that he’s going through.. I think it’s called “Romnesia.” That’s what it’s called. I think that’s what he’s going through.
Now, I’m not a medical doctor but I do want to go over some of the symptoms with you because I want to make sure nobody else catches it.
If you say you’re for equal pay for equal work, but you keep refusing to say whether or not you’d sign a bill that protects equal pay for equal work – you might have Romnesia.
If you say women should have access to contraceptive care, but you support legislation that would let your employer deny you contraceptive care – you might have a case of Romnesia.
If you say you’ll protect a woman’s right to choose, but you stand up at a primary debate and said that you’d be “delighted” to sign a law outlawing that right to choose in all cases – man, you’ve definitely got Romnesia.
Now, this extends to other issues. If you say earlier in the year I’m going to give a tax cut to the top 1 percent and then in a debate you say, I don’t know anything about giving tax cuts to rich folks – you need to get a thermometer, take your temperature, because you’ve probably got Romnesia.
If you say that you’re a champion of the coal industry when while you were Governor you stood in front of a coal plant and said, this plant will kill you – that’s some Romnesia.
So – I think you’re beginning to be able to identify these symptoms. And if you come down with a case of Romnesia, and you can’t seem to remember the policies that are still on your website, or the promises you’ve made over the six years you’ve been running for President, here’s the good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions.
We can fix you up. We’ve got a cure. We can make you well, Virginia. This is a curable disease.
Women, men, all of you. These are family issues. These are economic issues. I want my daughters to have the same opportunities as anybody’s sons. I believe America does better, the economy grows more, we create more when everybody participates, when everyone’s getting a fair shot, everybody’s getting a fair shake, everybody’s playing by the same rules, everybody’s doing their fair share. That’s why I’m asking you for another term as President of the United States. I need you to help me finish the job.
From the Kaine for Senate campaign (great job in the debate last night, by the way, once again completely outclassing a nasty, snarling, clueless George Allen…).
FORMER REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS TELL VIRGINIA WHY THEY SUPPORT TIM KAINE
Richmond, VA– Building on the momentum coming out of last night's debate, in which Tim Kaine made a forceful case for bipartisanship, the Kaine for Virginia campaign released Independent Voices for Kaine, a series of videos featuring a group of Republicans and previous George Allen supporters who are endorsing Kaine for U.S. Senate. In testimonials, the Republican legislators discuss the stark difference between Tim Kaine's and George Allen's approaches on fiscal and economic issues.
“Working very closely with him as a State Senator, I feel like that Governor Kaine was someone that really wanted to do the right thing and wanted to put Virginia first and really look past the ideology. Unfortunately, I don’t feel as inclined that Governor Allen would do that. I feel like he is much more intertwined with the ideological base within his party and that’s where he would really take his marching orders from,” said former Republican state Senator Brandon Bell of Roanoke. “When it came down to solving the great, vast problems we have, particularly financially—and that’s my background is a financial background—is we’ve got to solve the financial issue between taxes and spending. I just felt like Governor Kaine was someone that’s going to sit down and say what do we need to do to solve that.”
As Virginia weathered the worst national recession since the Great Depression, Kaine worked with both parties to balance the budget and cut $5 billion in spending. This sound management and other bipartisan progress during Kaine’s term helped make Virginia Forbes’ Best State for Business all four years of his term, the Best Managed State according to Governing magazine, and Education Week’s best state to raise a child.
“When Tim Kaine was elected to office, I took control of the budget he introduced, I sponsored it as required by law in Virginia. It was a bipartisan budget that ultimately passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support, preserving Virginia’s fiscal integrity, balancing the budget, maintaining our top credit rating, making Virginia the best place, by national recognition, to educate your children and the best place to do business and ultimately provide jobs in Virginia,” said Vince Callahan, a Republican member of the Virginia General Assembly for 40 years. “Tim Kaine is somebody that can do something like that. We need somebody in Washington that can do something like that, to get rid of the gridlock. And he—I served with eleven governors over my term of office and he was right there at the top and I cannot praise him enough for the kind of work he did across the aisle and across the Commonwealth.”
During his four years, Kaine worked across the aisle to eliminate taxes that were hindering Virginia’s competitive edge, pass the Commonwealth’s largest higher education bond package that renovated campuses across Virginia, invest in infrastructure, and expand economic opportunity by focusing on issues that brought Virginians together instead of driving them apart. In one of the videos, former Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates Katherine Waddell voices her strong support for Kaine because of his commitment to protect women's health care choices that ensure women can make the best choices for themselves and their families.
“I used to call myself a life long Republican but this year, I'm supporting Tim Kaine. In this election, women have a clear choice between George Allen and Tim Kaine. When Virginia women were threatened by the transvaginal ultrasound legislation in the Virginia General Assembly, Tim Kaine stood up for Virginia women. He said it's bad for Virginia businesses and bad for Virginia women. George Allen did not stand up for women,” said Katherine Waddell, a former Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates. “I encourage Virginia women to go to the polls on Tuesday, November the 6th, and vote for the man that believes women's reproductive health care decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, and not the government. And that man is Tim Kaine.”
“I’m honored to have the support of Virginians from all political backgrounds and leanings as we look to solve some of the steep challenges we face,” said Kaine. “Since my days as a city councilman in a diverse city like Richmond and through my time as lieutenant governor and governor working with a Republican legislature, I’ve put progress and partnership ahead of party to get results for Virginia. In the Senate, I’ll join members like Mark Warner and the Gang of Six who are building bridges between the two parties in order to create growth and reduce our deficit, and will never let a disagreement over one issue stymie cooperation on another. Congressional gridlock continues to be the great ankle weight on our economy but I know with the right leaders in place we can move the economy forward.”
For more information on the videos or to watch the full series, please visit www.voicesforkaine.com.
Senator McEachin Calls on Attorney General to Investigate Discarded Voter Registration Forms
Henrico – Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today called on Attorney General Cuccinelli to conduct a thorough, open and transparent investigation into the recently discovered discarded voter registration forms found in a Rockingham County dumpster. Senator McEachin said, “This is simply too serious an issue. Voting is the bedrock of our democracy and we, as Virginians, deserve to know exactly what happened, how widespread the abuse and under whose orders, if any, the individual in question acted.
“Apparently, the suspect has or had ties to the National Republican Party. Was he perpetrating this under their orders? Is this the only time he has done this? And, how can we be sure that other individuals, also acting in response to Republican demands, have not done the very same action? Is this part of a pervasive pattern of trying to deprive Virginians of their constitutional rights? What other actions, if any, have been taken in pursuit of that egregious goal?
“We have heard a lot from Republicans both in the Virginia General Assembly and across the country about their numerous fears that voters were committing fraud. It certainly looks like, instead, the fraud is being committed by the Republicans on the voters.
“The only way we, as citizens of this Commonwealth, can feel confident that the voting system, and therefore, our democracy is sound, is for there to be a complete, honest, and total investigation into the allegations. This should be done by our Attorney General and his office as the lawyers for the Commonwealth. I call on Attorney General Cuccinelli to open the investigation immediately so that, by Election Day, Virginians can have total faith and confidence in the system as they go to the polls to cast their ballots,” Senator McEachin concluded.
Here a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, October 19. Note that in Nate Silver’s 538 model, President Obama ticked up 4.7 points, to a 70.4% chance of winning the election, with Virginia flipping back to light blue. Let’s keep this momentum going for 2 1/2 more weeks (e.g., if you’re going to volunteer in some way, this weekend would be a great time)!
*Allen ad: taxes are Kaine’s solution to fiscal problems (No, George, it’s called a BALANCED approach, versus your all-cuts approach, which would devastate our country’s infrastructure, education, homeland security, veterans, federal employees, Virginia’s economy, etc.)
P.S. Also see Eugene Robinson’s Why the chill on climate change?, in which he correctly notes, “Not a word has been said in the presidential debates about what may be the most urgent and consequential issue in the world: climate change.”
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s office has arrested a Pennsylvania man and charged him with attempting to throw away filled out voter registration forms.
Colin Small, 31 year old male from Phoenixville, PA has been charged with 8 felonies and 5 misdemeanors in connection with the controversy. He is employed by Pinpoint, a company that was hired by the Republican Party of Virginia to help with voter registration.
Not Larry Sabato adds: “Sheriff’s office said he was a vendor through Republican Party of Virginia, his linkedin profile says he works for the Republican National Committee.” NLS also provides this screenshot of Colin Small’s LinkedIn profile (I’ve posted the image on the “flip” of this article as well), where he lists himself as “Grassroots Field Director at Republican National Committee.” Wow!
P.S. Great job by the Rockingham County Sheriff, a Republican, who did a professional, thorough, and QUICK job on this!
The final Kaine-Allen debate – this one at Virginia Tech – airs at 7 pm on CSPAN and on these additional outlets/streams. I’ll definitely be checking it out; how about you? I’m looking forward to Tim Kaine once again outclassing and out-everything’ing George Allen, as he’s done in previous debates. If you’re following the debate on Twitter, check out @timkaine, @moelleithee, @brandihoffine, @adamslily, and the hash tag #VASEN.
P.S. I can’t wait to hear George Allen’s version of Willard’s “5-point plan”: 1) tax breaks to the richest Americans; 2) corporate welfare, particularly to Big Oil; 3) repeat the same disastrous economic policies of the Bush years; 4) neoconservative foreign policy; and 5) lots of partisanship, divisiveness, and shoving Democrats “soft teeth down their whiny throats.” Heh.
UPDATE 7:54 pm: Closing statements. Allen lists his endorsements, claims he can help give us a better future, after failing to lay out any plan to do that, and after 6 years of getting us into a mess/driving the country into the ditch. Again, how can anyone support this loser?
Kaine – We’re all Americans, we’re all Virginians. How wonderful when brothers dwell together in unity. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Virginia Tech pulled together after tragedy. Our people knows what unity is, but our Congress doesn’t, we need people in Congress who can work together, like John Warner and “Gang of 14” (which Allen ridiculed). Now, Mark Warner is leading Gang of 6, I’ve pledged to join that group. Use of words like “hostage,” “not a Virginia Senator,” we need less of that. (SO TRUE!)
UPDATE 7:49 pm: Question on Al Qaeda. Kaine says it remains a significant concern. Need to take the fight to Al Qaeda wherever they are. Libya incident was very troubling, we need to get to the bottom of it, find out everything that happened and everything we can fix. We need to all work together, just as we did after Virginia Tech tragedy. Points out that Ryan budget cut embassy security funding, that’s not good.
Allen – Goes back to sequestration deal again. Huh?!? Any country that doesn’t protect our embassies shouldn’t get a penny from us? My god, this guy’s an imbecile: thousands of Libyans protested against the extremists who attacked our consulate, even drove the extremists out of their headquarters, but now we’re supposed to tell Libya as a whole to go screw themselves? That’s nuts. Hotheaded idiot. Also, why the heck is he rambling about the Soviet Gulag? Strange, strange dude.
UPDATE 7:39 pm: Question about Bush tax cuts. (Note: I’m a bit distracted right now because of this story. Wow.) Meanwhile, every other word out of Allen’s mouth is “taxes, taxes, taxes.” It’s brain dead right-wing pablum. I’m zoning out, as this guy’s got NOTHING – no ideas, no clue.
Kaine – This is personal to me, I’ve got a son in the military, I am NOT going to do anything to hurt military or veterans. Says Allen’s only plan is to repeal Affordable Care Act, which would increase the deficit and result in MORE cuts to the military.
Allen – Uses word “hostage.” Kaine says we’re not talking about “hostages.” Allen denies he said “hostage.” Audience laughs at him. I mean, seriously, Allen is just a buffoon, why does anyone listen to him for 2 seconds?
Kaine – This is exactly the kind of rhetoric we need LESS of not MORE of in Washington. Points out that the sequestration deal was supported by Bob McDonnell, most Republicans, Chamber of Commerce, etc. that Allen was one of very few who was willing to “play chicken with America’s finances.” They’ve already tried 34 times to repeal Affordable Care Act, it was litigated in Supreme Court, it’s not going to work.
Allen – Now he’s attacking the Senate for not passing a budget, which once again is largely his OWN PARTY’s fault! LOL, what a fool! Also note that Allen NEVER gives a straight answer to any question?!?
UPDATE 7:34 pm: Allen asks Kaine about cap-and-trade, Obamacare, sequestration, misstates all of them of course as “job killing” (FALSE!). Kaine says Allen’s a climate science denier, we need to do something about it. Kaine says he likes many aspects of Affordable Care Act (e.g., closing donut hole for seniors, not allowing denial for pre-existing conditions, etc.).
Allen – Will stop regulations of CO2 which will “outlaw coal.” Kaine thanks Allen for praising Wise County coal-fired power plant (blech). Allen proceeds to lie and lie and lie about cap and trade. Does he have any clue, or is he just a paid hack of fossil fuel interests? Yes, that was a rhetorical question. 🙂
UPDATE 7:31 pm: Kaine asks Allen about Social Security privatization. Allen says he wouldn’t “force” people out of Social Security, but we should increase eligibility age, means test it. Kaine – We should NEVER privatize Social Security.
UPDATE 7:24 pm: Question on Bowles-Simpson, deficit, would you support? Allen attacks President Obama, doesn’t specifically answer the question, goes back to talking points about the evil “Obamacare,” blah blah blah (broken record). Allen’s big answer to the deficit? Cut taxes, which of course would INCREASE the deficit, unless he’s got some magic unicorns or whatever in his pocket.
Kaine – Allen STILL didn’t answer the question. You can’t get to balance from imbalance. Allen would increase the gap by extending all the Bush tax cuts, then balance ALL through cuts. Kaine would compromise, start to close the deficit, find targeted savings. I know how to make cuts, but an all-cuts approach, allegiance to Grover Norquist, would hurt our economy and hurt Virginia.
Allen – Says we should reform entire tax code (again, that doesn’t make the math add up; this guy’s as bad as Lyin’ Ryan). Basically, Allen just keeps attacking Kaine as a tax raiser, it’s incredibly tedious and not on point. So much for having positive, constructive idea. Allen also refuses to directly answer question about Simpson-Bowles. Kaine says he doesn’t like certain aspects of Simpson-Bowles. Neither candidate would support it as is.
UPDATE 7:19 pm: Question about Medicare. Kaine says Medicare critically important safety net, but budget is growing fast (in part for a good reason, we’re living longer). We have to get Medicare costs under control (discusses his plan to do so, says government should be able to negotiate drug prices, shouldn’t have put Medicare expansion on the credit card, as Allen voted for.)
Allen – I wish somebody would call him out on the Ryan plan to voucherize (and decimate) Medicare. Does Allen support that? Now Allen’s repeating the “Obama raiding Medicare” Big Lie, which has been Fact Checked and debunked repeatedly. Lying liar.
Kaine – Why are we giving away $25 billion a year to pharmaceuticals. $700 billion in Affordable Care Act was taken from insurance companies, Allen wants to give it back to them (and away from seniors).
UPDATE 7:18 pm: Allen tries to defend his indefensible record in the U.S. Senate. Is he nuts? Seriously? Give. Me. A. Freakin’. Break. The Bush administration was a disaster, and Allen was very much part of that – enabling it, encouraging it, etc. #FAIL
UPDATE 7:14 pm: Question for Allen about voting in lockstep with Bush, being highly partisan. Allen says losing last election was “humbling experience,” he’s “learned” and “reflected” since then. Uh huh. Claims he worked across party lines when he was governor (perhaps, but that’s ancient history; how about when you were in the U.S. Senate?!? note that Allen’s dodging the question? back to attacking Tim Kaine. Yawn.) Hahaha, Kaine calls him out big time for dodging the question, says Allen’s record in the Senate was a disaster – turned surpluses into deficits, declared two wars but didn’t pay for them, made massive tax cuts for wealthy but didn’t pay for them either…
UPDATE 7:09 pm: Question about Kaine’s relationship with Obama, Warner. Kaine says he doesn’t think it’s anti-Virginian to support the president, commander in chief, worked closely with Bush on rail to Dulles, response to tragic shooting at VA Tech, etc. In contrast, Allen has said he would NOT consider President Obama a partner, when in the Senate he voted with Bush 96% of the time, but of course he was still a Virginia Senator. Kaine reviews his record as LG, Governor, worked across the aisle. Allen goes back to false attacks, says Kaine spent his time “demonizing Republicans,” being partisan, advocating for “harmful” policies. I mean, is this guy serious? He voted for the Bush policies that got us into a horrible mess, and he’s claiming the policies that are helping us get OUT of the mess are “harmful?!?” Claims Kaine wasn’t paying attention, shut down rest stops, blah blah blah. Also, Allen doesn’t mention his own hyper-partisan roles in the past. Kaine lists his accomplishments – best for business, banned smoking in restaurants, recruited big companies to come to Virginia. In toughest times since 1930s, we got results.
UPDATE 7:08 pm: CSPAN’s back up, MUCH better quality than the Ustream feed.
UPDATE 7:06 pm: Feed back up, although the audio’s awful. Also, CSPAN’s entire site is down. WTF? Anyway, Kaine’s giving his opening statement, most of which I just missed. Now Allen…bashing Kaine with lie after lie on energy, “Obamacare,” sequestration (which his party supported and mostly was responsible for), etc. What a moron.
UPDATE 7:02 pm: The debate begins, and the Ustream feed promptly dies. Great, huh?
Moran, Connolly, Scott call on McDonnell to support balanced approach to deficit reduction
WASHINGTON – Congressmen Jim Moran (VA-08), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Bobby Scott (VA-03) wrote to Governor Bob McDonnell today detailing the impact sequestration cuts would have on Virginia families and urging Gov. McDonnell to use his leadership position in the national Republican Party to prod House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor “to begin discussions on a balanced deficit reduction package that can garner bipartisan support” and avoid an economic disaster for the Commonwealth.
The Virginia lawmakers were responding to McDonnell’s October 9 letter urging President Obama and the Virginia Congressional delegation to support a House Republican “cuts-only” plan that would shift all defense cuts to safety-net domestic programs.
“We were puzzled by your recent letter to the President and congressional delegation urging support for the cuts-only approach,” the three Democratic lawmakers wrote. “Your concerns about the impact on Virginia of a sequester to defense spending, which we share, applies almost equally to nondefense discretionary spending, to which your letter is silent.”
The lawmakers questioned Governor McDonnell’s support of the “Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act” (H.R. 5652) passed by the House on May 10 on a party line vote. The legislation would prevent the sequestration cuts to defense programs by cutting an additional $300 billion over the next 10 years from safety net programs like Medicare, SNAP (food stamps), and non-profit health clinics providing preventive services. The bill also requires all current and future federal workers to pay an additional 5 percent of their salary toward their federal pensions. “Contrary to its title, this bill does not avert sequestration, instead shifting cuts to safety-net domestic programs in the early years and leaving the door open to across-the-board cuts in later years.”
Along with the defense cuts and their impact on Virginia’s federal contracting sector, sequestration could trigger massive layoffs in the federal workforce, and would result in fewer air traffic controllers, border guards, food inspectors, and cuts to public safety and nearly every other government function. The House Republican bill advanced by McDonnell would only make those cuts more severe since it contains no balance of new revenue.
Ironically, in 2011, Governor McDonnell wrote the Virginia delegation calling for a bipartisan solution with all options, including revenue, on the table. The cuts-only approach advocated by Governor McDonnell in his October letter departs from his previous bipartisan approach. “Last year…we applauded your initiative. We hope you will join us in calling on Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor to begin discussions on a balanced deficit reduction package that can garner bipartisan support. We stand ready to work with you to achieve a balanced solution that delivers on the tradition of our Commonwealth,” Connolly, Moran, and Scott wrote.
Sequestration, which mandates $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, came about after House Republicans, for the first time in history, refused to support the President’s request for a clean debt limit bill and instead demanded massive cuts. A commission formed in the aftermath failed to reach agreement on the savings when Republicans refused to consider closing tax loopholes, ending unneeded subsidies or any other revenue measures, and walked away from the table.
Unless Congress is able to find these savings, on January 2nd, defense spending immediately will be cut by about 10 percent, while non-defense discretionary spending will be cut by roughly 8 percent, and payments to Medicare providers will be cut by two percent – a total reduction in spending of $110 billion for fiscal year 2013.
Dr. Stephen Fuller of George Mason University predicted sequestration cuts could cost Virginia 207,000 jobs and put a $20.9 billion hole in Virginia’s economy.
Connolly, Moran, Scott, and other Democrats in Congress have repeatedly urged the House Republican leadership to cancel the 5-week August recess and the current 7-week recess to bring Congress back to Washington to deal with sequestration and other pressing fiscal matters that expire at the end of the calendar year.
The full text of the letter to Governor McDonnell follows:
October 18, 2012
Dear Governor McDonnell,
We share your concern over the looming across-the-board cuts in federal spending known as sequestration. With more than one-third of Virginia’s economy driven by federal expenditures, any reduction whether it is in defense or domestic spending would have a disproportionate effect on the Commonwealth.
We find ourselves in this situation as a result of the House leadership’s unwillingness to compromise on a balanced solution to achieve the savings required under the bipartisan Budget Control Act, legislation you supported last year to avert a catastrophic default on the nation’s credit. We already are seeing the effects of delayed action on the national debt crisis ripple through the economy. The uncertainty created by Congress’ inaction has led employers to hold back on hiring and purchasing, which has created a drag on the recovery, and S&P cited the partisan rhetoric of the House leadership in last year’s unprecedented downgrading of the U.S. credit rating. This is why we have consistently pushed for Congress to achieve a balanced, bipartisan solution sooner rather than later. In fact, we urged House leadership to forego the traditional August recess to work toward a solution.
We must say we were puzzled by your recent letter to the President and congressional delegation urging support for the cuts-only approach of the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act (H.R. 5652). Your concerns about the impact on Virginia of a sequester to defense spending, which we share, applies almost equally to non-defense discretionary spending, to which your letter is silent. Close to half the $20.9 billion in lost state gross product that Dr. Stephen Fuller cites, approximately $9 billion, would come from nondefense discretionary spending. By directing all spending reductions to the non-defense discretionary account, H.R. 5652 is certain to trigger an even greater loss to Virginia than the figure cited by Dr. Fuller, delivering a devastating blow to Virginia’s economy and its at-risk residents.
Specifically, the House bill calls for reducing nutrition assistance for low income families and eliminating support for Meals on Wheels and assistance for children and adults with disabilities. It also would trigger massive layoffs in the federal workforce and increase the financial burden on those still employed. As you know, Virginia is home to one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the nation, so that would be particularly harmful to our residents and economy. Contrary to its title, the bill does not avert sequestration, instead shifting cuts to safety-net domestic programs in the early years and leaving the door open to across-the-board cuts in later years.
Last year at this time, you wrote to us urging a bipartisan solution without taking any options off the table, including revenue. We applauded your initiative. It was reflective of the proud tradition of Virginia governors working with the congressional delegation to rise above narrow partisan interests to do what’s right for the Commonwealth and setting an example for the rest of the nation. Given your prominent role in both the National Governors Association and the Republican Governors Association, you are uniquely positioned to carry forward that mantle.
So we hope you will join us in calling on Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor to begin discussions on a balanced deficit reduction package that can garner bipartisan support. We stand ready to work with you to achieve a balanced solution that delivers on the tradition of our Commonwealth.
By now, the news has made the rounds that congressional candidate Wayne Powell and bluegrass icon Dr. Ralph Stanley are joining forces for a barnstorm of Virginia’s 7th District. The retired colonel and the living legend will make their way from town to town, the latter making his case on a banjo while the former makes his case to the people.
But why a barnstorm?
The answer is simple, really. The barnstorm is an American tradition. A relic of a bygone era when being a politician in the south meant standing on the back of a truck, sleeves rolled up, vowing to fight on behalf of all the farmers and mill workers before you. Back when you had to rely on the intelligence and trust of the people to win, not on billionaire donors half-way across the country.
In short, barnstorms and similar events were a way to demand action from your representative. It kept them honest, it kept them open, and it kept them coming back.
Now try to imagine Eric Cantor, with his immaculate hair and stunningly tailored suits, standing on the back of a truck beneath the summer sun, roaring for economic fairness and social justice.
If you can’t imagine that scenario, join the club.
The fact is, Eric Cantor isn’t a man of the people. Sure, he pays lip-service to his constituents during debates and while pontificating from the podium, but as the old saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.”
And boy, are his actions loud. In the past seven months alone, Mr. Cantor has attended 34 separate fundraisers, none of which were located within the 7th District, and only one of which took place in Virginia. He hasn’t held a public event in his own district since March. And just yesterday, while we were preparing for the barnstorm tour, Eric Cantor was attending a $1,000 VIP champagne fundraiser in Florida.
Luckily, we have a candidate like Wayne Powell. A candidate who is willing to mount a stage, address a crowd, invite them to air their grievances and roar on their behalf, then hop into a car bound for another town with another crowd of disaffected voters hungry for change and do it all over again.
And luckily we have a supporter like Dr. Ralph Stanley. With nearly 70 years of experience perfecting a genre of music birthed from rural American culture, Dr. Stanley knows a thing or two about what it means to speak to, and advocate for, the people. His endorsement speaks volumes.
So why are we holding a barnstorm, you ask? Because Eric Cantor never could.
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