From Rep. Connolly's office:

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 18, 2012

FURTHER INFORMATION:

George Burke (Connolly) 202-225-1492/202-503-7756
Anne Hughes (Moran) 202-225-4376
David Dailey (Scott) 202-225-8351

Virginia Congressmen Respond to Governor McDonnell Sequestration Letter

Connolly Moran, Scott call on McDonnell to support balanced approach to deficit reduction

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Moran (VA-08), 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.

# # #

LINKS TO PDFs of LETTERS:

Link to October 18 Connolly, Moran, Scott Letter to Gov. McDonnell – http://connolly.house.gov/uploads/McDonnell%20sequester%20response%20Connolly%20-%20Moran%20-%20Scott%2010-18-12.pdf

October 10 Letter from McDonnell to President Obama and Virginia delegation – http://connolly.house.gov/uploads/McDonnell%20sequester%20letter%20to%20POTUS%2010-10-12.pdf

McDonnell Letter of July 2011 from McDonnell to President Obama and Virginia delegation – http://connolly.house.gov/uploads/McDonnell%20to%20President%20on%20debt%20ceiling%2007-20-11.pdf

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.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly

James P. Moran

Robert C. Scott 

I wish we’d see a lot more courageous actions like this one, by Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Remley, over how draconinan new abortion clinic regulations by Gov. “Transvaginal Bob” and AG Ken “Kookinelli” have “created an environment in which my ability to fulfill my duties is compromised and in good faith I can no longer serve in my role.”

Here’s Tim Kaine’s statement:

In 2008, I was seeking an energetic, dedicated and creative physician to serve as Virginia’s Health Commissioner and I found an ideal candidate in Dr. Karen Remley. Her career in health care as a pediatrician, hospital administrator, and active member of the non-profit community made her uniquely qualified to serve. Karen was key in implementing some of my top public health priorities including a significant reduction in Virginia’s infant mortality rate and the creation and implementation of a smoking ban in bars and restaurants. It’s unfortunate that a political focus on limiting women’s access to health care has prompted her resignation after many years of diligent and faithful service to the Commonwealth, but I know Karen has many years of service still ahead of her.

( – promoted by lowkell)

Over the past few months, multiple events have demonstrated how Virginia is being left behind in an emerging clean energy economy, and have put the burden of this failure squarely on Dominion Virginia Power.

Today, Dominion will host the first in a series of stakeholder meetings to prepare for the filing of its 2013 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a long-term plan presented to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) outlining how Dominion proposes to provide reliable, energy to its customers for the next 15 years.

Dominion’s 2011 IRP outlined almost no renewable energy additions in Virginia in the preferred plan. That plan included no wind power and only 33 megawatts (MW) of solar power to come online in Virginia by 2027. That is less than one percent of the 5,075 MW of proposed new fossil fuel facilities that dominate the plan. The 2012 IRP submitted on September 1st increased the Virginia-made clean energy portion of the plan to just under 300 MW, or a mere 1.5 percent of Dominion’s total energy portfolio of 19,351 MW. Now, they’re starting to put together the 2013 IRP, and Virginians can’t afford more of the same outdated thinking.

Dominion’s failure to invest in clean energy is holding Virginia back. The state is being outpaced by our Mid-Atlantic neighbors on clean energy, losing good clean energy jobs and putting our kids at greater risk from respiratory illness from air pollution. North Carolina has one of the fastest growing green jobs sectors in the nation. New Jersey already has more than 800 MW of solar power installed with more planned, and Maryland has one of the nation’s strongest energy efficiency programs with a goal of 15% reductions by 2015.  

In contrast, Virginia’s weak and voluntary renewable standard allows Dominion to collect $76 million in a customer-funded bonus for spending its money on a minimal amount of WWII-era hydro and dirty out-of-state biomass plants. This rip-off was the focus of a recent week-long protest outside Dominion’s headquarters in Richmond.

We know Dominion can do better for its customers than sending ratepayer money and jobs out of state to outdated facilities. Instead, with a plan to develop 3,000 MW of clean wind and solar power in Virginia by 2020, Dominion could meet its renewable energy goals in the state, offset the need to build new fossil fuel plants and power over 700,000 homes while creating thousands of good new jobs for Virginians.

The U.S. has one of the largest, fastest growing wind markets in the world, creating a great opportunity for the states that invest in both wind manufacturing and installation, and the U.S. solar industry just had its second best quarter on record earlier in 2012. Just last week, an industry report released during the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Offshore Wind Conference in Hampton Roads stated that, “large-scale development of wind power off the Mid-Atlantic coast would create more than 70,000 jobs from New York to Virginia…have a combined economic impact for the states of $19 billion…and would be realized over a 10-year build out of the offshore industry.”

Virginia’s families can’t afford to get left behind as the nation moves towards clean energy. Dominion Virginia Power should be taking steps now to transform our state into an American clean energy leader with a serious commitment to wind and solar power right here in Virginia. Investing in 3,000 MW of locally installed wind and solar would meet Dominion’s renewable energy commitment to its customers, clean up our air, create jobs and boost our local economies. Over the last few weeks, advocacy groups have turned up the pressure on Dominion’s executives, but Dominion has yet to take responsibility for bringing Virginia into the 21st century.

The time has come for Dominion customers from across the state to support healthier communities and families for Virginia by calling on Dominion to significantly increase its commitment to Virginia-made clean energy such as wind, solar and energy efficiency.

Not that this is a big surprise or anything, but Virginia Republican Congresscritters are absolutely horrendous when it comes to protecting the Chesapeake Bay, streams and rivers, wetlands, our drinking water, etc. The only question, really, is HOW bad they are. Here’s the answer.

Rob Wittman (R-1): Grade of “D”

Scott Rigell (R-2): Grade of “F”

Randy Forbes (R-4): Grade of “F”

Robert Hurt (R-5): Grade of “F”

Bob Goodlatte (R-6): Grade of “F”

Eric Cantor (R-7): Grade of “F”

Morgan Griffith (R-9): Grade of “F”

Frank Wolf (R-10): Grade of “D”

In sum, if you want clean water, healthy rivers, a thriving Chesapeake Bay, etc., then DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES vote for any of the aforementioned Republican’ts. In stark contrast, vote for Democrats like Bobby Scott (Grade of “A+”), Jim Moran (Grade of “A+”), and Gerry Connolly (Grade of “A+), as well as any other Democrat on the ballot. Sad to say, but that’s the way it is these days: our environment, which should NEVER have been politicized, has become completely polarized between Republicans (in the pocket of polluters, science deniers, etc.) and Democrats (not perfect, but infinitely better). Sigh…

Here are a few Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, October 18. Oh, and don’t make any of the Romney men mad, because if you do, the thin-skinned bullies will come beat you up (or try to)!

*Who wins under Mitt Romney’s cap plan, in one chart (Shocker: “It’s impossible to cut taxes for every single person and make up for it by simply capping deductions. The numbers also show that such a plan would mainly benefit top earners.”)

*Obama Called Libya Attack Terrorism Long Before Romney

*Discarded filled-out voter forms in Virginia spur probe

*Romney’s baseless jobs claim (“A key part of his message is thoroughly discredited.”)

*Romney goes from Etch a Sketch to sketchy

*U.S. housing construction jumps to 4-year high (Don’t look now, everybody, but the U.S. economy is building up quite a head of steam under President Obama’s leadership — and NO thanks to obstructionist Republicans in Congress!)

*Nate Silver: POTUS Up 1% Since Yesterday to 65.7% for Nov. 6 Win

*Why Virginia Is Ground Zero in 2012

*Obama campaigns at GMU on Friday

*Kaine up with new ad one day before last debate

*Senate candidates in Virginia prepare for final debate

*George Allen shows a more cautious, humbler side (That’s one way to put it. I’d say he’s been dodging and hiding this whole campaign; for instance, try to find media contact info on his website, let alone to get anyone at Allen HQ to get back to you! Good luck.)

*Virginia’s Senate Race Dominated by Outside Spending

*Kaine stumps at Sabra

*McDonnell to join Allen on campaign trail next week

*Ahead of debate, Allen up with new ad focused on economy, defense

*Romney Speech Raised Red Flags for Military School, Documents Show (“When Romney’s campaign pushed to politicize his appearance at Virginia Military Institute, the school’s leaders pushed back.”)

*For 110,000 voters in Prince William, 1st District ballot will be a first

*Fairfax Democrats complain GOP officials are twisting voting rules

*Has Obama just given up on Virginia? (Short answer: NO. He’s running ads in Virginia, appearing at a rally today in Fairfax, got a gazillion field offices running 24/7, etc. Does that sound like “given up” to you? Also, Nate Silver has Virginia as basically 50/50. Not sure why people write articles like this exactly…)

*Editorial: Virginia’s expensive Senate race (“Only the presidential race has more third-party spending than the Kaine-Allen contest.”)

*Hester wins Democratic primary for 89th District

*‘Get out and vote,’ Romney tells Chesapeake rally

*Peeping Tom and petty politics

*The Imperial Bus And The Royal Guard (“The 9-0 LCRC BOS just can’t wait to get out of its real work…so they can all hop on a chartered bus with a Sheriff’s Office escort so they can all be at the Mitt Romney rally in Leesburg.”)

*Airport board advances plan to increase Dulles tolls

*Spruill Jr. to run as independent in 89th District

*Poll says majority support bringing light rail to Virginia Beach