African Americans for Obama to hold health care forum in Norfolk Friday

On the two-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act, Norfolk cardiologist Dr. Keith Newby is hosting a health care forum in Norfolk Friday.

Newby and African Americans for Obama will discuss with Hampton Roads residents how they have been impacted by the president's health care reform package.

The event is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Fort Norfolk Medical at Fort Norfolk Plaza. 301 Riverview Ave., Suite 500, Norfolk 23510.

CNU students to hold rally in support of federal health care law

Students at Christopher Newport University are holding a rally Thursday in support of the controversial federal Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act.

Friday is the second anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the omnibus health care reform package, and the rally comes just days ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court begins hearing arguments March 26 in cases challenging the law.

The 4 p.m. rally sponsored by the CNU chapter of Virginia Organizing will include student speakers calling on Gov. Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, both ardent opponents of the federal health care law, to stop trying to block implementation of the reform measure.

The event will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 22 on the CNU campus between Trible Library and the David Student Union in Newport News.

 

Gov. McDonnell urges lawmakers to reach budget deal quickly

In a letter sent to Democratic and Republican leadership in the House of Delegates and the Senate Monday, Gov. Bob McDonnell asked lawmakers to come to an agreement on the state's two-year budget for fiscal years 2013-2014 and the "caboose" budget for fiscal year 2012 once they reconvene in special session Wednesday.

McDonnell said he is "very concerned that members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have asserted in a March 7, 2012, letter to me that adopting a timely budget in the immediate future is not imperative, using previous missed deadlines and late budgets as rational," McDonnell wrote.

"Such delays are not only unacceptable to the citizens of Virginia, but they also jeopardize many essential functions of state and local governments that require action well in advance of July 1," he warned.

A budget must be passed by June 30 as the new fiscal year begins on July 1. The McDonnell administration contends that the governor is not authorized to spend any money after that date.

In his letter McDonnell said the deadline is actually sooner. The governor said a spending plan must be in place by June 10 or state employees will have to be "furloughed" because on that date their salaries are scheduled to be paid on July 2.

McDonnell also outlined other problems with waiting until the last possible date to pass a budget including a hit to the state's triple-A credit rating and localities ability to pass their own budgets - including those for local schools - which are usually done in May.

"I therefore respectfully request that you immediately and actively complete the substantive budget negotiations in this special session in the best interest of the 8 million citizens of Virginia and over 100,000 state employees who eagerly await the new two-year spending plan," McDonnell wrote.

Read the governor's full letter to lawmakers here:

Download Gov. McDonnell letter

 

Allen goes after Kaine, Obama with gas price calculator website

In his quest to win the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jim Webb, GOP front runner and former Gov. George Allen's campaign launched a new website Tuesday attacking his lead rival in the race, Democratic leader and former Gov. tim Kaine as well as President Barack Obama over rising gasoline prices.

The website allows visitors to compare what it would cost to fill up their car in January 2009, when Obama first took office and Kaine took over as head of the Democratic National committee and the average cost for a gallon of gas was $1.85 and today when the cost per gallon has risen to $3.87.

The site includes a gas price calculator where people enter the make and model of their car and are then shown what it would cost to fill up their tank with regular unleaded in January 2009 and today.

For a Honda CRV the cost back when Obama took office would have been $30.90; today it would cost $59.21 - a $28.31 increase.

“Tim Kaine may say there are ‘aspects about the gas price thing that makes (him) scratch (his) head,’ but it’s pretty clear to Virginians they are paying too much at the pump.  In the three years since President Obama took office and Tim Kaine became his Democratic National Committee Chairman, gas prices have skyrocketed,” said Mike Thomas, George Allen for U.S. Senate Campaign Manager.  “Tim Kaine may say he’s for an ‘all of the above’ approach, but he has repeatedly tried to slow, delay and block access to more affordable energy.  George Allen has a plan to unleash our American energy resources and reduce prices in the long-term.  America can’t afford to sit back and scratch our heads as gasoline prices continue to surge.  We need decisive leadership and the political will in Washington to take action.”

However, as Republicans have gone on the attack against Obama and the Democrats around the country over rising gas prices that are expected to top $4 a gallon this summer, Democrats point out that gas prices topped out well over $4 a gallon in the summer of 2008 during the last year of George W. Bush's presidency.

Kaine's campaign issued the following response Tuesday to Allen's new website:

"It's not surprising that George Allen would cheer rising gas prices. The industry has helped pay his salary. They're funding his campaign. They're making record profits off American citizens. And, now George Allen is trying to use it for political advantage," said Brandi Hoffine, Kaine campaign communications director. "Tim Kaine has a different approach. He implemented Virginia's first comprehensive energy policy to expand all energy sources, including alternative energy that would reduce our dependence on oil. And, unlike George Allen, he would get rid of unnecessary taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies who don't need help from the government." 

Poll: Obama beating Republicans in Virginia

President Barack Obama has opened up a lead in Virginia over his GOP rivals in the presidential race according to a poll released Tuesday by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

In what is seen as a key battleground state come November Obama leads Republican front runner and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 50-42 percent. The president's numbers are stronger over other GOP hopefuls, with Obama topping former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum 49-40 percent; U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas 49-39 percent; and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich 54-35 percent.

"President Barack Obama has opened up some daylight in Virginia against his Republican challengers," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "His margin over Romney, in the state where Obama has been struggling after his win in 2008, compares to a slight 47 - 43 percent lead in February."

The poll also finds that although he is considered a top contender for the vice-presidential nod on a GOP ticket adding Gov. Bob McDonnell on as Romney's running mate does not change the numbers all that much, with Obama still leading in Virginia 50-43 percent.

“There has been speculation about Gov. Bob McDonnell being a possible choice for vice president by the eventual GOP nominee,” Brown said.   “What this Quinnipiac University survey finds is that despite the governor’s approval ratings with Virginia voters, he does not appear to help give the GOP the state’s electoral votes.”

Brown said although Obama is strongest among women in the state, with a 52-39 percent lead, he still out did Republicans among men leading Romney 48-45 percent.

The poll also looked at the U.S. Senate race between former governors Tim Kaine, who is leading the Democratic field, and George Allen, who is the GOP front runner. Although Kaine outscores Allen 45-43 percent with a +/-3.1 percent margin of error the numbers are to close to call with Qunnipiac calling it a statistical tie.

Kaine, Allen spar over disclosing donors

Senate hopefuls George Allen and Tim Kaine traded letters Tuesday, quarreling over the disclosure of campaign donors. The correspondence between the two was shared by their campaigns, for the rest of the public to see.

It started off with Kaine writing Allen Tuesday morning, proposing the two reach an agreement about the disclosure of donors to Super PACs. Kaine asked Allen to answer what he called the "No Secret Money Challenge."

The letter is addressed to Allen at 2819 North Parham Road, Suite 210 Henrico, VA 23294.

"Dear George," Kaine begins the letter.

"Let's commit that any group running ads or conducting electoral activity for either of us should have to disclose their donors," Kaine says in the letter. "Virginia voters are entitled to know who is funding this campaign. Contributions directly to either of us are already disclosed. But, the third parties filling the airways get to hide behind a cloak of secrecy."

The letter concludes, "If you accept the No Secret Money challenge, in accord with your earlier statements, we can work out basic rules for accomplishing it. Virginians will then be assured of a transparent campaign instead of one dominated by secret special interests who are afraid to face public scrutiny. What do you think?"

By afternoon Allen's campaign released its own letter, addressed to Kaine at 2106 N Hamilton Street,Richmond, VA 23230. Allen slammed Kaine for receiving campaign donations from unions and said voters would view Kaine's request as "an unfortunate gimmick."

It never said explicitly in Allen's letter whether he would accept Kaine's proposal.

"Dear Tim," Allen says in the letter. "It's difficult for voters to take talk of transparency seriously when it comes from a campaign that is substantially funded by big union bosses and their organizations."

Allen continues, "If you truly wanted to base this campaign on Virginia principles you could start by disavowing this compulsory union donation system that extracts money from the pockets of working men and women across America.  This will perhaps give you more credibility when speaking about transparency in donations."

 

Not what the Doctor ordered

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the controversial fetal ultrasound bill Wednesday against the advice of the Senate's resident pediatric neurologist Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, who throughout the debate over the measure has argued against requiring women to have an ultrasound done before getting an abortion, saying it's medically unnecessary and an infringement on the doctor-patient relationship.

“I am personally embarrassed and extremely disappointed in our governor’s refusal to exercise common sense,” Northam said Thursday.

Two weeks ago Northam sent a letter to McDonnell urging him to drop his support for the legislation, that opponents, including Northam, say is "emotional blackmail" designed to discourage women from receiving an abortion.

In the letter Northam explained why from a medical perspective requiring a woman to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion is medically unnecessary and such decisions on care should be left to the professionals and their patients.

“Elected officials need to concentrate on addressing our crumbling roads, underfunded schools, and high unemployment rate, and let doctors handle the immediate health care needs of their patients," Northam wrote.  "What you are doing is mandating that doctors perform a completely useless test, a requirement that is far more invasive of personal liberty than the individual health insurance mandate you so adamantly oppose.” 

But the doctor from Norfolk's appeal fell on deaf ears in the governor's mansion.

“I wrote the governor a very sincere note, and haven’t received as much as an acknowledgment, never mind a response,” Northam said.  “The bill has made our commonwealth an object of ridicule in the national media, and Virginians expect better leadership.  From an administration that touts smaller government and less regulation, such an unnecessary and costly unfunded mandate which assaults the patient-doctor relationship is hypocrisy in its worst and most insulting form.”

Read Northam's full letter to Gov. McDonnell here:

Download LTR_Northam_ultrasound

Virginia business community urges Senators to pass budget

A coalition of Virginia business organizations, including the state Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 50,000 of the roughly 200,000 businesses urged members of the Senate Wednesday to compromise and pass a budget.

"Collectively we really represent the voice of Virginia business on this subject," said Barry DuVal, CEO and president of the Virginia Chamber. "The business community is asking that members of the Virginia Senate focus on the greater good. We're asking that members of the Virginia Senate put Virginia first in this process. And we're asking that they pass a budget in a responsible manner."

Bobbie Kilberg, president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, said her organization is worried about what the budget standoff will do to the commonwealth's reputation as one f the best state's in the nation to do business in, and what the impasse means for Virginia's coveted triple-A bond rating.

"Virginia is one of only 13 states with a AAA bond rating, which allows it to borrow money at the most competitive rates available, saves millions of taxpayer dollars and is a measure of our financial reputation," Kilberg said. "The current situation could put that coveted rating, which Virginia has held for over 70 years  - longer than any other state, and our national rankings in jeopardy."

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce signed on to a letter to Senators urging them to get a budget deal done signed by a number of business organizations represented by the coalition Wednesday.

“If a budget is not passed, the Hampton Roads Chamber is concerned that Virginia’s position as the best managed state in the country will be jeopardized,” said Jack Hornbeck, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

Gov. McDonnell encouraged by budget conferees meeting

Even though they don't have a live spending plan to work with yet, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he is "encouraged" by the informal meetings by budget conferees of both parties from the House of Delgates and Senate to work on a budget compromise.

“While it is still extremely frustrating that our General Assembly session is drawing to a close without a viable budget bill in conference or passed by the Virginia Senate, I am encouraged today as both the House and Senate have identified qualified individuals to work together to negotiate a compromise that could keep Virginia’s government funded and operational past June 30," McDonnell said.

However, Senate Democrats said they still plan to squash the current House plan when it comes to the floor of the evenly-divided chamber later this week. Because Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling can't break ties over budget issues 21 votes are needed to get a budget proposal out of the Senate.

Neither party seems willing to back down over Deomcratic calls for a power sharing agreement - Bolling gave Republicans power in the Senate where both the GOP and Democrats each hold 20 seats with a tie-breaking vote on the first day of session. 

McDonnell said although he is encouraged, he is disappointed there is still no spending plan for conferees to work on. He called on Senate Democrats to pass the House plan.

"The House of Delegates has appointed conferees, and the Senate took the step today to identify budget workgroups that can meet about appropriate policy issues identified by both sides in my proposed biennial budget and the one currently pending before the Senate," McDonnell said. "While most Senate Democrats continue their politically motivated obstruction of the budget process, I am pleased that the outcry from citizens, local governments, first responders, and elected officials statewide has influenced this important step toward reconciling policy differences in the budget. I want to recognize the leadership of senators Charles Colgan and Walter Stosch, and Delegate Lacey Putney, for making this initial step forward possible. I call upon the Senate to act upon the House budget which was advanced to the Senate for action earlier this week and to put communities once again ahead of petty committee assignment fights. Passing a budget to ensure citizens continue to receive vital state services and that our first responders, law-enforcement, teachers and other dedicated public servants continue to serve is the most important duty that the General Assembly is sent to Richmond to accomplish. It is time that statesmanship again becomes the order of the day and these conferees meet and advance a budget that will keep Virginia government moving.”

McDonnell lauds Romney victory

Here's the statement issued from Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell on Mitt Romney's victory in the Virginia Republican primary.

"With today's victory in Virginia, Mitt Romney has again demonstrated that his bold and conservative plan to get spending under control, make government smaller and more efficient, and help the private sector create good paying jobs is resonating all across America.

He is winning primaries in every region of this country, from New Hampshire to Nevada, and today Governor Romney has added the Commonwealth of Virginia to the list. Voters know that Mitt Romney is a strong, principled, results-oriented conservative who will bring people together to get our economy back on track and Americans back to work. He is a leader.

Mitt Romney has experience in both the private and the public sectors in providing the type of positive leadership that we desperately need in Washington. I look forward to doing all I can to help ensure that Mitt Romney is elected President this November, and we bring opportunity back to America."