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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2012
Contact: Anna Scholl, ProgressVA
(434) 218-2113
anna@progressva.org
Rishi Awatramani, Virginia New Majority
(703) 589-0695
rishi@virginianewmajority.org
Sean Holihan, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
571-488-5742
sean@naralva.org
Scott Price, Alliance for Progressive Values
804-338-5893
sprice@apvonline.org
Progressive Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Put Virginia Families First in Budget Negotiations
Proposed budgets are riddled with giveaways to corporations and the 1% while leaving Virginia's priorities behind
Richmond, VA--As lawmakers return to Richmond Wednesday to begin a special budget session, progressive advocates from across Virginia held a press conference to urge them to put Virginia families first in their negotiations. The proposed House and Senate budgets give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to corporate special interests and the 1% while Virginia families are left behind. Advocates gathered to encourage legislators to take the time to get this right and craft a budget that puts Virginia's families first. When they return to Richmond this week, its time to put the political games and corporate handouts away and negotiate a budget that works for all Virginians.
Dominic Melito, a high school teacher from Virginia Beach, spoke about public education funding. " You may say that we're already investing all that we can. But legislators found the money just this year to give away $25 million dollars in private school tax credits. In fact, Virginia gives away hundreds of millions of dollars every year in tax credits and handouts to corporations and the 1%. We're setting up public schools to fail while private schools gain. That's an approach that leaves Virginia's families behind."
Shirley Johnson, a senior citizen from Fredericksburg, highlighted Medicaid cuts that would cut over 4500 seniors from long-term care programs, stating "the Senate Budget chooses coal companies over our seniors. This budget cuts seniors' health care while handing out $40 million in tax credits to coal companies. Seniors have paid into the system their whole lives and now, when we're ready to use the services we've paid for, politicians want to pull the rug out from under us."
"Over 60% of Virginia corporations pay no income taxes here. So why is it that when it comes time to make budgetary decisions, they're first in line for a handout while the Virginia families that work hard and pay their taxes suffer the brunt of the pain?," asked Susan Edwards, a home health care provider. "Budgets aren't just numbers on paper. They are a roadmap for the choices that we make as a community and this one is getting it all wrong."
Participating organizations calling on state legislators to put Virginia families first include: Alliance for Progressive Values, The Martin L. King, Jr. Living History & Public Policy Center, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, ProgressVA, Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants, Virginia Organizing, Virginia New Majority, and Voice of Vietnamese Americans.
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ProgressVA is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization that seeks to engage citizens from across the Commonwealth around issues of immediate state or local concern. www.ProgressVA.org
Virginia Organizing is a statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia. www.VirginiaOrganizing.org
NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia works to educate Virginians and policymakers about the broad range of issues encompassing reproductive choice and lobbies our legislature to pass pro-choice policies and defeat anti-choice laws.
Alliance for Progressive Values is an all-volunteer organization whose goal is to educate and influence the public, the media and elected officials at the local, state and national levels about important issues of the day. We are guided in this by our basic, common sense progressive values of economic fairness, social justice and good government. www.APVOnline.org
Virginia New Majority is building a progressive movement in Virginia by winning elections, organizing voters, and training a new generation of community leaders. Founded in 2007, we are working for a clean environment, fair immigration policies, excellent public education, high quality jobs, and a bright future for all Virginians. We are a vehicle for underrepresented communities to win a fair and free Virginia where we can all thrive. www.VirginiaNewMajority.org
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Progressive Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Put Virginia Families First in Budget Negotiations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2012
Contact: Anna Scholl, ProgressVA
(434) 218-2113
anna@progressva.org
Rishi Awatramani, Virginia New Majority
(703) 589-0695
rishi@virginianewmajority.org
Sean Holihan, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
571-488-5742
sean@naralva.org
Scott Price, Alliance for Progressive Values
804-338-5893
sprice@apvonline.org
Progressive Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Put Virginia Families First in Budget Negotiations
Proposed budgets are riddled with giveaways to corporations and the 1% while leaving Virginia's priorities behind
Richmond, VA--As lawmakers return to Richmond Wednesday to begin a special budget session, progressive advocates from across Virginia held a press conference to urge them to put Virginia families first in their negotiations. The proposed House and Senate budgets give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to corporate special interests and the 1% while Virginia families are left behind. Advocates gathered to encourage legislators to take the time to get this right and craft a budget that puts Virginia's families first. When they return to Richmond this week, its time to put the political games and corporate handouts away and negotiate a budget that works for all Virginians.
Dominic Melito, a high school teacher from Virginia Beach, spoke about public education funding. " You may say that we're already investing all that we can. But legislators found the money just this year to give away $25 million dollars in private school tax credits. In fact, Virginia gives away hundreds of millions of dollars every year in tax credits and handouts to corporations and the 1%. We're setting up public schools to fail while private schools gain. That's an approach that leaves Virginia's families behind."
Shirley Johnson, a senior citizen from Fredericksburg, highlighted Medicaid cuts that would cut over 4500 seniors from long-term care programs, stating "the Senate Budget chooses coal companies over our seniors. This budget cuts seniors' health care while handing out $40 million in tax credits to coal companies. Seniors have paid into the system their whole lives and now, when we're ready to use the services we've paid for, politicians want to pull the rug out from under us."
"Over 60% of Virginia corporations pay no income taxes here. So why is it that when it comes time to make budgetary decisions, they're first in line for a handout while the Virginia families that work hard and pay their taxes suffer the brunt of the pain?," asked Susan Edwards, a home health care provider. "Budgets aren't just numbers on paper. They are a roadmap for the choices that we make as a community and this one is getting it all wrong."
Participating organizations calling on state legislators to put Virginia families first include: Alliance for Progressive Values, The Martin L. King, Jr. Living History & Public Policy Center, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, ProgressVA, Virginia Association of Personal Care Assistants, Virginia Organizing, Virginia New Majority, and Voice of Vietnamese Americans.
###
ProgressVA is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization that seeks to engage citizens from across the Commonwealth around issues of immediate state or local concern. www.ProgressVA.org
Virginia Organizing is a statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia. www.VirginiaOrganizing.org
NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia works to educate Virginians and policymakers about the broad range of issues encompassing reproductive choice and lobbies our legislature to pass pro-choice policies and defeat anti-choice laws.
Alliance for Progressive Values is an all-volunteer organization whose goal is to educate and influence the public, the media and elected officials at the local, state and national levels about important issues of the day. We are guided in this by our basic, common sense progressive values of economic fairness, social justice and good government. www.APVOnline.org
Virginia New Majority is building a progressive movement in Virginia by winning elections, organizing voters, and training a new generation of community leaders. Founded in 2007, we are working for a clean environment, fair immigration policies, excellent public education, high quality jobs, and a bright future for all Virginians. We are a vehicle for underrepresented communities to win a fair and free Virginia where we can all thrive. www.VirginiaNewMajority.org