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From the Blog
- An Oath of Service Betrayed - by One-Third of the Virginia House of Delegates (1 hour ago)
- VA House of Delegates vote rejecting Tracy Thorne-Begland (2 days ago)
- The High Cost of Student Loans (Thursday, Apr 26, 2012)
- Video: ProgressVA Reminds Gov. McDonnell Of His Real Record (Thursday, Apr 26, 2012)
- Americans continue to benefit from the Affordable Care Act (Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012)
- Anna Scholl Talks ALEC, Speaker Howell on "The Ed Show" (-) (Monday, Apr 16, 2012)
Progressive Point Archives
Prioritize creating good paying jobs
Published 1 hour ago
May 17, 2012 The Washington Times reports, "Though some had hoped for action on Wednesday, the regional authority overseeing the $6 billion rail-to-Dulles project will not discuss - or possibly vote on - a labor provision that is threatening...
McDonnell stuck us with the tab
Published 1 day ago
May 16, 2012 The News & Advance editorializes, "The General Assembly finally forced many localities in Central Virginia to raise taxes. The alternative for the localities was to ignore the critical needs of their schools and other core services...
Intolerance has no place in Virginia
Published 1 day ago
May 15, 2012 The New York Times reports, "The Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay prosecutor on Tuesday after conservative Republican lawmakers argued that the nominee would press an activist agenda. Early on Tuesday...
Virginia's budget doesn't need more politics
Published 3 days ago
May 14, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "Lawmakers reconvene in Richmond today to consider Gov. Bob McDonnell's amendments to Virginia's two-year, $85 billion state budget and elect judges... Legislators are expected to raise concerns about the governor's proposed cuts...
Published 6 days ago
May 11, 2012 The Washington Times reports, "Pro-choice activists in Virginia have begun a last-ditch campaign to undo restrictive regulations governing abortion clinics ahead of a required vote by the state's Board of Health to make the rules permanent....
Published May 10
May 10, 2012 Yesterday, The Huffington Post reported, "In a nod to a dramatic shift in public opinion, Barack Obama on Wednesday became the first sitting president to announce his support for same-sex marriage... 'at a certain point I've...
Published May 9
May 9, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports, "Dominion Virginia Power's long-range energy plans were criticized Tuesday for relying too heavily on fossil fuels at the expense of renewables such as wind and solar and energy efficiency. Activists, grandparents, physicians and...
Published May 8
May 8, 2012 The Huffington Post reports, "North Carolina voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to add a measure banning gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships to the state's constitution, in addition to the state's...
McDonnell's Pick Me for VP Tour
Published May 7
May 7, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported last week that, "Gov. Bob McDonnell will embark next week on a 'Virginia: Growing Strong' tour... The [TV] ad and the tour, which the administration says is official state business, follow a...
McDonnell passes the buck on Virginia's bills
Published May 4
May 4, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot editorializes, "The practice of siphoning money from municipal coffers to support state responsibilities has provided Virginia's government with a solid stream of revenue to weather tough financial times... Opponents note, correctly, that state lawmakers are...
Published May 3
May 3, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, will endorse Mitt Romney in Portsmouth this afternoon. Progressive Point: Virginians want economic solutions and transportation fixes. But Gov. Mitt Romney is doubling down...
Published May 2
May 2, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia rated General Assembly members on their performance last session, just days after the Virginia Chamber of Commerce issued legislative report cards of its own. NARAL based its rankings on...
Putting profits above public safety
Published Apr 30
May 1, 2012 The Institute for Southern Studies reports, "After the massive TVA Kingston disaster inundated a Tennessee community and two rivers with a billion gallons of coal ash in 2008, it appeared the tide was turning for the...
Bob McDonnell has run out of gas
Published Apr 30
April 30, 2012 The Roanoke Times editorializes, "[S]tate leaders are most likely to swallow hard and raise road revenues right about now, while elections are but a distant anxiety for the 140 legislators, and Gov. Bob McDonnell is starting...
Choosing millionaires over millions of students
Published Apr 27
April 27, 2012 U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, via the Huffington Post: "a policy change is coming that will make getting out of debt more expensive for over 7 million young Americans: without Congressional action, the interest rate...
How to secretly buy an election
Published Apr 26
April 26, 2012 According to The Washington Post, Karl Rove's Super PAC is running a second batch of ads in Virginia to influence our U.S. Senate race. Progressive Point: Election outcomes shouldn't hinge on who has the biggest corporate...
Bob McDonnell's t.v. blitz an attempt to etch-a-sketch his record
Published Apr 25
April 25, 2012 According to The Roanoke Times, today Bob McDonnell will begin a $400,000 positive t.v. ad blitz across the state to bolster his ailing poll numbers. Progressive Point: Virginians have been clear about their priorities: investing in...
America has never solved anything with less democracy
Published Apr 24
April 24, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports, "Gov. Bob McDonnell faces a tough choice on legislation to tighten requirements for voter identification: veto the bill after his attempt to soften it failed, or let it reshape election law without his...
Investment now is vital for Virginia's future
Published Apr 23
April 23, 2012 The Washington Post editorializes, "For decades regional planners have worked to extend Metrorail to Dulles International Airport, a critical transit link that would juice Northern Virginia's economy and bring first-world convenience to the Washington region's preeminent...
Choose Virginia families, not corporate-front groups
Published Apr 18
April 18, 2012 The Virginia Progressive Caucus held a news conference today "to highlight Virginia's involvement in ALEC and to call on the General Assembly to cease using taxpayer dollars to send legislators to future ALEC conferences. Delegate Patrick...
Paying their fair share on Tax Day
Published Apr 17
April 17, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "Republicans and Democrats clashed in the Senate on Monday over President Obama's proposal to boost taxes on the rich, an issue that similarly divided two Virginians who aspire to be in the...
Bob McDonnell is taking a toll
Published Apr 16
April 16, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports, "They overwhelmingly dislike the tolls planned for the Midtown and Downtown tunnels. If they had to pay, 50 cents seems about right, but certainly not $1.84 at rush hour. And without question, they...
Published Apr 13
April 13, 2012 Yesterday, there was some news coverage of an exchange of ideas between ProgressVA and Virginia's Speaker of the House. The [Rachel] Maddow Blog shared, "The point of contention seemed to be over the taxpayer money Virginia...
Published Apr 12
April 11, 2012 Today, ProgressVA joined Americans across the country to celebrate the six-year anniversary of Mitt Romney's signing of Massachusetts' health care reform law--the predicate to our national law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Like the...
You pay more so millionaires can pay less
Published Apr 11
April 11, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "Virginia would suffer tens of millions of dollars in cuts to education, children's programs, and food and housing assistance for low-income families next year if Congress allows planned deficit-reduction cuts and passes...
Published Apr 10
April 10, 2012 Pepsi-Co, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Intuit, and the Gates Foundation, major sponsors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), have indicated they will not renew their memberships to the controversial conservative organization amid mounting criticism over ALEC's...
Published Apr 9
April 9, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "Six more virtual school providers have been approved by the Virginia Department of Education to contract with public school divisions. They join the 13 multi-division online providers approved in June." Progressive Point:...
Virginia's Governor: No-show Job Bob
Published Apr 6
April 6, 2012 The Roanoke Times editorializes on the state government shifting road maintenance costs to counties, "We agree with probably every county government in Virginia that shifting responsibility for secondary road maintenance from the state to counties is...
Uranium mining can't be kept in the dark
Published Apr 5
April 5, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot shares, "Ranking members of Gov. Bob McDonnell's staff Wednesday invited a group of lobbyists and environmentalists for a uranium mining chat in an effort to dispel notions that Virginia's mining evaluation is occurring outside...
Published Apr 4
April 4, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "The League of Conservation Voters, Mom's Clean Air Force and the Environmental Defense Fund announced this week that it had made a two-week, 'seven-figure' TV ad [link] buy in support of the...
Who is profiting from high gas prices?
Published Apr 3
April 3, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch Virginia Politics blog shares, "You may have seen the 30-second TV ad by the American Energy Alliance hitting President Barack Obama over gas prices. Today, a group is launching a new ad pushing...
George Allen isn't fooling anyone
Published Apr 2
April 2, 2012 As we highlighted at AllenFoolsDay.com yesterday, George "Allen... will need to answer critics from both sides who argue that he was 'part of the problem' during his time in Congress, which contradicts his new image of a...
Published Mar 30
March 30, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "A coalition opposed to a state pension overhaul is urging Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) to veto the plan, which was drafted and approved in the final hours of the Virginia General...
Bob McDonnell: Cuts your services, keeps your taxes
Published Mar 29
March 29, 2012 The Daily Progress editorializes, "Deteriorating roads: Whose fault? The state's fault. But, increasingly, the locality's responsibility. Albemarle County faces a looming burden in the form of its secondary roads. These roads traditionally have been the responsibility...
Published Mar 28
March 28, 2012 The Daily Press reports, "For 14 years, the [Hampton] Peninsula has been fortunate to have a transitional housing program operated by the Salvation Army on the campus of the Hampton VA Medical Center. Hundreds of homeless...
A battle won in the budget war
Published Mar 27
March 27, 2012 The Roanoke Times reports that yesterday, "The politically divided Senate voted 35-4 to pass its own version of a two-year $85 billion budget, something it failed to do during the regular legislative session that ended March...
Published Mar 26
March 26, 2012 On Friday, the Affordable Care Act turned two years old. For three days starting today, the Supreme Court is hearing a historic six hours of arguments on theclearly constitutional health reform law. At the same time,...
Conservatives want to deal a double blow to transportation
Published Mar 23
March 23, 2012 Earlier this week Politico reported, "Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) got a vote last week on his amendment to the Senate-passed bill that would send many transportation policy and funding decisions back to the states." The amendment,...
Virginia voters' anger at the War on Women
Published Mar 22
March 22, 2012 A new Quinnipiac poll of Virginia voters shows that women strongly disapprove of new anti-abortion legislation at the same time the disapproval of Governor McDonnell and the State Legislature is also on the rise. Progressive Point:...
A budget that puts Virginia's families first
Published Mar 21
March 21, 2012 This morning, advocacy organizations from across Virginia gathered to urge lawmakers 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...
Published Mar 20
March 20, 2012 A State Integrity Investigation by the Center for Public Integrity into safeguards for government integrity and transparency gives Virginia an "F" and ranks us 47th out of 50 states. Progressive Point: Virginians expect an open and...
The Affordable Care Act is working for Virginia
Published Mar 19
March 19, 2012 The Affordable Care Act celebrates its two-year anniversary this Thursday, March 23. To mark the occasion, advocates across the Commonwealth will host events to highlight how the ACA is working for Virginia and changing lives. Progressive...
Worst of the Week: Bob McDonnell ignoring his own constituents
Published Mar 16
March 16, 2012 The Washington Post reported that Virginia New Majority and other grassroots groups presented Governor McDonnell with a petition Thursday urging him to veto the recent bills SB1, which would make it more difficult for people to vote,...
Virginia's turn for voter suppression to be struck down
Published Mar 15
March 15, 2012 Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Progressive Point: This week, federal judges in Texas and Wisconsin struck down voter suppression laws designed to exclude Americans from the democratic process. Those...
George Allen shuns campaign transparency
Published Mar 14
March 14, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "The day after news broke that a new super PAC will be aiding the Senate campaign of George Allen (R), Timothy M. Kaine (D) proposed -- and Allen quickly rejected -- the...
Making a mockery of Sunshine Week
Published Mar 13
March 13, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch comments on transparency in Virginia, "The news dismayed, but its timing proved pregnant with symbolism. On the eve of Sunshine Week, Virginians learned that a study of uranium mining in Pittsylvania County will...
Cuccinelli wastes your taxpayer dollars
Published Mar 12
March 12, 2012 The Washington Post editorializes, "If Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) needs examples of official waste and abuse as he runs for governor, he could cite the harassment that he conducted against climate scientist Michael...
Worst of the Week: Conservative Voter Suppression
Published Mar 9
March 9, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "Senate Bill 1 -- previously the subject of fierce debate with Democratic opponents claiming it was designed to disenfranchise minorities, the elderly and the young -- passed the House 64-34. It had...
Our representatives must protect our homes
Published Mar 8
March 8, 2012 The Washington Post reports on legislators advocating that Virginia's share of the federal mortgage settlement be used to help homeowners as it was intended, "Democrats in the House tried to amend the budget to allow the state's...
Published Mar 7
March 7, 2012 The Commonwealth Institute reports that the new voter ID bills will cost Virginia taxpayers up to $1.2 million a year to implement. They state, "Senate and House of Delegates conferees will have to... face the fiscal...
Published Mar 6
March 6, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports that the Virginia Senate Democrats stated in response to the conservative budget proposals, "'The Senate Democrats have and will continue to reject budgets that divert General Fund money from public safety, education and...
Conservatives must end this war on women
Published Mar 5
March 5, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "Thirty-one women's rights demonstrators were arrested Saturday in a state Capitol protest that drew hundreds of people and a police response including officers in riot gear. The rally was the latest held...
Worst of the Week: Pretending the Conservative Budget Isn't Bad for Virginia
Published Mar 2
March 2, 2012 The Washington Post reports that Virginia State Senator Don McEachin said, in a recent statement, "This budget leaves gaping holes in the area of public education, transportation and the needs of Virginia families... Dollars for public...
Balancing Virginia's Budget on our Backs: Part 4
Published Mar 1
March 1, 2012 (Today is the fourth part of a 4 part series on how the conservative state budget plans are out of touch--and at our expense.) The Loudoun Times reports, "Virginia's crumbling roads will force lawmakers into 'uncharted...
Balancing Virginia's Budget on our Backs: Part 3
Published Feb 29
February 29, 2012 (Today is the third part of a 4 part series on how the conservative state budget plans are out of touch--and at our expense.) The Virginian-Pilot has reported, "The governor's budget also withholds inflation payments to...
Balancing Virginia's Budget on our Backs: Part 2
Published Feb 28
February 28, 2012 (Today is the second part of a 4 part series on how the conservative state budget plans are out of touch--and at our expense.) The News and Advance reports the both the Virginia House of Delegates...
Tomorrow's education system, not yesterday's
Published Feb 27
February 27, 2012 The News Virginian reports, "Crowds at recent local government meetings have pleaded for more school funding, and their ardor has been matched by educators donning black on a recent Friday to mourn the lack of state...
Worst of the Week: Choosing Politics Over Virginia
Published Feb 24
February 24, 2012 The Washington Examiner reports, "The Dulles rail project is poised to lose millions in funding from Virginia as punishment for encouraging the use of union labor on the $6 billion project. The Republican-dominated General Assembly passed...
Conservatives ignore Virginia voters
Published Feb 23
February 23, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "A Virginia Senate committee voted along party lines Thursday morning to approve a so-called 'personhood' bill , despite strenuous opposition by those who argued that the broad measure could prohibit birth control and in...
Stop the War on Women and Get Back to Work
Published Feb 22
February 22, 2012 This morning, "A coalition of grassroots organizations supporting women's health delivered 33,030 petitions to Governor McDonnell Wednesday morning, opposing bills that insert the government into women's personal, private medical decisions. Virginians from across the Commonwealth have...
We all agree--close corporate tax loopholes
Published Feb 21
February 21, 2012 The News and Advance reports, "With every item owner Bill Puckett sells at Lynchburg Camera Shop, he has to add a 5 percent state sales tax onto the bill. But many online retailers, even those with...
GOP raids mortgage settlement fund
Published Feb 20
February 20, 2012 Yesterday, the House and Senate money committees revealed their amendments to Governor McDonnell's two-year budget plan. Buried in the spending plan is a proposal to divert Virginia's share of the national mortgage settlement with the big...
Worst of the Week: Cutting school and safety net funding for special interests
Published Feb 17
February 17, 2012 On Sunday, the Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees will release their modifications to Governor Bob McDonnell's budget. The Washington Post reports that McDonnell's proposed budget would, rather than find new sources of revenue, "move millions...
GOP: Pay no attention to our extreme conservative agenda
Published Feb 16
February 16, 2012 In response to the large amount of criticism of their conservative agenda, House Speaker William Howell attempted to defend his caucus's priorities stating, "Less than 2.5 percent of the bills that have passed the House dealt...
Published Feb 15
February 15, 2012 Virginia may be the butt of jokes for late night comedians, but the bills coming out of the General Assembly this year are no laughing matter. Yesterday, conservatives in the House of Delegates passed HB 1, "personhood"...
Our Valentine is Virginia's working families
Published Feb 14
February 14, 2012 The Washington Post reports, "About 100 members of the progressive group Virginia Organizing will descend on Richmond to take part in the 'broken hearts day of action..." The activists will be protesting what they describe as...
NY Times Highlights "Pervasive" Influence of ALEC on VA Legislature
Published Feb 13
February 13, 2012 This morning, the New York Times Editorial page profiled ProgressVA's report on the influence of a "little-known conservative organization financed by millions of corporate dollars" on Virginia's legislature. The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is...
Worst of the Week: Not putting Virginia's working families first
Published Feb 10
February 10, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports the priority of conservative lawmakers the first half of Virginia's legislative session has been a social agenda including, "Mandatory ultrasounds before abortions. Tougher voter identification standards. Repeal of a limit on handgun purchases."...
Health Care Delayed is Health Care Denied
Published Feb 9
February 9, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "a state Senate subcommittee has bowed to the reality that no legislation will be approved in this General Assembly session to create a state exchange for health insurance benefits." Progressive Point: Virginia families...
Special Interest Party in Richmond
Published Feb 8
February 8, 2012 In 2011, Virginia lawmakers took more than $245,000 in gifts from special interest groups. Progressive Point: Virginia Uranium, Dominion Power, and other special interest groups in Richmond have one thing in common--they are trying to buy votes...
Published Feb 7
February 7, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports the Virginia State Senate voted yesterday to eliminate Virginia's limit to one handgun purchase a month, which has been in place for nearly twenty years. The House of Delegates has already passed their companion...
Reality Check: Getting Virginians Back to Work
Published Feb 6
February 6, 2012 While appearing on a Sunday morning news show with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Governor Bob McDonnell stated, "I'm glad the economy is starting to recover, but I think it's because of what Republican governors are doing in their...
Worst of the Week: Voting against Virginia
Published Feb 3
February 3, 2012 This week, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling cast a tie-breaking vote banning project labor agreements (PLAs) on state-funded construction projects in Virginia. "Delegate David L. Englin, Alexandria Democrat, questioned what the legislation approved Tuesday would actually do. 'It's...
Time to say goodbye to corporate tax breaks
Published Feb 2
February 2, 2012 The Roanoke Times reports, despite bipartisan support for eliminating many of Virginia's unnecessary tax breaks, "Legislators have attempted to eliminate or reduce tax breaks in the past only to be rolled by an army of corporate and...
Conservatives interfering in women's private medical decisions
Published Feb 1
February 1, 2012 The Washington Post just reported that, "The Republican-led Virginia Senate passed a bill Wednesday by a vote of 21-18 that would require women to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion." The Virginian-Pilot also shared that Governor...
The moral and fiscal cost of conservatism to Virginia's taxpayers
Published Jan 31
January 31, 2012 Yesterday, we reported on how Governor McDonnell's budget cuts are hurting seniors and low-income families. Today we will share how ideologically conservative legislation is actually costing all Virginia taxpayers millions, at a time when they should be...
Pass the Buck Bob's cold-hearted budget cuts
Published Jan 30
January 30, 2012 The Commonwealth Institute reveals, "In his proposed budget, Governor McDonnell gets nearly 60 percent of his budget cuts from services and programs that serve low-income Virginians, a dramatic departure from bipartisan efforts on Virginia's budget in recent...
Worst of the Week: Voter suppression is going to Virginia's House floor
Published Jan 27
January 27, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "A bill to require voters without identification to cast provisional ballots is headed to the House floor... The legislation would alter existing law, which allows anyone who claims to be a registered voter...
Bipartisan agreement: tax loopholes are draining Virginia's budget
Published Jan 26
January 26, 2012 The Washington Times reports, "Billions of dollars in tax credits, incentives and exemptions which in many cases were poorly targeted or ineffective have prompted a bipartisan push in the Virginia General Assembly for greater disclosure and better...
Conservatives Demand Expensive Drug Testing to Attack the Poor
Published Jan 25
January 25, 2012 House Bill 73, requiring that those applying for TANF and other welfare assistance be screened and tested for illegal drugs before receiving such assistance, passed the House yesterday. Despite having no evidence that drug-use among this population...
Conservatives want to take money out of classrooms for corporate tax breaks
Published Jan 24
January 24, 2012 The Washington Examiner reveals, "Virginia Republicans have renewed their push for a voucher-style program that would essentially pay for students to attend private schools despite Democratic charges that it would rob public schools of up to $25...
McDonnell passes the buck on transportation
Published Jan 23
January 23, 2012 The Washington Post editorializes, "Barring passage in the General Assembly of a major funding bill in the coming weeks -- a tough sell with Mr. McDonnell's active support and a near-impossibility without it -- the state's crumbling...
Worst of the Week: McDonnell dodges citizen input on uranium mining
Published Jan 20
January 20, 2012 Virginia conservation groups are vocalizing their disappointment with Governor McDonnell's decision to write uranium legislation behind closed doors in a new release. In it, Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, stated, "On...
Virginians want consumer-friendly health care
Published Jan 19
January 19, 2012 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports a new group, Virginia Consumer Voices for Health Care, is pushing lawmakers to create a health insurance exchange that would limit the influence of health insurance companies and focus on the will of...
Conservatives want to make your vote irrelevant
Published Jan 18
January 18, 2012 Yesterday, the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee passed a congressional redistricting plan designed to protect current incumbents on a party line 8-7 vote. The map, which was drawn with input from Virginia's current congressmen, is designed to...
Governor McDonnell eliminates teen pregnancy prevention programs
Published Jan 17
January 17, 2012 Buried in Governor McDonnell's proposed budget is the elimination of funding for "pregnancy prevention programs across the state that offer sex education and birth control to teenagers." According to the Washington Post, "The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative...
Stealing from schools is not a solution
Published Jan 16
January 16, 2012 Governor McDonnell's proposed budget would divert more money away from schools and other programs to pay for transportation costs. The Richmond Times-Dispatch's PolitiFact ranked "True" State Senator Donald McEachin's assertion that McDonnell is taking money away from...
Worst of the Week - The Power Grab
Published Jan 13
January 13, 2012 Despite conservatives in Richmond attempting to pass laws that would ban abortion and discriminate against minority voters, neither was the most offensive act of the week. ProgressVA's Worst of the Week occurred on the very first day...
Senate Bill #1 - Voter Discrimination
Published Jan 12
January 12, 2012 On Tuesday, State Senator Steve Martin told CBS 6 the requirement in his bill, SB 1 (the very first bill prefiled in the Senate), that voter registration cards no longer be an acceptable form of identification when voting,...
Welcoming Legislators Back to Richmond
Published Jan 10
January 11, 2012 Today, the We Are Virginia coalition, of which ProgressVA is a member, gathered in Richmond to remind legislators to represent their constituents, not lobbyists and campaign donors, during the General Assembly session. We Are Virginia is a coalition...
Stop the power grab and get to work
Published Jan 10
January 10, 2012 Virginia's part-time legislature will begin its short session tomorrow. Sadly, the Daily Press reports, "Republicans and Democrats will be at each other's throats from the opening gavel over whether Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling can use his tie-breaking...
Legislators pushing out-of-touch, extreme agendas
Published Jan 9
January 9, 2012 Conservative lawmakers in Virginia are prefiling extreme right-wing legislation. Del. David Albo wants to expand anti-immigrant citizen checks, and Del. Richard Bell wants to require drug tests for anyone receiving, or asking for, public assistance. Del. Bob...
McDonnell's school budget sets Virginia's students up to fail
Published Jan 6
January 6, 2012 Governor Bob McDonnell's budget will cost Danville schools $5 million in funding and Charlottesville schools $4 million. Fairfax County schools are deteriorating and need $50 million more a year just to catch up with repairs, and this...
A Budget Built on the Backs of the Vulnerable
Published Jan 5
January 5, 2012 News coverage this week continues to illustrate Governor McDonnell's fiscally irresponsible budget approach of large cuts to services with no new sources of revenue. The News & Advance reports that McDonnell's decision to not adjust funding for...
Local Legislators Speak Out Against Uranium Mining
Published Jan 4
January 4, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot reports, "Legislators representing districts that encircle a uranium deposit in Southside Virginia are asking their colleagues to abandon any effort in the 2012 session to end the state's 30-year ban on mining the radioactive ore."...
Less Democracy Is Wrong for Virginia
Published Jan 3
January 3, 2012 The Washington Times reports, "Virginia legislators are preparing to take on the thorny subject of voter identification laws during the upcoming General Assembly session amid national controversy that includes the Justice Department's rejection of a state law...
Corporate Front Group Influencing Virginia's Legislature
Published Jan 2
January 1, 2012 Today, ProgressVA released a new report detailing the disturbing level of influence exerted on Virginia's legislature by a secretive, corporate front group. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which is funded by corporate contributions, has been writing bills...
What Virginian's Don't Want for Christmas: Extreme Agendas
Published Dec 22 2011
December 22, 2011 Please note that this will be ProgressVA's last Progressive Point before the holidays. We hope you and your families enjoy a safe and happy holidays and look forward resuming the Progressive Point in the new year. A...
Pre-K cuts shortchange our future
Published Dec 21 2011
December 21, 2011 Governor Bob McDonnell's budget proposal, unveiled on Monday, included many budget cuts, but one of the most major is a devastating blow to Virginia's preschool students. The Daily Press reports, "$81 million will be cut from the...
Uranium Industry and Lobbyists Putting Profits Ahead of People
Published Dec 20 2011
December 20, 2011 Keep the Ban reported yesterday, "The long-awaited report issued by the National Academy of Sciences today echoes numerous pitfalls with potential uranium mining, milling and waste disposal in the Commonwealth that many concerned Virginians have expressed in...
"Pass the Buck" Bob's Christmas present to Virginia families
Published Dec 19 2011
December 19, 2011 Governor McDonnell unveiled his two-year budget this morning in a speech to the legislative money committees. As predicted, the Governor's budget takes a cuts-only approach to close Virginia's projected $1 billion budget shortfall. The Governor';s proposed cuts...
Published Dec 16 2011
December 16, 2011 Instead of finding new revenue to fix our streets, Governor McDonnell is taking funding from other state projects to pay for transportation needs and passing down road responsibilities onto struggling localities. For his own budget numbers, McDonnell...
A balanced approach to the budget includes closing loopholes
Published Dec 15 2011
December 15, 2011 At a rally in Richmond today, Better Choices for Virginia -- "a broad group of Virginia businesspeople, nonprofit leaders, local officials, educators and working men and women -- gathered at the Capitol to call on the Governor...
George Allen's health care reform distortions
Published Dec 14 2011
December 14, 2011 Earlier this week, Protect Your Care responded to George Allen's campaign ad full of distortions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its effect on Virginians. The response corrected the ad's three main false assertions. Progressive Point:...
Retirement games bad for Virginia
Published Dec 13 2011
December 13, 2011 The new JLARC report out this week highlighted how misguided Bob McDonnell's plan is to shift the current state-controlled retirement plan to a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan, which would shift all the risk from the state to...
McDonnell's Transportation Funding Shell Game
Published Dec 12 2011
December 12, 2011 The Roanoke Times reports, "Fearful of the political blowback from even an incremental increase in road revenues, the governor instead proposes to gouge more holes in the state's general fund, even as he acknowledges that he cannot...
AG Politicizing the Abortion Regulation Process
Published Dec 9 2011
December 9, 2011 Members of the Virginia Coalition to Protect Women's Health, which ProgressVA supports, are speaking out against draft abortion regulations today at the State Board of Health meeting in Richmond. The Coalition reports, "a new AP investigation published last weekend...
Published Dec 8 2011
December 8, 2011 The Washington Post reports that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is refusing to resign from office while he simultaneously runs for Governor. Their article states, "Having announced his intention to run for governor, Mr. Cuccinelli (R) is bucking...
Published Dec 7 2011
December 7, 2011 The Roanoke Times reported yesterday that, "Gov. Bob McDonnell's administration will not push legislators to create a state-run health insurance exchange during the 2012 legislative session... The exchange would create a database for individuals and small businesses...
Published Dec 6 2011
December 6, 2011 Conservatives in Virginia's State Senate are continuing to ignore the voice of voters, who chose a balanced legislature, in their attempt to grab power and establish one-party rule in Richmond so that they can push through their...
Cuccinelli vs. Science: Women's Health
Published Dec 5 2011
December 5, 2011 New state emergency regulations on abortion clinics are designed to force their closure by requiring them to be regulated as hospitals. The Richmond Times Dispatch reports, "some medical experts who advised state health officials on the development...
Fighting for Health Care Reform
Published Dec 2 2011
December 2, 2011 The Roanoke Times reports, "As Gov. Bob McDonnell balances his ongoing opposition to the federal health care overhaul with the continued implementation of the law, he won't say if Virginia should establish a state-run health insurance exchange...
New Uranium Study Fails to Paint Whole Picture
Published Dec 1 2011
December 1, 2011 A new study on the impacts of uranium mining in Southside Virginia says there are potential benefits but "assumes that the site would be operated and dismantled within established federal guidelines and concludes that the potential impact on...
Democrats and Republicans Agree on Power-Sharing
Published Nov 30 2011
November 30, 2011 Jeff Schapiro in the Richmond Times Dispatch reports that both former Republican Congressman Virgil Goode and former Republican State Senator John Chichester are joining with Democrats and urging power-sharing in the Virginia State Senate. He writes, "Virgil Goode Jr.,...
Passing the buck on protecting citizens
Published Nov 29 2011
November 29, 2011 Governor McDonnell's task force on reforming state mandates is starting to reveal its recommendations. The News & Advance reports, "the task force's short list includes 105 education mandates and 80 local government mandates... In the latter category, environmental...
Richmond can't gamble funds for Virginia's students and schools
Published Nov 28 2011
November 28, 2011 Virginia's lottery was created to provide extra money for public education. Over time, politicians shifted that money to cover basic funding the state is obligated to provide to keep our schools operating and now none of it...
Published Nov 22 2011
November 22, 2011 Note: The Progressive Point will be on Thanksgiving vacation until Monday, November 28th, in order to consume large amounts of turkey and properly prepare for Saturday's UVA-VT game. Happy Thanksgiving to our readers! The Senate Democratic Caucus...
Published Nov 20 2011
November 21, 2011 This morning, ProgressVA delivered a turkey to Governor Bob McDonnell's office to commemorate his receipt of our first annual "Turkey of the Year" award. McDonnell was awarded the honor in recognition of his "stewardship" of Virginia's finances,...
Twenty is not more than twenty
Published Nov 18 2011
November 18, 2011 On November 8th, Virginia voters chose to elect equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans to the State Senate. Now, Republican Senators are circumventing the voters' decision and Virginia's Constitution to declare a majority in order to push...
Published Nov 17 2011
November 17, 2011 The Richmond Times Dispatch reports at noon today, "unemployed workers and Occupy Richmond members will join activists from Virginia Organizing, Moveon.org, Service Employees International Union, and AFL-CIO [and] will declare an 'Emergency for the 99 percent.' Rally-goers will gather at the foot...
Published Nov 16 2011
November 16, 2011 The Richmond Times Dispatch reports, "members of the House of Delegates' money committees were told on Tuesday that the state could face a roughly $1 billion budget gap over the next two years despite increasing revenues." While...
Published Nov 15 2011
November 15, 2011 As the "Money Committee" retreats begin this week, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission released a new study (PDF) on Monday showing little state accountability or oversight of the $12.5B in tax breaks, credits, and loopholes...
McDonnell is using budget problems to force his conservative social agenda
Published Nov 14 2011
November 14, 2011 The Washington Times reports, "[s]ervices for seniors and pregnant teens, funding for local jails and libraries, and investigators who go after tax scofflaws are all on the chopping block," in Governor McDonnell's upcoming budget. Progressive Point: With a...
Published Nov 11 2011
November 11, 2011 According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, "More than 822,000 Virginians -- about 10 percent of the state's population -- are veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including more than 90,000 in central Virginia." Progressive Point: Our veterans have...
Tuesday, you voted. Wednesday, Bolling and McDonnell decided it didn't matter
Published Nov 10 2011
November 10, 2011 Tuesday's election resulted in the Democratic Party holding 20 seats in the State Senate, the Republican Party holding 19, and one race that is too close to call but will likely go to the Republicans. This will...
McDonnell's money couldn't buy support for his policies
Published Nov 9 2011
November 8, 2011 Progressive voter turnout yesterday was better than the Tea Party expected and resulted in a likely 20 to 20 seat split between Democrats and Republicans in the State Senate. If this scenario is confirmed by the State...
Today is Election Day. Did your family vote?
Published Nov 8 2011
November 7, 2011 Today is Election Day across Virginia and your vote matters more than ever. No less than the control of our State Senate and the future of our Commonwealth are at stake. Progressive Point: With the control of the...
What's at stake on Nov. 8: Women and Families
Published Nov 7 2011
November 7, 2011 If radical conservatives take over Virginia's State Senate tomorrow, at the top of their agenda will be further restricting the rights of women and effectively banning abortion. Even without control of the Senate, they were able to...
What's at Stake on Nov. 8: Virginia's Environment
Published Nov 4 2011
November 4, 2011 Conservatives in Virginia's legislature have launched an all-out attack on our environment. Their polluting agenda includes exempting Virginia utilities from the Clean Air Act, promoting reckless offshore drilling, and repealing Virginia's ban on uranium mining. The State...
What's at stake on Nov. 8: Transportation
Published Nov 3 2011
November 3, 2011 Bob McDonnell has failed over and over again to fulfill a key campaign promise: fix Virginia's transportation problems. He failed to support high speed rail, he now wants to build toll booths on 95, and reintroduce an ABC privatization proposal that his own party has...
What's at stake on November 8: Virginia's Financial Future
Published Nov 2 2011
November 2, 2011 In December, Governor Bob McDonnell will submit his biannual budget. Contrary to his attempts to convince Virginians that there is a budget surplus, McDonnell has already told state agencies to submit plans for cutting 2, 4, and 6 percent of their operating...
What's At Stake on Nov. 8 - Education
Published Nov 1 2011
November 1, 2011 Virginia's election is one week from today: Tuesday, November 8th. Republicans across the Commonwealth and country are bankrolling campaigns in hopes of taking over the State Senate: the last impediment to their radical conservative agenda. Our children...
Virginians Agree We Must Keep The Ban
Published Oct 31 2011
October 31, 2011 This morning, the Virginia NAACP unanimously passed a resolution opposing lifting Virginia's 30-year ban on uranium mining. The Virginia NAACP joins a growing list of 70 organizations and localities that support keeping the ban. The Progressive Point: Foreign-backed...
McDonnell is for Corporations, but Virginia is for Families
Published Oct 28 2011
October 28, 2011 Governor McDonnell's continued attempts to make Virginia more big business friendly are coming at the expense of Virginia's working families. His strategy of cutting funding to education, public safety, state pension funds, and passing the buck to...
Student Loan Debt Is Crushing Our Future
Published Oct 27 2011
October 27, 2011 Nationally, student loan debt has reached $100 billion and is projected to surpass $1 trillion by mid 2012. In Virginia, the State Council on Higher Education released recommendations calling for tuition increases of 3% to 5% at...
Published Oct 26 2011
October 26, 2011 Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in Fairfax today, meeting with Governor Bob McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, and Republican legislative candidates. Romney is worth up to $250 million but pays an effective tax rate of just...
Published Oct 25 2011
October 25, 2011 Yesterday, Families USA released a report outlining the benefits to Virginians of the "Obamacare" health care reform legislation. Also yesterday, Thanks Obamacare! launched a media campaign to take back the term "Obamacare" and publicize the effects of the...
VA's Job Czar - Job Creation Not My Job
Published Oct 24 2011
October 24, 2011 Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia's "Chief Job Creation Officer", told the Lynchburg News & Advance "we do not believe the government creates jobs". Senate candidate George Allen, who also doesn't believe government creates jobs, was given a "pants...
Published Oct 21 2011
October 21, 2011 This November 8th, the entire Virginia legislature is up for election and Virginians are faced with a distinct choice between two different visions for the future of the Commonwealth. Attorney General Cuccinelli articulated that point this week...
Virginia Must Keep Commitment To Our Teachers
Published Oct 20 2011
October 20, 2011 Today, the Virginia Education Association and Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis are holding a press conference to call on the General Assembly to fully fund the state's commitment to the Virginia Retirement System. Last year, Governor McDonnell...
Published Oct 19 2011
October 19, 2011 A new report titled Virginia's Neighborhoods and the American Jobs Act" from Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) shares how President Obama's jobs bill will help fix housing problem across the Commonwealth. Over 9% of Virginia's housing units...
Will Congress be a job killer or job creator?
Published Oct 18 2011
October 18, 2011 President Obama's bus tour to promote his American Jobs Act comes to Virginia today and tomorrow, with stops in Emporia, Hampton, and Chesterfield. The Progressive Point: Americans are in desperate need of good jobs. President Obama understands this...
Bob McDonnell is sponsored by polluting special interests
Published Oct 17 2011
October 17, 2011 Governor McDonnell's second annual energy conference begins today in Richmond, featuring speakers from big donors and polluters like Dominion Virginia Power, Alpha Natural Resources, and Appalachian Power. There are no speakers from the clean energy industry. A member of the administration told...
McDonnell Should Keep Government Out of Women's Private Medical Decisions
Published Oct 14 2011
October 14, 2011 Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed politically-motivated legislation requiring clinics that perform first-trimester abortions to be regulated as hospitals, singling out these providers among all those that provide outpatient procedures. The regulations recently approved by the Board of...
Bob McDonnell Can't Have His Budget Cake and Eat It Too
Published Oct 13 2011
October 13, 2011 The Richmond Times Dispatch, Washington Post, and Roanoke Times are reporting a 3.9 percent increase in state revenue in September despite the growing income gap amongst Virginians. Governor Bob McDonnell is continuing his bogus budget claims while simultaneously pushing further ideological cuts in funding. Progressive Point: Governor...
Published Oct 12 2011
October 12, 2011 Yesterday, the nonpartisan Commonwealth Institute released a report revealing the wealth gap between rich and poor in Virginia is the highest in 30 years, and the second largest in the nation. The Progressive Point: America was founded as a nation...
Virginia should be for ALL lovers
Published Oct 11 2011
October 11, 2011 Today is the last day for public comment on whether Virginia should ban gays and lesbians from adopting. Today is also National Coming Out Day. The Progressive Point: Being a good parent isn't about being gay or straight--its about giving a...
Transportation Needs Sustainable Funding
Published Oct 10 2011
October 10, 2011 The Roanoke Times and Richmond Times Dispatch are both reporting on Virginia's transportation funding problem. The Commonwealth will soon be required, by statute, to spend all transportation dollars on road maintenance, leaving none for the construction of new...
Cain's 999 plan is a big Zero for Virginia
Published Oct 7 2011
October 7, 2011 Tomorrow, GOP Presidential Candidate and pizza mogul Herman Cain travels to Lynchburg and Richmond. In advance of that visit, we're previewing Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan and why its bad news for Virginia. Cain's 9-9-9 plan: Cain's economic plan...
George Allen's latest assault on working Virginians
Published Oct 6 2011
October 6, 2011 Yesterday, Senate candidate George Allen solidified his attacks on middle-class families, releasing his "Freedom To Work For Less" agenda that would roll back protections for workers. While targeting struggling workers, the Allen campaign did not release any...