Virginia First State in the Nation to Pass Ban on Mandated Health Care Insurance

While Congress is caught up in a tumultuous debate over whether or not to undertake sweeping reform that would make it illegal to be without health insurance, Virginia this week made its stance on government health care mandates crystal clear: NO! The answer came in the form of HB 10, introduced by Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, and mirroring SB 417, patroned by Senator Jill Vogel, R- Upperville, which would block any government mandate that would require Virginia residents to have health insurance. Both received overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate bill passed into law, while the House version is headed to Governor McDonnell's desk for his signature.

Virginia is the first state in the nation to pass any type of ban on mandated coverage, but more than thirty other states are following our lead with similar legislation pending.

These votes send a clear message to local Congressmen Boucher, D-9th, Nye, D-2nd, and Perriello, D-5th who are standing by to support Obama's healthcare legislation: the people back home in your district don't want Washington bureaucrats in charge of their health care. They also don't want the Commonwealth on the hook for one of the largest unfunded mandates in history.

(From Pat Mullins March 12th, Chairman's Update)

Virginians (Bolling, Periello, Nye, and Chuck Smith) on Cap and Trade

Today during the debate in the House of Representatives on cap and trade, Bill Bolling sent out an e-mail stating his opposition to cap and trade. Good luck to him on trying to get Jody Wagner to oppose cap and trade.

Last week, in response to a letter from American Solutions on the Waxman-Markey national energy tax (also known as "cap and trade"), Bill Bolling joined his running mate Bob McDonnell in opposition to massive new energy taxes on Virginia families and businesses.

In typical fashion, Bill's opponent, former Democratic Party of Virginia Vice-Chair Jody Wagner, refused to take a stand. (Wagner has also refused to take a stand on numerous other issues currently facing Virginia.)

The people of Virginia deserve a Lieutenant Governor who will lead, and you can't lead by ducking the issues that matter most to Virginia.

While Bill Bolling and Bob McDonnell have said "Yes" to More Energy, More Jobs for Virginians, Jody Wagner has said "No" to the development of Virginia's energy resources.

By opposing nuclear power, clean coal and the development of Virginia's offshore energy resources, Jody Wagner is rejecting common sense, job-creating solutions to our energy crisis and siding with the extremist wing of her party in opposing our attempts to create a more prosperous Virginia.

As far as the votes are concerned, while their was a lot of speculation over whether Tom Periello would vote against the bill, the only Virginia Democrat to vote against the bill was Glen Nye. Glen Nye simply voted no because he needed to get reelected. The Republican nominee to run against Glen Nye is Chuck Smith. He is a conservative African American Republican running for congress in the 2nd district and he has come out in opposition to using global warming as an excuse to raise taxes. The 2nd district is an example of the Democrats allowing Democrats to vote no to hel pin close elections. If you live in the 2nd district, don't let Nye fool you. Please elect a Chuck Smith a real conservative in 2010.