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)

Ben Loyola For Congress

One of the candidates for the Republican nomination for congress in the 2nd district is Ben Loyola. While he does not yet have a website, he has a facebook group which lays out his personal stiry and why he is running. While I am not making an endorsement in this race yet, I think Ben Loyola's story as a man who escaped Communist Cuba and started a prosperous company is quite an inspiring story. We need to find more conservatives with these kind of personal stories to run for public office.

“Not too long ago, two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, ‘How lucky you are? I had someplace to escape to.’ And in that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.” –President Ronald Reagan A 25-year resident of Virginia Beach, Navy veteran, successful businessman, Conservative Republican, and Patriot, Ben Loyola is a living reminder of the American Dream. --Humble Beginnings-- An officer in the Cuban navy before Fidel Castro seized power, Ben’s father, Ben Loyola Sr., saw the Communist takeover’s true intentions and mutinied against it. For his efforts, he was sentenced to death but managed to escape to that “shining city on a hill”, the United States of America. Soon after, two-year old Ben Loyola Jr. and his mother fled the Communist dictatorship and joined his father in the United States; bringing with them nothing but a single piece of luggage and the hope that America would lead to a better life. Ben’s humble beginnings provided him with the drive and work ethic needed to become the self-made man he is today. --Military Service-- Ben’s parents instilled within him an intense love of country. Always grateful for the opportunities America had afforded him, Ben decided to serve his country in the Navy, attending the Naval Academy and eventually achieving the rank of Captain. --Entrepreneur-- In 1991, Ben founded Loyola Enterprises, an engineering service contracting firm, starting operations out of a spare room in his house. Today, Loyola Enterprises has 50 employees working in offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Richmond. --Community Involvement-- Ben is very active in the local community, having volunteered for the Special Olympics Committee, tutoring students for the Virginia Beach Public Schools in math and science, as well as volunteering and financially supporting the following organizations: the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad, Boy Scouts of America, Make A Wish Foundation, the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Ballet, and the Fraternal Order of Police. --A True Conservative, Grassroots Republican-- Placing the original intent of the Constitution in highest regard, Ben is a Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-2nd Amendment, Fiscal Conservative. He’s a member of the Republican Professionals Network of Hampton Roads and is a life member of the National Rifle Association. He serves as a Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach and has worked the polls for various Republican candidates over the years. --Faith and Family-- Ben is married to Gretchen Loyola. Gretchen is an accomplished musician who played violin in the Virginia Symphony and is currently a Physician’s Assistant with Cardiovascular Specialists at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. For Ben and Gretchen, Saturday nights are “God and Country” nights. They attend service at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia Beach and afterward go shooting at the local gun range.

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.