Don Obama: Is the Administration Shaking Down America

A recent report from MSNBC anchor Melissa Harris-Perry proudly draws out the comparison between President Obama and Francis Ford Coppola's Don Corleone when it comes to talks about the "Fiscal Cliff". President Obama is making no bones about his offer, concerning America's debt crisis, and he's making it one that Republicans ostensibly can't refuse. 

They could really be on to something here. As Obama shores up his partisan-overspending "family" of Democrats, Melissa Harris-Perry of MSNBC walks us through the similarities and contrasts of OUR PRESIDENT BEING A GANGSTER; and makes a pretty convincing case. 

Give that a second to sink in before continuing.

The similarities are astounding, though. “You just know that Leader Pelosi is letting the House Democrats know that they better not  pull a Fredo,” Harris-Perry said, referring to any House Dems who might be willing to negotiate with Republicans on a bi-partisan deal. 

She goes on to outline President Obama's idea of an offer of compromise; which is closer to  Michael Corleone's "My offer is nothing," statement in The Godfather Part II than actual conciliation. Is the President shoring up the support of his gang of Congressional thugs in an effort to muscle out Republican opposition to his plans? 

                            

can you see the resemblance?

Obama's plan going forward (now that the election is over) is not to compromise; it is to move his suicidal spending plan forward regardless of whether he promised to negotiate or not. Heck, or whether even people in his own party have doubts over it. This smells a lot like political strong-arm-ing to push through an unproven and concerning agenda. 

With the country rolling towards the cliff, with a dire need to rein in the abhorrent amount of spending that his administration is doing, Barack wants to INCREASE spending. He is proposing a 50 Billion dollar stimulus; and he is not looking like he wants to meet in the middle on this. 

                   

How about in this one?

In another appropriate analogy, Harris-Perry compares Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to Don Corleone's counselor Tom Hagen in the films. It is an apt metaphor; in the movies Hagen serves as a messenger, and as an advisor. Geithner has been sent to the Hill with his and the administration's plan to raise taxes AND spending. 

Though usually we would bash MSNBC here, this time they have brought some important issues to America's attention. It is too late to tell you, "Don't let Barack Obama fool you into thinking he will compromise when it comes to debt." Now I tell you, don't let President Obama act like Don Obama. Stop the shakedown of our financial future. 

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Dem-Backed Tax Hikes are Useless

Congress is struggling, to say the least, to trim America's deficit. But there is a huge disconnect between what Congressional Democrats and the White house want and what they are asking for. What they want is ostensibly a larger government, taking in more taxes, in order to reach into more parts of our lives. What they're asking for is a useless tax hike that not only detriments American entrepeneurs, it doesn't accomplish much.

Allow me an explanatory metaphor: Let's suppose a super-tanker is springing a leak, and taking on a lot of water. That tanker is our (now bloated) government, and the leak is our (rapidly) rising deficit.

The Democrat plan is to go at the problem with a bucket and start bailing water. Their plan to raise taxes for families earning $250,000 or more would bring in new revenue, but the revenue raised by that tax increase pales in comparison to the massive deficit that we have sunk ourselves into (pun intended). Mathematically pertaining to our deficit, spending, and costs, these hikes are useless.

Without a concerted effort to rein in the absurd amount of spending going on, as well as entitlement reform, this tax hike on the wealthy is one tiny, miniscule drop in the bucket when it comes to the deficit. The Democrat plan could run the United States Government for a grand total of 8 days. When we are facing a 16 trillion dollar bill and a habit of spending even more, there is no amount of tax increase that could help us.

The GOP is fighting against determined and stubborn opposition, but the Republican plan makes more sense. Spending cuts and serious entitlement reform, are parts of a plan that fixes the leak. This affects every American, whether they earn $250,000 or not. The Fiscal Cliff, and the national debt will inevitably hit every demographic. The precious little revenue that they could raise would power us for barely more than a week before the fiscal pendulum would swing us back into a pit of spending despair.

John Stossel frames the argument differently but succinctly...

"The problem is that the rich don't have enough money to put so much as a dent in America's $16 trillion national debt. "If the IRS grabbed 100 percent of income over $1 million, the take would be just $616 billion," writes John Stossel. "That’s only a third of this year’s deficit. Our national debt would continue to explode."

Don't let the liberal media sell these tax hikes to you as a solution, when they are not even a band-aid on the larger issue.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

The Impact of the 'Fiscal Cliff': How Will Virginia Land?

Even as employers in Utah and Nevada are laying off employees in the wake of the election and its implications, here in Virginia we too are sitting under the gun of the 'Fiscal Cliff'. With a pro-business economic climate, a huge stake in the Defense Department, and a large rural population, the Commonwealth stands to lose in a big way if these crippling cuts are allowed to take effect.

The specific impact to Virginia? Well, if legislators allow it to pass, the numbers associated with the 'Fiscal Cliff' are staggering. Virginia alone could lose up to 270,000 jobs; a report from George Mason University predicts 207,000. The Defense Department would be cut by $110 Billion in total, payroll taxes would increase 2%, the list goes on and on.

Why Us? One third of Virginia's economy depends on federal spending, 20% on Defense spending. Northern Virginia is inextricably tied to federal contracting. Fairfax County is home to more federal contractors than any county in the nation, and 75% of all of Virginia's jobs that depend on federal spending are Northern Virginian. Fairfax itself is bracing to lose roughly 80,000 jobs.

Virginia is also hugely important to the military. Quantico, Langley, the Pentagon, Fort A.P. Hill and Norfolk Naval Base all lie within our borders. The active duty populations of those bases alone is roughly 128,000, and there are 22 more military bases in Virginia as well. Add the families supported by these installations, and the sweeping effects of these spending cuts and it is clear that Virginia military families would be devastated. Our veteran population is over 822,000, one of the highest in the nation.

So what are we doing about it? Governor McDonnell, and the General Assembly have been aware of this threat, and taken steps to soften the blow that Virginians could feel. Gov. McDonnell is working with state agencies to make an overall 4% cut to help weather the storm. Thanks to the Governor's policies of responsible spending and a healthy business community we have posted a surplus in each of the last 3 years, the most recent of which amounts to nearly $450 million. We have a $30 Million Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) to help bridge the budget divides that would emerge in the case that the cuts take effect.

While those efforts are admirable, and while Virginia is a healthy business state braced for the blow, the hit is still going to be significant. Our Governor and legislature have done what they can to help Virginians prepare. These tax hikes and spending cuts combined are looming over us, and they threaten the livelihood and the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of our friends, our families, and of our fellow Virginians.

VA GOP Caucus

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More Bad News on Obamacare

In 2008, then-Senator Obama promised not to raise taxes. He then set to work crafting his landmark Healthcare Reform Bill, monikered "Obamacare". Since then there have been 19 new taxes or tax hikes found in Obamacare, but that battle is for another day. Today, one of those taxes is invading your privacy and threatening Americans with the IRS if they refuse.

Starting in 2014, Americans will be forced to give their private healthcare information to none other than the friendly neighborhood IRS agent. In January, with the rest of the expected tax-prep forms, will come a new one. This form will assess whether you are complying with Obamacare's "Individual Mandate". 

The "Individual Mandate" was not popular even before Americans delved into it to find out that the law requires the IRS to collect health information, including: Health ID Number,  the ID number of your insurance company, and your length of coverage. All of this is meant to keep the whole country on Obamacare appropriate healthcare plans. Try anything different, and the auditors could be at your door. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates six million American families will have to pay up to $2,085 directly to the government if they fail to find Obamacare-compliant insurance, and then report it directly. That payment goes into the Internal Revenue Code (read: straight to the IRS) and is reported and paid on your 1040. How many of those families are making less than $100,000 per year? This charge is aimed right at the wallets of our middle-class. 

Why? Why is the President: 

1. Raising taxes on firmly Middle-class families at all.
2. Invading the privacy of those families. 
3. Threatening them with the IRS if they don't cough up.

19 new or higher taxes, an estimated 80 million man-hours just to implement it, and now Obamacare will take money directly out of the pockets of the Americans hardest hit by this economic downturn. When will common-sense walk back into this conversation? Don't let the wool be kept on the eyes of America. This bill affects everyone.


VA GOP Caucus

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Richmond Business Gone

Since mid-September, Richmonders have been mourning one of the City's oldest and best-loved restaurants. Bill's Barbecue had been a staple of Richmond dining since 1931. Now the President of the company (who happens to be the Bill's niece) is speaking out about the circumstances that brought that about...

As one of thousands of Virginians who recalls eating Bill's Barbecue since I was a small child, the fact that they were forced out of business is a personal issue. Bill's was the kind of business pillar that brings character, smiles, and jobs to America's local communities. But this is more than just a sad occasion to mourn a great restaurant.

The fact that a business started in the wake of the Great Depression, that had stood for over 80 years could not keep its doors open facing the Obama Administration's costs and regulations is deplorable. For all of his support for small business, the President has not shown much success at supporting it.

There was, just this week, a Wall Street Journal op-ed joint published by editors. The article discussed the eleventh-hour Obama idea of creating a Secretary of Business. The editors have critiqued the idea, and found that the root of the problem was that businesses had no confidence in their ability to succeed. The article proposes that the actual change that needs to happen is not in the Cabinet; it's a bit higher.

 “They’ll [small businesses] invest more and hire more workers if Washington would impose fewer costs, reform the tax code, and stop trying to allocate capital for political reasons. Rebuilding business confidence doesn't require a Secretary of Business but a new President.”  

To someone, every small local business that closes is, in some way, as dear as Bill's Barbecue was to us. While based in economics, this issue affects ourselves and the people around us. Should every business still be smacked by this Administration's tax gauntlet then compacted by pressing regulations? Should the Obama Administration be allowed to sink hundreds of millions into government-backed energy companies that are failing?

The answer is, "Not while American small businesses are suffering." Those businesses are made up of people, and as the video says, we as the people cannot afford another four years of what we have been dealing with for the last four years. Bill's is just one example of the cost of this kind of hostile business climate. There are small businesses worrying over their ability to stay in the race everywhere, and those worries demand a change.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Tim Kaine's New Ad: Fluffy, and Without Substance

Tim Kaine's campaign has come out with a brand new ad. The 30-second spot shows Kaine reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with a classroom full of school children (interesting since Kaine cut education) and admonishing Virginia to be "indivisible".

Come on. Tim Kaine has been a wholesaler of the DNC's pre-packaged and irresponsible policies, and Blue Virginia has been a wholesaler of Kaine. "Indivisible" is not a word that I would expect either of these hyper-partisans to be too familiar with.

Let's not start a vendetta on teamwork. Working together is never a bad idea in and of itself. But is Tim Kaine (former DNC Chairman, current Obama Campaign talking-head) really the person to be lecturing Virginia about it? Tim Kaine supports Defense cuts that would divide over 200,000 Virginians from their jobs. 

When it comes to Virginia's financial future, look at the record. Tim's crucial 2010-2012 Budget proposal met with an indivisible 97-0 "Nay" in the House of Delegates. If Mr. Kaine is so bi-partisan, then why is there no lack bi-partisan support against him?

VA GOP Caucus

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New Epidemic in the Fourth Estate, Benghazi-phobia?

This morning's news ticker on many of the generic news-board homepages of America blink across a number of titles. Tebow could get traded to the Jaguars, Disney will be putting out new Star Wars films, and Octo-mom could go to rehab; all of these languish on yahoo.com's rotating spin-wheel of pop-pieces.

The real story is what is not listed. Several American lives were lost on foreign soil with no hope of aid. Is there nothing for anyone to explain? It has been weeks since September 11, when the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya was the subject of a deadly attack. Hardly a word of explanation has been uttered to the American people. The mainstream media has simply glossed it over and moved on. But this story is a sleeping giant; there are obvious inconsistencies in the narrative of the administration and their response.

If there was a US drone (or two) diverted to fly over the site of the riots, why would Secretary Panetta imply that he dealt with a lack of real-time information? If Ambassador Stephens had asked just weeks earlier to keep his 16-man security team for fears of just such an attack, why was security at its weakest? If emails and calls sent during the attack show that even the personnel inside the consulate knew this was no protest gone-astray, why would President Obama initially pin the blame to a YouTube video? 

If all of these facts don't add up (and they don't), why has the Fourth Estate not turned their hawk-eyes to the tragedy instead of NBC's Wednesday night line-up? How, when we have lost servants of our society on foreign soil who had no hope of aid, are we not eager to ask questions? How, in the face of a President who seems to be in no hurry to explain his blatant mis-handling of a foreign tragedy, do journalists nation-wide not cry for accountability? Why is no one handling this other than Fox News?


Why? Volume and bias.

According to Jonah Goldberg's story for the New York Post, "I don’t think there’s a conspiracy at work. Rather, I think journalists tend to act on their instincts. And, collectively, the mainstream media’s instincts run liberal."

The mainstream media is sitting in the journalistic equivalent of Willy Wonka's factory at the moment. They are reporting an election, an upheaval of a football season, a super-storm, and the list goes on. Maybe Benghazi got covered up, not by intent, but by intuitive bias.

But with so many questions surrounding the cause, the intent, the response, and the explanation of the Obama Administration, is this a story that the media's inherent bias should be allowed to sweep under the rug? Is such an inherent bias even acceptable in the world's supposed leading proponent of objective reporting?

VA GOP Caucus

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Voter Suppression in Chicago?

A horrible crime has taken place. Right here in the U.S. of A., in Illinois, voter suppression-style ID laws are being used to keep down the vote. These racist pollsters had the gall to ask this African-American (pictured below) early voter to show his identification to cast his ballot.

Delegates Morrissey and McClellan! Where are you to crusade?! 

(Picture credit: USA Today, MANDEL, NGAN, AFP/Getty Images)

President Obama quipped to pollsters about the suspicious lack of gray hair in the driver's license he showed to Chicago electoral workers. Democratic efforts to offset their disadvantage on Election Day by urging early voting and absentee ballots have been in full swing. President Obama himself tweeted his supporters to "join me".

While all across the nation, blue-staters decry the unfair "vote suppressing" that follows voter identification laws; in Illinois, the greatest among them had no problem whatsoever presenting his, as required by law, to vote early.

Recent developments in Virginia as well as other locales across the nation have led many to believe that Democratic poll tampering is a real risk in this election. Does that have something to do with the deafening silence that we are hearing from the usual proponents of the absurd idea of "voter suppression"?


VA GOP Caucus

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Moran-gate: Defrauding For Dad

While election season is in full swing in the Commonwealth, there are some who would defraud Virginia's voters. Jim Moran's campaign has come under serious scrutiny concerning just such a crime. His own son, Patrick, is seen in the video below explaining in detail how to rig the election for his father.

"This couldn't be," you may say. "Not such a scrutinized individual in such a well-publicized campaign" you may say. There are certainly political jackals waiting in the wings to upset the voting records; but such a blatant attempt by the son of a prominent Democratic Congressman is completely unthinkable, right?

NOPE. Patrick Moran has been caught trying to steal votes for the Democratic side of the aisle by facilitating the "legitimate efforts" of an objective reporter. This is the SON OF AN ELEVEN TERM CONGRESSMAN teaching this videographer how to precisely and thoroughly execute voter fraud. Patrick has worked on many of his father's campaigns by now.

If there were no other evidence of voter fraud in Virginia, that would be one thing. But, the fact is that there have been documented instances of tampering with the polls here in the Commonwealth. This particular piece of evidence comes from Project Veritas.

Why?

The fact is proven in the video that there is a real dilemma here in Virginia, a dilemma of Democratic poll tampering. Patrick Moran has very clearly tried to change Virginia's votes. What is to be done? Tampering with polls in Virginia clearly undermines the integrity of our electoral process.

Today's Washington Post even includes a soft, defending article showcasing the loving words of Patrick's uncle Brian Moran, the state Democratic Party chairman.

“Patrick Moran is my nephew and a good kid,” Brian Moran said in a statement. “He has taken responsibility and has stepped down from the Moran campaign. The Democratic Party of Virginia is an organization that stands for free and open participation in our elections and we oppose even the appearance of any effort to undermine those values.”

That does not make it okay. I hope that Senator McEachin has already asked the Attorney General to investigate this. The kind of tactics that these Democratic campaigners are willing to stoop to is clearly unacceptable to Virginia. There is no end to the tactics that such people will go to to win a political race. Have a look at the video below, maybe the facts will crystallize themselves.

Voter fraud is no joking matter. It has been attempted in many states, Virginia included it seems. DO NOT let our electoral process be hijacked by unscrupulous politicians seeking unjust gain ever again. The problem is endemic, the cure is simple. Let us be governed by a fair and integral electoral process, not a politician's son's idea of "fair".

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Fairfax County is in Sequestration Cross-hairs

Though the massive Federal spending cuts known as sequestration are set to start in January, one of Virginia's most prominent counties is already feeling the depressing effects. Fairfax County, in the shadow of the Capital Beltway, is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. Yet they stand poised to take a hard hit when Federal contracts start to dry up.

The county, in such proximity with Washington, is tied to Federal contracting in a big way.  Many Federal employees (whose careers are on the line in this dilemma) and their families call Fairfax home. Fairfax County only gets 1% of its general fund money from Federal contracts, but business in the area is tied up inextricably in Federal procurement. When the subcontractors and other smaller industry tied to Federal research and development feel the hit from these huge cuts, they will be in no position to respond to the kind of adversity they will go through.

The actual numbers are staggering. Fairfax accounted for a total of 26 Billion dollars-worth of Federal contract money in 2011 alone; thats more than any other locality in America. Economist Stephen Fuller, of George Mason University, warns that if these massive impending cuts are allowed to go through that Fairfax alone could lose 86,000 jobs.

For just one county in our Commonwealth to suffer on that scale is unthinkable. The backlash on Virginia as a whole would be worse even still. The effects of these cuts are being felt even before they are put into effect. Businesses are holding off on expanding, there is lower consumer confidence, and some businesses are already taking precautionary cuts hoping to avoid having to ostensibly shut their doors.

We need common-sense leadership in our Congress, able to reach out to constituents and reach across the aisle as well to come to some agreement to avert this catastrophic "cliff" that we, along with Fairfax County, are about to fall off. The alternative is by no means acceptable.

VA GOP Caucus

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Less Horses and Bayonets? Less Jobs in Virginia

Last night's third and final presidential debate left this morning's news cycles abuzz. Each news provider has chosen their particular winner and explained why; but by-and-large there were no huge gains or hidden pitfalls evident. Whereas President Obama relied on sarcastic barbs and attacks, Mitt Romney held his ground with dignity and portrayed himself as an attractive alternative to Obama(rather than the warmonger that the President's campaign has painted him as.)

Romney did strike one of the most valid points of recent weeks in the debate; calling out the Obama campaign on its mudslinging, and its very spin-heavy attack ad schedule. "Attacking me is not an agenda."

There was, however, a part of the debate that directly affected us here in the Commonwealth. Mitt Romney pointed out the valid fact that our navy is in a dire state. Mr. Romney cited that we have less ships now than at any time since 1917. This report confirms Romney's claims. Obama jabbed back something sarcastic and off-topic about bayonets, and the debate moved on.

But wait. Here in Virginia, we have the largest naval base in the world on our coastline. That base employs thousands of Virginia's military employees. The cuts that Barack Obama will allow to our military will hit Virginia hard and there will be no way to turn that hit aside with a witty remark. The President has seriously misstepped here when it comes to one of the most influential and contested swing-states in the Union. Us.

Looking out for Virginian jobs, Mr. President? What about the 12,000 men and women employed right there in Norfolk? 

Governor McDonnell has stated on Facebook similarly just this morning that:

"President Obama's dismissive comments about the Navy tonight should be concerning for any voter who cares about the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad. President Obama has not only ignored these concerns -- but his flippant comment about 'horses and bayonets' was an insult to every sailor who has put his or her life on the line for our country."

Governor McDonnell is right. President Obama must have a very droll debate coach, but a quick comeback in a debate is not the same as a comeback in the economy and in the world. Mr. Romney has laid out his plan to support the Navy, and thereby Virginia jobs. President Obama has openly announced these cuts that would directly threaten those same jobs. The facts are there, and witty or not, Barack Obama is not the man to represent Virginia's military families.

Tim Kaine's Tap Dancing "Leadership" Isn't Right for Virginia

The final debate between former Governor George Allen and former Governor Tim Kaine was crucial and telling. One of the starkest contrasts between the two candidates was on the subject of micro-unions. The full question is below, but the responses were more interesting.

"The National Labor Relations Board has recently made several decisions that would allow labor unions to form smaller bargaining units than what was allowed previously.  Do you agree with the NLRB position of allowing these smaller bargaining units, sometimes referred to as ‘micro-unions’?"

Tim Kaine did his usual non-answering dance around the question, because he has not been a friend to Virginia's business community. Kaine does not even get past his generalities until about 30 seconds from the end of this video. From then on he proceeds to take a very hazy stance, if any at all, on the issue of micro-unions or the NLRB. We don't need generalities in the Senate, and we certainly don't need someone who is either confused about what they believe, or is too embarrassed to tell Virginia what those beliefs are.

Governor Allen on the other hand, took a stand in his response. He supports small business and the fact that Virginia is a right-to-work state. He understands what is needed to improve Virginia's and America's small business climate and it is clear from his response that he is interested in doing it the fair way; the Virginia way.  We know that George Allen will stand up to bullying unions and strangling regulations. In the video below, he states his position very clearly and eloquently. That honesty and concern for business may have helped him recently receive the endorsement of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

VA GOP Caucus

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Del. Comstock Calls MSNBC the Way She Sees It

Yesterday while speaking on behalf of the Romney Campaign, Virginia's own Barbara Comstock made a bold stand and pointed out hypocrisy where she saw it. While discussing the Lilly Ledbetter Act, Ms. Comstock pointed out that MSNBC itself does not pay its female employees equally.  What's more, Andrea Mitchell agreed on air that this was a factual statement.

Since MSNBC does not even pretend to be an objective media source, pointing out their inequal practices is a particularly poignant point when heard over their squawking and attacks on Governor Romney. Womens' equality is a very serious issue facing America, and MSNBC should not be able to simply ignore its own duplicity for political gain.

In an article done for Mediaite describing the issue, MSNBC tweets their outrage back but unsurprisingly avoids actually answering the question of equal pay for its female employees.

VA GOP Caucus

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Voices Without a Vote: Insight from Young Americans

These young Americans have their eye on our civil liberties. They also happen to take a very poignant quotation from one of the great leaders of our time, as well.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction."

                                                -Ronald Reagan

From the mouths of babes, as has often been said, fly pearls of wisdom. I hope that anyone watching will share this video with their family and friends. This election is coming down to the wire and this video is the kind of honest, passionate communicating that America needs.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Business Responds to Obamacare's 29-Hour Threat

Barack Obama is happy to talk about the intention of his landmark legislation, but seems a lot more reticent to discuss the implication. Adding millions of new forced insurance policies that businesses have not budgeted and cannot afford, Obamacare is poised to hit America's middle and lower classes.

Darden Restaurants, an Orlando-based company representing a wide array of restaurants from Olive Garden to Red Lobster, is in the midst of a disconcerting experiment. They are taking 4 of their home markets and cutting their employees' hours to 29 or below. Why?

The Affordable Care Act. 

Obamacare dictates any business employing a worker for 30 or more hours a week must either provide healthcare or else. With no plan, no money, and only more regulation coming down the pipes from the Federal Government, companies are being forced to make difficult choices when it comes to that 29 hour line.

We saw this coming. When this kind of cost and regulation is imposed on businesses that are already hard-hit by the economic mess we are in, the only recourse is to cut, slash, shrink, or close your doors. That means less jobs, lower wages, and less capital for those businesses to expand our economy.

The price of one worker that must turn to a healthcare exchange as a result of Obamacare, is a $3,000 fine. Put that into the scope of Darden's almost 2,000 restaurants nationwide, and business in America is going to have some SERIOUS work to do or bills to pay in the future. This kind of forceful regulation will not only hit big companies, my friends. Small businesses are even LESS able to afford this kind of financial burden.

When a business as large as Darden gets really into this nightmare of a pass at healthcare reform, the fact becomes clear that there is no way to keep costs down as far as they need to be. These problems will migrate up the coast to Virginia as well, folks. Our small business community sits in the crosshairs of these regulations.

Full story available here

VA GOP Caucus

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"Fiscal Cliff"-hanger for 90% of Americans

Photo Credit to PA Pundits - International

On January 2nd, many sleepy eyed middle class families in America will not see only the Sun rise, but their taxes as well. This hike isn't going to be some inconsequential few pennies, either. The average household is going in the hole for $3,500.

This action is known as "The Fiscal Cliff". Not the most heartening moniker, but that will be the day that many tax cuts, including those that took place under George W. Bush, will expire, forcing higher tax rates on middle class families in both income and capital gains.

President Obama is in a staring contest with Congress, and with the American populous. Should all of these provisions expire, and on January 2nd, 2013 they will, the total extra money owed to the Federal government would come to $536 billion. These findings come from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

For all of the rhetoric about this administration "protecting" the middle class, they are about to stick their hands deep in their pockets. Tax rates are going to rise across the board, hitting low earners and high earners. Some Americans could see their after-tax income cut by as much as 10 percent.

Barack Obama has to realize that he is not a Washington Redskin, and that he cannot just keep punting America's problems down the field. This problem is looming and it is serious, the time has come to stop stalling, Mr. President.

VA GOP Caucus

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SNL's Obama: A Cute Illustration of an Acute Problem

This past Saturday, the popular skit show Saturday Night Live, long known for their comedy gold during Presidential elections, performed a mock-up rally for Barack Obama (played by Jay Pharoah) in Ohio. The skit was a riot, mainly covering "Barack" trying to defend his handling of the economy.

Confronted with an audience badly hit by the economy, the "President" just could not find a beneficiary of his administration anywhere. Heck, the only excited man at the rally seems to be a drug dealer (played by Bill Hader).

The video is embedded below. 

Without ruining some of the better lines, the writers did strike a chord and, while funny, many of the jabs ring close to the truth. While desperate to scan his "crowd" for someone, anyone, whose job was created during his term, "Barack" stumbles on actor Keenan Thompson playing an Ohioan. Thompson proudly offers that he now "chase[s] raccoons out of foreclosed houses."

Though the skit is funny, unfortunately the jokes pretty much write themselves looking around Obama's America today. Wading through months of the highest unemployment rate in decades, dragging a heavy healthcare bill that we haven't even begun to implement, Obama has a lot to answer to the American people for; and we are not laughing.

Judging by his dismal performance at clipping unemployment, viewers couldn't have been surprised to hear "Barack" share his economic secret... He runs the nation like the movie 6th Sense; "I see employed people"..."One day you'll all be Bruce Willis and realize you were employed the whole time".

Problem is, at the end of this real four year farce, there is no "Applause" button for the real Barack to press.

Have a look; the skit is hilarious.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Small Business Suffocating from Obama Regulations

A new study of American small businesses brings us ominous, if predictable, news. American small business owners are reaching out to make their voices heard finally when it comes to Obama's strangling regulatory ambitions.

The Washington Examiner article detailing the study (commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers) reveals that 55% of small business owners say that they would not have started their business in the economic climate that this President is cultivating today. 

A full 69% of those polled say that the President is to blame for the woes that their businesses are weathering. Even more disconcerting is the 67% majority answer that these business owners gave when asked if they thought that today's economic situation was safe enough to expand or hire workers.

67% answered "no". When the scope of American small business is considered, the reality of that answer is outright frightening; especially to the millions of unemployed Americans that the President seems to think he does not have to answer to.

This poll is not as partisan as some would assume, either. Only 46% of the owners answering these questions identified themselves as Republicans. These are not just Republican worries, these are American realities; and they should concern any American; blue or red.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Richmond Doctors Dump Obamacare

photo credit goes to unitedliberty.org

When puzzled about plumbing, you would listen closely to the opinions of a plumber. When you are confused about cars, it would be best to consult a mechanic. Why should healthcare be different?


When it comes to Obamacare, there are a lot of confused people out there, and a ludicrous amount of work and reading to do before that changes (See our earlier post about Obama's 80-Million-Hour Problem). So America has to turn elsewhere for an informed opinion on how this...thing will affect our lives.

Today, there is an article in Style detailing the opinions of Richmond doctors on Obamacare. The Richmond Academy of Medicine hosted a dinner with U.Va.'s Larry Sabato where a mock election was held, as well as a mock referendum on Obama's Affordable Care Act.

The numbers came back overwhelmingly against the law; and, while the poll was informal, gave an interesting insight into the opinions held by the Commonwealth's caregivers.

The numbers came back showing a tidy Romney victory in November, Cantor and Longo winning in the House, and George Allen for Senate. While the sample size is small and the poll unofficial, it begets optimism to know that some of Virginia's most educated and well-informed professionals fall against this attempted "solution", and that our caregivers support a common-sense fix to the issues that face us today.

VA GOP Caucus

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New Study Shows Obama's Food Stamp Mistakes

In 2008, Barack Obama calmly, deliberately, and with full knowledge of his actions signed away the 1996 Welfare Reform rule stipulating that, after three months, recipients of food stamps who are able-bodied adults with no dependents can only continue to receive food stamps if they are in some way working. The provision was buried in his economic stimulus bill, and the signature met with booming applause...

...Fast forward to now. Social entitlements are limping, and the integrity of our welfare programs is waning. Since Obama signed the rule out, a Congressional Research Service study has found that people are flocking in unheard-of numbers to get onto food stamps.

The President has made a monster. The rolls of the food stamp program have swelled from 1.9 million people to 3.9 million. This is not normal growth under a recession economy. To double such a program's amount of beneficiaries so quickly is inundating, financially and socially.

Even though the suspension of this crucial rule has expired (in 2010), Obama does not care. Congress refused to back him on extending the suspensions in 2011 and 2012. But Barack has been side-stepping Congress. Even though food stamps are a useful safety net, the practice of abusing the privilege has become laughably easy and the cost could sink the program by sheer force of numbers.

VA GOP Caucus

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Obama's 80 Million Man-Hour Mess

The House Committee on Ways and Means has taken the time to compile an estimate of the amount of hours necessary to implement Obama's healthcare bill. The total came to just under 80 million hours. 

Now let's put aside this absurd, border-line-hilarious amount of work that it will take to implement the legislation. Let's forget that we're going to be inundating a beleaguered healthcare system with millions of new patients without adding a single new doctor. Let's get to the root of the matter.

 Just who, I ask, will this laughably morbid span of man-hours fall on?

Small businesses. 

This pile of work will land where the President has always aimed it to land. Right in the laps of America's middle class. There is no denying that Obamacare itself is a ponderous pile of paper that most of America has not even begun to read. But the pile is growing.

According to a Washington Examiner article, "Obamacare has resulted in thousands of pages in IRS and Treasury rules including 17 regulations, 5 revenue procedures, 2 revenue rulings, and 14 Treasury decisions". When it comes to Obamacare, small business beware. 

VA GOP Caucus

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MD Dem Driven Out Over Voter FRAUD; What More is There to See?

Delegates Morrissey and McClellan -- this is how democrats try to win. Today in the Washington Post, Congressional candidate Wendy Rosen withdrew from her 1st District race with conservative Andy Harris over allegations of VOTER FRAUD. To Delegates Morrissey and McClellan: what more is there to see?

To the chorale of voter "suppression" advocates, this is getting a little absurd. The Democratic Party of Maryland was the group to first realize that Rosen had voted in her native Florida, as well as Maryland, in the 2006 General Election as well as the 2008 Dem Primaries.  Rosen has withdrawn and is keeping her lid shut on the matter, (ostensibly) until an investigation has been conducted.


Rosen's own party has ousted her for voting in 2 states in 2 separate elections. This news has come at a very inopportune time for MD Democrats. It is now too late to put another Dem name on the ballot. Furthermore Rosen may have more to fear from the docket. Voter fraud is a clear violation of Maryland law and if she is found out, Rosen could stand to face a judge once this is all over.

How long until the denial stops? This is a perfect example of the kind of underhanded tactics that are being used to hijack America's democracy today, and there is no excuse not to simply ascertain that registered voters are, in fact, who they say they are. Even President Obama's Department of Justice has confirmed Virginia's laws to be fair. Who needs to fear the process of legitimizing American elections?

The evidence is glaring, and even the middle agrees that there is a need for these laws in the 21st Century. The question remains, folks.

What more is there to see?

VA GOP Caucus

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Elizabeth Warren's Full Wallet and Empty Speech

Candidate Elizabeth Warren played warm-up for former-President Bill Clinton last night at the DNC. The Massachusetts senatorial hopeful took the stage to an enthusiastic crowd chant reminiscent of a day-time talk show. Her campaign against incumbent Senator Scott Brown has been heavy-hitting on wealthy Americans.

Warren used much of her speech to rail against Wall Street and Mitt Romney; not an unpredictable move, but what the heck. She spoke with fire and verve about stock brokers "Strutting around like we should thank them." and about the idiocy of "risky [Wall St.] bets". She spoke of her closeness with the middle class, and her down home roots.

That may be what she said, but the facts shine a different light on Ms. Warren. The salary from her cushy Harvard job totals $700,000. Though she rails against Wall Street, Warren has a portfolio that totals $8 million. Never mind that she is on the record as saying members of Congress shouldn't own stock.

She must really sympathize with middle class working Americans from the $5 million 
                                                     house that she lives in. 

Elizabeth thinks that the wealthy should pay more taxes, huh? Then why did she not choose the Massachusetts higher tax rate this year for people in her (not so middle class) tax bracket?

Ms. Warren, when you are given the choice to pay more taxes, after publicly and loudly and often railing against millionaires just like you, why not do it?

Last night, Warren ended her speech with the phrase "We are all called to act". Does that not include her?

VA GOP Caucus

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Obama Undercuts Clinton

A Richmond Times-Dispatch Op. Ed. about President Obama's real position on welfare came out today. President Obama has announced a program to waive "Mandatory Work Requirements" that have been part of Welfare since 1996.

To spell this out, Obama is planning on releasing waivers to states that want to try "alternative" methods when it comes to welfare. These alternative methods include interesting terms like "multi-year career paths"(read: you don't have to be employed and working to pay into the system that you are taking from) and "a comprehensive universal engagement system in lieu of certain [work] participation-rate requirements." 

The important words are "in lieu of". Those three words will allow your government to accept non-work where once work was required. This, by definition, is destroying the "Mandatory Work Requirement". 

Is the patent unfairness of this kind of accountability-free government money fountain apparent 
                                                                  to anyone else? 

A full 15% of Americans are on food-stamps. President Obama's lowest spending year for welfare is $70 Billion greater than George W. Bush's Administration's highest spending year. Obama's highest spending year is nearly twice the Bush White House's highest. 

Passed in 1996, those requirements were a huge bi-partisan accomplishment of then-President Bill Clinton. While Clinton is acting as one of the Obama campaign's most reliable and important salesmen, Barack Obama is tearing down one of his landmark bi-partisan achievements? 

So, the President is stepping on his friend Bill's toes to climb the ladder, forgetting about the accountability measures that made welfare viable to all voters in the first place. 

VA GOP Caucus

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DNC: ID Please?

Virginia Delegation, if you are headed to the DNC, don't forget your ID. The Virginia Delegation to the DNC has already been warned to be on their best behavior this week... Surprisingly, though, without a state-issued identification card, they won't be able to get in at all.

This week in Charlotte, attendees at the Democratic National Convention are going to be required to prove their identity to get in... There is a clear disconnect here. Why can't everyone just provide their name and be who they say they are?

Democrats have come out against voter identification across the board. Page 52, Democratic Platform, "we refuse to allow political pretexts to disenfranchise American citizens." And yet they see their convention as a more important venue to identify participants than voting for the national election. This seems very much political, and indeed is a pretext.

The facts bear that there is little difference between what the Democratic National Committee is doing, and what Virginia Democrats are on such a rampage over.

Have a look at the DNC's website sign-up. About one third of the way down the page is that oh-so-important sentence that puts the Democratic argument against voter identification on its head.

The message that is being sent is: a person needs an ID to simply WATCH President Obama SPEAK, but the need for an ID to vote, a far more important function than a party convention, is unreasonable...

VA GOP Caucus

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Governor Bob McDonnell Galvanizes the RNC

Governor McDonnell's superb speech yesterday at the RNC brought with it a refreshingly positive message of hope. The Governor took a prime time spot in the succession last night of Republican governors and luminaries. His speech was one predicting a change away from the nanny-state entitlement society and into an "Opportunity society".

He kept powerful control of the numbers, reminding listeners that 7 of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment are led by Republicans as well as 12 of the 15 best states for business.

McDonnell serves as the chair of the Republican Governors' Association.  He challenged his audience to imagine "...what we could do if we had a president who would support us, not obstruct us." 

Virginia has not been a fortunate state as far as the Obama campaign goes, and the Governor was not afraid to say so. He noted the famous Biden "chains" gaffe in Danville, as well as the fact that our Vice President seemed to think that he was in North Carolina that day. The speech also highlighted President Obama's infamous "You didn't build that" comment; which occurred in Roanoke.

Stitching references of his own life into it, Gov. McDonnell connected with Americans in his speech. He spoke of his own grandparents' journey to America from Ireland, and his daughter's service in the Military. At the conclusion of his speech, he deferred to a small business owner from Virginia to testify to the truth behind his statements. Truly, an inspiring speech.

Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch article on his speech here.

See the Governor's speech below.




VA GOP Caucus

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Every Second Counts: Del. Comstock Wastes No Words in RNC Speech

                         

Tuesday afternoon, Delegate Barbara Comstock started up the stairs to the main stage of the Republican National Convention. Her speech was only three minutes long, but Delegate Comstock made it count.

Delegate Comstock tore into Obama for his willingness to play chicken with sequestration. She stood up to the establishment on the matter of jobs in Virginia, saying "his (Obama's) budget failure threatens to slash 200,000 national security and high-tech jobs in Virginia."

Comstock held nothing back when speaking on the job killing policies of this administration, and the common-sense plan that our Republican candidates are bringing to the table. 

Congratulations on the honor of a speaking role Delegate Comstock.

Photo Credit to Virginian-Pilot; read the original article here

2016: Obama's America Surging in Box Offices Across the Nation

In 2010, news and academic publications were holding up the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012 for all the world to see. Now that 2012 has arrived, the people could not care less about it. The attitude of the nation may now be to move up our doomsday deadline by about 4 years - 2016. Taking a hard look into the future, one author and film maker may be giving us a new viewpoint, on a different kind of doomsday, if Barack Obama is re-elected President in his film 2016: Obama's America. 

Numbers don't lie; the movie has made a big splash. In one week, the sphere of theatres playing 2016 has expanded from 169 to 1,091. Thats increasing about four-fold. 2016 is or will soon be playing in your area, and we encourage you to consider seeing it.

The documentary, by director and author Dinesh D'Souza, takes a hard look into the cloudy origins and upbringing of our nation's 44th President. While honest, the view is anything but glowing. D'Souza uncovers and highlights the anti-colonial dreams of Obama's estranged, socialist father, for whom Barack is named.

2016 also takes into account the geo-political climate of the middle east, interviews with the Obama family, and the psychological effects of absent fathers on their children's development. An interview with the former U.S. Comptroller General, David Walker, also provides a sombre but accurate depiction of the United States' debt situation.

As D'Souza seeks out interviews with Obama's siblings and relatives, many of whom are scattered to the wind, from far-flung Indonesia (Obama's boyhood home) all the way to Nairobi, a theme begins to emerge. He is unsuccessful in soliciting an interview with the President's aunt Sarah.

There are many starkly straight-forward quotations from Barack Obama's own book in the movie. Some excerpts are taken from the CD and feature Obama's own voice. Considering some of the facts, quotations, and numbers that come to light in the documentary, it could have a serious impact on this year's election.

VA GOP Caucus

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Obama's DOJ approves Virginia Voter ID LAWS.

Senator Don McEachin, Delegate Joe Morrissey, and Delegate Jennifer McClellan were proven wrong again today when they said Virginia's voter ID laws were discriminatory. Even the Obama administration agrees that these laws are appropriate.

The Department of Justice has now confirmed the legitimacy of Virginia's Voter Identification law. The official announcement came from Governor Bob McDonnell Monday night, and is a big stride in assuring Virginians that in November's election, and in the future Virginia electoral process, we keep fraud out of the Commonwealth.

Opponents of the plan have labeled it discriminatory. However, Virginia's reasonable, common-sense Voter ID law is a legitimate way to ensure Virginia's elections. This is a step in the right direction to making sure Virginians have a voice in their government through their vote.


To see the full article detailing Gov. McDonnell's announcement, click here

VA GOP Caucus

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Fmr. Gov. Wilder Smashes Biden over 'Chains' Remarks

Earlier today in an interview with CNN, former Democratic Governor Douglas Wilder railed against the racially insensitive remarks that Vice President Joe Biden made earlier this week during a Danville campaign stop. Wilder warned the Vice President, "Slavery is nothing to joke about" and that "As far as I am concerned, the President would not associate himself with those remarks."


Biden's comments, including "they are going to put y'all back in chains" and "With your help...we can win North Carolina", have raised serious questions about Biden's contributions to the campaign. Wilder even goes so far as to suggest the President would be better off switching running-mates in the full interview.


For the full article, click HERE

VA GOP Caucus

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Bowles and Biden: Democratic Double-Edged Swords?

In this Presidential Election cycle, former President Bill Clinton has thrown his considerable political weight around to both sides at one time or another; but a recently unearthed clip of his former Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles shows across-the-aisle support for recent VP pick Paul Ryan and his budget blueprint.

Bowles is seen addressing a group, asking "Have you met Paul Ryan? ... I'm telling you, this guy is amazing." He goes on to compliment Ryan's sincerity, his straight-forwardness, AND his Budget plan.

The video would make a dynamite ad, and no one can blame Bowles for supporting responsible fiscal policy, now can they?

Especially as VP Joe Biden visited Danville in southside Virginia recently. On his visit Biden extolled to a largely African American crowd (Danville, VA is 49% African American) that Republicans "Will put you back in chains." That's not to mention the Vice President's ending line at his VIRGINIA stop. "With you, and I mean this; with you, we can win North Carolina."

...Inspiring words from the man who is one heartbeat from the Presidency.

This comes as the Obama campaign is trying to shake Mitt Romney's obviously reasonable assertion that the President is running an "angry and divisive" campaign. President Obama's campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter even met the press to say "We have no problem with those comments."

Have a look here at these two videos. The first shows Bowles being intelligent, the second shows Biden being the opposite.


 


Video credit goes to the Weekly Standard and CNN respectively.

Soledad's Subjectivism: A Deplorable Study in Media Bias

Breitbart has reported on a serious journalism faux pas this morning,

In a recent interview on CNN with House Republican Barbara Comstock on Vice Presidential pick Congressman Paul Ryan, Soledad O'Brien may have gotten caught on camera with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar. The jar being a left-wing blog's attack column against Ryan, and her hand being...well, her hand.

As O'Brien hammered Comstock on Ryan's landmark budget proposal, she became "visibly flustered" and one unlucky cameraman caught Soledad flipping vigorously through what she claimed to be an official statement from the office of Senator Wyden of Oregon.

This was, in fact, not the case.

The blog, Talking Points Memo, is a well known left-wing crusade board; the article, titled "The Myth of Paul Ryan Bi-Partisan Leader". As if O'Brien's bias were not explicit enough, another guest in the same segment (President Obama's campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter) was treated to O'Brien with no notes whatsoever. Not that she would have needed them; she kindly tossed Cutter a few fluff questions. Very objective, Ms. O'Brien.

The full Breitbart article is available HERE

VA GOP Caucus

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Notice the paper in her hand around 2:30 or so on the video. That's no statement from Senator Wyden...

Georgians Crush Tax Increase

As reported by the Drudge Report this morning, taxpayers in the Atlanta Metro region overwhelmingly defeated a $7.2 billion transportation referendum.

There were a number of elections in Georgia yesterday and the voters in the Atlanta Metro region had the opportunity to allow a tax increase. They made it quite clear that a 1% sales tax increase wasn't in their 10-year plan...

It should also be noted that the advocates for the 10-year, 1% sales tax increase raised $8 million while the opponents came out victorious with contributions totalling only $15 thousand.

Maybe a tax increase isn’t a good idea in Virginia either…

To see the full article, click HERE. 

Del. Head's Op Ed: Yes, We DID Build That

Recently Delegate Chris Head published an Opinion piece in the Roanoke Times. In it, Head boldly points out the flaws in Obama's economic priorities after the recent fall out from a speech where the President exclaimed, "If you've got a business, you didn't build that".

Head goes on to analyze some of Mr. Obama's other comments as well. The attitude that the President is promoting takes away from the hours of sweat and labor that America's business owners have put in to make their businesses great. He bravely fires back that Government has no real money. Government takes their money from the taxpayers. Those taxpayers take their money from the business that they start and contribute to.

Obama shouldn't be the one criticizing business; he has worked diligently to hinder their growth through new regulations, Obamacare, and reckless government spending. This President has been no friend of the businessman in his term and he is railing against those same people here. Delegate Head's Op Ed is a refreshing breath of common sense in a time when it seems this Administration has abandoned it.

To see the full Op Ed, go here

VA GOP Caucus

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Senator Louise Lucas' Ludicrous Comments on Racism Smack of Desperation

State Senator Louise Lucas was recently on a radio show in the Commonwealth to speak on behalf of the campaign for President Obama. In it she strayed way off of her talking points...

Sen. Lucas set out on her idea of a racial crusade against Mitt Romney and his Virginian cronies, who "only want to see a white man in the White House". This kind of renegade attack on the Republicans comes as poll numbers in Virginia turn neck and neck. Virginia being a key swing state, is this the kind of wacky, completely untrue kind of tactics that the Dems are going to use to turn the vote?

(Never mind that Virginia was the first state since Reconstruction to elect an African American Governor)

Ms. Lucas' comments indicate that Democratic leaders such as Senator Dick Saslaw and Delegate David Toscano should step down because they must be running the machine in Virginia's General Assembly, I guess?

Read the full article HERE

VA GOP Caucus

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Fairfax County & VDOT Call the EPA's $500 Million Rainwater Regulations a Washout

Two Federal lawsuits have been recently filed. One from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the other filed by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on behalf of VDOT; both challenging the EPA's new regulations on storm run-off into Accotink Creek.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is Democratically controlled. If even a liberal leaning civic board is against these idiotic regulations, what argument is there to be had?

This article in the Fairfax Connection Newspaper explains in full detail.

These regulations actually establish a total maximum amount of water that can flow into the creek. Rather than targeting pollutants, the EPA has decided to restrict the very thing that the Clean WATER Act is designed to protect.

To hold back the excess, Fairfax County (among only 4 communities in the nation to be put under such regulations) would have to acquire acres of private property and spend upwards of half a billion dollars to keep WATER out of A CREEK?!


Fairfax County has, since 2006, poured 300 million taxpayer dollars into the stewardship of its wetlands, creeks, and rivers. This regulation could cost a further $500 million and would be economically disastrous for the county, the people, and the property affected. It's time to let the EPA know that Virginia stands for common-sense conservation and not ecological tyrrany. 


VA GOP Caucus


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