Category Archives: Virginia Politics
Cuccinelli Declares Candidacy for Governor in 2013
Wow, the end of the week has certainly been busy in Virginia politics, as Ken Cuccinelli has declared he will be running for the Republican nomination for Governor, and Mark Obenshain has declared that he will be exploring a bid for Attorney General in 2013. While Cuccinelli’s decision to run for Governor caught many by surprise, it will nonetheless provide some excitement at the RPV Advance this weekend. (I am sad to say that I will not be in attendance this year, due to some other scheduling conflicts…i.e., it is the last road race of the season…more on this later.)
Cuccinelli said in a letter to his staff at the Office of the Attorney General (Source: WTVR):
OAG colleagues,
You have likely heard in the media the many rumors about an announcement of a run for governor. While I wanted to wait to announce a candidacy until after the General Assembly session, as the rumors swirl, I find it necessary to put them to rest.
After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to run for governor in 2013. I have always intended to let you know before the media. Shortly after you receive this email, I will be sending a statement to the media announcing my candidacy.
Being attorney general is the best job of my life, and working with so many bright and dedicated professionals in this office has made it a true joy.
We have protected vulnerable citizens from fraud, worked to get gangs off the streets through intervention as well as prosecution, saved taxpayers from millions in Medicaid fraud, fought for fair utility prices for consumers, provided our clients with official legal opinions that have never been overruled by any court, and stood up to the federal government when it broke the law and infringed on the sovereignty of Virginia and the liberty of her people.
We will continue this work together until the last day of my term. Just as I had intended not to resign as attorney general to run for a second term, I will not resign as attorney general to run for governor. The people of Virginia trusted me to be their attorney general, and I intend to give them their full four years. I also think it is important to see these lawsuits against the federal government all the way through, as they are unprecedented battles for liberty in our lifetimes.
I am committed to you and to the citizens of this commonwealth to leading this office and making this job my priority. I have no right to ask the voters for a promotion if I cannot continue to do my current job well.
I know many of you are wondering why I decided to run for governor instead of for re-election. As so many former attorneys general know from being legal counsel to every agency of state government, this job gives you tremendous insight and perspective on the inner workings of state government that no other job can provide.
Being governor of the commonwealth and all its agencies is truly a massive task, and with only four years to do it, there is little time for on-the-job training. That is especially true when Virginia and the entire country are facing unprecedented economic challenges, a bullying federal government, and financially strapped citizens who are demanding that we ensure every dollar taken from their families to pay for government is a dollar that is spent wisely. When Governor McDonnell finishes his successful term, I am convinced his successor needs to hit the ground running to keep the momentum moving forward in the face of federal and economic challenges.
I hope you have known me long enough to know that I do this out of my love for our commonwealth and to further the principles on which this country was founded. Although I originally expected to serve as attorney general for another term, my job is that of public servant, and I feel that two years from now, I can best serve the people of Virginia from the governor’s office.
Thank you for your dedication to this office and to the people we serve. I look forward to our continued work together and our successes during the remaining two years of my term.
Ken
With the announcement, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling released a statement saying that he was shocked by Cuccinelli’s decision.
“Needless to say, I am very disappointed by Mr. Cuccinelli’s decision to run for Governor in 2013. During the 2009 campaign, and since taking office in 2010, Mr. Cuccinelli had repeatedly stated that he intended to seek re-election as Attorney General in 2013 and that is what I and other Republican leaders had expected him to do. Unfortunately, he has now decided to put his own personal ambition ahead of the best interests of the Commonwealth and the Republican Party.
“In 2009, Governor McDonnell and I gave Virginia Republicans a blueprint for how to win statewide elections in Virginia. It started with our decision to join together and offer a united vision for the future of our state. In order to make that possible, I decided to seek re-election to the office of Lieutenant Governor and support Bob McDonnell’s campaign for Governor. Unlike Mr. Cuccinelli, I set aside my personal ambition and did what was right for the Commonwealth and our party.
“I have consistently stated my intention to run for Governor in 2013, and Mr. Cuccinelli’s announcement will not alter my intended course. After serving 10 years in the State Senate and 6 years as Lieutenant Governor, I am uniquely prepared to succeed Governor McDonnell and lead Virginia into the future. I have also served for 2 years in Governor McDonnell’s cabinet, which has provided me with the experience and knowledge of the executive branch of state government that is necessary to continue our successes. Throughout my public service I have provided conservative, results oriented leadership, and I have worked with Republicans and Democrats to get things done for the people of Virginia. That experience and record of results enables me to reach out to conservative and independent voters and makes me the strongest candidate for Governor in 2013.
“In the months to come I will keep my focus on doing a good job as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, fulfilling my responsibilities as our state’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer, and working to elect Republican candidates in 2012. I will also continue doing the work I have been doing to lay the foundation for my own gubernatorial campaign in 2013. If I do that work well, the political future will take care of itself.”
Granted, Bolling has every right to be upset. However, he stepped aside during the 2009 election for Bob McDonnell to run, and Cuccinelli never promised that he would step aside to allow Bolling to remain unopposed for the Republican nomination. However, Bolling’s response did not come across that great. He should have welcomed Cuccinelli into the race and make this an opportunity to address the issues facing the Commonwealth in 2013.
With Cuccinelli entering the race, this will provide a choice. Cuccinelli has been popular with tea party activists and has always stood on principle, even when it might not have been the most popular choice.
2013 is still a long way off. We do have an election to focus on in 2012, and it is one that is especially crucial, as we will be deciding on whether to continue our country down the wrong track or bring it back to a climate for economic prosperity and job growth.
Medco/Express Scripts Merger Under Further Scrutiny
The Medco/Express Scripts merger is not just under scrutiny by some members in Congress, but Attorneys General in 29 states, including Virginia. Recently, Financial Times reports that the proposed merger has caught the attention, due to antitrust issues, as second tier pharmacy benefits managers are starting to compete with Medco and Express Scripts.
According to a spokesperson from Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s office, Cuccinelli is looking into this issue, due to the fact that this merger could take away from competition in Virginia.
Since the Express Scripts-Medo Health Solutions merger could impact Virginia consumers, we are taking our role seriously to investigate whether this merger will create any anticompetitive consequences in the prescription drug market here. We have not made a determination yet of whether we feel the merger will be anticompetitive, competitively neutral, or even precompetitive. We are not opposed to the merger, but we do feel that we have a responsibility to investigate this matter thoroughly.
There are many questions and issues involving the merger, and while it is customary for Attorneys General in many states to review such mergers, this merger is particularly concerning due to the fact that Medco/Express Scripts will take away from the competition. When competition is non-existent, it is only a given that pharmaceutical prices will continue to climb. This is not something that many Virginians can afford, during these troubled economic times.
On the Sixth Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw…
On the sixth day of defeating Dick Saslaw, it is apparent that he will do anything to stay in elected office. Although, I have been behind on this series, I have covered on some of the essential reasons why Saslaw should be defeated on November 8, as he stands against gun rights, wants to raise your taxes, against school choice, and has a track record of failed leadership.
Today, I will be highlighting another reason why Saslaw should be defeated…the Kings Dominion law. Of course, we all know how valuable Kings Dominion, Water Country U.S.A., and Busch Gardens are to Virginia’s tourism industry. During summer, it is a ritual to attend these amusement parks. However, there is a law that Saslaw valiantly defends and that is to delay the start of school until after Labor Day.
Saslaw receives large donations from Sea World Parks & Entertainment and the Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association. Saslaw has been against repealing this law and has even called the arguments by teachers and parents “hogwash.”
Even more interesting is that many of Saslaw’s fellow Northern Virginia state senate colleagues are against the Kings Dominion Law. Dave Marsden (37th State Senate District), Kaye Kory (38th State Senate District), and Janet Howell (32nd State Senate District) are in favor of repealing this law. Marsden even said, “What kind of message are we sending if selling cotton candy at Kings Dominion is more important than schools?”
If Saslaw is such a strong advocate of public education, why is he opposed to opening schools before Labor Day to ensure students receive more classroom time?
On the Fifth Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw…
On the Fifth Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw, YouTube again gave to me…another great clip of his frequent habit to interrupt someone speaking about an issue that he disagrees with…school choice.
We all know that Saslaw is a puppet for the teacher’s unions, so it should come as no surprise that he would be against school choice initiatives. After all, school choice allows the parents to have control over their child’s education. When Del. Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico) delivered his statement before the Senate Finance Committee regarding school choice legislation, Saslaw rudely interrupted Massie and basically cut down the legislation. Additionally, The Family Foundation of Virginia also noted Saslaw’s disdain for school choice.
For the record, Saslaw voted against HB2009, which would have allowed open enrollment for students to attend the school of their choice within their district.
Perhaps, it is time to send someone to Richmond, who would champion school choice legislation in place of Saslaw.
On the Fourth Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw…
Prepare yourselves…
On the Fourth Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw, all signs point to failed leadership. If it involves the BRAC/Mark Center relocations, the HOT Lanes, and transforming the bureaucracy in funding transportation, then Dick Saslaw has failed at addressing the transportation issues involving the Mark Center and HOT lanes, and he has done nothing to ensure that Northern Virginia has received their fair share.
In terms of BRAC selecting the Mark Center for relocations, there might have been nothing that could have prevented the Pentagon from choosing that site. The decision was made five years ago to locate 7000 Department of Defense personnel to the Mark Center site, and in that five year span, nothing was done to find a remedy for the traffic problems that would occur. Where was Saslaw in all of this?
If you thought the BRAC/Mark Center lack of leadership was bad, let’s take a look at the HOT Lanes. HOT Lanes were the brain child of former Governor Tim Kaine, and remember, they are supposed to solve our traffic woes. If this were the case, let’s take a look at a WTOP report that points to how HOT lanes were actually making traffic worst in Atlanta, not better.
Even Arlington County agreed that HOT Lanes were going to create more problems, and they posed a lawsuit against bringing these lanes further up I-395. Instead, these lanes will end at Edsall Road, and since this is the area Saslaw represents, he did nothing to prevent the lawsuit being pursued by the Arlington County Board of Supervisors (chaired by Barbara Favola, his chosen candidate for the 31st State Senate District). Where’s the leadership? You would think he would want to prevent the lawsuit from occurring.
Last, but not least, where has Saslaw been on bringing transportation funding to Northern Virginia? Since Saslaw has been in office, he has done nothing to transform the bureaucracy in Richmond to create a model more receptive to the population growth in Northern Virginia. We need transportation improvements to allow us to spend more time with family and for relaxation, instead we are stuck in gridlock. Where’s the leadership? You would think Saslaw would want to ensure that his district received their fair share of funding.
On the Third Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw…
On the third day of defeating Dick Saslaw, could there be abuse of power allegations involving the current state senate Majority Leader? Why yes, yes there is!
The ramifications from the redistricting plans proposed by the State Senate sent shock waves to many, as some districts were eliminated and moved to Northern Virginia, and some were gerrymandered to protect incumbents, who might face strong challenges. When asked about the redistricting plans, Saslaw said that he used his power to make Democratic districts stronger, and saying that he was doing his job by ensuring that Dems keep or win seats. Yet, he says he is for non-partisan redistricting.
According to PolitiFact, Saslaw said:
“We are not going to change one period or one comma,” Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, declared on April 16. Saslaw said the Senate plan was constitutional and threatened to take the matter to court.
Now, fast forward to April 27, when legislators reached a tentative deal on a new plan leaving Democrats in control of the Senate, but unlike the original plan, weakening their chances of adding to the 22-18 majority.
Confronted with his original statement of stubbornness, Saslaw conceded that plenty of periods and commas had been changed in those two weeks and he’d changed his tune.
“I lied,” he joked. “It was an unrealistic choice of words … both sides gave a little.”
Talk about a complete flop!
Let’s talk about another example of Saslaw’s abuse of power. Remember the primary fight in the 31st State Senate District between Jaime Areizaga-Soto and Barbara Favola. Favola was favored by Saslaw to win this primary, and he did everything he could to ensure her victory. According to Blue Virginia and Virginia Virtucon, Saslaw did all he could do to prevent others from running against Favola in the primary by dissuading potential donors from giving to her opponents.
If Saslaw wanted to be fair, he would have allowed the grassroots to choose the candidate, not doing everything he could to prevent others from providing a strong challenge to his chosen candidate. There is no doubt that this made his fellow Democrats mad along the way.
(Note: I am behind on this and hoping to catch up on this series.)
On the second day of defeating Dick Saslaw…
On the Second Day of Defeating Dick Saslaw…YouTube gave to me…another great clip of Saslaw hating on gun rights.
Note: Saslaw interrupts VCDL President Philip Van Cleave’s testimony in support of HB 1573.
Now, we all know Saslaw hates guns. In fact, he goes as far as to block a bill during the last General Assembly that is based on the Castle Doctrine (HB 1573), which would allow a homeowner to use physical force against someone who commits the crime of breaking and entering into their house.
Evidently, this is not the only time Saslaw has shown his disdain for gun rights supporters. In 2008, a supporter, who was lobbying against a potential change to Virginia’s gun laws, overheard the Senator’s insults towards gun rights advocates. According to the Bristol Herald Courier, Saslaw said: “I see we’re debating a gun bill today. Half of the cast of ‘Deliverance’ is in town.”
It is one thing to be against gun rights advocates, but to insult or interrupt someone for sharing their views, goes to show that you do not have the decorum to serve in the State Senate.
On the first day of defeating Saslaw…
Welcome to the Twelve Days of defeating Dick Saslaw, State Senator for the 35th District. Each day up until Election Day, we will have a post devoted to highlighting Saslaw’s service (or lack thereof) in the Virginia State Senate. Of course, I am endorsing his opponent, Robert Sarvis, as he will be the best representative for our district.
So, let’s get started with the festivities:
On the first day of defeating Dick Saslaw, YouTube gave to me...one great clip declaring his love for raising taxes.
Yes, this might be an oldie, but Saslaw voted to increase your taxes. After all, he can’t get enough of your money. Saslaw wanted to raise the gas tax and that he would raise sales tax to fund transportation.
“This is a political issue and sooner or later someone’s going to have to have a backbone to do something about it,” Saslaw said.
Raising taxes hurts working families. Why does Saslaw want to hurt those he claims to represent? Since he says raising taxes is a political issue, then let’s make it a issue to defeat him on November 8.
