Blog Archives
Webb's Out of the U.S. Senate Race in 2012
Breaking News! U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) will not be seeking re-election in 2012, according to Ben Smith of The Politico. I guess he realized that his vote against the repeal of the health care law was not sitting well with his constituency. Currently, there are three candidates in the running for 2012: Former U.S. Sen. George Allen, whom Webb defeated in 2006; Jamie Radtke, former Chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots; and Bishop E.W. Jackson. The Democrats are trying to recruit former Virginia Governor and current DNC Chairman, Tim Kaine, to run for the seat.
Good riddance, Sen. Webb!
Senator Webb Votes for Earmarks
The U.S. Senate voted today to allow the practice of earmarks to be continued. The earmark moratorium, introduced by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), was voted down 56-39 in a roll call vote. Virginia’s Senators were split on the issue, as Sen. Jim Webb voted against the earmark moratorium and Sen. Mark Warner voted for the moratorium.
Americans for Prosperity-Virginia Chapter released a statement about the earmark moratorium vote. AFPVA State Director Ben Marchi said:
“Evidently, too many members of the United States Senate did not hear the overwhelming voices of the citizens of America on Election Day earlier this month. Sadly, Jim Webb is one of those who continued to ignore the people’s clearly-expressed frustration with the runaway growth of the federal government. Senator Webb had a choice today: stand with the people, or stand with government. Unfortunately, he chose the latter.
“Earmarks may well win votes with government largesse in carefully chosen locations in home states and districts, but they are poisonous to the notion of open, efficient and responsible governance. Jim Webb showed that he views the taxpayers’ wallets as 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week ATMs for legislators to use at their whim.
“As disappointing as Webb’s vote was, Senator Mark Warner’s vote was equally as encouraging. His vote in support of the measure was refreshing in that it recognized that spending must have its limits, even in Washington, D.C.”
Why doesn’t it surprise me that Webb voted against the moratorium? Webb has always been passionate about earmarks. Perhaps, Webb might regret that love come 2012.
Welcome to Socialized Medicine, America!
It is 1:21 a.m., and the U.S. Senate just voted in a party line vote, 60-40, to approve cloture on the manager’s amendment. All of the usual so-called Moderate Democrats voted with Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to approve cloture: Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Ben Nelson (Neb.). This is the deal that will serve as a substitute for the 2,074-page health care bill that the Senate has been debating for weeks. Ironically, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) voted to approve cloture.
What a sad day for liberty in America? After all, this will not be the end all solution to America’s health care crisis. In fact, this legislation will impact medical advancements, create longer waits to see a physician, and will pass along more debt to our future generations.
We still have time to stop this health care travesty bill from being passed. There will be more procedural votes with the final vote for passage on Thursday. Call your Senators today 202-224-3121!
Cuccinelli Asks U.S. Senators to oppose Card Check
Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli asked Steve Shannon to join him in signing letters to be sent to Sen. Jim Webb and Sen. Mark Warner asking them to oppose card check legislation, which would require employers to recognize a union when union organizers collect signed cards favoring unionization from a majority of employees, thus eliminating the requirement for a secret ballot election.
The bill, S. 560, the Employee Free Choice Act, would also ensure when unions and management are engaged in collective bargaining, if neither party comes to an agreement after 120 days of bargaining, a federal agency would come into do the arbitration. This dangerous legislation would enact penalties on employer misconduct, but not union misconduct.
Ken Cuccinelli made the following statement:
“Card check is a disastrous idea which should never be implemented,” Cuccinelli said. “Its passage would dramatically undermine the Commonwealth of Virginia’s right-to-work laws, which have been largely responsible for much of the economic growth in our state. Among its many bad provisions are one that would eliminate the secret ballot, which is a hallowed tradition of American elections, and replace it with a card check system that both parties – unions and business – could manipulate with threats and violence and one that would put the federal government in charge of many workplaces, allowing unelected, unaccountable, and federal bureaucrats who are inexperienced in the business world to make most major business decisions, perhaps including setting wages, hours, and use of health care plans.”
Cuccinelli continued, “I hope that my opponent Steve Shannon will join me in asking our elected representatives in the U.S. Senate to oppose this bad legislation.”
EFCA would be a huge threat to states with Right to Work laws such as Virginia, and in this economy, we can not afford to drive business out of the state.
Read Cuccinelli’s letter that he asked Shannon to sign.
Read the letter that is being sent to both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators.
