Amidst all the holiday shopping craziness, most Americans at this time of year want to see holiday signs that wish them a "Merry Christmas."
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of adults prefer "Merry Christmas," while 22% like "Happy Holidays" instead.
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I have to wonder...who are these 22% who don't like Christmas? Liberals? People who hate tradition?
The Family Foundation today joined several other organizations in releasing a survey conducted on behalf of the Friedman Foundation showing widespread support for a variety of school choice proposals. The survey, conducted in October, shows that while Virginians support public schools, they also support education freedom and choice.
The survey results found broad support among Democrats, Republicans and Independents for tax-credit scholarship programs and school vouchers. Democrats indicate support for tax-credit scholarships (64%) and school vouchers (53%). They are more likely to favor rather than oppose these policies by +43 percentage points and +15 percentage points, respectively.
Interestingly, while the survey found that 62% of Virginians believe the public school system is “good” or “excellent,” when given the choice between sending their child to a public school or an alternative (private, charter or homeschooling) 54% said they would choose the alternative. Among parents with children currently attending a public school, 40% would keep their children there while 39% would choose an alternative. Currently, 90% of Virginia’s school children attend public schools.
Another interesting note from the survey found that younger Virginians, those just out of school or in parenting years, are more supportive of education choice than older Virginians. In other words, those closest to the public schools are less likely to want their kids to attend them.
Not surprisingly, 65% of those surveyed also drastically underestimated how much Virginia spends to educate public school children. While 28% believed the cost to be between $3001 and $6000 and 19% believed it to be less than $3000, the actual 2007 school year figure was nearly $12,000 per student. It’s no wonder that polls show Virginians support more funding for public education when two-thirds underestimate it by two or three times the actual number.
Clearly Virginians want education freedom. The issue of school choice is not a public vs. private debate, it is simply about the best opportunity for every child and parents’ rights to make that choice.
As I told our Gala audience last month, while charter schools are certainly a widely supported idea and Virginia’s charter school law needs changing, we can’t stop there. Virginia’s kids deserve the best education possible – public or private or home or charter – and they deserve it now. It’s time for the education establishment to stop being obstructionists and instead join the fight for education freedom in Virginia.
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Fellow Virginians,
I urge you to vote this Tuesday for the following candidates:
- Bob McDonnell for Governor
- Bill Bolling for Lt. Governor
- Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General
http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/ for Governor
http://www.billbolling.com/ for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.cuccinelli.com/ for Attorney General
I have personally known these gentlemen for many years. They are each good public servants and they will make you proud to be a Virginian.
Check out the Family Foundation voter guides on these 3 statewide races at this location...compares all candidates on issues that are important to the family.
http://www.tffaction.org/images/VA_State_Final.pdf
For House of Delegates, 17th District - Bill Cleaveland
Family Foundation has published a voter guide comparing the 17th HOD candidates... http://www.tffaction.org/images/HD_17_Final.pdf
Bill has strong conservative values for this seat, replacing Republican William Fralin. His opponent, Gwen Mason, is a pro-abortion liberal on Roanoke City Council.
For House of Delegates, 8th District - Morgan Griffith
http://www.delegatemorgangriffith.com/
Morgan has been a strong leader for all of SW Virginia. His position as Majority Leader helps this area a lot. People would be nuts to support his opponent, Radford teacher Carter Turner. Turner has no experience in elected office, a poor trade for the House Majority Leader position!! Morgan scored a top rating of 100% in the Family Foundation report card, that ranks all delgates and senators on their votes that support the families of Virginia.
http://www.tffaction.org/images/Report_Card_Final.pdf
For House of Delegates, 11th District - Troy Bird
http://www.troybirdfordelegate.com/
Troy has the conservative values we need in the 11th house district. His opponent, Onzlee Ware, has a poor rating of 20 on the Family Foundation report card.
http://www.tffaction.org/images/Report_Card_Final.pdf
Local races:
Board of Supervisors, Vinton -- Mike Altizer http://www.roanokecountyva.gov/Departments/BoardOfSupervisors/BoardMembers/aMichaelWAltizer.htm
School Board, Vinton -- Jason Peters
Board of Supervisors, Hollins -- Richard Florahttp://www.roanokecountyva.gov/Departments/BoardOfSupervisors/BoardMembers/dRichardFlora.htm
Board of Supervisors, Windsor Hills -- Ed Elswick http://www.edelswick.com/
Sheriff, Roanoke City -- Octavia Johnson http://www.octaviajohnson.com/
Revenue Commissioner, Roanoke City - Douglas Walker http://douglaswalker2009.com/
| Steve Shannon's Deceptive Campaign for Attorney General |  |  |
| By NRVNews | |
Steve Shannon, the Democrat candidate for Attorney General, is conducting a very deceptive campaign. He is trying to convince voters he is a conservative. He is also strongly implying the job of the Attorney General is to prosecute criminals. The truth is very different. Shannon’s record reveals he is definitely not a conservative. He voted to put the Marriage Amendment on the ballot, then actively campaigned against it. This constitutional amendment, approved by Virginia voters, requires marriage only to be between one man and one woman – not between two men or two women. Shannon’s opponent in the Attorney General race, Ken Cuccinelli, campaigned for the Marriage Amendment. Shannon voted against requiring public schools to involve parents in their childrens' decisions to participate in after-school activities. He would be an Attorney General who opposed commonsense parental rights. Shannon voted against a bill that protects from discrimination a public school student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint on a subject permitted by the school. This candidate for Attorney General voted against religious freedom. Shannon supports state funding of abortions. Shannon opposed protecting private home owners – especially those who are middle class and poor – from governmental abuse of eminent domain laws that permit local and state governments to take private property. Ken Cuccinelli, Shannon’s Republican opponent, took the opposite positions on these issues. Shannon’s portrayal of the Attorney General’s responsibility is false, and he knows it. It is not only or primarily the prosecution of criminals. At the web site for the Virginia Attorney General, we read: “The Office of the Attorney General is the Commonwealth's law firm. Its clients are the Virginia state government and the state agencies, boards and commissions that compose that government. “The full time staff includes a chief deputy attorney general, six deputy attorneys general and about 150 assistant attorneys general, 40 additional full time lawyers appointed as special counsel to particular agencies, and 140 legal assistants, legal secretaries and other professional support staff. The Office of the Attorney General is structured very much like a private law firm, with sections devoted to legal specialties.” Note in the previous paragraph: “The Office of the Attorney General is structured very much like a private law firm, with sections devoted to legal specialties. “ It is appropriately not structured like a prosecutor’s office. A long list of the duties and powers of this office is posted, showing prosecution of criminals is not the only or even the major duty of the Attorney General. And prosecutions are almost always handled by staff members. Mark Earley and Bill Mims are two of Virginia’s recent, excellent Attorney Generals who had no previous experience as prosecutors. Furthermore, the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police is not endorsing Shannon. It is endorsing Ken Cuccinelli. Shannon is a typical liberal candidate for public office in Virginia – deceptively trying to hide the fact that he is a liberal. |
Wagner's support for higher taxes, record of fiscal mismanagement and dishonest, negative campaign is exposed-
-Bolling clearly outlines record of accomplishment and New Ideas for a Better Virginia-
SALEM - Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling handily defeated Jody Wagner in the Lieutenant Governor's debate tonight at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. The debate was sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia Bar Association, moderated by WSLS reporter Jay Warren and broadcast live on the WSLS website.
Throughout the debate, Bolling clearly outlined his record of accomplishment during his 18-years of public service and his plans to create new jobs, grow the economy, restore fiscal management to state government and provide solutions to the education, energy, transportation, public safety and health care challenges facing Virginia.
Many times appearing flustered, Wagner was repeatedly put on the defensive for her consistent and habitual support for higher taxes, including her proposal to increase of the gas tax, her record of fiscal mismanagement as Secretary of Finance, which has caused over $7B is budget shortfalls and the loss of more than 2,000 state jobs, her lack of positive ideas and plans to solve the challenges facing Virginian and her dishonest, negative personal campaign attacks on Bolling.
Throughout the debate Bolling connected Wagner to her running mate Creigh Deeds plans to raise taxes and his dishonest, negative personal attacks.
Wagner has embraced Creigh Deeds' plans to raise taxes on Virginia families and business, including higher job-killing gas taxes, even in a bad economy. Additionally, Wagner has supported every major tax increase during her eight years in state government, including increasing the sales tax by 20%, imposing higher taxes on small businesses and seniors and higher taxes on home and car sales.
When discussing their respective records, Bolling summed up the differences between himself and Wagner best when he said, "She has worked for people who have accomplished things. She has accomplished very little."
As a State Senator and Lieutenant Governor, Bolling has a long record of accomplishment. Some highlights include:
As Lieutenant Governor, Bolling promoted numerous initiatives that focused on important health care issues. Through his Steptember program, Ending Cervical Cancer In Our Lifetime initiative, Helping Virginians Breath Easier campaign, and the Lieutenant Governor's Challenge: Your Heart Is In Your Hands program, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has helped focus public attention on important health care issues like obesity, cervical cancer, asthma and cardiovascular health.
Bolling also clearly outlined his innovative and plans to create jobs, grow the economy and restore fiscal responsibility to state government and address the education, energy, transportation, health care and public safety challenges facing Virginia.
The Manassas News & Messenger called Bolling's proposals "comprehensive and extensive plans to deal with transportation, education, public safety and more".
Earlier today, The News & Messenger joined the Arlington Sun Gazette as the second Northern Virginia newspaper to endorse Lieutenant Governor Bolling.
Bolling has also been endorsed a long list of other organizations including National Federation of Independent Business/ Virginia, Virginia Association of Realtors PAC, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation's Virginia AgPAC, Virginia Credit Union League, Associated Builders and Contractors, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund, Fraternal Order of Police and Police Benevolent Association.
| RVAR Endorses Candidate |
| |||||
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
(Next to Vinton War Memorial)
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (invited)
Senator Ken Cuccinelli – Candidate for Attorney General
Former Congressman Virgil Goode
Local Elected Officials
Candidates for House of Delegates
Candidates for Board of Supervisors
$20.00 per person Trixie Averill 890-6519
$25.00 at the door Polly Johnson 375-6465
$10.00 Kids 5-12
Kids Under 5 Free
Authorized and paid for by the Roanoke County Republican Committee
MORE PROVISIONS (Added as I go through them):
Section 113 b-1 Page 22: Mandates an audit of all employers that self-insure to "ensure that the law does not provide incentives for small and mid-size employers to self-insure".
Section 123 Page 30: A government Health Benefits Advisory Committee will recommend what treatments and benefits are available. Once accepted and adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, there is no appeal.
Section 141 & 142 Page 42: Establish a "Health Choices Commissioner" appointed by the Prresident who will establish qualified plan standards for the insured, establish a "Health INsurance Exchange", will administer "Health Insurance Credits" and determin who is eligible, will ensure compliance, conduct audits, administer penalites and remedies.
Section 152 Page 50: All healthcare services will be provided without regard to "personal characteristcs" which is not defined within the document as is understood to include immigration status.
Section 1173A a-2-D Page 58: Calls for a National Health Plan Beneficiary Identification Card for every person and the ability to determine a persons indivual financial responsibility and eligibility prior to, or at the time of service.
Section 1173A a-4-C Page 59: Requires the ability to have electronic funds tranfer from insured account to the federal government automate reconcilliation of health care payment.
Section 164 Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize a retiree reinsurance health fund up to 10 billion dollars to assist participating employment-based plans (unions, community organizers, etc.) with the cost of providing health benefits to retirees and to eligible spouses, surviving spouses and dependents of such retirees
Section 294 b-7 Page 91: Government mandates culturally and linguistically appropriate communication and health services for all.
Section 205 a-1 Page 95-96: The Government will etsablish an outreach program to inform, educate, and enroll participants, directed at "vulnerable" populations and to be accomplished in person at "community locations", by mail, telephone, or electronically. Tailor made for ACORN and Americorps.
Section 205 C-3-3 Page 102: If you do not enroll in a "National Health Exchange Plan" and are eligible for Medicaid, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid. You have no choice in the matter.
Section 223 f Page 124: There will be no administrative or "judicial review" permitted for payment rates established under the National Health Care Plans.
Section 224 b Page 125: The Secretary shall design and implement the payment mechanisms and policies under this section in a manner that — (1) seeks to (B) reduce health disparities (including racial, ethnic and other disparities).
Section 312 a-4, c-2 Page 145-148: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into a government approved plan, either the public plan or another plan, unless an employee makes an affiormative decision to opt out.
Seaction 312 b-3 Page 146-147: Employers MUST pay pro-rated healthcare contribution for part-time employees AND their families.
Section 313 b-1 Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll, $350+-400K it is 6%, for over $300+-350K it is 4%, for $250+-300K it is 2%.
Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians all have one thing in common. They all attended that Roanoke Tea Party in Elmwood Park on July 4th and most of them brought signs stating their opinions on various matters important to them.
This is the 2nd Tea Party held in Roanoke, the 1st being on tax day, April 15th of this year. The purpose of the Tea Parties is to give everyone a voice, to let all opinions be heard, to make sure that everybody matters.
Over 1,000 people came to enjoy the sunshine, the company and the music as well as to hear speakers from all walks of life. House of Representatives Morgan Griffith said, “Today is not called dependence day. It is not about the money, it is about the right to tax with representation. Government spending is out of control and that brings about dependence, not independence for its citizens. How we spend our money is as valid today as it was on December 16, 1773.”
Jeff Bowles from the Libertarian party talked about Thomas Jefferson and how “the founder’s realized that government was necessary but dangerous so they contained it within the constitution.” Jackie Bledsoe of fairtax.org explained exactly what the Fair Tax is and how it would work in today’s environment of excessive spending and taxes. “It is a revenue neutral plan with a retail sales tax on new goods and services only”, and the country would be able to abolish the Internal Revenue Service altogether.
Bill Cleaveland, running for the 17th House of Delegates seat stated, “Your voices are the pulse of this country. If your voice is quiet, this country will die. I am angry like you and I hope you are angry about the tax situation as it is. Make your voice heard in November.”
Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for Attorney General, got the crowd fired up when he said; “Conservatives in Northern Virginia should be under the Endangered Species Act since there are so few of us left. We need to take back our constitution and make sure this Cap & Trade bill is not passed. Even Greenpeace is against Cap & Trade and you know how liberal they are.”
After the invited speakers, the microphone was opened up to the public. Any one who chose to speak could have 5 minutes and many in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to be heard. Topics ranged from abortion, freedom, limited government, Cap & Trade, free speech, liberalism, thanking veterans and prayer.
Organizers say they plan to have another Tea Party in Roanoke this fall.
By Carla M. Bream
|
Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone ---
that they have not first taken away from someone else.
Please Join Us for the Grand Opening of the
ROANOKE VICTORY FIELD HQ
Monday, June 8th
6:00pm – 8:00pm
2706 Ogden Road
Roanoke, VA 24018
(Next to Tanglewood Mall and Panera Bread)
Pizza & Soft Drinks will be Served!!!!!
Good Times for All!!!
Let’s Start this Campaign off with a BANG!!!!
RSVP to Brent Perrin at 804-814-1720
or Trixie Averill at gopgirl2@aol.com
Please join
Bob McDonnell
Bill Bolling
KEN CUCCINELLI
and RPV Chairman, Pat Mullins
For a GOP Ticket Rally
Monday, June 1st
10:15 am
Roanoke Airport
(Landmark Private Terminal)
5202 Aviation Drive
Roanoke, VA 24012
RSVP to Brent Perrin at brentperrin@yahoo.com
or Trixie Averill at gopgirl2@aol.com
