Jobs

Obama Takes Jobs Plan (And Reelection Pitch) To Richmond, VA

Susan Crabtree | September 9, 2011, 12:45PM

President Barack Obama's Job's Speech in Richmond 9/9/11

President Obama took his jobs plan to Richmond, Va. Friday where he hammered home the same themes - and most of the same lines - he hit in his joint address to Congress Thursday night, namely that he is on the right side of history in producing a series of specific spending and tax cut proposals to stimulate the economy and daring Republicans to ignore them at their own peril.

The trip to the heart of Virginia instantly blurred the lines between campaign stump speech and official business with an audience obviously filled with die-hard Obama supporters. During Obama's opening remarks, several supporters cried out "we love you," to which Obama twice responded, "I love you too."

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Bob McDonnell

VA Governor: It's Time For The House GOP To Lead On Entitlement Reform (VIDEO)

Andrew Jones | February 16, 2011, 5:50PM

In the mind of Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA), if the President doesn't take the first step on entitlement reform, than it's time for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to take up the mantle.

On Fox's Your World this afternoon, McDonnell talked to fill-in host Stuart Varney, saying that he hoped that the national party's majority in the House would bring the "tough message to the American people" on entitlement reform.

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Health Care

Virginia Agrees To Implement Key Provision In Health Care Law

Brian Beutler | February 4, 2011, 12:30PM

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, (third from left), Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (center), Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (third from right) and others observe a moment of silence

Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli wants the Supreme Court to declare "Obamacare" unconstitutional. But in the meantime, the rest of the state's government is moving right along to get the law implemented.

By a vote of 95-3, the Virginia General Assembly agreed to develop health insurance exchanges states, which each state will be required to have by 2014 under the Affordable Care Act.

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Virginia

Virginia State Rep. Bob Marshall: VA Should Mint Our Own Coins!

Eric Kleefeld | January 10, 2011, 9:11AM

State Del. Bob Marshall (R-VA)

Virginia state Del. Bob Marshall (R) is joining the parade of conservative state legislators who are proposing a direct challenge to the federal government's authority over the monetary system -- and is getting ready to introduce a proposal that the state mint its own gold and silver coins!

The Manassas News & Messenger:

"We can't mint money, but we can mint gold and silver coins," Marshall said Wednesday night. "It sounds like a small difference, but it is a difference legally. If you look closely on a [dollar] bill, it doesn't say that it's money. It says it is legal tender 'for all debts, public and private.'"

...

He also believes that this could only be the beginning of a change to the current economic system.

"Once Virginia leads the way, other [states] will see this," Marshall said. "We need to get out of a lethargic mode of acceptance. A gold and silver system puts the power back with the people and not with a private group of bankers."

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2012 elections

PPP Poll: Obama Leads Top 2012 GOPers In Virginia

Marc Kilstein | November 16, 2010, 4:40PM

President Barack Obama

In the 2008 election, Obama became the first Democratic president to take Virginia since Lyndon Johnson. In the wake of speculation that this would not be repeated in 2012, PPP surveyed state voters. The results? Obama is found leading all four Republican frontrunners by at least five points.

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Tea Party

Virginia Tea Partiers Push Bill For 'Don't Tread On Me' State License Plate

Jillian Rayfield | November 10, 2010, 8:39AM

Tea partiers, with a Virginia License plate inset

The Virginia chapter of the 9/12 Project is pushing a bill that would authorize the sale of special "Don't Tread On Me" license plates as official state plates.

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Repealing health care

Cuccinelli: 'I'm Becoming A Target' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | August 4, 2010, 2:01PM

ken cuccinelli

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli today spoke candidly about already preparing for a reelection bid in 2013, saying that he knows his office's challenge to the Obama administration is attracting national attention.

In an interview on MSNBC's Daily Rundown this morning, Cuccinelli (R) said the lawsuits against environmental regulations and health care reform and a ruling that police can check immigration status means he's getting on the radar.

"I'm not a fool, I'm becoming a target, and I know I'm going to get a bigger target," he said.

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Gun rights

Friendly Fire: Gun Rights Advocates In Shootout Over Campaign Finance Bill

Christina Bellantoni | June 17, 2010, 11:16AM

Gun rights supporters gather in Washington, D.C.

Gun rights activists are accusing the National Rifle Association of "selling out" to Congressional Democrats over a new measure aimed at requiring more disclosure from corporations getting involved in political races. The NRA was granted an exemption from legislation that would require other groups to disclose top donors, prompting one Virginia group to accuse them of being "bought off" and 45 groups to lodge a formal protest with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Democratic leaders cut a deal with the NRA, fearing that, if they didn't, the bill's passage this summer would be doomed by members spooked by the potential backlash from the group, an important source of support for gun-friendly lawmakers.

The NRA now supports the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which was written by Democrats in response to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision loosening campaign finance regulations. The bill would require CEOs to stand by their ads and other transparency measures.

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Health Care

Virginia AG To Sue Feds Over Health Care Reform

Rachel Slajda | March 17, 2010, 12:36PM

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli

The attorney general of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli, will file a lawsuit against the federal government should health care reform legislation be signed into law, his spokesman confirms to TPMDC.

The spokesman did not give details on what grounds Cuccinelli plans to challenge the law.

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