Kaine, Allen talk debt ceiling

George Allen sees the debt-ceiling issue as “leverage” for Republicans heading into the 2012 elections. Tim Kaine has raised issue with Allen on that stance, and on Friday Kaine offered a statement of support for Senate Democrats for their 51-46 party-line vote rejecting the so-called “Cut, Cap and Balance” plan that passed the Republican House…

Kaine campaign announces staff additions

Chris Graham

Today, Gov. Tim Kaine announced the second wave of key appointments to his campaign team for U.S. Senator from Virginia. “I’m proud to announce that Mike Henry will be joining our team as campaign manager. His expertise when it comes to Virginia is unmatched. I look forward to seeing the campaign benefit from Mike’s extraordinary…

Webb, Warner introduce offshore-drilling legislation

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas exploration and production off of the Virginia coast. Both senators have consistently supported safe and responsible energy exploration on Virginia’s outer continental shelf. The Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011 would also expand the…

Peace group raises issue with Obama Afghanistan move

President Obama’s announcement of a limited troop withdrawal from Afghanistan — America’s longest war — is bound to disappoint members of Congress and an electorate tired of the conflict. As has been reported, senior White House officials confirmed that the President plans to remove 10,000 troops by the end of this year and another 23,000…

Ken Plum: Obamacare in Virginia

Ken Plum

President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Obamacare, into law on March 23, 2010. On the same day Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli filed the first lawsuit in the nation to challenge the provision in ACA that most individuals be mandated to have health insurance. Eastern District Federal Judge Henry Hudson ruled in…

Senators, generals urge large Afghanistan troop withdrawal

A bipartisan group of 27 U.S. senators sent a letter today to President Obama asking for a “sizable and sustained reduction of U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, beginning in July 2011.” Paul Kawika Martin, the political and policy director of Peace Action — a group founded in 1957 and the largest grassroots peace organization in…