Jim Houser: End the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote this week on proposals for dealing with the Bush-era tax cuts. This includes a proposal that passed the U.S. Senate last Wednesday [July 26] that will extend Bush-era income tax cuts for every American, but end extra breaks for the richest 2 percent (on take-home income beyond the first $250,000). As a small business owner – my wife and I own and operate an auto repair shop with a dozen employees – I’m all for this. Especially the part about ending extra breaks for the top 2 percent.

Whitfield speaks at White House forum

Blue Ridge Legal Services Executive Director John Whitfield was a panelist Tuesday at a White House forum examining the state of civil legal assistance for low-income Americans.  The forum was co-hosted by the Legal Services Corporation. Whitfield said that the “double whammy” of severe cuts in both federal and IOLTA funding has forced the program…

Blue Ridge Legal Services director to participate in White House forum on legal aid

Blue Ridge Legal Services Executive Director John Whitfield is one of six legal services program directors selected to participate in a White House forum examining the state of civil legal assistance for low-income Americans. The forum, co-hosted by the Legal Services Corporation, will take place on Tuesday, April 17.

Warner urges House to pass transportation bill

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) today urged the U.S. House to take up a bipartisan Senate transportation bill before the March 31st cut-off of federal funding impacts jobs and ongoing transportation projects across Virginia and the rest of the country. The Senate’s two-year proposal supports an estimated 39,800 highway construction and transit jobs in…

Eminent domain constitutional amendment passes in Senate, House

Contributors

A proposed constitutional amendment that would help protect private property rights cleared its next-to-last hurdle when it was passed by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. Now it awaits approval by Virginia voters in November. The Senate version of the bill, SJ 3, passed 23-17, and HJ 3, the House version, was approved 80-18…

House Dems announce support for health-insurance competition bill

Contributors

Today, House Democrats announced their support for legislation to set up a health insurance marketplace in Virginia. Delegates Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) are introducing legislation modeled after the recommendations of Governor Bob McDonnell’s Virginia Health Reform Initiative (VHRI). The VHRI was formed to implement the federal health care reform law in Virginia….

Children’s Choir invited to sing at the White House

Contributors

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir has been invited to sing at the White House Christmas Tours on Dec. 21, according to Yvette Peake, choir manager. The acclaimed children’s choir, now in its twentieth year, had applied for the honor in April 2011. “We were thrilled to get this invitation in mid-November and had almost given…

Ken Plum: Lowest score in the House

Ken Plum

We politicians like to take credit for accomplishments even when our connection to what has been achieved may sometimes seem less than clear. We also tend to ignore things that are not going as well as they might. For example, Governor McDonnell as most governors before him regularly announces new jobs that are created in…

Sanford D. Horn: Happy Birthday to U.S.

“The Declaration of Independence [is the] declaratory charter of our rights, and the rights of man.” – Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826); Founding Father; credited author of said document and third American president. A housekeeping note – I dislike the expression “happy fourth of July.” Happy Independence Day is the correct expression or happy birthday America is…