Robert Hurt: The president’s health-care law-two years later

Robert Hurt

As I continue meeting and talking with citizens across the Fifth District, it remains clear that too many are suffering not only from the President’s economic policies, but also from the budget-busting policies put forth in the government takeover of health care that was signed into law nearly two years ago today. Just this past…

Warner: Voting against payroll-tax extension

Contributors

U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today in a speech on the Senate floor that he will be voting against the payroll tax cut deal conference report. Transcript Mr. Warner: Mr. President, let me rise today to speak about the conference report that it appears we’ll be voting on tomorrow regarding the issues of…

Consumer groups comment on GA’s health exchange gamble

Contributors

On Wednesday the Senate special subcommittee on health insurance failed to recommend any health exchange bills despite previously acknowledging the irresponsibility of waiting and denying months of work from the governor’s hand-selected health reform panel. Subcommittee Chair Sen. Jeffrey McWaters moved to wait until after the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of…

Warner, Webb urge Obama administration to select Mid-Atlantic region as test range for unmanned aircraft systems

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Wednesday sent a joint letter to the Secretaries of Defense, Transportation and the NASA Administrator urging them to select the Virginia/Maryland region to host an Unmanned Aircraft Systems test range. The Senators pointed out that UAS design and testing…

Farm Bureau: Farmers visit Capitol to lobby on eminent-domain

Chris Graham

Farmers said their Jan. 24 visits to members of the General Assembly during Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Legislative Day were a critical step in securing a constitutional amendment to protect private property from eminent domain abuse. Farm Bureau leaders meet annually with their state delegates and senators to share their thoughts on legislative issues…

Kaine aims to ‘fix Washington’

Chris Graham

Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was “surprised” when U.S. Sen. Jim Webb announced in Feburary 2011 that he would not seek re-election. Kaine had hinted after finishing out his term as governor in 2010 that he might be done with electoral politics, even as he stepped at the time into the job of chairman of…

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…

McCormick: Time for a ‘new generation of leaders’

Contributors

David McCormick worked his way up the ladder at UPS, started law school in his 30s and his own law firm at 38. He knows uphill battles. Competing against former governor and U.S. senator George Allen for the Republican Senate nomination is just another one. “Both parties are to blame. We’re at the very brink…