RICHMOND — As Virginia Republicans grabbed the reins in the state Senate on Wednesday, a coalition of progressive interest groups geared up to fight against expected conservative policy shifts.
“There is obviously a different makeup of the General Assembly this year, and I think everybody here recognizes that it’s going to be an uphill fight to promote and protect our priorities this year,” said Anna Scholl, executive director of ProgressVA, a statewide, multi-issue progressive advocacy organization that was among the groups rallying Wednesday at the statehouse.
“We want to present as strong a front as possible,” Scholl said.
Senate Republicans, tied for control with Senate Democrats, argued and won a rule change enabling them to stack committees and the power to decide whether bills live or die. Each party holds 20 seats.
By giving Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling the power to use his tie-breaking vote on organizational matters, Republicans secured control of both chambers of the Legislature — in addition to the executive branch — and crushed Democrats’ hopes for a power-sharing agreement.
Newly elected Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment assured his colleagues the move was not a “power grab,” but rather the result of a careful study of existing rules. Democrats alleged that by overriding the rule guaranteeing committees reflect the same partisan makeup of the Senate as a whole, Republicans violated the will of Virginia voters.
They vow to seek a resolution in court, pushing a Richmond Circuit Court judge to rule on a lawsuit filed by Democratic Caucus Chairman Sen. Don McEachin challenging GOP authority.
State Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke City, accused his colleagues of violating Virginia’s constitution. State law allows for 40 senators, but Edwards said Bolling would be acting as the 41st.
In a passionate appeal, state Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk, accused Republicans of violating the will of “the people that elected me.”
Norment urged the Senate to continue working together.
Sixty members of We Are Virginia, a coalition of labor, environmental and pro-choice groups, including ProgressVA, rallied on the sidewalk outside the General Assembly building Wednesday morning.
“I’m concerned about the economy and the lack of jobs,” said Jacqueline Davis, 65, of Charlottesville, a member of the group. “I would like for corporations not to continue to have huge loopholes in paying taxes. I would like to see health care for all. I would like for abortion to remain legal, and I don’t want to drink uranium.”
We Are Virginia members are concerned that uranium mining, which the General Assembly is considering legalizing for the production of nuclear reactor fuel, could have negative effects on the environment and people’s health.
Davis and others canvassed the floors of the building on the opening day of the 2012 session and knocked on all 140 members’ doors. Together they delivered goodie bags containing symbolic items. A tube of glue was included to represent the strength of a united coalition.
This is the first year the eight groups have united as a single force. Scholl said she hoped the Republicans would follow the will of Virginia and allow Democrats to have some input on the legislative agenda.
“Virginians don’t support an extreme conservative agenda,” she said.
During a news conference focusing on the 2012 session, Bolling hinted at Republican plans. He vowed to protect the state’s right-to-work laws, which prevent unions from forming exclusive agreements with Virginia employers. Bolling said he would work to maintain the laws as a way to expand business.
Members of the Service Employees International Union, the largest health-care union representing more than 1.1 million members, also joined the Virginia Organizing coalition.
Jenny Lawson, executive director of Virginia Civic Engagement Table, a grassroots organizing advocacy group that helped We Are Virginia develop its strategy, rallied the group to support health-care workers.
“We need to pay our workers well … taking care of people in their homes cost-efficiently … and doing the services that actually help people,” Lawson said to an applauding audience.
The coalition plans to continue to support each others’ issues throughout the 60-day session.
See photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73975128@N04/sets/72157628832023753/
Don’t even call them liberals…call them socialists.
So many people seem to have something as simple as the “light bulb bill” wrong. All the bill mandates is an improvement in light bulb efficiency of 25%. You can still buy incandescent light bulbs, they’ll just use less energy, and you’ll save money. That means less foreign oil, fewer power lines, lower electric bills. And yes, they’re dimmable.
Also, links to 8 local state light bulb bills and their progress (legislated Texas June 2011)
http://ceolas.net/#bills
.
The complete story about the Virginia Bill,
and on local v federal laws (comparison with Texas and Arizona bills)
http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2012/01/virginia-bulb-bill-and-its-background.html
http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.com/2012/01/virginia-bulb-bill-and-its-background.html
Bob Marshall bill with Statehouse Committee meeting going on right now (Tue 14.50 ET) about it.
@Elder Berry: Progressive is the word that Liberals & Socialists hide behind.
Liberal and progresssive aren’t dirty words. There used to be progressive Republicans too until the party decided to uniformly re-enter the Dark Ages.
NEWSFLASH: Leftist attempts to Halt the Republican Agenda in Richmond have been thwarted.
After hearing Santorum say today that women should have more babies, and hearing that a high ranking staffer sent out an email saying women should not be in positions of power politically, religiously, or even in the family, coupled with Santorum already saying states should have the right to ban contraception, I’ve heard all I need to hear. This Republican woman will not be voting for women to stay in the kitchen, waiting on their man, pregnant and uneducated! I will not vote for the Tea Party Republicans in any way, shape or form. Where are the GOP candidates with BRAINS this year???
WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROGRESSIVE?
Other People’s Money
Jon “Turd” Edwards
Bankrupt Fannie Mae
Bankrupt Freddie Mac
Bankrupt Post Office
Bernie Madoff, Inc
Jon F’n Corzine, Inc
Rahm “Never let a crisis go to waster” Emmanuel
The Esteemed Franklin Raines
Maxine Waters, head Screwball
Chris Dodd, Chief Impaler, U.S. Economy
Barney Frank, Chiefette Impaler, U.S. Economy
Turbotax Timmy Geithner
Turd Burglar John Murtha
Marion Barry, wholly owned subsidiary of Screwballs, Inc.
Rod Blagojevich
Anthony Wiener, Sister Company of Screwballs, Inc.
The Democratic National Committee
Time Warner, Inc.
ACORN
La Raza
Lulac
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Envirowacko Protection Agency
Solyndra, Inc.
Love the list…. Unions.. Government unions, paid with my taxes, to lobby the government for more spending. Money laundering.
Elections have consequences and the People are tired of
Liberalism.
Dim it - They can’t be dimmed in my house while the incandescent can, so I guess I have to spend more money to make so I can get them to dim.
More “progress” I guess.
There is nothing Progressive about Liberals and their Socialist agenda.
WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROGRESSIVE?
The umbrella coalition in VA supporting progressive policies and legislation in Virginia is The Better Choices for Virginians.
The Better Choices Coalition is a diverse and growing group of Virginians committed to a stable and prosperous Commonwealth made up of the following organizations:
AARP
AFL-CIO
All-Med Express Medical Supply
The Commonwealth Institute
Communication Workers of America
Comprehensive Health Investment Project (CHIP) of Virginia
Fairfax Government Employees Union
Housing Opportunities Made Equal
Laborers International Union
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Legal Aid Justice Center
Main Street Alliance
Mental Health America of Virginia
Metropolitan Business League
Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington
Nonprofit NoVA
Virginia National Organization for Women
Progress Virginia
Social Action Linking Together
SEIU
Sierra Club
Virginia Better Housing Coalition
Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations
Virginia Education Association
Virginia First Cities
Virginia Interfaith Center
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
Virginia New Majority
Virginia Organizing
Virginia Poverty Law Center
Virginia PTA
The last time this happened it took just one guy breaking with the pack to get the game back on. Find the weak link in the Republican lineup and run with it, Dems. Find an ego and stroke it, find someone with a need and fill it. This is nothing else BUT a power grab and if it all about the rules, then read all the fine print. Heck, take it to court? The Republicans never miss a trick, so Dems better step up their game.
I only hope for the sake of the left, that the “progressives” who post on the LTM are their C and D players. If these are their best, liberals will wander in the wilderness for awhile. Maybe they can make a home with O’Malley in Maryland.
Yabutz -I have “dim-able” low energy lightbulbs. “Can’t be dimmed” is inaccurate. Got em at Costco.
Can we please stop with the term “progressive”? It’s “liberalism” pure and simple. The phrase “progressive” is one of many examples of how the liberals attempt to spruce up their image by using phrases that are, at the least, disingenuous.
They piously call themselves “pro-choice” but they try to ban everything from guns to light bulbs to public displays of faith.
I just found out that the new “low energy” light bulbs that are being forced on us (because they are banning the incandescent light bulbs) can’t be dimmed - only turned on or off. Another step backwards brought to us by the - PROGRESSIVES!
I’d provide more examples but at the moment I have go plunge my new 1 liter per flush environmentally friendly toilet - again.
Liberalism is a mental disease.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/Conservatives-Remain-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx
With Tom “I lie on forms” Dunn, it won’t be long before the repub label falls. Annnnnnnnnnnd, don’t overlook Ken “Speeding Ticket King” to also hold up his end of the deal.
Virginia progressives? Yeah, all five of them.
Good luck with that.
Updated: Thirteen-year-old pedestrian hit crossing Route 7 near Dulles Town Center
UPDATE: Missing Leesburg man drowns in drainage pond
Leesburg high schools switch things around
Loudoun inmate dies after suffering massive stroke in prison
Two Loudoun County residents involved in $1.5 million mortgage scheme
