Ken Cuccinelli wants to outlaw abortion and many forms of contraception?  Also, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, what do you think the first thing Ken Cuccinelli would do, along with his friend Bob Marshall, assuming both were still in the Virginia General Assembly (which they won't be, of course)?

Should this sort of question be posed directly at Cuccinelli during a public debate rather than bug Oleszek about what she thinks of Ken's crazy legislation?

I guess I am just saying I am more interested in what she plans to do instead of that sort of crap than worry about conjecture of what his motives are.  Hopefully he won't be in office much longer anyway.

She can answer that question -- or not answer it -- any way she sees fit.

I think that my opponent answered this question for himself at the 2004 Republican convention, where he told the Republican audience that "pro-life people are bearing the children and pro-abortion people are killing them."

Ken may have toned down his rhetoric for campaign season, but do no be mistaken: when he refers to a "culture of death," he is talking about the hard working citizens of Fairfax who believe that woen should have th right to control their own bodies.  Fairfax deserves a State Senator who shares the values and beliefs of their community. 

I mean, seriously, has anyone ever met a person who is like, enthusiastic about abortions?  Right, I didn't think so.  Also, last time I checked, plenty of pro-choice people were also bearing children.  Maybe Cooch needs to go back to his elephant "Ron" for some more guidance on this issue, as on so many others.

your question about his co-patronage of HB 2797, which reads as follows:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That life begins at the moment of fertilization and the right to enjoyment of life guaranteed by Article 1, § 1 of the Constitution of Virginia is vested in each born and preborn human being from the moment of fertilization.

HB2797 is Ken's back-door attempt to outlaw abortion without actually mentioning it in the bill.  The really dangerous part of this bill is that it would criminalize abortion the minute it is passed, which means that women and their doctors could be thrown in jail for having or performing an abortion.  Not only that, but it would also be illegal for hospitals to dispense emergency contraception to victims of rape. The citizens of Fairfax are smarter than that, and I suspect that is why he would avoid this question as much as possible. 

on this bill, despite the fact that he co-patroned it earlier this year!

How would you work to fix that, without cutting essential services for the neediest and most vulnerable in our state?  Also, when you're in the State Senate next year, Tim Kaine's pre-k program will come up for debate.  What are your thoughts on that program given the state's budget problems?

You're right Lowell, these budget problems that we face are real, but fortunately they are not very severe right now.  I think the Governor is taking the right approach by making some small cuts in the budget, such as 74 layoffs and not filling over 300 vacant government positions.  I think that the amount that the Governor has proposed taking from the rainy day fund is appropriate.  This seems like the most common sense approach right now.

Mrs. O,

I am troubled that you have run for 3 races in four years (School Board, House of Delegates, and State Senate). Where do you really desire to serve and how can the people of the 37th have any assurance that you will stick it out in Richmond when a better office comes calling? 

Hi GH, and thanks for the question.  I am proud of my service on the Fairfax County School Board.  I am proud of my accomplishments, one of which is Full Day Kindergarten.  When I decided to run for State Senate, it was because I realized how much more I could do for the people in the my community by serving in Richmond.  I hope to represent the citizens of the 37th District for a very long time. 

Do you have any opinion on Sen. Cuccinelli's efforts on behalf of Fairfax  Co. Public Schools to increase the funding formula?  And How do you feel about Minority Leader Dick Saslaw opposing him?

and thanks for your question.  I wish political discourse on the web looked a little more like what we are doing here now. 

I am afraid that Senator Cuccinelli's attempt to change the education funding formula would have actually done more harm than good, much like his "scuzzball reporter bill".  If his amendment had passed, it would have given Republican Senators from elsewhere in the state an opening to further reduce Northern Virginia's share of education dollars.  This is the reason Senator Saslaw opposed the amendment. 

The bottom line is this: The Republicans have been in charge for almost a decade and Northern Virginia still suffers in terms of education and transportation funding.

I think we just got nearly $400 million thanks to the Republican Assembly.  But perhaps we simply disagree on that point.

I thought we simply "got" the right to tax ourselves through the regional authorities, plus the abuser fees.  Wonderful!

Actually, the right to tax ourselves through the regional authorities was directed by Governor Kaine through the bill amendment process.  Place the blame where it belongs!!!!

But yeah, you run against Governor Kaine this year and we'll run against the Republican House of Delegates which pushed the abuser fees and regional authorities.  Let's see who does better in 33 days. :)

Wasn't it the governor standing next to Speaker Howell praising the fees and insisting they stay?  Wasn't it the governor who changed the bill to make it only in-state drivers?  Go after Republicans all you want, but the governor was and is STILL for the abuser fees.  So I'll be glad to run against the governor on abuser fees.  :)

Kind ot the same logic failure of the infamous: "When did you stop beating your wife?" garbage.

Fact: some of Cuccinelli's supporters are extremist, and by extremist I mean way out of the normal for the district he claims to represent.  We could have a decent and very meaningful argument/debate about if any of his supporters are as extremist at Senator Cuccinelli is himself...  but there is no doubt there are some extremists in that camp (just as there are some extremists in Janet's camp too, I am sure).

Fact: Janet's quoted statement does not imply in any way at all that all bloggers who support Cuccinelli are extremists.  Frankly I am forced to question why they are supporting him if they are not extremist, but I have the luxury of going there as I am not running for office.

Suggestion: how about asking if the candidate really does not mind the things some extremists say, or if that is just a brave facade and that there are limits...

Ken Cuccinelli on stem cell research, and explain why those differences matter to the people of the 37th district?  Thanks.

being able to own guns?  In general, how do you differ with Ken Cuccinelli on gun issues?  Thanks.

global warming?  How do you differ with Ken Cuccinelli on environmental issues?  Thanks.

and the Sierra Club.  Ken Cuccinelli has been as reckless on the environment as he has been on our transportation crisis and common sense gun legislation. 

The best place to find out more about my position on the environment and how we can reduce greenhouse gases is by visiting the environment section of my website at http://www.janetforf...

I'm a fan of good female politiceans.  Do you think, as a women, that you bring a sensibility to politics that is different from Ken's?  Or does gender not matter in this instance? 

in public policy.  You may have noticed that there are not very many women in the State Senate, and with your help we will improve that number in November! 

That you would enjoy seeing Ms. Devolites Davis returned to the Senate?  ;-)

How do you propose to pay for the various education and transportation initiatives you have put forward

How do you talk about stopping global warming and solving our energy needs in a way that addresses all of Virginia's constituencies -- environmental activists in Northern VA, transmission line opponents in Northeast VA, and coal supporters in Southeast VA?

businesses, and individuals to use more renewable energy is a good start.  Additionally, I would like to work with our colleges and universities to invest in alternative and renewable energy research which will facilitate more business opportunities in Virginia.  Clean energy is going to be big business in the future and I would like Virginia to be a place where that industry has a signifant presence, just like we have with bio-tech and internet companies now.

Janet,

Thanks for live blogging on RK!

The abuser fee portion of the recent transportation bill, while widely disliked, does attempt to cover two important aspects of our transportation system: funding for projects and safety.

Do you support the abuser fees as is, with some modification, or not at all?  If you'd like to see modifications, what are they?  And if you don't support the abuser fees at all, how would you seek to address the funding and safety aspects?

Before it was repealed last year, the Virginia estate tax brought in $140 million per year from fewer than 900 of the richest Virginia families.  Given the budget crunch Virginia is now facing, would you support restoring the estate tax, perhaps exempting small farmers and small businesses?

benefitted fewer than one thousand of the richest families in Virginia.  It should not have been repealed, although I definitely support exempting small business owners and family farmers. 

A few years ago, when then-Delegate James Dillard (R-Fairfax) introduced a bill to allow private companies to offer health insurance benefits to anyone agreed upon by the company and the employee, Senator Cuccinelli signed on as a co-patron.

Days later, the Senator withdrew his support, removed his name, and voted against the legislation from that point onward.  Many have speculated it was because Cuccinelli learned that this legislation would have allowed companies to offer health insurance to the same-sex partners of employees.

The legislation became law with strong bipartisan support, despite his opposition.

Would you have voted for this legislation?

I am not at all surprised that he would turn around and oppose this legislation.  Just like George Bush vetoing the SCHIP legislation and his opposition to giving health insurance to those most in need, Ken Cuccinelli is right behind with State Legislation that accomplishes the deals the same blow. 

Jim Dillard was one of the visionaries of our state legislature and worked across the aisle to accomplish many great things for Virginia.  This is just another example of how Ken can't even work with his own party to get anything done, much less across the aisle. 

Care to contrast your position regarding respect for same-sex families with that of your homophobic opponent?? Ex: Civil Unions, "marriage amendment", adoption rights, gay-straight alliance clubs in schools, etc.

Ms. Oleszek

As a school board member, you voiced opposition to Democratic Chairman Gerry Connolly's property tax rate reduction in Fairfax County.  What alternatives would you propose to a property tax rate reduction for Fairfax families?  What percentage do you think property taxes should be capped at in Fairfax County? 

As a school board member, you supported taking over fifty percent of a persons income in taxes.  Excluding education, what priorities would you put this money towards?

Alex P. Keaton

to say that I ever said I support taking over fifty percent of a person's income in taxes. 

As a School Board member it is my duty to ensure that our schools are adequately funded, and I am proud of the job that I have done.  We have one of the best school systems in the country.  I think Chairman Connolly has done a fine job managing Fairfax County and has only helped Fairfax County residents by cutting the property tax rate over 30 cents since 2002. 

Ms. Oleszek: 

Thank you for taking the opportunity to engage voters on this blog this afternoon.

My question relates to one of your responses from Monday night's Channel 10 debate that left me somewhat offended as a brother of a severly disabled sibling.

In response to Sen. Cuccinelli's question on the amount of funding needed for public school children, you made the following statement:

"That $13,000 is a composite of what it costs to educate a child who has significant disabilities, along with children who have no disabilities and who are what we call regular kids."

My question is two-fold:  (1) What are children with no disabilities called "regular"? and (2) who are "we"?

My family always tried to integrate my brother into a "regular" environment.  I would hope this was an innocent slip of the tongue and not your position on children with disabilities.

I look forward to your response.  Thank you....

First, I would like to point out that mainstreaming children with disabilities is one of the Fairfax County School System's main goals, and we have been a leader in this area. 

However, it does take more resources to bring these children into the mainstream, and there has to be a way to account for that when it comes to budgetary needs.  "Regular Kids" is typical jargon used in Fairfax and all over the rest of the country so that we, as School Board members, can fight for more funding in order to make mainstreaming successful.

As you can imagine, the campaign trail is quite rigorous, and my schedule is packed all day long.  Thanks so much for all your questions, and I'm very sorry I couldn't get to them all! 

 

And good luck in the remaining 32 days of your campaign against Ron Ken Cuccinelli!

Thank you for the response and your work on the school board.  I would suggest, however, that the Fairfax School Board lead the country in using different terms for categorizing children, perhaps "children with disabilities" and "children without disabilities".  The use of the term "regular kids" for non-disabled children is not quite "politically correct" and offensive to those in the disabled community.....