Republicans Directly Impede Progress for Virginians!!!

By: Dianne
Published On: 8/9/2007 6:24:20 PM

For those who've joined the RK conversation in the recent hours, you might have missed a diary earlier in the day by Rob which identified a paper from the Campaign for America's Future called Obstruction by Filibuster which takes a look at how Senator Warner and his fellow Republicans have obstructed congressional legislation which would have directly helped Virginians.  The authors give us valuable information and statistics about Virginians which could help us in this year's campaign at the state level.  I read the talking paper and commented on Rob's diary by extracting some essential talking points that could be fodder even against state Republican candidates:
(The paper is really worth reading and finding more talking points.  Thanks Rob.)

  1.  Every single item on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 100 Hours Agenda passed the House, often by considerable margins.

2.  Republican whip Trent Lott told Roll Call, "The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail? and so far, it's working for us."

3.  The country is stuck in Iraq, wages are stagnant, prices for gasoline and college tuition are on the rise, the number of people in poverty and without health insurance are steadily increasing.

4.  Median (Virginia) Household Income: Fell by $1,549 from 2000 to 2005, adjusted for inflation.

5.  People without health insurance in Virginia in 2004: 1,061,000.

6.  In Virginia, over 499,768 people receive Medicare Part D help with their prescriptions; if Medicare could negotiate prices, it could save over $629 million statewide in prescription costs.  Senate Republicans are blocking a vote on that. 

7.  In Virginia, the annual weekly wage only increased by $92 from 2000 to 2005. Poverty increased by 53,000 individuals and 16,000 families from 2000 to 2004.

8.  An estimated 449,000 Virginians would be affected if the minimum wage were increased.

9.  In a poll conducted November 2006, 53 percent of Virginians surveyed disapproved of the Iraq War.

10.  64% of Americans believe U.S. energy policy is better solved by conservation than production.  Forward-looking Americans want increased conservation and use of renewable energy sources.

11.  Since taking control of the House and Senate, Democrats have introduced several bills intended to improve U.S. energy policy. The primary vehicle for change was H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act. This Act rolls back gas and oil subsidies, and taps record profits to fund development of clean new technologies.The CLEAN Energy Act is presently in conference. However, the President has threatened to veto it.

12.  Important bills that John Warner and fellow Republicans helped to obstruct

  a.  Minimum Wage
  b.  Employee Free Choice Act (right to organize to protect employees)
  c.  Ethics and Lobbying Disclosure Act
  d.  Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act
  e.  Tax Credit for Wind and Solar
  f.  Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act

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