February 2012

10 Ways in 10 Days: Precious Metals vs. Healthy Kids

February 29, 2012 - 18:25

More than 1,350 of Virginia's most vulnerable children and their families could lose access to health care and social services as a result of cuts to CHIP of Virginia (Comprehensive Health Investment Project) and the Healthy Families, Virginia under some proposed budgets. Yet, people who have the extra money to buy precious metals got a tax break from the House of Delegates

Virginia Organizing February 2012 Newsletter: Leap Year Edition

February 29, 2012 - 16:12

10 Ways in 10 Days: Preserving Loopholes, Cutting Virginia's Teachers

February 28, 2012 - 18:19

The Hanover County School Board has had to eliminate more than 88 full time jobs in Hanover County Schools because ongoing state cuts to education funding require localities to pick up more of the tab. Of those jobs lost, more than 52 were teaching positions, bringing the total educational jobs cut in Hanover to more than 330 positions over the past four years.

Downie: The President's Plan to Help Virginia's Homeowners

February 27, 2012 - 16:28

 What a long road for homeowners. So many have suffered and lost their homes. I personally have watched two of my children fight to keep their homes. Both are upside down in their homes and hoping that this new agreement will help them get back on their feet. It's tough to keep up when your house payments are sky high and your home is worth less and less. Rob's and  Sandy's homes are valued about half what they were in 2008. Both their businesses have been hard bit by the recession also.

The Predators’ Creditors: How the Biggest Banks are Bankrolling the Payday Loan Industry

February 25, 2012 - 15:59

On Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 am, Virginia Organizing supporters and community members will be meeting at the Bank of America at the Barracks Road shopping center to move their money and call on others to do the same.

Huge Victory on Predatory Lending in Chesapeake!

February 22, 2012 - 21:07

While the Virginia General Assembly utterly failed to take action on predatory lending this session, the City of Chesapeake sought more transparency and public input on the predatory businesses popping up in along the NC border.

Tuesday night was a huge victory for those fighting against predatory lending in Virginia.

The Chesapeake City Council passed a requirement for predatory loan stores to get conditional use permits before locating or re-locating in the city of Chesapeake. The public will be able to comment on whether these lenders should get the permits.

REPORT: MAKING HEALTH CARE WORK FOR VIRGINIA’S SMALL BUSINESSES

February 22, 2012 - 18:46

The following report was conducted by the Virginia Main Street Alliance, a small business initiative of Virginia Organizing.

As the new health care law goes into effect at the state level, small businesses are key stakeholders whose views should inform the implementation process. Small businesses are the engine of the Virginia economy, creating jobs and delivering essential services; implementing the health law to maximize benefits for small businesses will help ignite that engine and drive the economic recovery forward.

Protecting the Vote in Virginia Forum: 2/21 @6:30pm

February 21, 2012 - 20:26

This afternoon in Martinsville dozens of Virginia Organizing supporters protested against the voter suppression bills in the Virginia General Assembly.

Tonight the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus is holding a forum focused on protecting Virginia's vote.

VIRGINIA MAIN STREET ALLIANCE UPDATE # 27

February 20, 2012 - 18:51

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HEALTH CARE REFORM IN VIRGINIA?

The Virginia General Assembly has punted on health care reform.  They will now wait until July at the earliest and maybe next January.   The really sad part is that it was defeated over pure politics.  Governor McDonnell opposed taking any action even if it leaves Virginia unprepared to implement the Exchange.

Black Friday: A Day of Protest for Thousands of VA Public School Teachers

February 17, 2012 - 15:25

It has been dubbed "Black Friday" by thousands of public school teachers around the state, who will be wearing black today in protest of what they see as unfair budget cuts and legislation targeting their profession.

Brittany Jones is the president of the Student Virginia Education Association, with a membership of college students preparing to become education professionals. From state funding cuts to increases in class sizes, she sees an alarming trend in Virginia that she believes undermines both public school teachers and students.

What is Del. Marshall thinking?

February 16, 2012 - 17:23

The following letter to the editor was published in the Danville Register and Bee and was writen by Viriginia Organizing leader Maxine Jackson:What is Del.

Is the Virginia General Assembly Trying to Repeal the 20th Century?

February 15, 2012 - 16:58

The 2012 Virginia General Assembly seems intent on taking Virginia backwards. Yesterday, Senator Dick Saslaw of Fairfax summed it up perfectly: “It seems to me there are people here who would like to repeal the whole 20th century.”

We’ve been speaking out against the General Assembly’s giant steps backwards.

VA Group: No Love for the Legislature

February 14, 2012 - 15:26

It's Valentine's Day, but one group isn't feeling the love from the General Assembly – and to signify that, is delivering empty broken-heart boxes to legislators today.

Jay Johnson, treasurer for Virginia Organizing, says the statewide group is disappointed by the vast majority of bills this session, many of which it sees as focusing on issues that have little to do with helping the economy or most families in the state. Johnson says one piece of legislation she finds particularly troubling is the 'Voter ID' bill.

The 2012 General Assembly bait and switch. We wanted jobs, we got ____________.

February 13, 2012 - 22:23

On Valentine's Day, Virginia Organizing supporters from Abingdon to Arlington will make their way to the Capitol for the Broken Hearts day of action to call attention to the misplaced priorities of the 2012 legislature. “Virginians voted for legislators who promised to work on jobs and the economy and instead have focused on far-flung legislation like restricting voting rights, lifting the one gun per month limit, restricting gay adoptions and drug testing public assistance recipients,” said Sandra Cook, Chairperson of Virginia Organizing.

Danvile Vs. The Sharks

February 10, 2012 - 18:46

As of this week all the bills to curb predatory lending have died. Nevertheless, a dozen hearty Danville souls line the sidewalk in front of Advance America on Wednesday to send Senator Stanley a message.

Check out some of the great news coverage of the protest:

Predatory lending under protest in Danville

Valentine's Day Action: The General Assembly Broke Our Hearts

February 8, 2012 - 13:29

Our hearts have been repeatedly broken by the Virginia General Assembly this year.

We've been lied to:"We'll work on jobs and education, we swear!"

We've been cheated on:"I am just going out with my corporate lobbyist friends tonight, it's really nothing!"

Virginia Main Street Alliance Update #26 February 6, 2012

February 8, 2012 - 09:30

You can help make health care reform better by sending a short email to your legislators.  Go to http://legis.virginia.gov/, click on the “who’s my legislator button” on the top right, enter an address and a page will come up with a button to send an email.  The email can be short; tell them you are a small businesses person and that you support setting up a Health Benefits Exchange.  Ask them to support HB 357 and SB 383. 

It's Shark Week at the General Assembly!

February 7, 2012 - 22:52

Guess who's having the best week ever at the General Assembly?

Predatory lending sharks!

The last of several good bills to address the scourge of predatory lending in Virginia just died in committee. Three bills also met their untimely death in a Senate subcommittee on Monday. The Virginia General Assembly is moving on to more important issues like keeping the elderly from voting and have left the predaory lenders to continue their nefarious practices.

Letter to Bank of America: You're on Notice, See you In Charlotte.

February 4, 2012 - 00:12

Today, Virginia Organizing leaders attempted to the deliver the following letter to the Charlottesville branch manager. The mananger kindly refused so the group went to the nearest post office and mailed the following:

February 3, 2012

VIDEO: Fredericksburg Residents Call on Sen. Reeves to Oppose Voter Suppression Bills

February 2, 2012 - 23:05

Twenty fours hours after the House of Delegates passed HB 9, one of many voter suppression bills, Fredericksburg residents gathered at the library to speak out against a slew of bills moving through the General Assembly that threaten voting rights and waste tax dollars. Residents called on Senator Reeves to oppose voter suppression laws. Senator Reeves just had one of the slimmest margins of victory in recent history and should appreciate the need to protect each Virginian’s vote.

Project To Gather Opinion On Immigrant Detention Program

February 1, 2012 - 13:19

Posted in the Daily New Record: January 31, 2012

By EMILY SHARRER

Nelly Moreno-Shenk gives instructions Saturday to volunteers training for the Rockingham County 287g Listening Project. Organizers say they want to find out from members of the Hispanic community what their experiences have been with the program that allows local officers to enforce some aspects of federal immigration law. (Photos by Michael Reilly / DN-R)