Legislative Agenda/Legislators Grades
As an organization, we are supporting legislative agendas for State and Federal officials. We will share these items on this page…and eventually provide information on how your officials are doing.
State Agenda
The Roanoke Tea Party is a proud member of the The Roanoke The Virginia Tea Party Patriots and we endorse the following legislative agenda for 2010.
Legislative Priorities for 2010
Our legislative agenda for this year will be focused around the following areas: Fiscal responsibility, free markets, individual rights, accountability in education, and the Constitutional balance of power between state and federal government.
Health Care Freedom Act (HB 10 & HJ 7 & SB417) – Chief Patron, Delegate Bob Marshall and Chief Co-Patron Delegate John O’Bannon, MD. Senator Jill Vogel. State legislation and Va Constitutional Amendment proposal that would nullify any federal law, rule or regulation that: 1) requires individuals or employers to participate in any particular health care system or 2) mandates the purchase of health insurance. It would prohibit any fine or penalty on anyone or any company for deciding to purchase health care directly. Doctors and health care providers would remain free to accept those funds and provide those services. Finally, it would overrule anything that prohibits the sale of private health insurance in Virginia. Six other states — Arizona, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming — are considering similar initiatives for their 2010 ballots.
Insurance Panels (HB 11)- Require Insurance company panels which approve or deny payment for tests, treatment or therapy to be comprised of practicing physicians in areas of treatment, instead of cost-cutting accountants.
End Age Cut Offs for Insurance Coverage (HB 12)- Allow adult children living at home to remain on parents’ health insurance policies beyond age cutoffs if extra premium is paid by family member.
Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (HB69)– Patron, Delegate Carrico. Declares that any firearms made and retained in-state are beyond the authority of the U.S. Congress under its constitutional power to regulate commerce among the states. This is primarily a 10th amendment challenge to the powers of Congress under the “commerce clause.”
We also work closely with Tertium Quids, a no-partisan groups dedicated to Conservative ideals. We endorse their 2010 legislative agenda.
A Citizens’ Agenda for Better State Government
A coalition of Virginia citizen groups and legislators came together in 2006 to introduce the Freedom & Prosperity Agenda — a citizens’ agenda for better state government that protects the properties, incomes, and futures of all Virginians. These 12 planks were proposed as legislation in a multi-year effort to shift power from the government back to its rightful owners — the people. As you can see, some planks have already been passed, while others require increased grassroots support of people across Virginia — you, your family, and your friends and neighbors – to ensure our state legislators pass them into law. For more detail, click here.
1. Eliminate Virginia’s death tax PASSED
2. Pass a Taxpayers Bill of Rights to limit excessive state spending
3. Stop unnecessary eminent domain confiscations of private property PASSED
4. Allow parents to choose where their children attend school
5. Put Virginia’s budget and expenditures online to allow citizens to monitor their government PASSED
6. Create freedom and fiscal accountability for Virginia’s public colleges and universities
7. Eliminate the prepayment of the sales and use tax PASSED
8. Eliminate the War of 1812 tax (BPOL tax)
9. Require expiration dates for all new taxes and all tax increases
PASSED THE HOUSE
10. Rein in skyrocketing real estate taxes by basing them on the acquisition value of property
11. Eliminate the car tax
12. Make more money available for transportation projects by protecting Transportation Trust Fund money from being used for non-transportation purposes PASSED THE HOUSE
Federal Agenda
Here are questions we would like answered from any Federal candidate for the House or Senate.
1. Will you work to overturn any healthcare bill that may pass?
2. Will you vote against the so-called Cap & Trade Bill and will you work to overturn EPA’s regulations under the Clean Air Act that bypasses Congress to implement Cap & Trade?
3. Will you work to pass the Enumerated Powers Act (H.R.450) that requires all laws to show the Constitutional authority for them?
4. Will you Oppose H.R. 3126 and H.R. 4173 that would establish the Consumer Financial Protection Agency?
5. Will you work to oppose Senator Dodd’s Bill S1619. A bill to establish the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, to establish the Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities, to establish a comprehensive planning grant program, to establish a sustainability challenge grant program, and for other purposes?
6. Will you support Ron Paul’s Bill to Audit the Fed?
7. Will you support H.R. 3226 the Czar Accountability and Reform (CZAR) Act of 2009 To provide that appropriated funds may not be used to pay for any salaries or expenses of any task force, council, or similar office which is established by or at the direction of the President and headed by an individual who has been inappropriately appointed to such position (on other than an interim basis), without the advice and consent of the Senate?
8. Will you oppose closing Guantanamo prison?
9. Will you oppose holding civilian trials for terrorists in New York City?
10. Will you oppose bringing Guantanamo prisoners to prisons inside the U.S.?
11. Will you oppose any bill that will use tax-payers money to promote abortion?
12. Would you support a bill to define “general welfare”?
12. Will you oppose any regulation or bill that would restrict free speech, such as the Fairness Doctrine?
13. Will you work to over turn the Hate Crimes Bill?
14. Will you work to oppose any amnesty bill and will you work to secure our southern border?
15. Will you oppose any bill that would further infringe upon our 2nd Amendment rights?
16. Will you oppose SB 1110 and HR 2718 that amend the Social Security Act and transfers the Medicare guideline and rule setting from the legislative branch to the executive branch?
Who are our State Legislators?
Here are the representatives from the Roanoke area.
Delegates
19th District: Lacey Putney
8th District: Griffith Morgan
11th District: Onzlee Ware
17th District: William Fralin
Senators:
District 21: John Edwards
District 22: Ralph Smith
Not sure who your Delegate or Senator is, you can enter your addres and find out at this site.
How are your State Legislators Doing?
We will be grading their performance. That way you can make an informed decision when our representatives are up for election. More to come soon.
Who Are your Federal Officials?
How Are Your Federal Legislators Doing?
We will be grading their performance. That way you can make an informed decision when our representatives are up for election. Here is a table showing these and other representatives from VA. and how they voted on some high profile bills. More to come soon.
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TARP HR 1424
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Stimulus HR 1
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Cap & Trade HR 2454
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Health Care HR 3962 / SA 3276
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webb (D) |
Yea
|
Yea
|
Upcoming
|
Yea
|
| Warner (D) |
Yea
|
Yea
|
Upcoming
|
Yea
|
| Wittman (R) |
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Nye (D) |
Nay
|
Yea
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Scott (D) |
Nay
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
| Forbes (R) |
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Perriello (D) |
Nay
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
| Goodlatte (R) |
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Cantor (R) |
Yea
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Moran (D) |
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
| Boucher (D) |
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
Nay
|
|
Wolf (R) |
Yea
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
Nay
|
| Connolly (D) |
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
Yea
|
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