The state election office made a historic mess of Tennessee’s Presidential Primary — with mistakes that robbed a former U.S. Congressman and his wife of their right to vote and denied voters access to the polls.
Secretary of State Tre Hargett and State Election Coordinator Mark Goins are in charge of the government office [...]
TNDP News
East Tennessee Veterans Memorial (photo from flickr.com)
Congressman Steve Cohen issued today the following statement commemorating Veterans Day, which is celebrated tomorrow, November 11:
“Since the Armistice at the end of World War I, November 11th has been set aside as a day to commemorate those men and women, both living and dead, whose service in uniform has given irrefutable testimony to their loyalty, courage, and love of country. We often take for granted those very things that most deserve our gratitude. It’s easy to forget the reasons we observe the traditional moment of silence at the eleventh hour and let Veterans Day become just another three day weekend.
“Today, let us remember that we are only able to call ourselves ‘the land of the free’ because we are also the home of the brave. We are privileged to enjoy peace and freedom in this country thanks to each and every citizen who chose to put on the uniform and serve. Our debt to those who have volunteered to put their lives at risk on our behalf cannot be measured in words; that is why we must continue to work to ensure that we honor the commitments we have made to our veterans who have retired from the military as well as those who will be returning from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Meet Dr. Andrew Bard Schmookler
Candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 6th District
Tuesday – June 14th – Madison Heights Library – 7PM, doors open 6:30PM – Free Parking – Everyone Welcome
Bob Goodlatte is the present Congressman and he has sold you down the river in favor of tax breaks for the upper 2% and special breaks for Big Oil and Business. You may be unaware that two-term Bob who is now serving his 10th term is unaccountable to you the voter in the 6th District.
Goodlatte supports killing Medicare and Reducing Social Security and is wed to a far right wing extreme agenda that slants toward the wealthy and big business. Bob got the two term nickname by promising to term limit himself to two terms if elected. Bob got elected and his promise was completely forgotten. Goodlatte also opposes support for early childhood learning and wants to end Women’s Health Care.
Goodlatte’s record on senior issues is so poor that he is rated at less than 10% in his support for issues important to older Americans.
Goodlatte needs to be held accountable for his conduct and retired. Dr Schmookler has taken up the mission of replacing Goodlatte with a Congressman who represents the people. This
is your chance to meet and help Dr. Schmookler become the next Congressman from Virginia’s 6th District. Your help is appreciated, please plan to attend.
There is much at stake in this election and if you continue to be distracted by the standard Republican smoke screens of God, Guns, Gays and Abortion we will all lose. Think about the Pell Grants for Education that your children use to go to college, that Republicans want to end. Think about all the programs that serve working people that Republicans want to trash to give a tax break to the wealthy. Think about all the people who can’t find a job and how many jobs are lost each time the upper 2% get another tax break. Think about your family and friends and vote your interest.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Tuesday, June 14, 7:00 PM – Amherst County Democrats will welcome to the Madison Hts Library, our special guest,
Dr. Andrew Schmookler, seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 6th CD next year.
Dr. Schmookler has a powerful message that’s sure to get the attention of voters here in the heart of the Commonwealth – and nationally, as well. He reminds us that progressive, liberal ideals and policies are indeed patriotic and moral. He calls Republicans to task for the destructive party they have become, while citing
congressional Democrats’ failure to confront them.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet Andy, hear what he has to say, and ask him the tough questions as we look toward the 2012 elections.
Light refreshments will be served following the meeting.
Everyone is welcome to attend and we will be pleased to greet you. Award-winning author and blogger Andy Schmookler has thrown his hat into the ring for the Sixth District Democratic Party congressional nomination. Schmookler, 64, said he wouldn’t be running for Congress “if these were normal political times,” but the Harvard and Cal-Berkeley grad and NPR and PBS commentator sees in the recent policy drift in Washington a disturbing trend that he feels he needs to bring attention to. Increasing income inequality and the increasingly hollowed-out American middle class “aren’t a function of how the 21st century economy works,” Schmookler said. Rather, the trends toward the rich getting richer and the poor and middle class struggling more and more are due to the “nature of the policies that are getting implemented” in Washington. Draconian djustments to Medicare and Social Security being contemplated now on Capitol Hill are “frauds” to Schmookler. “Back when Reagan was president, we already knew that people who were born the year I was born were going to turn 65 this year. There’s nothing surprising about that,” Schmookler said. The focus of leaders in Washington should be on creating jobs and building on the country’s economic base, Schmookler said, not on budget cutting. “What we need to close the budget isn’t cutting off programs like Head Start or heating help for the elderly that Republicans are going after. We need to get the economy out of the hole,” Schmookler said. But “we don’t talk about that.” “We talk about cutting the budget. We talk about cutting Social Security. Now there are proposals that are essentially designed to eliminate Medicare as we know it. We as an American society are moving toward taking away the protections for average people, the opportunities for average people, and hollowing out America,” Schmookler said. Both major parties – Republican and Democrat – are part and parcel to the problem. The GOP, to Schmookler, is a “destructive force,” while “Democrats have let us down because they have been wimps in terms of standing up and defending.” “The only way that today’s Republican Party can get any power at all is by deceiving people about the nature of what it is,” said Schmookler, who hopes his campaign can play a role in “awakening the American people” to those realities. Agusta Free Press WORLD NEWS
“My message is simply to try to tell the truth,” said Schmookler, who concedes that the 2012 race will be an uphill battle, but says it’s “not impossible” for a Democrat to win in the Sixth District.
Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
USA NEWS
POLITICAL
SMALL BUSINESS
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS NEWS
Keep Your Eye On The Prize
The American Dream is fueled by Good Government.
Support and Vote for Bert Dodson.
If you would like to Volunteer, If you would like a Yard Sign or If you would like to Host an Event.
If you would like to Make a Donation of any size it will be appeciated and put to good use telling all the citizens of the 22nd District about Bert Dodson and our campaign.
Here’s the address:
Friends of Bert Dodson
P.O. Box 10249
Lynchburg, Va 24506-0249
Virginia Law requires every campaign to collect certain information from anyone who contributes to any candidate in any campaign. Please Provide
Name and Home Address,
City and Zip Code,
Home Phone and E-Mail Address,
Occupation and Your Employer
Please Make Checks Payable to Friends of Bert Dodson
Bert Thanks You in advance for your generous help. Lets Get to Work and Win This Thing.
News From Virginia’s 22nd Senate District
Amherst County News
Lynchburg News
Appomattox County News
Fluvanna County News
Louisa County News
Prince Edward County News
Buckingham County News
Cumberland County News
Goochland County News
TRAINING Session Planned
The first-ever Virginia Summit, which will be held on July 15th-16th at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, will offer two days of intensive training, policy and message briefings, career advancement advice and fellowship with Democratic elected officials, candidates, professionals, and activists from every level.
The Virginia Summit will offer sessions for candidates, activists, professionals and aspiring political staff of all stripes on a wide range of important skills and topics. We’ve got a host of informative and impactful sessions planned already, including:
Policy briefings on health care, education, national security, energy, and the environment
Developing and communicating a powerful message Running an effective local Democratic committee
Recruiting and retaining political volunteers
Making the choice to run for office
Starting and advancing a career in politics
I am also happy to announce that Dr. Drew Westen, the renowned psychologist, Democratic messaging guru and author of the must read book The Political Brain, has agreed to share his expertise in two separate Virginia Summit sessions. Dr. Westen has advised campaigns on every level on crafting and delivering an effective and emotionally resonant message. He will deliver a great deal of value to attendees who want to communicate our Democratic
values in the most effective way possible.
I hope you will mark your calendars and make plans to join us in Richmond on July 15th-16th for the Virginia Summit.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Moran
Chairman, Democratic Party of Virginia
Amherst County Virginia Democratic News
President Barack Obama and his administration are socialist – plain and simple.
Georgia Republican Rep. Paul Broun appears to have Tweeted this in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night: “Mr. President, you don’t believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism.”
The comment has already been retweeted by dozens of people with some comparing it to Joe Wilson’s infamous “You Lie!” outburst during a speech by the president in 2009 – though of course this apparent comment was confined to the internet.
We know what we make decisions on during the course of our day. Lets look at what Congressman Tom Perriello deals with.
Latest News Perriello Votes to Support American Manufacturing Jobs and American-made Products
09/29/10
Congressman Tom Perriello again voted today to protect American manufacturing jobs and to help make American-made products more competitive. Rep. Perriello co-sponsored the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (H.R. 2378), which passed with bi-partisan support, to crack down on foreign countries, most notably China, whose currency manipulation results in products that are so cheap that American-made products cannot compete. This practice is devastating to manufacturing industries, such as steel and rubber, and the American Manufacturing Alliance estimates that Virginia’s 5th Congressional District lost nearly 6,000 jobs to China from 2001-2008.
Perriello Votes to Cut Taxes, Expand Capital for Small Businesses
09/23/10
Today, Congressman Tom Perriello voted again to cut taxes on small businesses and to help provide capital so they can hire and expand. The Small Business Jobs Act, which is fully paid for, enacts billion in tax cuts so that owners can invest in their small businesses. The bill also helps meet capital needs by creating a billion lending fund for community banks that could leverage up to 0 billion in private investment in small businesses. Unlike the big bank bailout of 2008, which Perriello opposed, this proposal rewards responsible actors and directs lending to where it is needed most: small businesses on Main Street.
New “Patient’s Bill of Rights” Takes Effect
09/23/10
Congressman Tom Perriello today highlighted a slate of key patient rights and protections that will now benefit Virginians on private insurance plans. This new “Patient’s Bill of Rights” includes common-sense reforms that put patients and doctors, not the health insurance companies, back in charge of health care decisions. The reforms are included in the recently enacted health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“Rural Star” Legislation Passes House
09/16/10
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, commonly known as
“Rural Star.” The bill, which Congressman Tom Perriello originally cosponsored and has championed in Congress, will finance energy efficiency upgrades in rural homes, creating an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 jobs a year while saving Virginia families and businesses money on their electric bills. Rep. Perriello made maximizing efficiency one of the three pillars of his “New Energy Blueprint” to place Central and Southern Virginia at the forefront of the new energy economy.
5th District Small Businesses Receive .4 million to Commercialize New Energy Technology
09/15/10
Two 5th district small businesses are receiving federal support to commercialize their innovative clean energy technology. Rep. Tom Perriello today announced that Charlottesville’s Mikro Systems will receive .5 million to support commercialization of its advanced turbine blades for next generation power plants, and Luna Innovations, Inc., which has facilities in Charlottesville and Danville, will receive .9 million to commercialize fiber optic
thermal sensors under development at its Blacksburg facility. These grants, supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help these high-tech small businesses in the 5th district take their innovative products to market while leading the way for the next generation of high-tech manufacturing jobs in Central and Southern Virginia. Rep. Perriello has made advanced manufacturing of new energy technologies a key part of his “New Energy Blueprint” to increase American energy independence and make the 5th district a leader in the new energy economy.
Additional Federal Aid Coming to Local School Districts
09/10/10
Rep. Tom Perriello today announced additional federal aid for school systems across Central and Southside Virginia. The Fifth District will receive approximately .8 million from the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, a full paid-for package of aid to states that Rep. Perriello supported. Funds are designed to support elementary and secondary teacher, school-level administrator and other essential school-level staff salaries and related costs. The package will fund approximately 437 teaching positions across the district and mitigate cuts already made by state
and local governments. The bill was paid for, in part, by closing the tax loopholes that reward companies for sending jobs overseas. Rep. Perriello had voted and cosponsored legislation to close the loopholes several times.
Perriello Celebrates New Energy Projects at Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
09/10/10
Rep. Tom Perriello today celebrated a 0,000 grant for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s new “Gearing-up for Renewable Energy Jobs” (GReEn Jobs) program to engage teachers and students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM.) The GReEn Jobs program will give teachers the skills and knowledge to prepare interested K-12 students in the region for jobs in the new energy economy. The grant is part of the Department of Education’s Fund for Improvement of Education program and will help purchase equipment and technology to start the new initiative. Rep. Perriello requested the appropriation for the program, which also helps advance his “New Energy Blueprint” to make Southern and Central Virginia a regional leader in new energy jobs.
Rep. Tom Perriello and Chairman Bob Filner to Meet with 5th District Veterans
08/23/10
**5th District Veterans Invited to Veterans’ Town Hall with Congressmen** Congressman Tom Perriello will host Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for events with 5th District veterans this Friday, August 27, 2010. The Congressmen will visit with staff and veterans during a tour of the Lynchburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for veterans, and Rep. Perriello will host Chairman Filner for a Veterans’ Town Hall Meeting with members of Rep. Perriello’s 5th District Veterans Advisory Committee. All 5th District veterans are invited to attend and participate in the meeting from 4:30 to 5:30 PM at the Campbell County Historic Courthouse in Rustburg.
Perriello Affirms Commitment to Seniors on 75th Anniversary of Social Security
08/12/10
Today, in recognition of the 75th anniversary of Social Security, Rep. Tom Perriello affirmed his commitment to keep the promises made to our seniors. More than 50 million Americans, including more than 150,000 in the 5th District, rely on Social Security’s guaranteed benefits for retirement security, and to make ends meet, put food on the table and stay in their homes.
Perriello Supports Improved Border Security
08/11/10
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a fully paid-for emergency appropriations package to improve security and reduce violence along the border with Mexico. Rep. Tom Perriello supported and has previously voted for the measure, which was passed this morning on a voice vote.
Perriello Votes to Support Teachers, American Workers
08/10/10
Rep. Tom Perriello today voted in favor of H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, a fully paid-for aid package to states that will keep teachers and first responders on the job and provide basic health care to those caught up in the economic downturn. The billion aid package is paid for in part by closing the tax loopholes that encourage companies to send jobs overseas. Closing these loopholes has been a priority for Rep. Perriello who has voted and cosponsored legislation to close them several times.
Perriello Votes to Protect American Manufacturing Jobs and Support Small Business
07/30/10
Rep. Tom Perriello again stood up for American workers today by voting for H.R. 5982, a bill that would have created and protected American construction and manufacturing jobs by closing the tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas. The bill also helped small businesses by repealing certain expenditure reporting requirements that would have been overly burdensome. This was a fully paid-for bill to benefit the middle and working class, but the bill failed to pass the House after Republicans chose to stand with corporations that outsource jobs.
Two Perriello co-sponsored bills pass as part of “Make it in America” initiative
07/28/10
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed three more bills to create jobs and support American manufacturing as part of House Democrats’ new “Make it in America” initiative. The House passed the National Manufacturing Strategy Act and the End the Trade Deficit Act, both co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Perriello, as well as the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act. These bills will promote the competitiveness of the American manufacturing sector and support the millions of American jobs in manufacturing. All three bills passed with wide
bipartisan support.
Perriello Opposes Obama Administration on Trade Policy
07/27/10
Rep. Perriello has joined with members of the House Trade Working Group to oppose President Obama’s recent announcement that he will work to send the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement to be approved by Congress. Perriello has consistently opposed more NAFTA-style free trade agreements because of their devastating effects on manufacturing and industry in Central and Southern Virginia.
Perriello Gets .6 Million Returned to 5th District Veterans, Seniors
07/21/10
In his first term in Congress, Rep. Tom Perriello has put over .6 million back into the pockets of individual Virginians by helping veterans, seniors, and other constituents struggling with federal bureaucracies. This total represents money or benefits that the federal government owed or was incorrectly withholding from citizens.
Perriello’s Bill To Reduce Deficit by 7 Million Passes House with Unanimous Bipartisan Consent
07/21/10
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two of Congressman Tom Perriello’s bills with unanimous bipartisan consent. The Surface Transportation Savings Act of 2010 (H.R. 5604), which passed 402-0, would rescind 6.8 million in unspent transportation funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. These funds are not available for use by these agencies in fiscal year 2010, and the savings achieved from this legislation will be used to reduce the national deficit.
Your Congressman, Tom Perriello wants you to know what he is doing and is running on his record (as opposed to running away from the things he has done). You can be pandered to by a republican who will end social security and medicare as you know it or you can re-elect a hard working, honest man to represent the 5th District. You can vote for a tea party republican who pushes tax breaks for the top 2% of earners and thinks out sourcing American jobs is the right way to go or you can support Tom Perriello who works for you and stands up for your friends and neighbors. Unless you’re a member of the wealthy upper class you can’t afford another republican. It will take a decade or longer to recover from the Bush years. You’ve got just one vote. Spend your vote wisely because the quality of your life and your childrens lives depends on your decision.
