Press Releases

Demo Memo: 5/23/08

Posted by Greg on Friday, May 23

May 16, 2008 - May 23, 2008
www.vademocrats.org

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INTRODUCTION

As we head into the Memorial Day Weekend, the Democratic Party of Virginia wants to take this time to remember and honor the many men and women who have laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom and security we have. We also honor those men and women who are currently serving both overseas and here at home. When we talk about supporting our troops, we want it to be more than just rhetoric. We want to make sure we're putting that support into action. So we congratulate Sen. Webb on the passage of his new GI Bill in Senate.

It's important that we elect the kind of leadership Sen. Webb, Gov. Kaine and Gov. Warner have provided. This year's state Democratic convention is a major step toward that goal. So, if you haven't done so already, be sure to get your UNITY pass to the convention.

Best,

Levar Stoney
Executive Director

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"The world changed after 9/11 and when the operational tempo of our military changed, I kept sitting on the sidelines wondering when the GI Bill educational benefits would change,"- Sen. Jim Webb, on his new GI Bill [Roanoke Times, 5/23/08]

"How can you tell a veteran that's been to war three or four times that it's too rich of a benefit?"- Patrick Campbell, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, on Sen. Jim Webb's new GI Bill [Virginian Pilot, 5/23/08]

HEADLINES

Gov. Tim Kaine

Kaine Sees Transportation Package as a Win-Win [Washington Post, 5/18/08]
Va. Gov. Tim Kaine helps set the PACE at Wise County groundbreaking [Times News, 5/20/08]
Kaine Says Tourism Is Vital To Virginia's Economy [Bristol Herald Courier, 5/21/08]
Governor Sets Aside May 25-31 for Hurricane Preparedness [WAVY, 5/21/08]
Kaine plan could start local road projects [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/22/08]

Sen. Jim Webb

Amid first term, Webb stirs buzz for vice presidential nod [Virginian-Pilot, 5/17/08]
Webb gets attention for book, his GI bill [Media General News Service, 5/18/08]
Warner, Webb join to usher in judge, confirmed despite partisan sparring [Virginian-Pilot, 5/21/08]
Senate considers Webb's GI Bill proposal [Virginian-Pilot, 5/21/08]
Webb Would Be a Bold Choice for Obama's No. 2 [Washington Post, 5/22/08]
Webb GI Bill Passes Senate, 75-22 [Raising Kaine, 5/22/08]
Webb draws a (powerful) crowd [The Shad Plank, 5/22/08]

Congressional Delegation

Boucher: $1.8 million grant will advance coal research [Associated Press, 5/21/08]

General Assembly

Opposition mounts against Kaine's transportation fix [Daily Press, 5/18/08]
Lawmakers stress urgent need for progress on roads [Daily Press, 5/22/08]

Election 2008

Mark Warner eyes Senate seat with bipartisan plans [Winchester Star, 5/17/08]
Warner talks war, health on Southside stop [Danville Register & Bee, 5/21/08]
Gilmore Put $50,000 Into Own Campaign, Filings Show [Washington Post, 5/22/08]
Warner: Area sets example for U.S. [Washington Post, 5/22/08]
Drake says 'no' vote on GI bill was due to veto warning [Virginian-Pilot, 5/19/08]
Drake: I was for the Webb bill before I was against it [VB Dems, 5/19/08]
Perriello to face Goode [Roanoke Times, 5/18/08]
Perriello says his campaign aims to 'break down the barriers' [Danville Register & Bee, 5/20/08]

EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS

"The votes by Rep. Thelma Drake were a little harder to explain away... Drake is certainly partisan; her vote on war funding, in which she sided with the GOP leadership, certainly proves that. Her vote on the G.I. bill elevated misgivings about legislative process above overdue benefits for the nation's veterans." [Virginian-Pilot, 5/17/08]

"Del. Griffith and his minions in the House simply do not want to admit that a statewide problem exists, because that means they would have to shoulder part of the blame. They simply want to resurrect the regional taxes and fees from a year ago, to be implemented by local city councils and boards of supervisors instead of unelected authorities. In other words, just another unfunded mandate from Richmond. Talk about gall. Talk about buck-passing." [Lynchburg News & Advance, 5/17/08]

"Republicans greeted Gov. Tim Kaine's proposal with the partisan scorn typical for these exercises... They projected an unflattering sourness, however; a reputation as Grumpy Old Partisans contributes to the GOP's electoral decline." [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/18/08]

"No serious candidate for governor would trash someone else's proposal for fixing the state's most pressing need unless he had a better idea in mind... Much as he might like, [Bob] McDonnell can't stand idly on the roadside as the work starts on a new transportation compromise." [Virginian-Pilot, 5/19/08]

"While the General Assembly fiddles on how to pay for roads, the state finds itself in a hole over transportation. A sluggish economy and rising costs would force Virginia to divert $388 million in highway construction funds to repair existing roads. Kaine has warned the deficit could grow to $575 million in six short years." [Shanna Flowers, Roanoke Times, 5/20/08]

"Virginia, heavily dependent on the defense industry, has in Webb a senator as committed as Warner to the nation's defense. And, like the disillusioned Warner, Webb views the war through the broad lens of its impact on U.S. readiness. Both the state and nation would benefit from his continued presence in the Senate." [Roanoke Times, 5/20/08]

"Webb's bill will provide increased educational benefits for our troops fighting terrorists around the world. It's a tangible reward for the kind of selfless devotion those soldiers have demonstrated." [Danville Register & Bee, 5/20/08]

"As he hits the road to promote his raise-taxes-for transportation plan, Gov. Tim Kaine has it right... the only way to grow our economy is to improve our transportation infrastructure. That is what will attract more industry to give us more jobs. That is what will keep us from having to make even more expensive fixes down the road - literally." [Staunton News Leader, 5/23/08]

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rep. Bobby Scott's Campaign Kick-Off and Birthday Party
Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Hampton, VA
May 30, 2008

Primary Elections
June 10, 2008

Democratic State Convention
Hampton Roads Convention Center
Hampton, VA
June 14, 2008

General Election
November 4, 2008

You can also find more events on our web site by entering your zip code here.

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Democratic Party of Virginia
1710 E. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 644-1966

www.vademocrats.org

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