Sunday, March 31, 2013

Reject Governor's Amendments at April 3 Session

 

Dear Friends,  

First of all, Happy Easter to you and your family!  No matter how many difficulties we may experience in life or in the political arena, we can always rejoice in the knowledge that Our Lord has triumphed over death.  That is true victory and true hope!
 
Returning to the mundane:
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO URGE YOUR DELEGATE AND SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HB 2313 AND MEDICAID AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET-HB 1500.
 
The General Assembly “Veto Session” is this Wednesday, April 3.  As you may recall, the AG responded to my inquiry that the original Transportation Bill regional taxes (in HB 2313) and the Budget Bill language on Medicaid Expansion (in HB 1500) were unconstitutional.
 
TRANSPORTATION BILL:
Instead of offering separate amendments, Governor McDonnell has offered a “substitute” HB 2313 bill to address the constitutional problems with HB 2313 since the AG ruled that “special” taxes which apply to certain regions are not constitutional.  The Governor’s new bill mandates that all regions (not just Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads) will be subject to the extra taxes once the planning districts of which they are a part meet certain criteria: population of 1.5 million, not less than 1.2 million motor vehicles registered, and transit ridership of not less than 15 million per year.  The revenues will be deposited into separate “Funds” for the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority.
 
This ensures future automatic tax increases for the other Planning Districts without a separate vote of the General Assembly.   I think such a policy, while perhaps legal, is not prudent.  Who can predict the needs of localities in ten or possibly 100 years?  Can Planning District boundary lines be reconfigured to collect taxes sooner?   Does this conflict with our constitutional requirement that laws must take effect on July 1 of the year in which the bill becomes law, yet these taxes might not start for some areas for twenty or more years? 
 
The NVTA and HRTA are to act as independent bodies of the state government and VDOT:  15.2-4839 2. The Authority is independent of any state or local entity, including the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), but the Authority, VDOT and CTB shall consult with one another to avoid duplication of efforts and, at the option of the Authority, may combine efforts to complete specific projects.
 
The NVTA and HRTA will receive millions of our tax dollars, decide how they will be spent and can even invest in security instruments. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has been criticized by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) for cost-overruns and no-bid contracts.  Increasing the number of Authorities over which citizens have little ability to influence policy is a dangerous delegation of power in my opinion.
 
Here is a link to the Governor’s substitute transportation bill: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+ful+HB2313H5
 
MEDICAID EXPANSION:
The AG replied to my inquiry, affirming his earlier opinion to Delegate Ben Cline, that the General Assembly cannot delegate its power to expand Medicaid to a Commission which includes a few members of the General Assembly.  Governor McDonnell nevertheless declined to change the language affecting the delegation to a subgroup of the Assembly, so the same legal-constitutional problems the Attorney General pointed out are still present in the amended version.  
 
The Governor has offered four new amendments to HB 1500 on Medicaid. Please urge your delegate and senator to reject them:
 
Amendment 22:  Adds up to five additional employees from other agency personnel for the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to fully comply with new provisions of health care reform.
 
Amendment 23:  Provides $870,000 from the general fund to cover the rest of a $1.67 Million contract to George Mason U which will mostly contract with the Center for Health Innovation.  (Future budgets will surely add more funding.)
 
Amendment 24:  Strikes certain lines on pages 295-297 of the Budget intended to add specificity to Medicaid reforms, (not definitive in my opinion).
 
Amendment 25:  Creates a $3 Million Medicaid customer call center by allowing DMAS to contract with a vendor so individuals can apply for Medicaid by telephone, as required by the federal government by October 1, 2013.  $1.5 million comes from Virginia.  Costs could increase depending upon the final contract and center workload.  More funding could be provided next year.
 
These amendments grease the skids for Medicaid expansion!  Here is a link to all of the Governor’s amendments to the Budget bill (HB 1500): http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+amd+HB1500AG
 
The Heritage Foundation estimates Medicaid expansion will cost Virginia an additional $902 Million through 2022, requiring massive tax increases or cutting (unlikely) other Virginia programs. 
 
Harvard’s Malcolm Sparrow in 2009 testified before Congress that Medicaid bills continue to be paid to physicians after they die, to treat patients after death, to treat immigrants who have been deported.  He noted that the Credit Card Industry has a threshold of one-tenth of one percent for acceptable business fraud risk.  Medicaid losses from fraud range from 3-14%, not including billing errors!
 
It is folly to think that ten part-time members of the General Assembly meeting once a month for a few months can ensure Virginia will be able to exercise adequate oversight over expanding 400,000 new recipients to the current 1,000,000.
 
And, while some Assembly members believe Virginia can expand Medicaid, accept the three year 100% federal subsidy, and then opt out later, The U.S. Supreme Court did not rule states could leave Medicaid once enrolled nor is there an opt-out provision in the Affordable Care Act. 
 
Please view this video of U.S. Senator Orin Hatch in which he states that Obamacare was designed to fail to usher in single-payer government-run healthcare.  See: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/hatch-obamacare-was-designed-become-single-payer-system
 
Republicans used to complain when Democrats proposed tax increases and expanded government programs.  Now Republicans are putting them to shame, leading the charge to saddle present and future taxpayers with greater financial burdens. 
 
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO URGE YOUR DELEGATE AND SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST HB 2313 AND MEDICAID AMENDMENTS TO HB 1500.
 
Thank you,
bob marshall 
Delegate Bob Marshall
Contact Information:
703-361-5416 (office and fax)
703-853-4213 (cell) (preferred)
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 421
Manassas, VA 20108

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Bob Marshall

 



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Reject Governor's Amendments at April 3 Session

 

Dear Friends,  

First of all, Happy Easter to you and your family!  No matter how many difficulties we may experience in life or in the political arena, we can always rejoice in the knowledge that Our Lord has triumphed over death.  That is true victory and true hope!
 
Returning to the mundane:
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO URGE YOUR DELEGATE AND SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HB 2313 AND MEDICAID AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET-HB 1500.
 
The General Assembly “Veto Session” is this Wednesday, April 3.  As you may recall, the AG responded to my inquiry that the original Transportation Bill regional taxes (in HB 2313) and the Budget Bill language on Medicaid Expansion (in HB 1500) were unconstitutional.
 
TRANSPORTATION BILL:
Instead of offering separate amendments, Governor McDonnell has offered a “substitute” HB 2313 bill to address the constitutional problems with HB 2313 since the AG ruled that “special” taxes which apply to certain regions are not constitutional.  The Governor’s new bill mandates that all regions (not just Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads) will be subject to the extra taxes once the planning districts of which they are a part meet certain criteria: population of 1.5 million, not less than 1.2 million motor vehicles registered, and transit ridership of not less than 15 million per year.  The revenues will be deposited into separate “Funds” for the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority.
 
This ensures future automatic tax increases for the other Planning Districts without a separate vote of the General Assembly.   I think such a policy, while perhaps legal, is not prudent.  Who can predict the needs of localities in ten or possibly 100 years?  Can Planning District boundary lines be reconfigured to collect taxes sooner?   Does this conflict with our constitutional requirement that laws must take effect on July 1 of the year in which the bill becomes law, yet these taxes might not start for some areas for twenty or more years? 
 
The NVTA and HRTA are to act as independent bodies of the state government and VDOT:  15.2-4839 2. The Authority is independent of any state or local entity, including the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), but the Authority, VDOT and CTB shall consult with one another to avoid duplication of efforts and, at the option of the Authority, may combine efforts to complete specific projects.
 
The NVTA and HRTA will receive millions of our tax dollars, decide how they will be spent and can even invest in security instruments. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has been criticized by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) for cost-overruns and no-bid contracts.  Increasing the number of Authorities over which citizens have little ability to influence policy is a dangerous delegation of power in my opinion.
 
Here is a link to the Governor’s substitute transportation bill: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+ful+HB2313H5
 
MEDICAID EXPANSION:
The AG replied to my inquiry, affirming his earlier opinion to Delegate Ben Cline, that the General Assembly cannot delegate its power to expand Medicaid to a Commission which includes a few members of the General Assembly.  Governor McDonnell nevertheless declined to change the language affecting the delegation to a subgroup of the Assembly, so the same legal-constitutional problems the Attorney General pointed out are still present in the amended version.  
 
The Governor has offered four new amendments to HB 1500 on Medicaid. Please urge your delegate and senator to reject them:
 
Amendment 22:  Adds up to five additional employees from other agency personnel for the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to fully comply with new provisions of health care reform.
 
Amendment 23:  Provides $870,000 from the general fund to cover the rest of a $1.67 Million contract to George Mason U which will mostly contract with the Center for Health Innovation.  (Future budgets will surely add more funding.)
 
Amendment 24:  Strikes certain lines on pages 295-297 of the Budget intended to add specificity to Medicaid reforms, (not definitive in my opinion).
 
Amendment 25:  Creates a $3 Million Medicaid customer call center by allowing DMAS to contract with a vendor so individuals can apply for Medicaid by telephone, as required by the federal government by October 1, 2013.  $1.5 million comes from Virginia.  Costs could increase depending upon the final contract and center workload.  More funding could be provided next year.
 
These amendments grease the skids for Medicaid expansion!  Here is a link to all of the Governor’s amendments to the Budget bill (HB 1500): http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+amd+HB1500AG
 
The Heritage Foundation estimates Medicaid expansion will cost Virginia an additional $902 Million through 2022, requiring massive tax increases or cutting (unlikely) other Virginia programs. 
 
Harvard’s Malcolm Sparrow in 2009 testified before Congress that Medicaid bills continue to be paid to physicians after they die, to treat patients after death, to treat immigrants who have been deported.  He noted that the Credit Card Industry has a threshold of one-tenth of one percent for acceptable business fraud risk.  Medicaid losses from fraud range from 3-14%, not including billing errors!
 
It is folly to think that ten part-time members of the General Assembly meeting once a month for a few months can ensure Virginia will be able to exercise adequate oversight over expanding 400,000 new recipients to the current 1,000,000.
 
And, while some Assembly members believe Virginia can expand Medicaid, accept the three year 100% federal subsidy, and then opt out later, The U.S. Supreme Court did not rule states could leave Medicaid once enrolled nor is there an opt-out provision in the Affordable Care Act. 
 
Please view this video of U.S. Senator Orin Hatch in which he states that Obamacare was designed to fail to usher in single-payer government-run healthcare.  See: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/hatch-obamacare-was-designed-become-single-payer-system
 
Republicans used to complain when Democrats proposed tax increases and expanded government programs.  Now Republicans are putting them to shame, leading the charge to saddle present and future taxpayers with greater financial burdens. 
 
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO URGE YOUR DELEGATE AND SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST HB 2313 AND MEDICAID AMENDMENTS TO HB 1500.
 
Thank you,
bob marshall 
Delegate Bob Marshall
Contact Information:
703-361-5416 (office and fax)
703-853-4213 (cell) (preferred)
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 421
Manassas, VA 20108

Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Bob Marshall

 



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Friday, March 29, 2013

Biden: Gun-Ban Legislation "Just the Beginning"

NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 20, No. 13 03/29/2013

Biden: Gun-Ban Legislation "Just the Beginning" -- Pelosi: "Not the End of the Day for this Issue"

This week, Vice-President Joe Biden, and House Minority Leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), showed us--once again--how thorough their contempt is for our Constitutionally guaranteed Second Amendment rights.

According to a Washington Times article, on a Wednesday conference call organized by "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," Biden referred to current anti-gun legislation and told his anti-gun supporters, "Let me say this as clearly as I can: this is just the beginning."

As the article notes, recent surveys show increasing opposition to stricter gun control measures. But this fact matters not to Biden; nor to Pelosi, who also voiced a determination to continue pushing for gun bans, no matter what the American public says.

READ MORE >>


Donate


Watch the Latest Grassroots News Minute

MORE VIDEOS >>


Watch: More Advice from Joe Biden?

MORE VIDEOS >>



"Undead" U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Lurches Forward Despite Second Failed Conference

On March 28, the "Final" Conference on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty came to a close without reaching its goal of consensus support for the treaty from the 193 nations in the body. Now, a group of nations led by Kenya, including the United States, has introduced a resolution to adopt the treaty to the UN General Assembly. A vote on the treaty is likely to take place in early April, with a meeting of the General Assembly having been scheduled for April 2. The goal of the states putting forth the resolution is for the treaty to be available for signing June 3. Passage of the treaty is expected, but a vote in the General Assembly has been described as a "weaker" method of adopting the treaty than the consensus adoption ATT backers had sought.

READ MORE >>


Outrage of the Week

This week's outrage comes to us from anti-gun, anti-freedom New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The mayor--who has been steadily building a justified reputation as a politician who pushes for increasingly intrusive government involvement in private citizens' lives--further bolstered that reputation with an outrageous statement.

As reported Monday by the Washington Times, Bloomberg indicated on Sunday that sometimes government does know best, and in those cases, Americans should just cede their rights and allow the government to make their personal choices for them.

"I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom," Mr. Bloomberg said, during an appearance on NBC.

READ MORE >>



Congressional Recess is Still On: Contact Your Lawmakers during District Work Period and Tell Them to Oppose Anti-Gun Legislation

For the next week, Congress will be out on a District Work Period. During this time, your U.S. senators and House members will be back home in their respective states and districts. The Senate announced last week that anti-gun legislation will be heard on the floor the week of April 8, so this is a great opportunity for you, as a constituent, to contact your lawmaker to personally voice your strong opposition to pending legislation that would ban popular semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines, and private gun sales.

Please contact your lawmakers' district offices and set up a meeting with them. Remember, they work for you. Let your voice be heard. If you aren't able to personally visit, please be sure to call or write them. Whatever you do, please act now! And when your lawmakers return to Congress on April 8, please contact them at their D.C. offices and tell them to oppose any attacks on your Second Amendment rights.

READ MORE >>


Show Your Neighbors you'll "Stand and Fight!"

NRA-ILA has been offering three yard signs for sale featuring our "Don't Tread on my Gun Rights", "Vote Freedom First" and "I'm the NRA & I Vote" slogans. Sales of these signs have greatly aided our efforts to raise gun owner awareness, and to raise the funds we need to accomplish our goals this year.

Due to the popularity of these three signs, NRA-ILA has designed a fourth sign that is now available! Our newest yard sign highlights our newest slogan: "I Will Stand and Fight with NRA". Made of the same high quality materials, the new "I Will Stand and Fight with NRA" sign is bold, durable, and easy to assemble. Everything needed to assemble the sign is contained in one compact package, and all components are made in the USA.

READ MORE >>



Everything Is Bigger In Texas- Including the NRA Annual Meeting Grassroots Workshop!

At no time in recent history has it been more important for NRA members and Second Amendment supporters to be effective activists in our campaign to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights. Our freedom is under attack like never before, on multiple fronts!

As such, your attendance at this year's FREE NRA-ILA Grassroots Workshop in Houston is a critical step toward ensuring the future of our gun rights. This Workshop has been a staple of NRA's Annual Meetings for decades, and is one of the most popular seminars of the week, attended by hundreds of freedom-loving NRA members.

READ MORE >>


Attend the NRA Annual Meetings Firearms Law Seminar in Houston!

The 16th Annual Firearms Law Seminar will be held on Friday, May 3,, 2013, as part of NRA's Annual Meetings.

The gold standard in firearms CLE classes, this day-long seminar provides legal instruction for practicing attorneys who represent firearms owners and licensed dealers, attorneys wishing to expand their practice to such clients, and others having an interest in Second Amendment law.

READ MORE >>


State-Rounds

ALABAMA: Contact Your State Senator in Support of Senate Bill 286

ARIZONA: Volunteers Needed for April 6 Table Mesa Clean-Up

ARIZONA: Pro-Gun Bill Doomed Unless Your State Senator Hears from You Today

ARIZONA: Volunteers Needed for April 6 Table Mesa Clean-Up

ARKANSAS: Gun Destruction Bill to be Considered by the House

ARKANSAS: Governor Signs Important Firearm Retailer Protection Legislation, Critical Self-Defense Legislation Still Pending His Signature

CALIFORNIA: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearings in April

CALIFORNIA: Pro-Gun Bill to be Heard in Committee on April 2

CALIFORNIA: The NRA, CRPA, FFLGUARD Oppose City of South San Francisco's Proposals to Ban the Sale of Hollow-Point Ammunition and Require Registration of all Ammunition Sales

COLORADO: Plan for Federal Lands in Grand Junction Area Will Close Lands to Recreational Shooting

COLORADO: Governor Hickenlooper Signed Away Your Rights Today

CONNECTICUT: Public Safety and Security Committee Moves Gun Control Bills

DELAWARE: Measure to Criminalize Private Sales and Transfers Approved by House Committee

DELAWARE: Two More Anti-Gun Markell Bills Introduced In Dover

DELAWARE: House Bill 35 Passes in State House

FLORIDA : Florida Alert: Want to Buy AMMO? Take an Anger Management Course First

HAWAII: Background Check Bill Makes Final Committee Stop

IDAHO: Pro-Gun Reform Needs Your Help Today!

IDAHO: State Senate Unanimously Approves Pro-Gun Reform

ILLINOIS: Anti-Gun Politicians Continue Attempts to Ram Gun Control Scheme Through State House

ILLINOIS: Your Action Needed NOW- Urge Your State Representative to Oppose House Bill 2265

INDIANA: Pro-Hunting Reform Bill Advances Out of Senate Committee

IOWA: Iowa Gun Confidentiality Protection Bill Receives Overwhelming Approval in the House

IOWA: Gun Owner Privacy Protection Bill Needs Your Help in Senate Subcommittee

KANSAS: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Makes Important Rule Change to Dramatically Increase Hunter Opportunity

KANSAS: Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Makes Important Rule Change to Dramatically Increase Hunter Opportunity

KANSAS: State Legislature Advances Several Pro-Gun Bills

KENTUCKY: Right-to-Carry Reform Bill Signed by Governor

MARYLAND: URGENT: House Vote on Governor's Gun Control Bill Imminent – More Restrictive Amendments Being Considered

MARYLAND: Amendments to be Considered for Senate Bill 281

MASSACHUSETTS: Join GOAL and Other Second Amendment Supporters for a Rally to Protect Your Rights on April 3

MASSACHUSETTS: Attend the Gun Owners' Action League's Grassroots Seminar

MINNESOTA: Minnesota Anti-Gun Bill Survives House Committee, Goes to Full House for Final Approval

MINNESOTA: Governor Dayton to Host Town Hall Meetings Next Week - Your Presence is Needed

MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant Signs NRA-Backed Pro-Hunting Reform into Law

MONTANA: House Committee Approves "Families Afield" Bill and Sends to House Floor for Final Vote

MONTANA: Pro-Gun Bills to be Heard as Early as Today in Helena

MONTANA: Pro-Gun/Pro-Hunting Bills Go to the Governor for His Consideration

NEVADA: Senator Segerblom Determined to Bring Draconian California Firearms Ban to Nevada and Assemblyman Horne Wants Gun Owner Money

NEVADA: Pro-Gun Bills to be Heard on Monday

NEW HAMPSHIRE: House Passes Shurtleff Criminal Protection Bill

NEW MEXICO: House Bill 77 Dies on Senate Floor as New Mexico Legislature Adjourns its 2013 Session

NEW YORK: Gov. Cuomo and Anti-Gun Legislators Admit SAFE ACT Mistakes - But Continue Assault On Lawful Gun Owners

NORTH CAROLINA: Right-to-Carry Confidentiality Legislation Overwhelmingly Passes House

OREGON: Anti-Gun Bills Aimed at Law-Abiding Citizens to be Heard on Friday, April 5

PENNSYLVANIA: Pro-Hunting Legislation Passes State Senate

SOUTH CAROLINA: Several Pro-Gun Bills on the Move

TENNESSEE: Contact Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Support of Critical Permit Confidentiality Legislation

UTAH: Ominous Campaign Disclosure Bill Heads to Governor

VIRGINIA: Pro-Gun Legislation Receives Governor's Signature

WEST VIRGINIA: Mayor Danny Jones and Charleston Newspapers are Fighting Against Your Gun Rights

WEST VIRGINIA: House Committee to Consider Critical Pro-Gun Reform Tomorrow

WEST VIRGINIA: Important Right-to-Carry Reform Passes Senate Committee Today