Issues
September 16, 2011 JProperty Rights
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would prevent the National Labor Relations Board from dictating to private companies where they conduct their business. The bill passed 238-to-186, with Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly (11th District) siding with union interests, despite his previously undecided stance. Members of AFP-Virginia had visited Connollys district office this week in an attempt to sway him into siding with Virginians and continuing efforts to create jobs in the Commonwealth.
The legislation, HR2587, stems from NLRBs heavy-handed and overreaching effort to prevent Boeing from building its new 787 jet airliners in South Carolina, a right-to-work state with affordable labor costs and a friendly business environment. H.R. 2587 would clarify that the NLRB does not have the power to order any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance.
September 12, 2011 JEnergy & Environment
About a dozen members of Americans for Prosperity-Virginia today urged Rep. Gerry Connolly (11th District) to support HR2587, which would prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance. The AFP supporters met with Connolly representatives at the Congressman's Prince William County district office.
The meeting was civil, cordial and productive, as AFP urged Connolly, who is publicly undecided on the bill, to vote for its passage when it comes up for a House vote as early as this week.
The legislation is in response to the NLRB lawsuit against Boeing, which wanted to produce its new 787s in South Carolina rather than Washington state. South Carolina is a right-to-work state, while Washington is not.
This is also very relevant to Virginia as the northern-most right-to-work state.
Virginia Director for AFP Trixie Averill issued the following statement:
September 08, 2011 JLabor, Education & Pensions
The City of Winchester is considering increasing its local meals tax in restaurants from 5-percent to 7-percent, effective in July 2012. Couple that with the existing Virginia sales tax, and folks who eat out in the city would be paying a total of 12-percent in taxes.
Americans for Prosperitys Virginia chapter opposes the increase.
AFP-Virginia state director Trixie Averill issued the following statement:
We are struggling through the worst economic times in living memory, and the Winchester City Council thinks its a good idea to raise taxes on consumers and therefore endanger small businesses which are already struggling to survive. This is like throwing gasoline on a fire.
September 07, 2011 JBanking & Financial Services
Virginia State Senator John Edwards of Roanoke, unchallenged in the general election since 1999, has come out forcefully against a conservative form of governance, despite mounting concerns about the growth of government, both in Richmond and in Washington, D.C.
Edwards told the Roanoke Times that he feels that moderate governing is best and believes the Senate should remain as it is, in order to prevent conservative approaches of government to take hold.
AFP-Virginia state director Trixie Averill today issued the following statement:
Its telling that John Edwards likes things the way they are in the Senate. As it stands now, he and his liberal allies can thwart attempts to streamline government and save the taxpayers money.
September 06, 2011 JBanking & Financial Services
President Obama has temporarily delayed new rules to be imposed by the unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency that would have punished American business by as much as $90 billion in new costs and jeopardized thousands of jobs right here in Virginia. Thats the good news, but the bad news is that the president intends to revisit the rules in 2013 after the 2012 election.
The proposed rules, governing ozone standards and air pollution, amounted to nothing more than a back door Cap-and-Trade scheme and would have a disastrous effect on employers and the people of Virginia. Though the president has backed down at this point, those concerned with the free market and the expansion of the economy must not become complacent!
AFP's Vice President for Policy Phil Kerpen issued the following statement:
