Friday, June 24, 2016

Fed Court Orders Gloucester To Allow Transvestite To Use Boys Bathrooms



A Federal Court of Eastern Virginia has ordered the Gloucester school board to allow Gavin Grimm to use the male restroom.  Now, sorry I really do not care if anyone is offended by my views here, Gavin is a little whiny transvestite.  What this so called transgender stuff is no one really knows.  It's something new that was made up to upset the balance of decent society.  (I can hear the rants now coming from some claiming human rights).   Transgender, cleaning up the word, transvestite.

I am seriously wondering if the judge who made this careless decision is willing to share his bathroom with little girls? Or is that the reason this decision was made?  The judge?  Robert G Doumar.  A questionable judge based on others experience with him.  Here is one of his ratings.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: 9209
Rating:1.7 
Comments:
This is one of the worst judges in America. He screamed at highly qualified experts, his mood changed by the hour, he did not give fair treatment to both sides - allowed one party to use demonstratives but not the other, did oustide research on his own to decide the case. If he was a good judge once, he is not now and should get off the bench. I was warned about him before but had no idea he would be as bad as he was.

http://www.therobingroom.com/Judge.aspx?ID=1521

Source link is above for the above copied rating on this judge.  Might be on too many medications and is having issues keeping his temper?  


This is not about human rights.  It's about giving extra rights to what some will call perverts.  This is the kind of crap one gets in a secular society.  You can challenge anything and everything for any reason at any time.  But marrying more than one woman is illegal in this country?   Why is that exactly?  So when will Bob, Steve, Robin and Joan all be allowed to inter marry each other and live at Bob's mom's house?  One big happy family?  Don't forget to allow them to marry the dog on top of all this.

It's not going to far when we already have gone to far.  Best bet now is to pull your children from the local schools or pervert your children.   Well, why not just marry them off to that judge?  Let him take care of your children.  Oh, but you have to pay their support though.  



There is nothing Constitutional about perversion. We had a republic but we allowed it to be stolen from us as Benjamin Franklin predicted.

I doubt our public officials have the guts for it, but they should ignore the judge's order, and demand that the judge go through a psychiatric evaluation based on feedback from the public on a public forum.  That might not be grounds, but I have seen psychiatric orders given on less from the courts.


In the event our public officials just go along with that order, then as already given, it is my opinion that everyone who finds the order offensive should pull their children from the school and it is a Constitutional legality to refuse to pay taxes based on refusing to fund government that no longer serves your interest.  Problem is that courts no longer follow the Constitution and will lock you up anyway in violation of the Supreme law of the land.  These days the law is whatever the judge feels like the law should be and based on who is paying the most to make sure a certain agenda is followed.  Again, my opinion based on what I have seen in many courts.  Not all judge's are bad and not all courts are corrupt.  But the number of courts and judges who are corrupt is growing, not shrinking.  

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who does nothing in vain, has given them understandings, and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean, of the characters and conduct of their rulers. Rulers are no more than attorneys, agents, and trustees, of the people; and if the cause, the interest, and trust, is insidiously betrayed, or wantonly trifled away, the people have a right to revoke the authority that they themselves have deputed, and to constitute other and better agents, attorneys and trustees.  (John Adams:  1765).





Thursday, June 23, 2016

Governor McAuliffe Announces $275,000 in Grants for Early Intervention and Education of Children with Disabilities

Here we go with more corporate welfare from the state or should I say, from your pockets.  At what point do we say stop?  It's not the government's business to get involved in every area of our lives!  Here is their official propaganda.

~ Grants awarded through the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities will improve services and expand resources ~ 


RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced two federal grants that will improve services, supports and information availability for early intervention and education of children with disabilities. The grants are awarded through the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Virginia’s Developmental Disabilities Council.

“Improving and expanding services for individuals and families with disabilities is imperative to ensuring that all Virginians have access to the tools they need to succeed,”said Governor McAuliffe. “Securing these federal grants is a big step forward for the private and public institutions in Virginia that work to provide care and assistance to those with disabilities, and I commend the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities for their hard work on this issue. We will continue to ensure all children, adults, and their families in Virginia have the resources they need to achieve their dreams and realize their full potential.”

The Virginia Hospital Research and Education Foundation will receive $125,000 for its Virginia Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Early Intervention Collaborative, a statewide program designed to increase access to early intervention services for infants who have spent time in a NICU and may be at risk of developmental delay.

“We know that the care a child receives in her earliest hours can have a lasting impact on her life,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel. “This collaborative project will help the families of our most vulnerable infants make sure those children get the support they need.”

The Virginia Department of Education (DOE) will also receive $150,000 for its project “Adult Curriculum on Critical Decision Making Points for Students with Disabilities.”

“Improved access to and knowledge of intervention services and educational resources are critical for our children with disabilities,” said Secretary of Education Anne Holton. “The grant that the Department of Education will receive will help support their work to positively impact the lives of students with disabilities.”

The goal of DOE’s project is to improve post-school outcomes and increase opportunities for employment and higher education through the development and implementation of a training curriculum for students, families, schools, staff, and others.

We are grateful to receive grant funding through the support of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities,” said Tracey A. van Marcke, Executive Director of the Virginia Hospital Research and Education Foundation. “By partnering with Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association members, VHHA’s Center for Healthcare Excellence will work with Virginia’s NICU leaders to spread patient- and family-centered best practices with the goal of enhancing links to crucial early intervention services for NICU patients and their families.”

“The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities is very excited to be funding both of these projects,” said Heidi Lawyer, the Board’s Executive Director. “We believe these grants will directly help families access needed services and supports and bring about statewide improvements in policy and practice.  These projects also support the Governor’s broader initiatives in early childhood and education, which are expanding opportunities for all children.”

The VBPD serves as the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council for the Commonwealth of VirginiaBoth of these projects stemmed from recommendations that the Board made in its 2014 Assessment of the Disability Services System in Virginia, which identifies gaps and barriers in services and supports for individuals with disabilities of all ages. 

Governor McAuliffe announces $5 million in Vibrant Community Initiative funding for Montgomery County and City of Richmond

Well here we go with more state welfare being sold as caring for the people by big government.  Over 5 million dollars of your tax money being thrown at projects the state has no business being in.  But then again, it is after all a Big Brother deal.  Since there is no capital market for this, the government must step in and do the job.  (1984).  All I can see is pure communism here.  Here is the rest of their story.

~ Funding will be used for comprehensive neighborhood housing and community development projects ~

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today $5 million in Vibrant Community Initiative (VCI) funding for housing and community development projects. Montgomery County and the city of Richmond will each receive $2.5 million for a regional comprehensive community-based strategy to expanding the availability of affordable housing and creating more opportunity for community residents to succeed.
“The Vibrant Community Initiative channels vital funding to affordable housing in central Virginia, which in turn fosters economic growth and job opportunities for communities that need it most,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We want to ensure that every Virginian has the opportunities to succeed and this starts with investments at the local level in housing, schools, and infrastructure. By combining state and federal resources, this pilot program will serve as a foundation for future economic investments and local initiatives across Virginia as we continue to build our new Virginia economy.”

VCI combines multiple Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) funding sources to support local or regional comprehensive community-based projects including affordable housing, community development and economic development components. The initiative identifies highly impactful, transformational projects and then leverages several funding resources to streamline the application process, while also streamlining the project management and compliance processes. The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) has partnered with DHCD to provide critical technical assistance and financial support.
“The Vibrant Community Initiative will make a meaningful difference in these two communities,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “This comprehensive approach will not only address affordable housing needs but also assist the development and execution of an economic and community development strategy that will create an overall better quality of life for their residents.”
A tiered application process was utilized to solicit proposals, and applicants were required to submit a letter of interest to identify the project and its key characteristics. A panel with representatives from DHCD and VHDA evaluated the proposals. Site visits were conducted for the five highest rated projects, and those five applicants all submitted final proposals for the $5 million program.

Richmond Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Community Builders received funding for the city of Richmond project, which is focused on the Church Hill North and East End Revitalization. The Church Hill North/East End Revitalization is a comprehensive project that focuses on increasing opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents by building quality and affordable housing options for residents of a variety of income levels. The project capitalizes on ongoing economic and community development work and leverages existing plans to address the East End business corridor’s needs and lack of community amenities. The VCI investment will fund the development of 220 units of rental housing for a mixed-income community, including 128 units of replacement public housing for residents of the nearby Creighton Court Public Housing development. In addition, the VCI resources will be allocated to support homeownership opportunities for residents located on the site of the currently vacant old Armstrong High School.

The project in Montgomery County is the Old Prices Fork School Comprehensive Community Revitalization Project. This project is a multi-phased project involving the historic revitalization and renovation of the former elementary school to incorporate 32 units of mixed-income, multi-generational housing and new and innovative economic development opportunities through the establishment of the Old School Food Center. The housing units will provide an opportunity for mixed generational living and support the sense of community and learning that has been a hallmark of the Old Prices Fork School. Additionally, the development of food processing, dining and retail opportunities will expand the vibrancy of the project not only to those living, working and selling products there, but also to the community and region. The Old Prices Fork School will continue to be an integrated space and cultural touchstone of the Prices Fork Village, the county and the New River Valley. 

2016 Virginia Community Initiative Fund:
Locality
Project Name
CDBG Award
City of Richmond
Applicant:
Richmond Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Community Builders
Church Hill North/East End Revitalization
$2,500,000
Montgomery County
Applicant:
Montgomery County
Old Prices Fork Road School Revitalization Project
$2,500,000

First Lady McAuliffe Celebrates National and Virginia Pollinator Week

Now this is rather interesting.  The governor's office is interested in helping to save the honey bee?  They put a beehive on the top of a building.  An interesting location.  It seems to be out of the way of electromagnetic fields which is one of the concerns for the disappearance of the honey bees as well as radio signals and cell towers, pesticides, GMO's and the list from all around grows with varying research.  (My bet is more on pesticides and GMO's for the disappearances).

  Here is a link to Mother Jones, (Idiotic explanation), website.  http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/07/climate-change-killing-bumblebees

Blaming man made climate change on a significant part of the loss.  I simply do not buy it.  So let's also check another site to counter the official propaganda.

http://freedom-articles.toolsforfreedom.com/bees-dying-off-top-4-reasons/

As shown above, GMO's EMF's and other reasons such as virus as well as genetic engineering.  Either way, let's look at what the official propaganda story from the governor's office.

~ Unveils Bumble Bee Box at Executive Mansion, Rooftop Bee Hive in Capitol Square ~

RICHMOND – Earlier this week, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe joined Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Sam Towell and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) staff to celebrate National Pollinator Week and Virginia Pollinator Week by dedicating a rooftop bee hive on the Oliver Hill Building at Capitol Square where the agency is headquartered. In addition to the rooftop bee hive, Governor and First Lady McAuliffe have installed a bumble bee box and outdoor pollinator window box on the grounds of the Executive Mansion, in an effort to showcase the need for protection of Virginia’s bee population. These steps are part of a wider effort in coordination with VDACS to demonstrate the importance of pollinators in producing our food supply and promoting environmental stewardship in the Commonwealth.

“We are doing everything we can to encourage the cultivation of bee populations to protect biodiversity in the Commonwealth,” said First Lady McAuliffe. “According to a survey done by the Bee Informed Partnership, beekeepers across the United States lost 44 percent of their colonies in the past year. Families can take small steps at their homes that will go a long way in restoring and protecting our precious pollinators – Virginia’s smallest livestock – such as planting gardens or installing window boxes. Whether you live in an urban or rural setting, every Virginian can do something to attract, protect, or increase the Commonwealth’s pollinator species.”

“I have worked with honey bees and other pollinators all of my life,” added Keith Tignor, State Apiarist, VDACS. “As a beekeeper I am grateful for all the actions Virginians of every age are taking to help protect these critical species.”

“Growing up on a farm in Pittsylvania County, I learned from my grandparents the important role that pollinators play in agriculture,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. “In my current position, I have learned to appreciate them even more given the role that the play in keeping Virginia’s agricultural economy moving forward. The work done by pollinators impacts roughly one third of the state’s agricultural production. I thank the Governor and First Lady for their commitment to Virginia agriculture in general and specifically highlighting the unique work performed by bumble bees, honey bees and other pollinators that benefit the industry.”

Governor McAuliffe declared June 20 – 26, 2016 as Virginia Pollinator Week, a time to recognize and appreciate the tremendous value of pollinators in the Commonwealth. Because pollinator species such as honey bees, bats, and other insects and birds are essential partners with farmers in producing much of our food supply in Virginia, VDACS encourages all Virginians to take positive action this summer to benefit our pollinators. Without adequate pollination services, Virginia could experience a significant reduction in its harvest of a variety of agricultural products, including: apples, alfalfa, berries, cucumbers, melons, peaches, squash, tomatoes, and pumpkins. Experts estimate that insect-pollinated plants are the direct or indirect source of approximately one-third of the human diet.  

To attract pollinators to yards and gardens, Tignor offers the following suggestions:

1.      Download the BeeSmart Pollinator Gardener apphttp://www.pollinator.org/beesmartapp.htm.

2.      Plant a variety of flowers that bloom at different times of the year. A greater variety of plants available will attract more pollinators to a garden or landscape. Providing pollen and nectar sources throughout the year offers a food source to increase pollinator numbers and activity.

3.      Plant flowers in clumps rather than singly or in rows. The fragrance from the flowers can attract pollinators from a great distance. Clumping flowers in groups increases the intensity of the fragrance and a pollinator’s ability to locate its origin, including those that only come out at night, such as moths and bats.

4.      Select plants that are known to attract pollinators in your area. Many of these will be native plants. To determine which plants are best for attracting pollinators in your region, go to pollinator.org/guides.htm and enter your zip code for an area-specific guide. 

5.      Choose flowers with a variety of colors. The color of a flower often alerts pollinators to good nectar and pollen sources. For example, butterflies are attracted to red, orange and yellow while hummingbirds prefer purple, red and fuchsia colors.

6.      Choose flowers with a variety of shapes. Butterflies and honey bees need to land before feeding and usually prefer flat, open flowers. Tubular flowers help lure pollinators with long beaks and tongues, such as hummingbirds. Guidelines on the types of flowers that appeal to the different pollinators can be found atpollinator.org/Resources/Pollinator_Syndromes.pdf

7.      Plant non-hybrid flowers. Many hybrid flowers have had their pollen, nectar or fragrance bred out of them. Non-hybrid flowers are often more attractive to pollinators.

8.      Do not use pesticides or herbicides when pollinators are present around a pollinator garden. Even organic pesticides can be potentially harmful to pollinators. Herbicides can actually wipe out some of the most important food plants for pollinators.

Now this is interesting.  As we see from the governor's office, stay away from GMO plantings, do not use pesticides, even organic ones, showing that the potential reasons for the disappearance of the honey bees is in fact GMO's and insecticides which may be causing the viruses?  You be the judge.


Monday, June 20, 2016

Who Authorized Littering Virginia Highways And Roads? Drive Smart Virginia?

First, who has given the state the right to tell people they must wear a seat belt?  Yeah, it's their law and who cares?  If you want to accept their premise, then send them a bill for compliance of their order.  It's not a valid law as it has no place in the Constitution of either the Federal Government nor State Government.  Those are arguments in themselves and not the real intention of this article but I had to sound off anyway.

  As the picture shows, our highways and streets have been littered with these signs throughout the state.  Under what authority did these signs get put up?  If you own a business and put signs out like this, you will notice them missing within a few days as VDOT is instructed to remove them and throw them out.  If you keep putting up signs like this, you may get in a great deal of trouble.  If you can get in trouble for putting signs like this up, what makes some entity such as Drive Smart Virginia think they are above the law?

  Did Drive Smart Virginia, the provider of these signs, get permission from each locality?  Did they pay the locality a fee for this?  Did the locality you live in hold a public meeting to get public input on the mass distribution of these signs?  No?  Why not?  Is Drive Smart Virginia in violation of many of Virginia's laws?  Well it sure seems that way.  So who is behind Drive Smart Virginia and who is Drive Smart Virginia?  From their own website.

Members of the Board of Directors include leaders from private industry, state and federal government, law enforcement, military, media, and traffic safety organizations.

DRIVE SMART Virginia was founded in 1995 by six of Virginia's insurance companies, including Allstate, GEICO, Nationwide, State Farm, USAA, and Virginia Farm Bureau. Since 1997, Erie Insurance, Farmers Group, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Rockingham Group, and Alfa Alliance have also joined the organization


The littering of these signs say more than we are trying to promote safety.  Promoting safety?  Nice, but I do not buy this crap.  It actually says, we are part of the nanny state; centralist's who do not think you have any rights other than what we tell you you have.   We do not have to follow the laws we put on you.  We are watching you and if you do not do as we say, we are going to punish you.  Who paid for these signs?  Well, you did.  You paid for them through your insurance premiums.  And the knuckleheads who head up the insurance companies use your money against you.  

  So, if you use any of these insurance companies, file a complaint with them, file a complaint with your locality, file a complaint with the police, file a complaint with the state.  Take the signs down if you paid for them.  They are yours and not Drive Smart America's since they used your money to pay for them.  They are a non profit organization dedicated to the nanny state and against Constitutional rights and want to control your behavior.  Don't take my word on this.  Read their site.  It says they seek to control your behavior right on there.  

In my own opinion, I do think that buckling up is a good idea in general.  But if you are going to demand I do it, then I am less likely to even consider it and not do it.  Drive Smart Virginia is part of a growing problem we are seeing throughout this country.  Not part of any solution.  Throw them out.  Switch to an insurance company that does not support these nanny state tactics and littering of our highways and roadways against state and local laws.  They seem to have no issue violating the laws, why support them?  And talk about environmental issues with these signs?  The costs to make them and then they are littering all over the state with impunity?  At least the environmentalist's should be up in arms over this and one has to question if Drive Smart Virginia bothered to do an environmental impact study before making these signs.  Are they in violation of the EPA?  A complain to the EPA would answer that question fast.

Governor McAuliffe Announces 348 New Jobs in Arlington County

What you will want to note while reading the article below, written by one of the Governor's staff writers, is that we the people, or you the taxpayer, is paying a company over one million dollars to downsize and relocate everything here in Virginia.  Virginia may gain some jobs, over 300 according to the article below, but at a cost to all of us and again, the company is downsizing which is played off as meaning nothing.  So what that others around the nation loose their jobs.  We are gaining some new jobs for folks here in Virginia.  Well, that isn't exactly stated.  It's only suggested.  The company is more likely to move their best people to the new office here in Virginia.

And again, we see nothing about any of those jobs paying a living wage.  A living wage in an area such as Northern Virginia is higher than most other areas due to the cost of living there.  So, about $55,000.00 a year for a single person would be appropriate for a living wage in that area.  It's just outside of the DC belt.  $55 thousand might still be way to low.  I have not checked prices there in the past few years.

  So we have some very serious corporate welfare going on here and no signs of any decent return for all of that corporate welfare.  Just another raid on the people at the people's expense.  So here is their article.

~ Grant Thornton LLP to invest $15.75 million to consolidate operations and expand in Northern Virginia ~
RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Grant Thornton LLP, a leading U.S. professional-services firm, will invest $15.75 million to consolidate offices and grow its presence across the Northern Virginia region. Virginia successfully competed against Washington, D.C. for the project, which will retain 994 jobs and create 348 new jobs.

“Retaining Grant Thornton in Virginia is a big win for the Commonwealth, as we continue to make Virginia the best place in the country for business and workforce development,”said Governor McAuliffe. “The firm’s consolidation is a great testament to the business advantages of Arlington County and we are excited to announce that this project is, not only retaining nearly 1,000 jobs in Virginia, but also creating 348 additional jobs. I am pleased with our success and will continue to work with industry leaders to ensure the new Virginia economy is innovative, diverse, and competitive in the global marketplace.”

“I am thrilled we were able to help Grant Thornton find a new, state-of-the-art home in Arlington County that can meet the company’s growing needs as it consolidates locations and expands in the region,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Grant Thornton will continue to benefit from the Commonwealth’s superior workforce and Northern Virginia’s best in class business environment, and I congratulate the company on this exciting new chapter.”

“This move reinforces Grant Thornton’s commitment to Virginia and Arlington County,”said Jamie Fowler, Grant Thornton’s Atlantic Coast managing partner. “We’ll be combining our area offices to create a more efficient footprint, but also the ‘workplace of the future,’ a concept developed with input from Grant Thornton employees. The ‘workplace of the future’ equips and engages our people to leverage technology and design to do their jobs smarter, faster and better. More importantly, it allows them to feel connected no matter where they work.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Arlington County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $1 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the County with the project. The company will also be eligible to receive a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. 

“Grant Thornton is a well-established company with clients around the globe, and we could not be happier to welcome them to Arlington," said Libby Garvey, Chair of the Arlington County Board. "The company's expansion in Arlington County will bring significant job growth here, and we are confident Grant Thornton will find the workforce, resources and support it needs to ensure its success."

"This is another win for Arlington County and Governor McAuliffe," said Delegate Rip Sullivan. "Grant Thornton's decision to consolidate its Northern Virginia offices in Arlington will bring hundreds of talented workers—and taxpayers—to the County. Today is a great day for our Arlington community and for Grant Thornton."
"Grant Thornton has made a wise choice selecting Arlington County as the place to expand its Atlantic coast operations,” said Senator Barbara Favola. “Arlington County and the entire Northern Virginia region offer a highly educated and technologically savvy workforce, coupled with first-class school systems and research institutions. Clearly, Virginia's investments in human capital are yielding positive results every day. We welcome Grant Thornton to the region."

About Grant Thornton LLP
Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. In the United States, Grant Thornton has revenue in excess of $1.45 billion and operates 59 offices with more than 550 partners and 7,000 employees. Grant Thornton works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.

“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please seegrantthornton.com for further details.

Governor McAuliffe Statement on Maurice Jones’ Selection as Next CEO of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement congratulating Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones on his selection as the Chief Executive Officer of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, an organization that works with low-income communities to create new opportunities for businesses and residents to thrive:

“Secretary Jones took on one of the toughest jobs in my Cabinet, and he has served our citizens well in the face of significant challenges from federal budget cuts and the threat of sequestration. He has been a strong partner as we worked together to build a new Virginia economy that is diverse and capable of withstanding future fiscal and political headwinds, and I will miss his thoughtful and strategic approach to economic development and workforce policy.

“Virginia is a much more significant competitor in the global economy today because of the progress we’ve made in strengthening our business climate, investing in infrastructure, providing incentives for emerging industry sectors and entrepreneurs, and transforming our workforce system. The breadth of those accomplishments is a reflection of the broad experience and knowledge base that Secretary Jones brought to this job from both the public and private sectors. While replacing his expertise and impact as a member of my cabinet will be a difficult task, this new opportunity will allow Secretary Jones to continue his career of public service by raising up struggling communities and helping residents build better lives for themselves. I thank Maurice for his outstanding service to our Commonwealth and wish him well as he begins this next chapter.”  



Vice President Joe Biden sent this message to people : Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned from civilian ownership

Today, Vice President Joe Biden sent this message to people who, in the wake of the tragic attack in Orlando, signed a We the People petition calling on the government to ban AR-15-type assault weapons from civilian ownership. As he says below, "The President and I agree with you. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned from civilian ownership."

This creep has no use for the US Constitution despite what he may say.  He cares nothing about the rights of the people and only wants centralized government where the nanny state tells you what to do and how to think and will persecute you at the drop of a dime just to milk you for money.  He actually believes you are nothing better than a slave to the government and have no say in your own government.  He is part of the problem, not part of the solution.  But here is the rest of his very sick rant.

Over the past few years, we've watched as new horrific shootings have replaced previous ones as the deadliest in our nation's history.

We've waged campaign after campaign to turn our grief into action — each time thinking maybe, just maybe, this will be the one that breaks through. This will be the one that gets through to Congress, which must ultimately act. We've used phrases like Now is the Time. Stop Gun Violence. Enough is Enough.

Folks, enough has been enough for a long time.

You know that. On Monday, in the wake of this latest, deadliest, mass shooting, you started this petition. You worked together, calling on your government to ban AR-15-type weapons from civilian ownership. In the days following, we have seen members of the United States Senate take and hold the floor, refusing to back down, refusing to concede that we might need to wait for an even bigger national tragedy to finally make some changes.

To the creator and signers of this petition, I want to say this as plainly and clearly as possible: The President and I agree with you. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned from civilian ownership.

When a lone gunman walked into a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, he carried a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 -- a variation of the AR-15 rifle -- modified to hold as many as 100 bullets. He used it to kill 12 people and injure 70.

And when a lone gunman walked into a classroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, he carried a version of the AR-15. He used it -- and several handguns -- to kill 10 of his fellow students and injure nine.

And when a lone gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, he carried a Bushmaster XM 15 -- another version of the AR-15 -- and multiple high-capacity magazines. He used it to kill 20 innocent children and six educators with 154 bullets in five minutes.

A single person killed that many people in just a few minutes. Not in a war zone. Here in America -- in a classroom.

These weapons have been used to commit horrific acts. They've been called "the perfect killing machines." They fire bullets at incredible speed that rip through bodies and cause devastating carnage, and can accommodate high-capacity magazines that allow them to effectively shoot up to 45 rounds per minute. We've seen their tragic results play out in our death tolls and in the thousands left wounded, struggling to recover.

As we learned this week from the family of the gun’s inventor, he himself did not intend that this gun be used by civilians, only by our soldiers in combat -- giving them an advantage over the AK-47. He didn’t own one himself. Here is what his family said:

"We think he would have been horrified and sickened as anyone, if not more, by these events."

Right now, these weapons are on the shelves in gun shops around the country, completely legal for civilians to purchase. They can be purchased in a matter of mere minutes. That should not be so.

Here's a start: We should renew the assault weapons ban that Congress passed in 1994 — but which expired ten years later. That ban, which covered 19 specific assault-style weapons, was included in a comprehensive crime bill that folded together three pieces of legislation. I remember it well. I was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time. I wrote much of the bill and led it through Congress — with the help of many others, especially Senator Feinstein on the assault weapons ban. I argued strongly in favor of banning these weapons. What's more, 46 House Republicans voted for that ban in 1994. Forty-six.

So what happened to that bill? To use a somewhat wonkish legislative term, it was "sunsetted." That means that this bill came with an expiration date: Ten years after its passage, it would need to be renewed. Under President Bush and a Republican Congress, the bill lapsed. And it hasn't been renewed since.

But renewing the ban on assault weapons isn’t the only thing Congress should do to help prevent the tragedy of gun violence around the country.

It could require that every buyer go through a background check before getting a gun -- to make sure dangerous weapons don’t end up in the hands of criminals or other people who have long been prohibited from possessing them. It could prevent people who are suspected of having terrorist ties and can’t get on a plane from buying weapons of war -- that’s just common sense. It could ensure that domestic abusers can’t go to the store to buy a gun -- filling the kinds of gaps in the law that leave too many innocent victims dead. It could end the freeze on gun violence research, so our public health experts can collect data and facts that would inform strategies to deal with this epidemic. And it could give law enforcement officials the tools and resources the President requested in his budget proposal -- so they can take dangerous criminals off the street and enforce our gun laws. Our Administration has done what it can. So have many cities, counties, and states.

Now it’s up to Congress to do its job.

They'll have a good opportunity this Monday, when the Senate is set to vote on a number of different gun safety measures -- votes that came about after that 15-hour filibuster, during which a series of Democratic senators refused to cede the floor. The measures they will vote on would address the fact that anyone on a terrorist watch list can still legally purchase guns and explosives. They will address the current background check requirements for prospective gun buyers.




I encourage you to pay attention to Monday's votes. Make yourselves aware. Use your voice. Make yourselves impossible to ignore.

Because you’re not alone in recognizing the need to act -- to take steps, consistent with the Second Amendment -- that will keep our children and communities safe. Here's who else agrees with you: The Department of Justice. Dozens of United States Senators. Faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and responsible businesses. Public health experts. And the vast majority of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners in the country.

If taking commonsense steps to reduce gun violence had the potential to save even one life, it would be worth doing. But it has the potential to save far more than that.

You know that. And that is why you spoke up. That matters. But the fact is that we have three separate but equal branches of a government for a reason.

And so, to speak directly to those members of Congress who, in the wake of this most recent, most horrific killing of our citizens, might be considering stepping up and getting this done once and for all, I'd like to remind you that this will not stop on its own. It will not stop. In the three and a half years since Newtown, there have been at least 1,002 mass shootings in this country. At least 1,135 people killed, and 3,953 wounded. That includes 49 killed and 53 wounded in Orlando.

You know in your heart that this is the right thing to do. You know that by stepping up, your action has the potential to create a domino effect. Have the courage to do it.

We have done it before. We can do it again.

He gave his twisted opinion, now I am going to give mine.  What happened in Orlando was tragic, not question.  But it was in no way a terrorist attack as the media is telling you to believe it was.  If it had been a terrorist attack, the targets would have been high ranking government officials.  That is how real terrorism works.  Terrorists do not go around killing innocent people to prove their point.  They target government officials and let them know how truly vulnerable they are.  So the world isn't seeing actual terrorism in any way, just setups being called terrorism.  The ends justify the means for these sick jokers in government and the media.  You are free to believe anything you want, but in the end, if you do not head the warnings, you will be very sorry.  That is my opinion on these matters.

The Governor's Weekly Top 5 - It's not what they say, it's what they don't say

Since the beginning of the McAuliffe administration, 707 economic development deals have been closed in Virginia with more than $11.24 billion in capital investment, which is more than any previous governor in the first 28 months in office. Governor McAuliffe is focused on growing the #NewVAEconomy and continuing our historic economic success.


The Governor’s Top 5

  1. Governor McAuliffe announces unemployment drops to 3.8% as GDP rises 1.4%
TAKE AWAYS:


·         “The continued decline in Virginia’s unemployment rate, combined with our most significant increase in state gross domestic product since 2010, is a testament to the success we are having growing and diversifying our Commonwealth’s economy. Despite the ongoing headwinds generated by sequestration and federal defense cuts, Virginia’s economic growth is creating new opportunity and a quality of life for families across the Commonwealth.” - Governor Terry McAuliffe

PRESS:

  1. Governor McAuliffe announces historic SMART  SCALE transportation process that uses objective data to prioritize projects

https://governor.virginia.gov/media/6177/smartscale.png

TAKE AWAYS:


·         “Virginia is the first state in the country to use an outcome-based prioritization process to select transportation projects. My team and I were proud to work with a bipartisan coalition from the General Assembly and localities and regional bodies across the state to develop reforms that make the absolute best use of taxpayer dollars by investing in the right transportation projects. No longer are we allowing politics and wish lists to determine what gets built. This process is critical to moving people, jobs, and commerce, all of which is essential to building the new Virginia economy.” – Governor Terry McAuliffe
PRESS:
o   State transportation board to vote on $14.4 billion plan – The Richmond Times-Dispatch
o   Waynesboro gets huge state transportation funds – the Staunton News Leader

  1. First Lady and Governor McAuliffe launch food crop donation initiative to aid food banks through tax credits


TAKE AWAYS:


·         “The First Lady and I are working hard to reduce hunger in the Commonwealth by creating pathways to nutritious food for all Virginians. This new budget allows for $250,000 to be issued in tax credits annually for farmers who participate in the program. This is an opportunity for our farmers to help provide healthy, Virginia-grown food to the hungry in their communities, while also receiving a valuable tax incentive. Through these newly created partnerships with local non-profit organizations like Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, we will provide greater access to healthy food for our most under-served citizens.” - Governor Terry McAuliffe

PRESS:
o   Virginia farmers get new tax breaks for food bank donations – WVIR Charlottesville (NBC)
o   McAuliffe signs food crop donation tax credit bill – The Danville Register & Bee

  1. Governor McAuliffe signs ABLE Act at Richmond Special Olympics to financially assist individuals and families with special needs


TAKE AWAYS:

  • DETAILS – Governor McAuliffe ceremonially signed the ABLE Act at the opening ceremonies of the Richmond Special Olympics this past week. This legislation creates 529 savings accounts for individuals and their families with special needs in Virginia. These account are designed to help save for college free of means testing at the state level. Governor McAuliffe was joined by Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn, the patron of the original bill (HB 1103), which commanded bipartisan support during the 2016 General Assembly session.

·         “Tonight, we recognize the incredible contributions these extraordinary people make in Virginia. I am pleased to join Delegate Filler-Corn to sign ABLE, a financial tool that will help individuals with special needs and their families succeed … We are committed to helping all Virginians achieve their dreams and realize their full potentials.” - Governor Terry McAuliffe

PRESS:
o   Special Olympics summers games kick off at UR – WRIC Richmond (ABC)

  1. Governor McAuliffe launches “Who’s Your Driver” campaign to deter drunk driving in Virginia


TAKEAWAYS:

  • DETAILS – Governor McAuliffe launched the “Who’s Your Driver” campaign at the Richmond International Speedway this week with the Virginia State Police. This initiative is aimed to increase public awareness of drunk driving issues and deter Virginians from driving drunk through the use of a designated, sober driver. The program will micro-target millennial men, who are statistically more likely to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Safety Office and DRIVE SMART Virginia also partnered with the program.

·         “Keeping Virginians safe is a top priority of my administration and deterring drunk driving through ‘Who’s Your Driver’ is a big step forward to lower traffic accident and fatalities. We will continue to emphasize the importance of a designated driver and this program’s success is attributed to the partnership and collaboration of the Virginia State Police, the DMV’s Highway Safety Office, the Richmond International Speedway, and DRIVE SMART.” – Governor Terry McAuliffe

PRESS:
o   McAuliffe announces grant for apprenticeship programs – Charlottesville Newsplex (CBS)


In Case You Missed It

·         32 new jobs coming to Henry County with feed production operation facility – Danville Register & Bee
·         Turning potential into participation key after restoration of ex-felons’ voting rights by Jamal Watson – DiverseEducation
·         McAuliffe signs bill to prevent sexual and domestic violence – WVIR Charlottesville (NBC)
·         Governor, state legislators visit Fort Pickett – The Virginia National Guard

Now here is what they are not telling you and also, how to read between the lines:


What they are not telling you is how much debt they are saddling the state and or federal government with.  Many new corporations have in fact moved into Virginia, but at a tremendous cost to all Virginian's.  Read what they are saying above.  All the government grants or better put, corporate welfare, that has been given out to get companies here.  Now let's look at that even deeper.  How many of those companies are paying a living wage to it's employees?  Maybe all of them but only to the folk's at the very top of the company in Virginia.  But did those same companies hire management from within the state of Virginia or did these corporations just move their own people from somewhere else?  So what we are really seeing is a huge influx of very poor paying jobs which translates into more people moving onto the welfare rolls increasing the burden for higher taxes to cover these extra expenditures.  It's a really neat trick if you are not paying attention to what is really going on.  And look at all of the socialists lining up to write such rosy articles to tell you how great socialism is.  It's a sinking ship and we are all under water now and it's only getting worse.