Governor McAuliffe Announces 300 New Jobs in City of Lynchburg - The Corporate Welfare Machine Grows

Half a million here, a million there, two hundred seventy five thousand here, before you know it, it all starts to sound like real money.  More corporate welfare being given to an insurance company.  Is McAuliffe buying both business relocation's into the state as well as votes?  Are people anywhere getting this kind of money to start their own businesses?

  In the propaganda machine article below, what is failed to be mentioned is if this company will be paying new workers a living wage.  Chances are no they will not.  So another new company is going to come in and under employ a workforce and those working there will need to be on the welfare roles in order to survive.  But that is okay since the company will get a cool half a million dollars just to come to Virginia.  Isn't that special?  Instead of being independent, people get to be fully dependent on a company that does not care about them as well as depending on the state just to try and live.  You have to love the new Virginia Economy.  Here is the official state propaganda.

~ Pacific Life Insurance Company to invest nearly $4 million to establish business center ~

RICHMOND – Governor McAuliffe today announced that Pacific Life Insurance Company will invest nearly $4 million to open a business center in the City of Lynchburg, expanding the company’s suite of innovative products and service capabilities. With this investment, the company completed an acquisition of the term life new business platform from Genworth Financial. The project will create 300 new jobs.

“I am pleased to congratulate Pacific Life for their significant expansion to the City of Lynchburg and applaud their choice to invest in one of the best business regions on the East Coast,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Pacific Life’s creation of 300 new jobs in Virginia reflects the Commonwealth’s rapid economic growth, pro-business climate, and world-class workforce. I am confident that Pacific Life will thrive in this new location and will bring the Commonwealth one step closer in our efforts to diversify and build a new Virginia economy.”

“This is exciting news for the City of Lynchburg and the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.  “Congratulations to Pacific Life and Lynchburg whose outstanding workforce, competitive business environment and high quality of life will contribute to the company’s continued growth and prosperity.”

“Pacific Life is looking forward to launching our new term life insurance operation in the city of Lynchburg,” said Jim Morris, Chairman, President and CEO of Pacific Life. “The diverse and educated workforce of Virginia will allow us to continue providing superior customer service to our policy owners as we expand into new markets. And Lynchburg’s vibrant downtown is the ideal place for our employees to work. We appreciate the partnership with the city of Lynchburg and Governor McAuliffe as we open this new office."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Lynchburg with the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

"The selection of Lynchburg for Pacific Life's east coast operation is a testament to the City's skilled workforce and strong business community," said Michael Gillette, Mayor of Lynchburg. "Pacific Life's decision demonstrates that Lynchburg is not only a great place to live, work and play but also an excellent place to do business.

"This project represents a significant investment in the Lynchburg community and state of Virginia on the part of a financially stable, well regarded company," said Mike Lucado, chair of the Lynchburg Economic Development Authority. "In addition to property acquisition and improvements, Pacific Life's considerable job creation with competitive salaries will serve as an employment anchor in our rapidly revitalizing downtown district and have a tremendous impact on the City of Lynchburg for years to come."

"The Lynchburg region is a great place to locate, build, and grow a business, and I know Pacific Life will thrive here," said Delegate Kathy J. Byron.  "Our region has positioned itself as an ideal - and affordable - place for business. I am thrilled to have this investment and these jobs here. The state and local officials who worked on this deserve our congratulations and our thanks.”

About Pacific Life

Offering insurance since 1868, Pacific Life provides a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings.

Governor McAuliffe Statement on Conflicting Federal Rulings on the Affordable Care Act

Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement in response to the conflicting rulings of two federal courts on the Affordable Care Act:

“Conflicting court rulings on health care tax credits should not discourage Virginia families from seeking affordable health insurance through the federal marketplace. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond affirmed the validity of those incentives, and Virginians can be confident that low-cost health insurance will be available to those who participate in this fall’s open enrollment and meet eligibility criteria.

“I am disappointed in the decision by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I hope that an appeal to the full court will provide clarity and reassurance to all Americans, regardless of where they live, that they and their families will have access to preventive care and protection from burdensome medical bills.

“During the first open enrollment, 216,000 Virginians purchased insurance through the federal insurance exchange. I believe many more will participate during this fall’s enrollment, having learned from neighbors, co-workers and family members that they, too, can have affordable health insurance. Expanding access to affordable health care is a key component of building a stronger Virginia economy, and I will continue to work toward that goal.

General Fund Revenue Collections Increased 10.0% in April

English: (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Solid Gains Occurred in Net Individual Income Tax and the Insurance Premiums Tax

RICHMOND- Governor McAuliffe announced today that general fund revenue collections increased 10.0 percent in April, with solid gains in individual withholding and nonwithholding as well as in the insurance premiums tax.  On a year-to-date basis, total revenue collections were up 1.3 percent through April, slightly ahead of the annual forecast of 1.0 percent growth. 

“April is generally a significant month for revenue collections, said Governor McAuliffe. “The revenue data being released today represent a step in the right direction.”

May will be a critical month since individual income tax returns are due May 1.  In addition, a significant amount of May’s payments are from upper income individuals where a significant portion of their income is based on capital gains.  Recent news from states across the nation that have April 15^th filing deadlines indicate some disappointing news about non-withholding collections as the uncertainty arising from the federal Fiscal Cliff tax policy negotiations in the  December 2012/January 2013 timeframe appears to have shifted more capital gains from 2013 into 2012 than otherwise would be the case.  As a result, we must be cautious and continue our efforts to place a priority on creating jobs and diversifying our economy. 

Collections of payroll withholding taxes grew 8.0 percent in April, due to an extra deposit day compared with April 2013.  A significant month for individual nonwithholding and corporate income tax collections, these sources increased respectively by 15.0 percent and 0.4 percent.  The first estimated payment from insurance companies for tax year 2014 was due in April.  The insurance premiums tax totaled $113.8 million and increased by 11.0 percent.  Collections of sales and use taxes, reflecting March sales, fell 5.0 percent in April.  Finally, recordation taxes from real estate transactions were down 19.9 percent as home sales remained weak. 

On a year-to-date basis, collections of payroll withholding taxes – 63 percent of General Fund revenues -- increased 3.3 percent, ahead of the annual forecast of 2.9 percent growth.  Sales tax collections - 18 percent of General Fund revenues – have declined 4.8 percent through April, trailing the annual forecast calling for a 4.4 percent decline.  Adjusting for the accelerated sales tax program and the 0.125 percent sales tax transfer required by the provisions of HB 2313, total revenues grew 2.2 percent through April, slightly ahead of the adjusted forecast of 2.1 percent growth. 

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General Fund Revenue Collections Increased 7.8% in March

An assortment of United States coins, including quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Solid Gains Occurred in Individual Nonwithholding, Corporate Income Tax and the Insurance Premiums Tax

 RICHMOND- Governor McAuliffe announced today that general fund revenue collections increased 7.8 percent in March, with solid gains in individual nonwithholding, corporate income tax and the insurance premiums tax.  On a year-to-date basis, total revenue collections were flat through March, lagging the annual forecast of 1.0 percent growth. 

Speaking about this news, Governor McAuliffe noted that March is not a significant month for revenue collections, in general.  However, he added “March revenues reverse the negatives of the last two months and have us now moving in the right direction.  From the very beginning of our budget deliberations, all involved have assumed that general fund revenue collections in the last quarter of fiscal year 2014, especially estimated and final payments of individual income taxes, would be key for the Commonwealth.  The revenue data for March, being released today, represent a step in the right direction toward realizing our budget estimates.  Longer term, we must continue to place a priority on creating jobs and diversifying our economy.  This is my highest objective and I will work diligently toward that end.”

Collections of payroll withholding taxes grew 0.8 percent in March.  Although not a significant month for individual nonwithholding and corporate income tax collections, these sources increased respectively by 17.7 percent and 35.1 percent.  Final payments from insurance companies for tax year 2013 were due in March.  The insurance premiums tax totaled $31.6 million and increased by 126.5 percent.  Collections of sales and use taxes, reflecting February sales, fell 4.2 percent in March – the weakness is due in part to the weather.  Finally, recordation taxes from real estate transactions were down 29.9 percent as severe winter weather dampened home sales. 

Collections of payroll withholding taxes – 63 percent of General Fund revenues -- increased 2.7 percent through March, slightly behind the annual forecast of 2.9 percent growth.  Sales tax collections - 18 percent of General Fund revenues – have declined 4.8 percent through March, trailing the annual forecast calling for a 4.4 percent decline.  Adjusting for the accelerated sales tax program and the 0.125 percent sales tax transfer required by the provisions of HB 2313, total revenues grew 1.1 percent through March, trailing the adjusted forecast of 2.1 percent growth. 

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Gloucester, VA - Where Did the Money Go?

Many residents of Gloucester County and several of the County’s Supervisors repeatedly asked the School Board and their retiring leader to repair Page Middle School after the April 2011 tornado.  County records reflect the Page schoolhouse, its contents and property in the open were insured for a total of $13,513,744 at the time of the tornado.  

 

The insurance carrier and a separate firm hired by the School Board concluded the amount of damage was several million dollars less than the maximum coverage amount. The School Board paid at least $27,000 in tax payer money to hire the separate firm.  The insurance carrier’s estimate to return the school to an upgraded and fully functional state and to repair or replace all outbuildings, lights, fences, the concession stand and bleachers was $8,235,687.  This left $5,278,057 in insurance contingency funds to cover unforeseen tornado related damage and costs during construction. 

 

The insurance estimate also included the installation, lease and removal of temporary modular classrooms to house displaced Page students during construction, based on an 18 to 24 month recovery period.  The School Board now estimates it will cost tax payers over $300,000 to remove the modular units because the insurance money to cover this scope of work will be used to lease the units for two additional years.  This and many other additional costs are a direct result of the School Board’s financially irresponsible decision to design and build a new schoolhouse on undeveloped land that will take over four years to complete. What is more appalling is they did this during a time of decreasing school enrollment and economic instability. 

 

If Page had been repaired it would have been open for instruction within two years of the tornado and the County’s out of pocket expense would have been $5,000,000 or less to walk away with over $30,000,000 in school assets.  Instead,Gloucester has what will be a semi-functional schoolhouse and complex, $20,000,000 dollars worth of debt and now according to the School Board, budget shortfalls. 

 

The School Board and their retiring leader made some very poor choices that will render negative impacts on the Gloucester Community for several years to come. This is something every voter and potential School Board candidate should keep in mind when election season rolls around.

 

 

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.

Gloucester Point

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Our view: Hiding in plain sight The Roanoke Times Editorial Board

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicaid administrator) logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

More often than not, that missing item you've turned the house upside down to find - reading glasses or car keys, for example - ends up being right in front of you.

That should be a lesson to Gov. McAuliffe and House leaders in their search for an elusive solution to the current budget stalemate.

McAuliffe wants to expand Medicaid, the government funded program providing health insurance to the indigent, to cover low-income adults.

House leaders object but have devoted all their time to nitpicking the governor's plan rather than coming up with their own.

Senators have helpfully offered a rational compromise. Marketplace Virginia would allow uninsured individuals to purchase private insurance using federal funds available from taxes already being collected on state residents and businesses. Participants would be required to share in the costs. The program offers relief to hospitals facing steep cuts under the Affordable Care Act, which rolls back charitable care assistance under the assumption that more patients will be insured.

It's a middle-ground, business-oriented idea that should be an easy decision. But instead, legislators swept into Capitol Square last week, spouted off a lot of partisan blabber then headed home, leaving the negotiating table vacant.

House leaders say they're loath to use federal dollars, which would initially pay 100 percent of costs and 90 percent in future years, out of fear that national leaders might one day renege.

But that argument makes little sense given their use of $195 million in federal funding from other parts of the Affordable Care Act to balance their own budget proposal for the current year, plus another $51 million for the new two-year spending plan they endorsed. Indeed, they rely on a total of more than $20 billion in federal funds, nearly a quarter of their entire budget plan.

McAuliffe's proposal to expand Medicaid coverage in a two-year pilot program has generated some confusion given his previous support for the Marketplace Virginia model. It's hard to determine whether he's helped or harmed the process given the reality that absolutely nothing has happened in weeks.

His proposal doesn't rule out the private-option favored by the Senate. Rather it could serve as a temporary means for Virginia to qualify for federal funding while hammering out the particulars for the private insurance model. Doing so would free up $225 million in state tax revenues, some of which could be used for mental health reforms, teacher pay, pre-kindergarten and extended school year programs, and stabilization of the state's pension fund.

But the best choice for state leaders still rests with the Marketplace Virginia approach. If House leaders can't stomach adding more people to the Medicaid rolls, despite the fact that they've added thousands of intellectually disabled individuals to the program in recent years, then they should focus on digesting the Senate proposal. Once they've decided what they like and dislike about the idea, they can hash out the details with senators who would welcome that conversation.

In January, Speaker Bill Howell penned a commentary calling for an "alternative approach" to expanding Medicaid. Nearly three months later, he has yet to offer any alternative of his own. Meanwhile, the Marketplace Virginia plan sits untouched, waiting for someone to show up at the negotiating table. Like a misplaced pair of glasses, it's in plain sight. State leaders are just pretending not to see it.

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Governor McAuliffe Announces Revenue Collections Declined 3.4% in February

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Solid Gain in Withholding was Offset by Subpar Collections of the Sales and Insurance Premiums Taxes

RICHMOND- Governor McAuliffe today announced that state general fund revenue collections declined 3.4% in February.  There was a solid gain in individual income tax withholding but that was offset by declines in retail sales, insurance premiums tax and recordation taxes. The Governor noted that February is not generally a significant month for revenue collections and percentages can vary accordingly. 

Collections of payroll withholding taxes grew a solid 6.6 percent in February.  Collections of sales and use taxes, reflecting January sales, fell 12.7 percent in February.  The first significant snow storms since December 2010 occurred in January probably affecting sales tax receipts due in February. Also, the State Corporation Commission issued insurance companies refunds in February this year versus in January of 2013, distorting total monthly revenues.  Finally, recordation taxes from real estate transactions were down 38.4 percent, as severe winter weather dampened home sales. 

Speaking to the revenue trend, Governor McAuliffe said that withholding receipts posted a solid gain, perhaps reflecting more positive news on the labor market front.  However, he noted that the weak sales tax performance was probably influenced by the severe weather conditions this winter.  The Governor further indicated that going forward much will depend on final income tax payments due on or before May 1.  “My goal is to keep job creation up” he said.  “If that happens, I am hopeful that other variables such as sales tax collections will improve.”

On a year-to-date basis, total revenue collections fell 0.8 percent through February, lagging the midsession annual forecast of 1.0 percent growth.  Adjusting for the accelerated sales tax program and the 0.125 percent sales tax transfer required by the provisions of HB 2313, total revenues grew 0.3 percent through February, trailing the adjusted forecast of 2.1 percent growth.  Collections of payroll withholding taxes – 63 percent of General Fund revenues – increased 3.0 percent, slightly ahead of the midsession annual forecast of 2.9 percent growth.  Sales tax collections – 18 percent of General Fund revenues – have declined 4.9 percent, slightly trailing the annual forecast calling for a 4.4 percent decline.  

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Growing Issues With Obamacare: People Are Not Getting Treatment Under New System

I was diagnosed with CVID nearly 2 1/2 years ago. I have been successfully getting treatment until November of this past year. I was getting a medication delivered via a pump once or twice a week to help give me antibodies to fight infection. While the treatment is inconvenient, it does help me to function normally as a middle school teacher. When on the medication, I have energy, drive, and am willing to take on a lot. I also get sick less often when on treatment. Without treatment, my numbers slowly drop and my body stops responding to illness and is overtaken by it. My moods change, my memory is affected, I get a lot of symptoms of arthritis, and I cannot sleep (even while exhausted).

With this new policy by BCBSIL (an insurance company), BCBSIL is allowed to determine who receives treatment instead of doctors who actually see the patients. Very few people who have CVID now qualify based on the new numbers (which would require the patients to be near-death and gravely ill).

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, stopping a patient from treatment on a difinitively diagnosed patient to run a trial for four months is medical malpractice. Furthermore, the AAAAI also states that IGG trough levels (the numbers that BCBSIL goes off of) fluctuate and should not be used as the sole determination for diagnosis. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration and no two CVID patients are alike. Some people have "normal" trough levels, others are incredibly low. Both groups respond well to IVIG/SUBQ treatment. I meet every other condition/category.

That said, it is important for people like me to receive the medication that I require to keep me healthy. If caught early and if treated, I can live a normal life span. An insurance company cannot deny a diabetic insulin, so why should an insurance company be allowed to deny those with an immune deficiency life sustaining treatment? It is appalling.

Once diagnosed, it is the job of the insurance company to provide treatment. End of story. No one should have to re-qualify for coverage by going off of treatment for 4 months and retesting (meaning that I will only receive treatment 8 mos out of the year IF I qualify after the 4 mos of NO treatment). It should be my doctor's decision, not BCBSIL's decision. Please sign this petition to help get this policy changed.

By Malea Wilson

Round Lake, Illinois

Our Notes:  We have been seeing a lot of reports coming in like this one above from all across the nation.  People everywhere are loosing their meds and treatments under the Obamacare program.  A program we have been told that was supposed to make health care more affordable for everyone?  A program we were told was supposed to take care of more people, not less.  These types of reports are coming into us from all around the nation almost daily.  These are the ones being reported.  Chances are very high that these reports represent less than one percent of total actual complaints.  

  In our own opinion, this program needs to be seriously overhauled already to say the least and we do mean to say the least.
 

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