Democratic Delegates and Senators to Hold Public Safety Press Conference

Democratic Delegates and Senators to Hold Public Safety Press Conference

RICHMOND, VA — As Congress and state legislatures around the country consider new safety measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy, Democratic members of the House and Senate will hold a press conference about steps to enhance public safety on Thursday, January 17th at 11:00 AM in the House Briefing Room.

Senators Donald McEachin, Mark Herring, and Ralph Northam and Delegates David Toscano, Delores McQuinn, and Alfonso Lopez will present legislation to improve mental health services, prohibit military-grade weapons, institute universal background checks, and provide local school districts the flexibility needed to implement sound school security policies. Lori Haas, the mother of a survivor of the Virginia Tech massacre, will speak from her perspective as a family member of someone who survived gun violence.

WHO: Democratic Members of the Virginia Senate and House
WHAT: Public Safety Press Conference
WHERE: House Briefing Room
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, January 17th at 11:00 AM

McEachin and Ebbin to Introduce Bill Protecting LGBT State Employees

McEachin and Ebbin to Introduce Bill Protecting LGBT State Employees

State senators joined by over 45 co-patrons and community leaders supporting SB 701

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and Senator Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) will join co-patrons from the House and Senate to announce support for Senate Bill 701. Equality Virginia and community leaders in support of protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender state employees from discrimination will also be available for comment.

WHO: Senator Donald McEachin, Senator Adam Ebbin, and members of Equality Virginia.
WHAT: SB 701 Press Conference
WHERE: House Briefing Room
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, January 17th at 9:30 AM

Background

There are currently no employment protections for LGBT state employees in Virginia. Currently there are no workplace protections at the state or federal level for sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Consistent polling shows that 90% of Virginians believe that LGBT people should have the right to work for the government without discrimination.

Most businesses already extend these protections to their employees, leaving the state government at a competitive disadvantage. In Virginia, most top private employers already extend these protections leaving state government at a competitive disadvantage. Eighty percent of Virginia’s top 25 largest private employers have policies including at least sexual orientation which helps in recruiting and retaining top talent.

Bill Description

“Nondiscrimination in state employment. Prohibits discrimination in state employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a special disabled veteran or other veteran covered by the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended. The bill defines “sexual orientation” as a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression.”

Help us Protect Women's Health and Privacy

Tomorrow at 8:30am the Senate Education and Health Committee meets to vote on two bills introduced by Democratic Senators that would overturn Virginia's forced ultrasound bill.  Virginia Republicans last year passed a bill mandating an abdominal ultrasound before an abortion even if the woman did not want one or her doctor did not think it was medically necessary.  

Now is your chance to let the Republicans know what you think and help us protect women's health and privacy.  Call the offices of the Republicans on the Education and Health committee or come to the open committee hearing tomorrow morning at the General Assembly Building (right next to the state capitol in Richmond).

Click here to go to varepublicanoverreach.com for more information on how to act now.

Senate Democrats also have bills overturning Gov. McDonnell's abortion clinic regs that could force some clinics to close. A bill to protect Virginia women's right to contraception will also be heard. 

Last year Virginia Republicans went too far.  This year let's show 'em they need to stop moving Virginia backwards.

Donald McEachinVA Senate Democratic Caucus Chair

McEachin: Republicans need to stop dragging their feet

Virginia State Senator Donald McEachin

Senator McEachin's Statement on Affordable Healthcare Act decision  

Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today released this statement on the Supreme Court Affordable Healthcare Act decision. “Today, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Healthcare Act, thereby ensuring Americans’ deserved access to quality healthcare. This law means that Americans cannot be turned away when they are sick or injured because of income or a prior existing condition. In our perilous economy, this Act helps young people get access to health care by allowing them to stay on their parents’ insurance plans to age 26. Insurance companies no longer can arbitrarily cancel coverage or raise premiums. Importantly, for Americans’ health and well-being, preventive care, like mammograms will be free.  

“Contrary to the bombastic pronouncements of Attorney General Cuccinelli, the Affordable Healthcare Act is constitutional, deemed so in a decision written by a Republican Bush appointee. Now, I can only hope that the Attorney General and Governor McDonnell and their Republican colleagues in the General Assembly will stop dragging their feet, and get to work helping Virginians by creating the health exchange to assist uninsured Virginians in  receiving access to quality, affordable healthcare. That’s what the law requires and they need to stop their partisan diatribes, follow the law and serve the Commonwealth.”