McEachin criticizes Cuccinelli's anti-health care reform lawsuit

NBC 12 quoted Senator Donald McEachin today on his opposition to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit in opposition to the recently passed federal health care reform legislation:

"It is obvious that he is using this office for his political agenda," said Senator Donald McEachin.

McEachin is a former colleague of Cucccinelli's and a one-time candidate for Attorney General. He doesn't buy the claim that the Republican is just defending up the Constitution.

"I feel these lawsuits are frivolous," said the State Senator. "There is a ton of constitutional law that suggests that these lawsuits are frivolous."

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"I think that was the will of the people being voiced," McEachin said of Barack Obama's 2008 victory. "Unfortunately my view did [not (sic)] prevail in the Virginia legislature, it did prevail in the Congress and I think it will prevail in the courts as well."

McEachin urges McDonnell to protect sexual orientation in anti-discrimination policy

State Senator Donald McEachin has asked Governor Bob McDonnell to include protection for sexual orientation in the states anti-discrimination policy:

Summoning the lyric of an old gospel song, state Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, this evening urged Gov. Bob McDonnell to "go the last mile of the way" and send the General Assembly a bill that codifies sexual orientation as part of the state's anti-discrimination policy.

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"It's time to go the last mile of the way, governor," McEachin, a lawyer and ordained minister, told colleagues on the floor of the Senate at the close of the proceedings. "Our children are calling us. History is calling us."

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McEachin and civil-rights and gay-rights groups praised McDonnell's efforts, but said more could be done.

"We can do better than that on this issue . . . this very critical issue," McEachin said.

Read the entire article here.

The struggle for CIvil Rights continues

Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) discussed the letter sent last week by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to Virginia's colleges and universities. In the letter, Attorney General Cuccinelli told schools they had to remove protections for gays and lesbians from their nondiscrimination policies.

Sen. McEachin sponsored SB66, which would have put into law protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation in Virginia government. The bill passed the Senate 23-17 but was killed by 5 Republicans in a subcommittee of the House of Delegates. The Governor's Office testified at the hearing that they had "no position" on the bill.

An update on the budgeting process

There are no good solutions or answers to this year’s budget crisis. Revenues are down significantly with no immediate prospects of increasing. Families are struggling, saving pennies and not purchasing, thereby reducing tax revenues and demand for goods and services. Altogether the economy is moving at a glacier’s pace and that means much less money available to be spent by the Commonwealth to provide for its citizens. Moreover, except for a few isolated voices that have called for a freeze in the car tax relief (which would provide more revenue for localities) and even for a renewal of the estate tax, there is no stomach in the legislature for increased fees or taxes, thereby eliminating yet another source of revenue.

With this in mind, the General Assembly tackled the biennial budget this last week. My goal was to try to insure that vital public services, particularly education and health care, were held harmless and that reduction in those services, if at all, were minimal and in non-critical areas. Public education is the backbone of a strong and vibrant democracy. Our children deserve every opportunity to succeed, both for their future and for the future of the Commonwealth. As the richest nation in the world, albeit in a difficult recession, we owe those who are most vulnerable, and often voiceless, - the elderly, children, the poor and those incapacitated by illness or disability – shelter, food, health care and the ability to live in dignity.

Working with Senator Marsh in the Richmond area to accomplish those goals, I am pleased to say that the Senate budget has adopted those same priorities. Contrary to Governor McDonnell’s recommendation, the Senate restored funding for school breakfasts. For some children, school meals are their only nutritious meals of the day and, for a child to learn and concentrate, he or she needs to not be hungry, thus to be able to apply himself to the academic tasks at hand. The Senate also rejected the Governor’s proposal to eliminate over $700 million in funding to public schools and voted that state aid to local school districts will be distributed fairly and accurately (based on population and property values) which will ensure that schools in the Richmond area receive their fair share. Contrary to what the present Governor wanted, no locality will receive less than proposed by former Governor Kaine.

Moreover, many health care services were preserved and funded. Resources were kept to keep cops in the street so our communities are safe, including funding for sheriff’s departments who are the first line of law enforcement in many rural localities. In addition, the Senate budget keeps all the state parks, an inexpensive outlet for family recreation and exercise, contrary to Governor McDonnell’s suggestion to close five of them.

Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled House budget does not have these same priorities. It decimates public education and health care, including eliminating school breakfasts and other basic, necessary services. All the Democrats in the House opposed the budget because of these kinds of drastic cuts. Now, a committee of Senators and Delegates will work together to reconcile the two budgets and create a final document with which we can all concur. Although I am not on this committee of conference, as it is called, I will continue to advocate for the necessity of public education and health care funding and for protecting the safety net for all our citizens.

If you have any questions or concerns about the budget or any other legislation, please feel free to contact me at district09@senate.virginia.gov or 804.698.7509. More information about the legislative session can be found on my website at www.donaldmceachin.com. Serving you is one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life and I thank you. Please, however, let me know what you are thinking and what I can do to be a better State Senator as we work together to make the capital region the best it can be.

Democrats seek protection for sexual orientation in anti-bias policy

Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups sought to ensure that sexual orientation would be protected under the state of Virginia's anti-discrimination policy. The Richmond Times Dispatch reported:

State lawmakers and advocacy groups today pushed for the passage of a bill that would do what Gov. Bob McDonnell will not—include sexual orientation as part of the state’s anti-discrimination policy.

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McDonnell did not include sexual orientation in the executive order he issued on workplace discrimination, saying that adding the additional protection was a matter for the legislature to decide.

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Saying he was taking McDonnell at his word, Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, submitted the bill codifying the state’s anti-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, in addition to any discrimination based on race, age, religion, gender, marital status, pregnant women, and veterans, among others.

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McEachin was asked whether things had changed since McDonnell took office on January 16th because the sexual orientation provision is not in the anti-discrimination policy.

"I think there is an atmosphere that is being created, regrettably brought on by the McDonnell administration," he said.

Read the entire article.