Friday, March 23 marks the 8th anniversary of the day President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. The landmark bill allowed huge numbers of people to get affordable and desperately needed health insurance coverage. In 2018, almost half a million Virginians (400,015) signed up to get coverage through Virginia’s healthcare exchange. Without […]
Month: March 2018
Women in Office are our Heroes
Hero or Zero? March 16th Welcome to Progress Virginia’s Hero or Zero, a weekly, unapologetically progressive take on this week’s heroes and zeros in Virginia politics. Check out this space every Friday, and Tweet us or post to our Facebook to nominate your own heroes and zeros. Like this? Please share! HERO: Women in Office […]
In wake of upset election in PA-18, Virginia Republicans should be running scared
Exit polling shows voters rebelled against GOP healthcare obstruction Richmond, VA—With the votes totaled, Virginia Republicans should be quaking in their boots this week after pro-healthcare candidate Conor Lamb won a solid Trump district. PPP exit polling shows dissatisfaction with Republicans’ war on health care drove voters to deliver a Democratic victory in a district […]
Alejandra Pablos is our Hero
Hero or Zero? March 8th Welcome to Progress Virginia’s Hero or Zero, a weekly, unapologetically progressive take on this week’s heroes and zeros in Virginia politics. Check out this space every Friday, and Tweet us or post to our Facebook to nominate your own heroes and zeros. Like this? Please share! HERO: Alejandra Pablos Alejandra […]
Alejandra Pablos is being held by ICE indefinitely
Alejandra Pablos, an immigrant, community organizer, and human rights activist in Virginia was detained by the Tuscon, AZ Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office earlier this week. In early January, Pablos was leading a peaceful protest in Virginia when she was detained by local ICE agents. In a pattern of intimidation and retaliation against immigrants […]
On International Women’s Day, Republicans Continue to Block Health Care for Women
On International Women’s Day, Republicans Continue to Block Health Care for Women Richmond, Virginia—On International Women’s Day, while bipartisan support grows for expanding access to healthcare, extremist Republicans in the State Senate and Congress continue to fight to deny women access to the care they need. The Senate Republican Caucus in Virginia is still fighting […]
HB1257 Is An Attack Against Virginia’s Immigrant Community
Richmond— Immigrant justice advocates are disgusted at the Virginia House of Delegates’ approval of HB1257, a bill from Delegate Benjamin Cline that prohibits localities from enacting sanctuary policies. Since Virginia already has laws that forbid sanctuary policies, community members and organizations are speaking out against HB1257 because it attacks immigrant and refugee communities. The Virginia Coalition […]
House of Delegates Conservative Leadership Is No Friend of the Immigrant Community
RICHMOND— Immigrant justice advocates are condemning conservative members of Virginia’s House of Delegates after legislation important to hardworking residents of the Commonwealth was killed this week. Bills on in-state tuition and driver’s privileges were left to die before the February 13 crossover deadline while a House subcommittee voted to advance anti-sanctuary legislation. The Virginia Coalition for […]
Immigrant Justice Advocates Denounce Senate Committee For Failing to Pass Driving Privileges Bill
RICHMOND, VA— Despite hearing testimony from DMV Commissioner Rick Holcomb in favor of a bill that grants driving privileges to undocumented Virginians, the Senate Transportation Committee voted along party lines to reject SB621. More than 100 people packed the committee room to support SB621 and were disappointed by the bill’s outcome. Min Su Kang, a youth […]
Undocumented Students Failed Again After Senate Panel Kills In-State Tuition Bill
RICHMOND— Today, the Senate Education and Health Committee failed to pass bills that would give Virginia’s undocumented students in-state tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities. SB237 and SB810, sponsored by Sen. David Marsden, were killed along party lines in the committee. The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) is dismayed by the news. […]