Bobblehead Ben and Ken Mitchell on healthcare

Bobblehead Ben Cline has repeatedly voted against improving healthcare measures that offer huge benefits for constituents. In 2019 he voted against covering preexisting conditions, sustaining the Health Insurance Exchange, and the ability of government to negotiate drug prices. In 2020 Bobblehead Ben continued voting against measures for improving healthcare opportunities for when he voted NO to fund adequate coverage in the ACA.

There is a better way! Ken Mitchell believes healthcare is a human right. Ken supports maintaining the Affordable Care Act, coverage for preexisting conditions, keeping children on parents’ insurance until age 26, no lifetime limit on coverage, and the ability of government to negotiate lower drug prices.

Voters in the 6th District of Virginia… there is a better way! Support Ken Mitchell this November.

Medicaid Expansion in VA - It Makes Sense

Medicaid expansion makes sense for the Commonwealth of Virginia. More folks covered means a healthier community. Statewide it is estimated that over 200,000 Virginians will get needed health care and mental health services with expansion. That means good jobs at hospitals and other health care providers.

The federal government will fund the full cost for three years and 90% in subsequent years! These are tax dollars paid by Virginians that will go to other states if the General Assembly fails us on Medicaid expansion. Why is there even any debate on this? Because the GOP is playing partisan politics and their powers that be have decreed that they don't want anything that President Obama supports.

It is time to tell members of the House of Delegates who, on this issue, are misrepresenting Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro to listen to constituents, not party bosses. Here is how you can do it in just a few easy steps:

• Sign this petition calling on Delegate Steve Landes, Delegate Dickie Bell, and Delegate Ben Cline to support Medicaid expansion in Virginia.
• Email Delegate Steve Landes and remind him that expansion will help create health care jobs in his community.
• Email Delegate Dickie Bell and tell him that as a fiscally responsible Virginian you want your federal tax dollars coming back to the Commonwealth, not going to other states.
• Email Delegate Ben Cline and tell him that Medicaid expansion means a healthier community.

They say "silence is golden" but in politics your silence only empowers the party bosses. Speak up!

The best humor - based in fact

A Virginia Congressman was seated next to a little girl on the airplane leaving from Roanoke when he turned to her and said, "Let's talk. I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the total stranger, "What would you like to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know," said the congressman. "How about the farce of global warming or joke called 'Obamacare'," and he smiles smugly.

"OK," she said. "Those could be interesting topics. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?"

The esteemed legislator, visibly surprised by how sharp the girl is, thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea."

To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss global warming or universal health care when you don't know sh*t?"

Senators Warner and Webb - don't listen to the hypocrites

Senator Mark Warner and Senator Jim Webb - it is time to show political courage and join with other Democrats and vote for healthcare reform. Your colleagues from the other side of the aisle are surely leaning on you, but their shrill arguments are based in blatant falsehoods and hypocrisy. Senate Republicans will say anything, repeat any lie, make up any distortion, attack the very rules of the chamber that they've used in the past, while in the death throes of their opposition.

It is time to stand up for healthcare reform. It is time to vote.

Using reconciliation to pass healthcare reform is not only legitimate, it is the moral thing to do.

Changed tossed in the ditch

Sign the petition. Tell the President we want, we need, a public option.

Senator Webb, Senator Warner - VOTE NO!

Like many other Virginians, I support meaningful healthcare reform - ideally, "Medicare for all." Short of that, a robust public option that will bring competition to the markets. Elimination of discrimination against people with preexisting conditions. Lower costs while improving delivery of healthcare services. Real choice for Americans.

The bill before the Senate is a sellout to the insurance companies - their control over the industry will widen and millions of taxpayer dollars will flow into their coffers. Companies will be able to charge older Americans two, even three, times the rates charged to younger ones... age is a preexisting condition! Americans won't get any more choices, but they will get a fine if they don't sign-up with an insurance company. Neither competition nor other steps are taken to end the excessive CEO salaries and administrative waste in the private companies.

There are some good things in the Senate bill - more emphasis on preventative programs, some expansion of Medicare, help for small businesses struggling with health costs and for parents with adult children continuing their education well into their 20s, and more. But, the good doesn't come close to outweighing the bad.

There is lots of blame to go around: Republicans who have never offered any meaningful reform, just obstacles; the insurance companies and their front groups like 60Plus who have spent millions every day and deployed hundreds of lobbyists and slick ad agencies to spread lies and fear; and a media obsessed with headlines promoting conflict rather than consensus. But the real blame falls on Senate Democrats themselves - when given the opportunity to lead they descended into a family feud characterized by fights over side issues, over-sized egos, turf wars, and cowardice.

Senator Jim Webb and Senator Mark Warner.... vote NO! A bad bill that fails to offer real reform should be killed - in this case, any bill is not better than no bill.