Peace, Watkins, Sessoms, Marcus on Gov.-elect McAuliffe's transition committee

Reaching across the aisle as he prepares to become the 72nd governor of Virginia, Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe announced his transition committee as he prepared to follow in the footsteps of such notable leaders as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe,

Among the list of 52 public and business leaders on his team, the Democrat included Republicans. Senator John Watkins (R-Powhatan) and Delegate Chris Peace (R-Hanover) were picked along with political consultant Boyd Marcus and Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms.

Reaching out should be a good thing, right? Politics has become so polarizing that those willing to listen to the opposite side should be applauded ... right?

Apparently not. 

On Friday, conservative activist Ben Marchi noted on his Facebook page that he had heard from grumblers:

I got phone calls this morning from some of my favorite AFP activists who were angry with Christopher Kilian Peace for accepting this appointment. My response was, "If Terry McAuliffe has asked you to participate in his administration and if there's something you can do to make Virginia a better place to live, work, & raise a family, then you should do it, and any other Virginian ought to do the same. It's better that conservatives have a seat at the table, than not at all." Am I wrong? Thoughts?

Several dozen comments had been left by Friday evening, most in agreement with Ben's sentiment but some expressing concerns while 55 people gave a thumbs up.

Delegate Peace took to Facebook, too, to comment about his appointment:

As you know, I have a very strong conservative voting record and to that end worked hard and invested resources in electing Republicans to office this and every cycle. At this point it is critically important that with the prospects of losing all three statewide races that our common sense conservative perspective have a seat at the table. I see my temporary role in transition as giving the people of my district as well as my conservative friends the biggest and best voice in their state government possible. Now is not the time for name calling or taking the ball and going home. Virginia deserves civility and honor, and real leadership requires listening and being engaged in dialogue. It isn’t easy but it is necessary.

Delegate Peace is correct ... Virginia deserves civility and honor. Ben is correct ... conservatives need a seat at the table. Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe is offering both. 

Live blogging AFP in Harrisonburg ... Allen & Marchi

2:30: Americans for Prosperity-Virginia is meeting at the Massanutten Regional Library in Harrisonburg and there is a packed room of folks of all ages. As we wait for the George Allen and and Ben Marchi to arrive, everyone is visiting and signing in at the table with lots of AFP materials.

Sixth District Chairman Trixie Averill is passing around a sign-in sheet while Charles Kelley of AFP is getting everything organized.

2:45:Trixie opened the meeting and Clerk of Court Chaz Evans-Haywood is now addressing the group as we begin the meeting. Sheriff candidate Kurt Boshart is here as well as the Mosers, Bill Becker, Barb Tillett, Bruce Richmond, Suzanne Obenshain, and many others. Jeff Mellot of the Harrisonburg Daily News Record is also here.

2:50:"That's Harry Reid calling to complain right now." Ben Marchi didn't miss a beat when his cell phone rang in the middle of his opening remarks about how much debt Democrats have put on Americans. He noted his new-born son is already in debt even though he's only a month old. Speaking to the room filled with 50-plus folks, he said knowing the issues and working means every American can make a difference. Those attending are worried about the direction we're heading and concerned about doing something to stop over spending, over reaching government.

3:00: As Ben is introducing George Allen, he noted that Gov. Allen is the reason he got involved in politics with his Jeffersoniad principles.

3:03: "Good afternoon, Patriots all!" boomed George Allen to to the room. He said one of the better things he did during his term as U.S. Senate was nominate Henry Hudson as a federal judge. We in Virginia certainly know who Judge Henry Hudson is ... he is the judge who allowed the Commonwealth's lawsuit against the federal government's demand that citizens pay for health care.

3:10:Gov. Allen is talking about the health care bill, high costs, the waste that occurs when people don't have direct responsibility for costs. Tort reform is something the states can take up themselves and Virginia has rather good laws concerning tort reform. 

Our debt level is not good. He pointed out a JMU student who is in the room. These are the young people who will carry the debt now being passed on to them and beyond.

Talked about Ronald Reagan and how that was who got him involved in politics ... the line item veto, something he used while governor. There was the Bridge to Nowhere issues in Alaska that came up while he was in the U.S. Senate ... the line item veto could provide more accountability. Forty-eight states have it including Virginia; federal government does not.

(Three young children have now joined the crowd in the room.)

Time for a balanced budget amendment and line item veto. (People still filing in ... perhaps word has spread throughout the library that George Allen is in the house.)

Thank you to everyone for coming out today. Thank you for staying strong and positive for freedom! (applause)

3:25: Trixie is now introducing Dr. Botachelli who is talking about health care. After asking how many in the room are on Medicare, he said every time he sees a Medicare patient, he loses $10. Hospitals are not for profit but also not for bankrupt. $250 billion to reimburses doctors if it happened today ... six month extension for Medicare but after that, if nothing is voted on, it will drop 21%. Most hospital-based practices now see Medicare patients. What is the future? Five to 10 years, Medicare will be pushed out of the picture and that leaves only Uncle Sam to insure. Government-employed doctors will be government workers. Quality of care will decrease over the years, cost of health care will increase, more money will be paid out, money has to come from government. The "pot of gold" is going to disappear, quality of care will decrease if no changes are made to the bill as it is now.

3:35: The panel has now taken their seats in the front of the room. (Reporter Bob Stuart and photographer Roxanne Webber with the Waynesboro News Virginian just arrived.) The panel is made up of George Allen, Dr. Botachelli, and Ben Marchi. Questions are being asked from the audience and the panel is answering.

An interesting discussion is going on now in the room....

3:55: One more question and then the town hall will wrap up....

3:56: Tommy Moser just introduced himself as a member of the local tea party who said he had heard the Governor may get back into the ring and he was here to say he would be there to back him along with many others. (Outburst of applause in the room.)

George  Allen: "Stay tuned. (laugher) I'd love to have you by my side."

4:00: Meeting wrapped up, standing ovation, applause.

Americans for Prosperity at Staunton Tea Party

Ben Marchi, Virginia Director of Americans for Prosperity, addressed the tea party at Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park on Thursday. His message of responsible spending and lower taxes resounded with the crowd, many who have traveled on the AFP buses to Washington and Richmond to send that message to elected representatives.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
15 April 2010

Random conservative encounters

Had a meeting this morning with two local Tea Party ladies who are helping to coordinate the bus trip to Washington, DC, on September 12 for the National Taxpayer Protest. When I returned to my vehicle, the car parked next to me had a bumper sticker that said:

SOCIALISM ISN'T COOL
Americans for Prosperity -- Virginia

It was a great bumper sticker and good to see AFP represented in Staunton. I took one of my business cards and wrote on the back that we had buses leaving Staunton heading to DC on September 12 for the nationwide tea party and invited this anonymous person to join us.

When I returned home, there was an email from the gentleman who is a local businessman. He said he would like to go but would be out of state that weekend but asked to be kept in the loop.

I called Ben Marchi, Virginia State Director of Americans for Prosperity, and caught him as he was driving to Roanoke for the AFP Hot Air Balloon tour event later today, and told him about the bumper sticker on a vehicle in a parking lot ... wanted to let him know AFP is really making inroads and it was neat to see one of their bumper stickers locally.

It was a random conservative encounter ... reaching out to like-minded Americans ... but not the last, I'm sure.

AFP at the RPV Convention 2009 ... breakfast on Saturday

Americans for Prosperity had a "Patients United Now" breakfast Saturday morning, May 30, before the start of the second day of the RPV Convention. Nearly 400 citizen activists turned out to hear Kay Coles James, Del. Brenda Pogge, and others as they discussed the dangers of socialized medicine.

Thanks to Virginia AFP state director Ben Marchi for passing along this You Tube video of breakfast.

AFP shines sunlight onto 2009 VA General Assembly

Americans for Prosperity – Virginia Applauds House Republicans’ Move To Record Subcommittee Votes ... with the Virginia legislative session a month away, House Republicans set a tone of transparency for the 2009 General Assembly session.

RICHMOND – The Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP-VA) today commended House Republicans for making transparent and accountable government a state priority by requiring recorded subcommittee votes, giving Virginians public access to individual delegate votes on crucial legislation in subcommittees.

"This is a victory for Virginia voters." said AFP – Virginia State Director Ben Marchi. "Accountable and transparent government is where good government begins, and it is encouraging that both Virginia voters and delegates are in agreement."

AFP-Virginia’s fight for recorded subcommittee votes included a petition supporting transparency in state government signed by Virginia activists, along with an influx of phone calls and letters voicing concern to legislators.

"Having recorded votes in subcommittees will allow Virginians to check and make sure we are doing the job they put us here to do," said Delegate Ben Cline (R-Lexington) who has authored transparency legislation to be introduced in the 45 day session beginning next month.

AFP-Virginia was also glad to hear that House Republicans made difficult but necessary cuts in their budget – saving Virginia taxpayers over $1 million-- and pledged to oppose any earmarks in the 2008-2010 biennial budgets.

Over the next few months, AFP will take its message of transparent, accountable, and limited government on the road, holding town hall meetings with legislators at the local, state, and federal levels.

"The 2009 session has not yet started and Virginia taxpaying citizens are already winning," said Marchi. "With the support of our over 13,000 members, I know the voices of Virginians will continue to be heard.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit Americans For Prosperity.