RPV Chairman Pat Mullins’ partisan retort is not helpful in search for ethics reform

No sooner had Governor Terry McAuliffe announced a bipartisan committee on ethics reform to be headed up by former Republican Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Democratic Congressman Rich Boucher than the Republican Party of Virginia’s Chairman Pat Mullins came out with a snarky response....  (Continue reading here)

Bill Bolling: 'Compromise ... elevate policy above politics'

By Bill Bolling
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Everyone saw it coming.

When the 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly convened Jan. 8, everyone knew that the key debate would be over Medicaid expansion or coverage expansion, as proponents now prefer to call it.

Unfortunately, although everyone saw it coming, no one was able to avoid what everyone feared — another impasse that leaves the state without a budget agreement at the close of the annual legislative session.

At this point, there are two questions that matter: (1) Why did this impasse occur, and (2) What can be done to forge a compromise between the governor and the state Senate, who favor expansion, and the House of Delegates, which opposes expansion?

While it is easy to try and blame one party or another for the impasse, the reality is that this is a difficult issue to resolve because no one is necessarily right or wrong in the positions they have taken.

When Gov. McAuliffe and Senate leaders say they believe the business case for expansion has been made, they are right.

Over the next 10 years, Virginia families and businesses will pay about $26 billion in higher taxes and fees to finance the Affordable Care Act. Literally, the only way that we can get a portion of this money returned to Virginia is through the expansion of Medicaid. That is a compelling argument for expansion.

In addition, some studies have estimated that a full Medicaid expansion could provide as many as 400,000 Virginians, most of whom are working full-time, with health insurance and access to health care, coverage they do not currently have. That is a noble goal.

On the other hand, when Republicans in the House of Delegates express concern regarding the federal government’s ability to fund the Affordable Care Act over time, they are also right. Experts have estimated that the Affordable Care Act could cost the federal government $151 billion when fully enacted. At a time when our country already faces a national debt of $18.2 trillion, and an annual budget deficit of $514 billion, everyone should be concerned about the federal government’s ability to support another costly entitlement program.

And, if the federal government decides that it cannot afford to continue paying its share of the cost of Medicaid expansion, it could pass a larger portion of these costs on to state governments. Should this happen, it would be very difficult for the commonwealth to continue to pay for the cost of Medicaid expansion and continue to fund its other important priorities at the same time.

These are also legitimate concerns.

While it is tempting to criticize both sides for the impasse that has occurred to date, in reality both sides have set forth positions that are eminently justifiable. No one is necessarily right or wrong in the positions they have taken, and their respective positions should be respected and considered.

So, the question becomes: Where do we go from here? Two options remain.

First, the parties can continue to stand firm on their respective positions and refuse to negotiate or compromise. This is the wrong course and it will ultimately prolong the impasse and bring us closer to the possibility of a government shutdown.

While this type of high-stakes political brinksmanship may excite the most ideologically driven voices in both parties, it would clearly not be in the best interests of the commonwealth. Now is the time for the voices of reason to rise above the voices of unreason.

The second course is more preferable, but it will require the parties to recognize the legitimacy of the positions taken by their adversaries and try to find common ground — common ground that would enable us to reach an agreement on the issue of Medicaid expansion and pass a budget that addresses the other important priorities of state government.

Having spent 18 years in state government, I am confident that there is a way to resolve this dispute that enables us to move forward with some form of coverage expansion under acceptable terms and conditions that recognizes legitimate concerns regarding affordability and the need for continuing Medicaid reforms.

Those who know anything about the successful operation of government know that compromise is an indispensible part of a working democracy. With it, differences can be respected and bridged. Without it, ideology trumps practicality and government simply does not work.

The question is, are our elected officials willing to provide the leadership that is necessary to forge such a compromise against a political backdrop that too often considers compromise a sign of political weakness?

Or put differently, are our elected officials willing to elevate policy above politics, and keep their focus on the next generation, as opposed to the next election? The people of Virginia are watching closely to see which course they choose.

Bill Bolling is chairman of the Virginia Mainstream Project, a political action committee dedicated to promoting a mainstream approach to government and politics in Virginia. He is the former lieutenant governor of Virginia and a former member of the Virginia state Senate. Contact him at www.billbolling.com.

Former Governor Bob McDonnell calls charges false, holds press conference

On Tuesday, news broke about federal charges against former Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen.

Immediately afterward, the Restoration Fund, a legal defense fund established by McDonnell supporters, sent out the following: "Earlier today former Governor Bob McDonnell released a statement regarding the false indictment built upon discredited witnesses that was filed today in federal court. Please take time to read below."

Here is the message from Bob McDonnell:

"My fellow Virginians, earlier today federal prosecutors notified my attorneys that they have filed criminal charges against me and my wife Maureen, alleging that we violated federal law by accepting gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of Star Scientific. 

I deeply regret accepting legal gifts and loans from Mr. Williams, all of which have been repaid with interest, and I have apologized for my poor judgment for which I take full responsibility.  However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship.  I never promised - and Mr. Williams and his company never received - any government benefit of any kind from me or my Administration. 

We did not violate the law, and I will use every available resource and advocate I have for as long as it takes to fight these false allegations, and to prevail against this unjust overreach of the federal government."

Robert F. McDonnell
Former Governor of Virginia

Tuesday evening, May 21, the governor held a press conference in Richmond, Virginia, to further clarify his position:

Good evening.

My fellow Virginians, I come before you this evening as someone who has been falsely accused and whose public service has been wrongfully attacked. Earlier today, federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against me and my wife Maureen, alleging that we violated federal law by accepting gifts and loans from Jonnie Williams, the former CEO of Star Scientific. I deeply regret accepting legal gifts and loans from Mr. Williams, all of which have been repaid with interest, and I have apologized for my poor judgment for which I take full responsibility. However, I repeat emphatically that I did nothing illegal for Mr. Williams in exchange for what I believed was his personal generosity and friendship.

I never promised - and Mr. Williams and his company never received - any government benefit of any kind from me or my Administration: no contract, loan, grant, funding, legislation, budget appropriation, regulation, board or commission appointment, or any other official state benefit. I never promised or attempted to influence anyone to give Mr. Williams or his company any official state benefit. I did not try to hide or deceive anyone about my friendship with Mr. Williams. Two independent and non-political investigations have confirmed that Mr. Williams and Star Scientific received nothing from the State, and not one penny of taxpayer money went to him or Star Scientific during my Administration.

Not one penny.

Star Scientific publicly confirmed last spring that it neither sought nor received any special benefits from any official. The federal government's case rests entirely on a misguided legal theory: that facilitating an introduction or meeting, appearing at a reception, or expressing support for a Virginia business is a serious federal crime for an office holder if it involves a political donor or someone who gave a gift or loan.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already rejected this radical idea and for good reason: if it were applied evenhandedly to every elected official, nearly all of them, from President Obama on down, would have to be charged for providing tangible benefits to donors. My administration provided Mr. Williams the same routine courtesies and access to state government that I - and every other Governor before me - afforded to thousands of individuals, companies, charities, and other organizations, whether they were donors or not. No other elected official has ever been successfully prosecuted for such conduct, yet federal officials in Washington, in their zeal to find a basis to charge Maureen and me, have decided to stretch the law to its breaking point.

For 37 years, I have loyally and enthusiastically served my country and state as a U.S. Army Officer, a state prosecutor, a Member of the House of Delegates, Attorney General, and as your Governor. Serving as Governor of Virginia has been the highest professional honor of my life, and I have given my heart and soul to help the people of Virginia. My actions over the past four years were completely dedicated to providing common sense and compassionate solutions to the challenges Virginians face. My team and I worked successfully with Republicans and Democrats to support our citizens, and our work produced good results - creating jobs and record budget surpluses, enacting major education reforms, fixing our state's transportation and pension systems crises, and taking care of foster children, the homeless, and the mentally ill.

Although the federal investigation of my family has been indescribably agonizing, I believe the facts and the law are on our side, and we will face these false accusations with strength and firm resolve. I have great faith in God, who has blessed me immensely with positions of public trust, a loving family, and devoted friends. I also have great faith in the American justice system. I will use every available resource and advocate I have for as long as it takes to fight these false allegations, and to prevail against this unjust overreach of the federal government.

There is no way for me to fully convey how much I appreciate the ongoing steadfast support and encouragement of friends and countless fellow Virginians through this most difficult and unexpected test of my life. My family and I are most grateful for your prayers and affections.

Thank you for listening to me.