“As campaign cash flow into Northern Virginia Democratic coffers tonight from the national Democratic Party and their special interests, voters in the 34^th district should know where Ms. Vanderhye stands on key issues that national Democratic leaders are pushing that will dramatically and detrimentally impact the Commonwealth.  These aren’t just federal issues – they are state issues that will have a huge financial impact on our state budgets. 

“These issues include health care reform, the union backed ‘card check’ legislation, and the ‘cap and trade’ legislation recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Most Republicans and many moderate Democrats are speaking out in opposition to all of these job-killing bills. 

“First, today, on health care:

"Where does Vanderhye stand on the proposed federal health care surtax which would hit more than 69,000 Virginia taxpayers, including 41,000 small businesses and could even harm the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan that many 34^th district residents have?

“Where does she stand on the so-called ‘public option’ plan that her political allies and her AFL-CIO and SEIU union financial supporters are demanding be part of health care reform even though it would shift many Virginians out of their private health care plans and into a government run plan?

“Where does she stand on imposing new mandates on small businesses for health care?

“Republicans and moderate Democrats generally oppose these measures and have expressed strong reservations about the proposed Trillion dollar bill:

- New Mexico Democratic Governor Bill Richardson said, “I’m personally very concerned about the cost issue, particularly the $1 trillion figures being batted around.”

- Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Ed Rendell, acknowledged about the health care bill:   "These could essentially be unfunded mandates, and would be enormously destructive to state budgets."

- Tennesse Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen, told the New York Times that he regarded the proposed expansion of Medicaid [in the health care bill] as ‘the mother of all unfunded mandates’ and warned, ‘Medicaid is a poor vehicle for expanding coverage.’

“We are facing huge budget shortfalls in Virginia and mis guided leaders from Washington, bearing campaign cash and demanding party loyalty, threaten to impose huge new taxes and mandates that will kill Virginia jobs and overwhelm Virginia families and businesses. We need leadership in Virginia that isn’t beholden to leaders like Nancy Pelosi, Henry Waxman or the AFL-CIO and SEIU. We need leaders who will stand up for the citizens of the 34^th District and represent their interests and when it comes to health care, follow the wise guidance ‘first do no harm’.”