COMSTOCK FOR DELEGATE BLOG
Thursday, October 22, 2009
While Creigh Deeds Opts Out Of The Health Care “Public Option†Vanderhye Still Ignores The Public Option Threat To Virginians
McLean, VA - The Comstock for Delegate campaign released the following statement from Barbara Comstock today:
Last night, Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds distanced himself from the “public option†health care bill. But at the recent debates in the 34th District House of Delegates race, Margi Vanderhye said that issues like the public option and the current health care debate in Washington are not relevant to the work of a state legislator. She grossly misunderstands the threat posed by the public option and other health care mandates that would bust our state budgets and kill our jobs.
Vanderhye has ignored the staggering taxes that would hit tens of thousands of Virginia taxpayers and small businesses and could even harm the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan that many 34th District residents have. She has ignored the fact that this unfunded mandate from Washington would crowd out our transportation and education funding and make our difficult budget situation even worse. And she has ignored the devastating impact of the proposed Medicare cuts at a time when our senior citizens are now facing a ZERO cost of living increase.
Vanderhye’s close political allies at the AFL-CIO and SEIU have made the “public option†their top priority. Vanderhye has received tens of thousands of dollars from union interests to her campaign and through the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Creigh Deeds has now joined those who are running from the public option. But Vanderhye still stands by and says and does nothing to protect Virginia taxpayers from this unfunded mandate.
Like the many Republican and Democratic state and local officials across the country who are opposing the public option and other unfunded mandates, I will fight to protect our state budgets from such budget busting and job killing bills. Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee called the health care bill “the mother of all unfunded mandates.â€
We are facing huge budget shortfalls in Virginia. We need leadership in Virginia that isn’t beholden to leaders like Nancy Pelosi, Henry Waxman, or union bosses at the AFL-CIO and SEIU.
We need leaders who will stand up for the citizens of the 34th District and represent their interests and, when it comes to health care, follow the wise guidance “first do no harm.â€
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