Accountability | Virginia
In the Wake of Virginia Beach Shootings, GOP Va State Sen. Hopeful Geary Higgins Embraces NRA
In the days following the deadly mass shooting on May 31, 2019 that took the lives of 12 people in Virginia Beach, State Senate Candidate Geary Higgins doubled down on his embrace of the gun lobby. Instead of disavowing his support of the National Rifle Association in the wake of the tragedy, Higgins continued to run ads on Facebook trumpeting the group's endorsement.
Coincidentally, the NRA returned the favor just weeks later, spending nearly $6,000 to give Higgins the boost he needed to win the Republican primary to represent Virginia’s 13th District in the State Senate.
Accountability | Virginia
Va. Delegate Bobby Orrock Raised 99.6% of Campaign Cash This Year From Corporations, Special Interests
According to a review of public filings by American Ledger, Virginia Delegate Bobby Orrock has raised the overwhelming majority of his campaign funds -- 99.6% -- from large corporations and special interests. Only .4% of Orrock’s total campaign contributions raised since January 2019 came from individual donors.
The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, in particular, have flooded Orrock’s campaign with cash. Between January and June 2019, Orrock received $16,000 from the Medical Society of Virginia. And in May, Orrock pocketed a $1,000 contribution from health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Accountability | Virginia
Bill DeSteph Held a Fundraiser at a Men’s-Only Club with a History of Anti-Semitism and Racism
In June 2019, Bill DeSteph, a State Senator representing Virginia’s 8th district, held a fundraiser in a club which has a sordid history of denying admission to women, Jewish and black Americans.
The fundraiser, tabbed at $125 per person, was hosted at the historically all-male Commonwealth Club in Richmond, Virginia, which was originally founded by former Confederate military officers.
Accountability | Virginia
Virginia State Sen. Amanda Chase’s Controversial Comments on Sexual Assault Cap Off Long Record of Opposing Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Legislation
Virginia State Sen. Amanda Chase recently took to her Facebook page to blame women who have been raped for not carrying private firearms, stating “It’s those who are naïve and unprepared that end of [sic] raped.”
Chase, who represents Virginia’s 11th District, made the comments one day before she heralded herself a champion of women, stating that she believed every woman had a right “to protect themselves.”
Accountability | Virginia
Controversial Fringe Republican Paul Milde is Attempting to Buy His Seat in the Virginia House of Delegates
Paul Milde, a controversial fringe Republican running to represent Virginia's 28th district in the House of Delegates, appears to be attempting to buy the seat for himself after records indicate only 2% of his donations come from individuals other than himself.
Health Care | Virginia
Va. Delegate Tim Hugo Has Voted 16 Times to Allow Insurance Companies to Deny Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions, Taken Over $280,000 From Healthcare Industry
Va. State Delegate Tim Hugo voted 16 times in only 2 years for bills in the state legislature that allow insurance providers to deny health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
Health Care | Virginia
Virginia State Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant Called Medicaid Supporters “Crybaby Politicians,” Voted Repeatedly Against Medicaid Expansion
Dunnavant voted repeatedly against Medicaid expansion for an estimated 6,000 of her constituents and derided politicians supporting the expansion of the health care program as “crybaby politicians.”