McAuliffe’s priorities include transportation, education, equality
Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate for governor of
Virginia, told a roomful of supporters May 9 that his priorities
include ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, reproductive rights
for women, and more funding for transportation and education.
Virginia, told a roomful of supporters May 9 that his priorities
include ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, reproductive rights
for women, and more funding for transportation and education.
“We’ve got to grow the economy here in Northern Virginia,” and
that means addressing the transportation problem, McAuliffe said at a meeting of the Brigades, a network of Democratic activists. Noting that people in the
region waste 73 hours a year sitting in traffic, he said, “it’s a quality of
life issue.” His Republican opponent, Virginia Attorney General
Ken Cuccinelli, meanwhile, voted against the transportation bill recently signed into
law by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and tried to stop the rail-to-Dulles project, he said.
that means addressing the transportation problem, McAuliffe said at a meeting of the Brigades, a network of Democratic activists. Noting that people in the
region waste 73 hours a year sitting in traffic, he said, “it’s a quality of
life issue.” His Republican opponent, Virginia Attorney General
Ken Cuccinelli, meanwhile, voted against the transportation bill recently signed into
law by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and tried to stop the rail-to-Dulles project, he said.
Another priority for McAuliffe is education. “We have to
stop demeaning teachers,” he said. Virginia ranks in last place among the
states when it comes to teacher pay, he said; “we’ve got to pay teachers what
they’re worth.”
He also called for restructuring the state Standards of Learning
tests to make them more relevant to what students should be taught, full
funding for the standards of quality in education, and more money for
prekindergarten programs and community colleges, which are crucial for workforce training.
tests to make them more relevant to what students should be taught, full
funding for the standards of quality in education, and more money for
prekindergarten programs and community colleges, which are crucial for workforce training.
McAuliffe said he supports expansion of the Medicaid program,
which would provide coverage to an additional 400,000 Virginians and create
33,000 healthcare jobs. “This is your money,” he said. If Virginia doesn’t
accept it, the funds will go to other states, costing hospitals $200 million.
which would provide coverage to an additional 400,000 Virginians and create
33,000 healthcare jobs. “This is your money,” he said. If Virginia doesn’t
accept it, the funds will go to other states, costing hospitals $200 million.
McAuliffe vowed to work to keep women’s health centers open,
shut down payday lenders, support equal pay for woman, and work for marriage
equality.
shut down payday lenders, support equal pay for woman, and work for marriage
equality.
The Virginia election for governor is attracting national
attention, and the Cuccinelli campaign is raising big money from the billionaire,
ultraconservative Koch brothers. If the Democrats win this election, McAuliffe said, “we will stamp
out the Tea Party.”
attention, and the Cuccinelli campaign is raising big money from the billionaire,
ultraconservative Koch brothers. If the Democrats win this election, McAuliffe said, “we will stamp
out the Tea Party.”
