Press Releases

Toscano Statement on House and Senate Republicans’ Votes to Adjourn the Special Session

July 9, 2019 by David Toscano

Toscano Statement on House and Senate Republicans’ Votes to Adjourn the Special Session on Gun Violence Prevention until November 18

RICHMOND –Following this afternoon’s surprise party-line votes which adjourned the Virginia General Assembly’s special session until November 18, 2019, Delegate David J. Toscano (D-57th District) released the following statement:

“House and Senate Republicans today showed Virginia that the only vote they are willing to take regarding gun violence protection is a vote to delay, delay, delay. In the face of clear support for action now, captured by multiple polls and embodied by the energetic activists who rallied at the Capitol today, they abdicated their responsibility to serve their constituents and the Commonwealth of Virginia in an appallingly cynical political move to push any votes off until after the November general election.

“I am disappointed but not surprised. Time and time again, whether it is about passing universal background checks for all gun purchases, or enacting measures that would permit a judge, after a hearing, to remove a gun from a person in a mental health crisis to prevent injury to self or others, the Republican leadership continues to stonewall and not even debate, much less pass, reasonable measures designed to reduce gun violence in the Commonwealth.”

Delegate Toscano is available today to the media for further comment.

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Toscano Comments on Supreme Court’s Decision in Bethune-Hill Redistricting Case

June 17, 2019 by David Toscano

Toscano on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Dismissing House Republicans’ Attempted Appeal in Virginia House of Delegates, et al. v. Bethune-Hill

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Upon this morning’s release by the Supreme Court of the United States of its decision rejecting an appeal filed by the House of Delegates’ Republican leadership in the long-running lawsuit Virginia House of Delegates, et al. v. Bethune-Hill, et al., Delegate David J. Toscano (D-57th District) released the following statement:

“I have been fighting against this racially discriminatory redistricting plan since 2011, first by voting against it in the House of Delegates, and then as the Democratic leader in the House. It is very gratifying to see this lawsuit, brought by affected voters and supported by those who oppose unconstitutional redistricting based on race, finally decided and the wrongful composition of the affected House of Delegates districts corrected before I leave office. Despite spending millions of taxpayer dollars in their quest to keep racially-gerrymandered districts in place, Republicans must now face the November elections in districts that were drawn to respect voters’ rights and constitutional requirements. Because of this, Democratic candidates have a fairer chance to win, and hopefully we will see a more representative House of Delegates as a result.”

Delegate Toscano is available today to the media for further comment.

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Toscano Calls on Northam to Resign

February 2, 2019 by David Toscano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (9:55 am, February 2, 2019)

The yearbook photograph of Governor Ralph Northam that went viral yesterday is outrageously offensive and deeply troubling. Excuses that this might simply have been a youthful indiscretion or happened in an era when race relations in the South were different fail to recognize that this was apparently published in 1984, not 1954, and that the Governor was in his mid-twenties and in medical school at the time.

In an era of instantaneous news and reaction, it usually makes sense to carefully consider the best course of action, and to gather facts and perspectives to ensure that haste does not overtake good judgment. Like my fellow Democrats in the General Assembly, I knew we needed to make space for the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to meet with the Governor and determine their course of action. It is now clear that while the Governor has done many good things in his career, and has been fighting for those most in need throughout his public life, he has lost the moral high ground at the core of his leadership. It makes it almost impossible for him to govern. I say this with the heaviest of hearts, but his ability to make further progress on his promises to Virginians has been so severely compromised that the best course for the Commonwealth is for him to resign.

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Toscano and Others Request Overcharge Information from SCC

January 25, 2018 by Erin Monaghan

Del. Toscano among signers of letter seeking SCC analysis of “rate freeze repeal” bills filed in the House of Delegates

RICHMOND, VA — House Democratic Leader David Toscano (57^th District) and five of his colleagues – Delegates Steve Landes (R-25^th), Jeion Ward (D-92^nd ), Lee Ware (R-65^th), Mark Keam (D-35^th), and Michael Webert (R-18^th) – delivered a letter Tuesday to SCC Chairman Jagdmann requesting an agency review and report on several bills submitted to “undo the ‘rate freeze’ adopted by the legislature in 2015, and to substitute a new regimen for utility rate regulation” as soon as possible. [Read more…]

Toscano to Tour UVa Rooftop Solar Panel Installations

June 4, 2017 by Jane Dittmar

Virginia House of Delegates Democratic Leader’s Legislation Led to UVa Installations

David J. Toscano (D-57), Democratic Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, today confirmed that he will tour UVa’s Solar Panel installations, the latest of which was celebrated at an event at UVa during a series of Earth Week observations in April.

Toscano has championed solar energy legislation in the Virginia General Assembly every year since his election in 2005.

“UVa and other higher education institutions are helping move us to a future based on renewable energy,” said Toscano. “The Commonwealth can and will be more actively involved in confronting the challenges of climate change and UVa will be essential to this effort.”

A bill sponsored by Toscano that passed the General Assembly in 2011 led to the initial solar panel installations at UVa’s Ruffner Hall and above the University Bookstore. HB 1686 offered special tariffs to facilitate customer-owned distributed solar generation. UVa used this legislation to further invest in solar panels to produce renewable energy.

Members of the press are invited to join the tour by meeting on June 6th at Clemons Library at 4PM. Parking instructions can be obtained by calling Jane Dittmar @ 434.220.1660.

Press Releases

Toscano Statement on House and Senate Republicans’ Votes to Adjourn the Special Session on Gun Violence Prevention until November 18

Toscano on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Dismissing House Republicans’ Attempted Appeal in Virginia House of Delegates, et al. v. Bethune-Hill

Del. Toscano among signers of letter seeking SCC analysis of “rate freeze repeal” bills filed in the House of Delegates

Virginia House of Delegates Democratic Leader’s Legislation Led to UVa Installations

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