David Toscano

Commentary on Virginia and U.S. Politics & Culture

David Toscano
  • Home
  • About David
  • States Matter
  • The Legislative Years
    • General Assembly Updates
      • 2019 General Assembly Session
      • 2018 General Assembly Session
      • 2017 General Assembly Session
      • 2016 General Assembly Session
      • 2015 General Assembly Session
      • 2014 General Assembly Session
      • 2013 General Assembly Session
      • 2012 General Assembly Session
      • 2011 General Assembly Session
    • Press Releases
  • Search

Why I Serve In The General Assembly

January 7, 2019 by David Toscano

The 2019 Session Is Upon Us

Since my election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005, my goal has always been to serve this region with honesty and integrity while pushing the progressive measures which reflect this community’s values.  For all of this time, Democrats have been in the minority in the House, with the result that many of the initiatives our region supports have not yet been adopted. Nonetheless, we have achieved some major victories, not the least of which occurred in the last session when we were able, after 5 years of trying, to pass Medicaid expansion, and provide access to health insurance to over 300,000 Virginians.  It was the most consequential vote in decades.

Working with others in the General Assembly, we have been able to raise teacher salaries, make more investments in environmental protection and mental health, and provide monies for critical investments in transportation, including roads and mass transit.  We have worked to restore and increase funding for education that was cut during the Great Recession.  And we have fought efforts to restrict the reproductive rights of women and deny the rights of our LGBTQ and immigrant communities.  As Democratic Leader for the past seven years, I was proud to help lead these fights.  Under the McAuliffe Administration, Virginia’s economy expanded and many new jobs were created.  Under the Northam Administration, growth rates have increased and we have been able to better meet the needs of all citizens in the Commonwealth.  I remain committed to the following principles and will work to see policies embodied by them passed in upcoming sessions.

Good Jobs that Honor Work, Provide Opportunity, and Build Prosperity: Virginians Need a Raise

Hardworking Virginians should be able to earn a livable wage and have a decent standard of living, including the ability to access paid time for family leave, vacations, and sickness.  Opportunity and prosperity are ensured when employees are protected at work, and have access to health care and other benefits.  Virginia families want their children and grandchildren to succeed and not be forced to move from their communities to seek a better life. To that end, we should pass laws to ensure:

  1. A concrete plan to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour, lowest in the nation, to $15 per hour.
  2. Strong paid family leave policies.
  3. Contracting procedures that reward companies which provide health care and benefits to their employees while ensuring workers’ rights to a safe and secure workplace.
  4. Equal pay for equal work.
  5. Nondiscrimination in hiring and employment.
  6. Incentives to ensure that all Virginians have access to affordable and quality health care.
  7. Prohibitions against wage theft in the workplace.
  8. Better workforce training linked to good jobs in the community.
  9. Greater investments in Virginia’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, directing these monies for local use (similar to the $1 million grant we obtained for Habitat’s Southwood initiative).

Access to Affordable and Quality Health Care

Virginians continue to experience problems with accessing health care at affordable rates.  Large numbers of Virginians remain uninsured, and in many parts of the Commonwealth insurance premiums take too large a percentage of a family’s income.  Medicaid expansion will permit a larger number of Virginians access to quality insurance, but there are other areas where reforms are necessary.  I support:

  1. Effective implementation of Medicaid expansion.
  2. Expanding health care insurance options to increase access and hold down costs.
  3. Transparency in providing information about the costs of services and prescriptions so that consumers can make educated choices.
  4. Investment in public health centers and free clinics to assist those who are unable to pay for medical procedures and prescriptions.
  5. Emphasis on preventive public health rather than expensive emergency medicine.
  6. Increasing investments to ensure that food insecurity is eliminated among Virginians.
  7. Protecting women’s reproductive rights.
  8. Lowering drug prices under Medicaid by leveraging the purchasing power of state agencies.
  9. Protecting consumers from surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers.
  10. Ensuring that persons with pre-existing conditions do not lose insurance.
  11. Enhancing the ability of our Bureau of Insurance (BOI) to rein in health insurance premium increases.

[Read more…]

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2019 Tagged With: Affordable Health Care, affordable housing, Anti-Discrimination, Education, Environmental Protection, Equal Rights Amendment, Gun Safety, Job Creation, K-12 Education funding, limiting campaign contributions, Medicaid expansion, Mental Health Policy, minimum wage, Pre-K Education Funding, Reproductive Choice, Standards of Learning, Virginia Higher Education Funding

An Early Look at Budgetary Prospects for 2019

December 21, 2018 by David Toscano

Perhaps the most important action we take as legislators is to pass a biennial budget. This is done in the even-numbered years and it is then modified in the next year. 2019 will be the year of budget modification. Governor Northam recently presented his proposals for changes we can make in our two-year budget during our session beginning January 9, 2019. I was impressed by several developments:

1. The Virginia economy is booming. Unemployment now stands at 2.9% and our revenue forecast has improved dramatically. The state ended the fiscal year on June 20, 2018, with a surplus of approximately $550 million. Typically, surplus revenues are either saved for a future year or expended on one-time investments, such as buildings, roads, or other infrastructure. [Read more…]

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2019 Tagged With: Affordable Health Care, Education, Medicaid expansion, State Employee Compensation, Virginia budget, Virginia Higher Education Funding

Independence Day

July 4, 2018 by David Toscano

Celebrating Our Nation of Laws on Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! As we endure this summer heat, I’d like to take the opportunity to make you aware of some important updates in our state and region.

As always on July 1st, a host of new laws went into effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I shared “In Due Course,” a summary of new laws published by our Division of Legislative Services, on social media Monday. I am often able to share news more quickly on my social media pages. I encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ensure you receive updates quickly and efficiently. [Read more…]

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2018 Tagged With: Affordable Health Care, Immigration, Medicaid expansion, Virginia budget

Six Highlights from the 2018 Session

June 28, 2018 by David Toscano

My constituents continue to ask me if the House of Delegates is different in light of the dramatic change in composition brought on by the Blue Wave Democratic victories last fall. The answer is both a resounding “yes” and a more complicated “no.” Six highlights from this session (including the special session) help explain why this is so [Read more…]

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2018 Tagged With: 2017 Virginia election, Affordable Health Care, Anti-Discrimination, Climate Change, Environmental Protection, Gun Safety, Immigration, Medicaid expansion, Renewable Energy, Voting Access

Medicaid Expansion: A Really Big Deal

June 7, 2018 by David Toscano

It’s Been A Long Time Comin’

Today was the final step in perhaps the most significant success in my thirteen years in the General Assembly. After five years of advocating, strategizing, cajoling, pleading, and fighting, last week we passed a budget that includes Medicaid expansion to about 400,000 Virginians; today, Gov. Northam signed it into law. It is an amazing feeling to cast a vote that will help so many. There are about 3,400 people in the 57th District who would be eligible for the expanded Medicaid program now, and as many as 10,000 additional people in the local region who would benefit. [Read more…]

Share

Filed Under: General Assembly 2018 Tagged With: Affordable Health Care, Medicaid expansion, Mental Health Policy, Special Session, State Employee Compensation, Virginia budget

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 11
  • Next Page »

Join My Email List

Topics

2016 presidential election 2017 Virginia election ABC law enforcement procedures Adoption Affordable Care Act - Virginia Affordable Health Care Anti-Discrimination Charlottesville and Albemarle County Charlottesville sidewalk funding program Climate Change Coal Tax Credits DNA Database Expansion Domestic Violence Education Educational reform Environmental Protection Equal Rights Amendment Ethics reform Financial exploitation of elderly Foster Care Gun Safety Immigration Job Creation Judicial Appointments K-12 Education funding Legislative Redistricting Medicaid expansion Mental Health Policy Pre-K Education Funding Religious Freedom Renewable Energy Reproductive Choice Same-Sex Marriage Senator Creigh Deeds Sexual Assault Policy Special Session State Employee Compensation University of Virginia Virginia budget Virginia General Assembly Process Virginia Health Insurance Marketplace Virginia Higher Education Funding Virginia Retirement System funding Virginia transportation Voting Access

General Assembly Updates 2011-18

  • General Assembly 2018
  • General Assembly 2017
  • General Assembly 2016
  • General Assembly 2015
  • General Assembly 2014
  • General Assembly 2013
  • General Assembly 2012
  • General Assembly 2011

Contact Me

211 E. High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-220-1660
Fax: 434-220-1677
david@davidtoscano.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Email list
Donate to the Virginia First PAC

Help me bring more common sense to the General Assembly by helping elect candidates that share our views in other districts across the Commonwealth. Make a contribution to my leadership PAC, Virginia First, where funds go directly to support candidates across the state. - David

Authorized by David Toscano
© Copyright 2006-20 · DavidToscano.com · All Rights Reserved ·