David Toscano

Commentary on Virginia and U.S. Politics & Culture

David Toscano
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Closing Arguments: Be Sure To Vote!

November 5, 2018 by David Toscano

Vote Tomorrow, November 6, 2018

We are in the fight of our lives, and this election is the most important one yet. The Trump presidency is not only systematically attempting to undo the positive changes of the Obama years, but is attacking the institutions of Democracy itself.  His assaults on civil servants, labeling those with whom he disagrees part of the “deep state,” diatribes against journalists and the media, and reckless disregard for the rule of law bring to mind Franklin’s admonition in the aftermath of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia 231 years ago that the founders had created “a Republic … if you can keep it.”  Every day of the Trump White House provides us with more evidence of efforts to undermine the counterbalances to executive power, whether it involves the discriminatory “travel ban,” his efforts to “pack the courts” with like-minded judges, or the peddling of “fake news” claims and cynical lies. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 2018 Congressional election, Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Voting Access

24 Words For Equality — Adopt the ERA

September 5, 2018 by David Toscano

Ten days ago, my wife and I attended a screening of “Iron Jawed Angels” in celebration of Women’s Equality Day. Filmed in Virginia in 2004, it tells the story of Alice Paul and her efforts to gain universal suffrage for American women in the early decades of the 20th century. Americans often see the suffragettes as privileged women in white dresses and great hats. The reality was more complex; many of these women endured considerable hardship and abuse. Women of color were involved in the fight, though the racial divisions of the day diminished their role in the historical record. The film chronicles Paul’s imprisonment and forced feeding during a hunger strike. Ultimately, Paul and her allies prevailed, and the nation added the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on August 26, 1920, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

David Toscano with Megan Tracy, Creigh Deeds, and Alisa Hefner

At the showing of “Iron Jawed Angels,” about the effort to gain universal suffrage for American women. From left to right: Megan Tracy (board member of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters), Delegate David Toscano, State Senator Creigh Deeds, and Alisa Hefner (co-chair of the local ERA Task Force).

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Anti-Discrimination, Voting Access

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…]

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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

One Week Left and Dueling Budgets

March 5, 2018 by David Toscano

We have one week to go in this General Assembly session, and the major issue left to resolve is the budget. In December 2017, Gov. McAuliffe introduced his last budget, and both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have been working on it since then. The House budget bill is dramatically different than the Senate’s budget, largely because the House is willing to expand healthcare coverage to thousands of Virginians by accepting federal Medicaid dollars. In the House budget, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) can apply immediately for expansion; DMAS is also directed to request a special waiver that will allow certain Medicaid recipients to receive workforce training, in hopes that able-bodied recipients may then obtain employment or provide community service. The Senate budget does not include the Medicaid expansion monies from the governor’s budget, with the result that the Senate had to cut more than $400 million from Gov. McAuliffe’s introduced budget. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: General Assembly 2018 Tagged With: Affordable Health Care, Education, Gun Safety, K-12 Education funding, Legislative Redistricting, Medicaid expansion, Mental Health Policy, State Employee Compensation, Virginia budget, Virginia Higher Education Funding, Voting Access

Why I Am Running Again…

April 24, 2017 by David Toscano

Re-elect David ToscanoIt has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as your Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly for the past twelve years. Your support through these years has meant a lot to me, and I need it again. I have an opponent in the June 13 Democratic Primary, and I do not yet know if there will be a Republican opponent in the November General Election, if I win in June.

There are many reasons why I have chosen to seek reelection. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Campaign2017 Tagged With: 2017 Virginia election, Affordable Health Care, Anti-Discrimination, Climate Change, Domestic Violence, Education, Immigration, Job Creation, K-12 Education funding, Medicaid expansion, Reproductive Choice, Voting Access

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

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