JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE 35 Leaders in Norfolk paid a visit to Virginia Organizing facilitated a Virginia Organizing leaders from U.S. Senator Mark Warner’s office the Shenandoah Valley Chapters Dismantling Racism workshop in to urge him to protect programs pose for a photo with Virginia Southwest Virginia on Martin that support families and ask big Senator Emmett Hanger during Luther King, Jr. Day. Seventy-five corporations and wealthy Americans to pay their fair share. their visit to the Capitol to ask students attended the workshop at legislators not to delay on Medicaid Emory & Henry. News From the Grassroots Wednesday, February 6, to talk to without delay is important, policy Medicaid Expansion at Shenandoah Valley legislators about the considerations, and health care as a the General Assembly importance of Medicaid expansion. human right. By Trisha Hindy and Zach Hanson, Virginia Organizing Interns The Danville Chapter had been urging Students and community leaders from the Danville City Council to support across the Commonwealth also gathered There’s been big movement on Medicaid Medicaid expansion and on Tuesday, at the General Assembly on Friday, expansion in the last month! The General February 5, the mayor agreed to send a February 8, to pass out candy watches Assembly Conference Committee, made letter from the city in support of the with the message "Medicaid can't be up of six state Senators and six Delegates, expansion. delayed" to all of our legislators. If is now considering Medicaid expansion in Medicaid were to be delayed, Virginia their budget negotiations. Small business leaders from the South would lose approximately $5 million a Hampton Roads area visited Virginia day in federal funding — money that Virginia Organizing Chapters across the Senator Frank Wagner’s Richmond office Virginians have already paid into taxes. state showed support of Medicaid on Wednesday, February 6 to deliver a expansion during a Week of Action after packet of information on the importance In addition to the actions across the the Virginia House of Delegates of Medicaid expansion. The packet Commonwealth, Virginia Organizing Appropriations and Senate Finance included a copy of the Virginia Beach also made thousands of phone calls over Committees released their budgets on resolution asking the General Assembly to the past few weeks informing constituents Sunday, February 3. Those budgets expand Medicaid and letters of support about the importance of contacting their notably excluded Medicaid expansion for Medicaid expansion from the legislators in support of Medicaid until at least the middle of 2014, possibly Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, expansion through phone banking and later. Sentara hospitals and the Virginia Main word of mouth. Street Alliance. Virginia Organizing, along with a “Great job to all who participated in these significant number of other organizations In northern Virginia, students and efforts and many thanks to all the other supporting Medicaid expansion, focused community members from various groups groups who have been pushing for these on asking our legislators not to delay on rallied at George Mason University to programs,” said Sandra A. Cook, implementing Medicaid expansion. show their support of Medicaid chairperson of Virginia Organizing, “We expansion on Tuesday, February 5. will all continue to ask our legislators and Harrisonburg and Augusta-Staunton- Speakers at the rally discussed personal Governor Bob McDonnell to support Waynesboro Chapter leaders drove more experience with Medicaid expansion, the Medicaid expansion without delay.” than 130-miles to Richmond on faith perspective on why expansion Real people. Real change. Leader of the Month Balance Due sub-committee. Members of the Kevin Wilson Fredericksburg Chapter were in Kevin Wilson, owner Virginia Organizing held two actions attendance at the Senate Privileges of Sticky ToGoGo in on January 30 to tell members of the and Elections Committee meeting as Richmond, Va., has U.S. Congress not to cut programs it passed the Senate bill to restore been involved with that benefit families like Medicaid, voting rights, which left them feeling Virginia Organizing Medicare and Social Security. The hopeful and energized about the for about a year and progress on the issue. a half now. Kevin is actions took place at the Huntington most interested in Metro station in Northern Virginia h e a l t h c a r e , where participants handed out flyers While at the General Assembly, a education, and tax asking people to contact their Fredericksburg Chapter leader and fairness issues. members of Congress and in Norfolk directly affected former offender also spoke with his legislators about what Kevin got involved with Virginia where a large “balance due” notice Organizing after having many was delivered to U.S. Senator Mark automatic restoration means to conversations with Small Business Warner’s office. Virginia Organizing him. Though the bill did not pass Organizer Bob Becker. Kevin said, “As I will hold further actions during the this year, Governor Bob McDonnell’s started learning more about the issues, I last two weeks of February to remind public support for the measure and realized that not only do I have a moral Congress that big corporations and the bill’s progress through the Senate obligation to be involved, but it also makes good business sense.” wealthy Americans need to pay their is a step in the right direction. fair share. Kevin has spoken at rallies, given interviews to media, and went to the White House last Statewide Immigration July with Virginia Organizing. He was Fredericksburg Chapter Strategy Committee especially excited to meet officials from the Leader Speaks Out About White House and has been communicating with one official a few times about issues. Restoration of Rights Virginia Organizing is working to form a statewide immigration Working with Virginia Organizing, Kevin The Virginia Senate passed a bill to strategy committee to develop plans feels like he has an effect on policy decisions propose a constitutional amendment for how Virginia Organizing will made and that it’s important for small that would automatically restore work on immigration reform. If you business people to get involved. “The term ‘small business owner’ gets tossed around voting rights of people who have a are interested in serving on this committee, or would like more by politicians a lot, but I think small non-violent felony on their record. business owners need to be more active so However, in the state House of information, please contact Emily we can make decisions about what happens Delegates, the bill was defeated in Riehl at in our communities,” said Kevin. [email protected]. VIRGINIA ORGANIZING News in Brief 703 Concord Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 • About 300 people came to Spotsylvania Mall to watch the documentary, (434) 984-4655 Fax: (434) 984-2803 “Escape Fire” about the failing health care system. A discussion followed Local Chapters with health care officials. Augusta/Staunton/Waynesboro Charlottesville • The South Hampton Roads Chapter presented testimony in support of Danville providing in-state tuition for children of undocumented immigrants that Harrisonburg Fredericksburg would qualify under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Lee County Martinsville-Henry County • Students and community leaders in Virginia traveled to Richmond for a South Hampton Roads student lobby day on February 8 to focus on Medicaid expansion. They Washington County presented candy watches to all legislators with the message, “$5 million a Tri-Cities/Petersburg day!?! We cannot delay!!!” Richmond On Campus: UMW, VSU, CNU, UVA, E&H, U of R • Did you know that some employers offer matching gifts that can double your donation to Virginia Organizing? If your employer offers this, be sure www.facebook.com/virginiaorganizing to ask for a matching gift form! @VAOrganizing www.virginia-organizing.org.