Joseph Simons, who was nominated by President Trump last year to head the Federal Trade Commission, has signaled that antitrust action may be coming to industry giants, as well as addressing income inequality and lagging wages.
With Animus Towards President Trump, Tim Kaine Will Not Vote To Confirm Judge Kavanaugh To Supreme Court
Following Senator Mark Warner’s refusal to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, Virginia’s other senator, Tim Kaine, will also not support him, revealing an animus towards President Donald Trump – angering many Virginians.
Partisan Politics Is The Name Of The Game In Virginia’s Redistricting Fight
False claims of stalling in the courts, false claims of stalling politically, false claims of protecting racial gerrymandering, and the refusal of Democrats to unveil the mysterious map maker are all leading to the frustration of Republicans in the House of Delegates in dealing with redistricting.
Poll Finds Majority Of Virginians Oppose Northam’s Middle Class Tax Hike
60 percent of residents in the Commonwealth prefer the tax plan from House Republicans, returning tax collections to middle-class taxpayers by allowing them to keep existing state tax itemizations they would lose under Governor Northam’s plan. Just 29 percent supported Northam’s plan of direct payments to low-income families who qualify for the EITC.
As The U.S. Median Household Income Rises To $61,372, Many Are Wishing For Higher Wages Not More Jobs
The Census Bureau released a study this week that the rise in median household income is due to people working additional hours, not increased wages. With a shrinking job pool, the hope for many economic analysts is that hiring companies will act to increases wages, enticing potential employees.
NRCC Releases Hard Hitting Ad Against Jennifer Wexton
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) today began airing their new ad featuring the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District, Jennifer Wexton, and her record on voting to raise taxes while in the Virginia State Senate.
Years ago, Wexton supported the largest tax increase in the history of the Commonwealth – almost $6 billion. The measure boosted the sales in the Northern Virginia area, delivering a blow to hard-working, middle-class constituents.
Furthermore, Wexton supported then-Governor Terry McAuliffe’s increased toll rates on Interstate 66, which skyrocketed to over $46 in April of this year. As well, this delivered a blow to middle-class voters in Northern Virginia who commute to and from work every day.
“Self-proclaimed tax and spend liberal Jennifer Wexton is dead-set on continuing her record of raising taxes on Northern Virginia,” said NRCC Communications Director Matt Gorman in a press release. “They couldn’t afford her in the State Senate; they can’t afford her in Congress.”
Of course, this is no surprise to her supporters as Wexton has been committed to raising taxes at every opportunity she has had during her career in the Virginia State Senate. The legislator has supported over 30 – yes, 30 – state tax increases.
The ad from the NRCC follows Congresswoman Barbara Comstock’s first ad, which also centers on taxes, a priority issue for the Northern Virginia middle class.
During her time in Congress, and before in the House of Delegates, Comstock has fought successfully for tax cuts, jobs programs, and education initiatives to bolster the economy of the Northern Virginia area.
On the other hand, Wexton’s record proves she is complicit with spending the hard-earned money of Virginians. Moreover, if Wexton gets to Washington, the child tax credit will be slashed in half, and overall she pledges to raise taxes on families in the Northern Virginia area by an average of $2,400.
President Trump Signs Executive Order To Sanction Entities That Engage In U.S. Election Meddling
Following attempts by Russia to engage in election interference, President Donald Trump will direct that sanctions be placed on actors that meddle in U.S. elections.
Mark Warner Will Vote Against Confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Despite Answers To Rectify Concerns
Even though Judge Brett Kavanaugh has provided the Senate Judiciary Committee with clear answers to their concerns surrounding his past rulings, even how he may rule in some cases, issues surrounding abortion rights and executive powers, it is not enough for Virginia Senator Mark Warner, who will vote “no” to confirm the D.C. Circuit Court judge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Hurricane Florence To Bring Strong Winds And Heavy Rain To Much Of Virginia
Everyone along the coasts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic U.S. are now on alert for a potential strike from Category 4 Hurricane Florence later this week. Those in North Carolina and Virginia and the most vulnerable due the storm’s forecast path.
AccuWeather is already estimating that the financial toll from Hurricane Florence could reach $30 billion, due to the extensive damage and flooding anticipated.
Currently, most of the spaghetti models have Hurricane Florence making landfall between Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks and Wilmington, North Carolina.
As of now, the maximum-sustained winds emanating from the hurricane are approximately 130 miles per hour. However, as the storm seeks to strengthen by tomorrow morning, gathering energy in the Atlantic Ocean that harbors near-coast water temperatures of at least 86 degrees Fahrenheit, many are predicting the storm will have maximum-sustained winds upwards of 150 miles per hour, nearing the designation of a Category 5 storm.
Though, the danger with Hurricane Florence is not the winds, in fact, it’s the rain.
Virginia emergency management officials are calling for “catastrophic levels of inland flooding.” Yesterday, Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, ordering the mandatory evacuation of 245,000 residents in the lowest-lying shorelines of Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. The evacuation was slated to be in effect at 8:00 a.m. this morning.
There is the potential for Florence to stall or significantly reduce its forward speed as it nears the coast, which could prolong the effects of damaging winds, storm surge flooding, and beach erosion. Such a development would also greatly enhance inland flooding of streams and rivers.
“There’s never been a storm like Florence,” AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting and Graphics Operations Marshall Moss said. “It was located farther north in the Atlantic than any other storm to ever hit the Carolinas, so what we’re forecasting is unprecedented.”
He added, “Also, most storms coming into the Carolinas tend to move northward, and this storm looks like it’s going to stall over the region and potentially bring tremendous, life-threatening flooding.”
Rainfall of up to 20 inches is projected in some areas of the state, including Central and Southside Virginia. Estimates of eight to 15 inches rain now cover more than half of the Commonwealth.
“Take this storm very seriously,” Virginia Coordinator of Emergency Management Jeff Stern said, according to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Stern explained, “This is a very challenging storm that works against our normal planning scenarios because in addition to a major Category 4 or 5 potential storm — something that no one in Virginia has experienced in their lifetimes — coming ashore just south of us or even potentially still directly into Virginia, we will see with the potential stall that is predicted catastrophic levels of inland flooding throughout the state.”
Hurricane Florence will also be the first significant test for the James River floodwall in Richmond since the 1990s. Even if the metro region does not get the maximum forecast amount of rain fall, significant inland flooding runoff from the western part of the state will greatly affect the river.
Richmond may feel the effects of the seemingly unprecedented rainfall up to a week after it passes through.
The floodwall has under gone annual checks by the Army Corps of Engineers, most recently checked in June, as well as two weeks ago. City officials will close the gates when the James River reaches the nine to ten foot-high level at the Richmond-Westham Gauge.
Richmond’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Bob Steidel explained recently that underground portions of the floodwall system are used frequently, even in smaller storms to prevent flooding from reaching the city. The 14th Street Bridge gates would likely be the first above-ground portion to be closed if flooding became severe.
As for preparations before Florence arrives, Stern said the state of emergency allows an “unprecedented mobilization of the entire force of the Virginia National Guard.” All 6,000 troops have been put on call, with 1,500 to be active by Wednesday night.
Furthermore, for the first time ever, Virginia has asked for mutual aid from neighboring states. Requests included 21 swift-water rescue teams and five incident management teams that will provide movement, supply, and air support to local governments and the military bases, according to the report.
Under President Trump, Small Business Optimism At Highest Ever Level, Even Higher Than During Reagan’s Reign
When it comes to creating jobs in the small business sector, President Trump is now tracking better than his idol Ronald Reagan.