Kirk Cox

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Northam Gaslights America as Democrats Pledge To Bring Infanticide Bill Back in 2020

“Misinformation has been circulating on where Virginia Democrats stand on issues related to women’s reproductive health,” said Governor Ralph Northam (D) at a Thursday afternoon press conference. The situation began Tuesday morning after shocking video was released from a House subcommittee meeting detailing a Democratic lawmaker speaking about her late-term abortion bill.

H.B. 2491, introduced by Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Springfield), would repeal restrictions on third trimester abortions, allowing abortion doctors to self-certify the necessity of late-term procedures, eliminate informed consent requirements, repeal abortion clinic health and safety standards, permit late-term abortions to be performed in outpatient clinics, remove ultrasound requirements, and eliminate Virginia’s 24-hour waiting period.

In the days since the development, pro-life advocates from across the country have spoken out against the legislation, including President Donald Trump.

“I’m surprised that he did that, I’ve met him a number of times,” Trump said of the governor. The commander in chief also said that Delegate Tran’s remarks were “terrible,” after having seen the video.

At the press conference this afternoon, beside members of the Virginia Democratic leadership, Governor Northam said that he was there “to set the record straight.”

“There’s a fundamental difference between us and Republicans in what we believe on a woman’s right to choose. We believe legislators, most of whom are men, should not be making decisions about women’s choices for their reproductive health.”

Northam added that the Virginia GOP is trying to “score points any way they can.”

“Virginia Democrats know we are better than that,” he added.

Attorney General Mark Herring (D) spoke next. He started off by saying that “desperation can be ugly. And what we saw yesterday from Republicans was desperate and ugly.” He stated that claims from GOP lawmakers that Governor Northam supports infanticide “would be laughable if it wasn’t such a grotesque idea.”

During a Wednesday morning address on WTOP’s “Ask The Governor” segment, Northam commented on the situation surrounding the response to Delegate Tran’s bill by saying the widespread reaction was “blown out of proportion.”

Explaining it himself, he said the following:

“If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”

Conservatives across the Commonwealth and the U.S. quickly condemned Northam’s rhetoric, charging that he “supports infanticide.”

During the press conference, when asked about what he said and if it had been taken out of context, he responded with, “I don’t have any regrets….I regret that those comments have been mischaracterized.”

Regardless, it spurred Republican lawmakers to give emotional speeches on the floor of the House the following day.

Speaker of the House Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) made a rare and powerful speech after he stepped of the dais.

“I will never stop fighting for the promise of life as long as I hold a gavel, as long as I can speak into this microphone, as long as I have the privilege of this floor. I promise to fight for the promise of life,” he said.

Delegate Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg) also gave a personal story.

“Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to let anyone take the life of my son, and I’m not going to vote to allow other people to take the lives of other people’s sons,” he proclaimed.

As Virginians continue to reel from this week’s developments, one comment from House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) rings very true.

“I think what my Democratic colleagues are most concerned about is what this moment actually revealed. It was a moment of unbridled honesty about their agenda, and their legislation, and what it actually does.”

Meanwhile, the RTD’s Graham Moomaw asked Democratic minority leader Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) whether they had any intentions of bringing the infanticide bill back should they capture the majority in the November 2019 elections:

When asked if Democrats would pursue legislation similar to Tran’s if they take control of the House next year, Filler-Corn said that “there’s a lot of support for this type of legislation.”

Short answer?  Yes they will… and if Governor Northam’s comments this afternoon are any indicator as to where Virginia Democrats intend campaign this year, it will be championing — not walking back — from this week’s exposition of how wrapped into the abortion industry the progressive left has become.

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Three Millimeters: Delegate Scott Garrett’s Rebuttal Of Democrat’s Sweeping Abortion Bill

“I did not wake up this morning to stand,” said Delegate Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg) on his third point of personal privilege on the House floor in 10 years as a legislator in the Virginia legislature. After Speaker of the House Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) gave a rare, highly-emotional speech about reaffirming his promise to fight to protect the lives of unborn children, Delegate Garrett has a personal story of his own.

Wednesday was soul-stirring day on Bank Street. Just one day before, a Democratic legislator made headlines for her speech about a bill she introduced that would lead the Commonwealth towards the ways of New York in repealing restrictions on abortion, including terminations up until the moment of birth.

H.B. 2491, patroned by Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Springfield), would repeal restrictions on third trimester abortions, allowing abortion doctors to self-certify the necessity of late term procedures, eliminate informed consent requirements, repeal abortion clinic health and safety standards, permit late term abortions to be performed in outpatient clinics, remove ultrasound requirements, and eliminate Virginia’s 24-hour waiting period.

The response from legislators in the 24 hours since has been gripping, poignant, and emotional.

“As you all know, I’m a trauma surgeon,” Garrett said. “In 1980, almost 40 years ago, I started my education and training.”

“I have literally seen everything that can be done by a human to another human. I’ve seen men and women shot, stabbed, brutally murdered, raped, mutilated, acid thrown into their face. I’ve seen people strangled to death, and I’ve taken care of a lot of those folks,” the delegate explained.

“I have never, in 62 years on this Earth…the bill that was before us…” Garrett said has he attempted to collect his emotions in an almost silent House of Delegates.

“Mr. Speaker,” he continued, “let me tell you the story of Billy.

“In 1988, as a chief resident of pediatric surgery at the University of Florida, Billy was born at 24 weeks,” Garrett said.

“He had a hole in his heart. He had a connection between his windpipe and his esophagus, so whenever he swallowed, he was drowning himself. And he had 37 segments of his small intestine that were completely blocked.”

“I operated on that boy for 18 hours,” the delegate explained. “With the help of an amazing team, and these two hands the good Lord gave me, sir, we fixed the hole in that little boy’s heart. We closed the connection so that he could breathe normally. And I removed 37 segments of that little boy’s intestine so that intestinal function could normalize.”

“That was 31 years ago, Mr. Speaker,” Garrett said.

Then, the Lynchburg Republican legislator began another story – one that hit him closer to home.

“A lady in my district, a constituent of mine,” Garrett continued, “16 years ago, 35 years old, she became pregnant. If you’re going to deliver at 36 years or older, you are deemed to be at high risk.”

“We didn’t have a high-risk OB doctor in Lynchburg,” Garrett said, explaining on the floor of the House that they had to travel to Charlottesville’s University of Virginia medical center for care.

“The standard of care then…was to do an ultrasound of the baby, of the developing fetus, and they measure the fat pad at the base of the back of the neck, and they’re looking for one number – three millimeters,” he added.

“Three millimeters,” he said again.

“If that fat pad is thicker than three millimeters, Mr. Speaker, she was told that there was a higher than 80 percent chance that that baby would be born with neurologic deficits.

“Three millimeters, Mr. Speaker,” Garrett said gain.

“That was 16 years ago.”

Clenching his emotions, he stated, “My 16-year-old son is a good boy, Mr. Speaker. He’s a good student.”

“Many of you all met him three years ago when he was a Senate page. He’s a wonderful athlete.”

“He makes his father and his mother proud,” he told the 99 other delegates.

“And for three millimeters,” Garrett continued, “someone would have taken the life of my son.”

“Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to let anyone take the life of my son, and I’m not going to vote to allow other people to take the lives of other people’s sons.”

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61,012,997 Unkept Promises: Virginia House Speaker Kirk Cox’s Pledge To Monique

In a rare and highly-emotional point of personal privilege, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) stepped off the dais Wednesday afternoon to remark on one of the most shocking pieces of legislation to be considered by the General Assembly in recent memory.

On Tuesday, a Democratic legislator in the Virginia House of Delegates spoke about a bill she introduced in the 2019 General Assembly session that would lead the Commonwealth towards the ways of New York in repealing restrictions on abortion, including terminations up until the moment of birth.

H.B. 2491, patroned by Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Springfield), would repeal restrictions on third trimester abortions, allowing abortion doctors to self-certify the necessity of late term procedures, eliminate informed consent requirements, repeal abortion clinic health and safety standards, permit late term abortions to be performed in outpatient clinics, remove ultrasound requirements, and eliminate Virginia’s 24-hour waiting period.

Although the legislation was not expected to pass during this year’s session, it represents a progressive policy vision embraced by the leaders of Virginia’s Democratic Party, including Governor Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, and Attorney General Mark Herring.

“I have been here almost 30 years,” Speaker Cox said, who relayed that he would be “delivering this speech from the same place I started…desk number 79.”

“A lot of you know I’m not the most spontaneous person in the world, and I’m not the most impulsive. I fully understand that this office comes with tremendous power. I fully understand that you must use that power wisely.”

“I know what I’m doing today. I know it’s a very big deal. This speech is about the number 61,012,997,” he said.

“That is, believe it or not, 50 times larger than all the men and women that have been lost to war in this country.”

“I gave a similar speech in 1996 when that number was 20 million. I gave another speech in 2000 and that number was 40 million. The last time I gave a speech in 2014, I know the number well. it was 54,600,549,” Speaker Cox relayed. “It is the number of abortions since 1973.”

“That number absolutely crushes me. That number absolutely overwhelms me. That number keeps me up at night,” he said, conveying great emotion.

Referencing Psalm 139, the speaker said, “You made all the delegator parts of my body. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous. How well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Everyday of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day has passed.”

Referencing Hebrews 3:4, he added, “For every house has a builder, but the one that built everything is God.”

“Do you realize we’re made in the image of God?” Cox asked the House.

“One of [the] most astounding things, when I think about it, is the eye, because it’s the window on the whole world,” he said.

Continuing his floor speech, Cox added, “Your retina has 130 million rod-shaped cells, they detect light intensity…they transmit impulses to the brain by means of one million neuro-fibers. Those numbers are almost silly. How on Earth can a creator do that?”

“Nearby,” he added, “six million cone-shaped cells pick out color variation, and the one that amazes me the most, the eye can handle 500,000 messages, simultaneously.”

“We are no accident,” the speaker told the 99 other members of the House of Delegates.

“How about a baby?” he asked.

The speaker continued on, “Week four: The two optic nerves are forming the lens. Week eight: That retina I just began to talk about is forming. Week 16: The eye picks up light. Week 26: The end of the second trimester, that eye is fully formed and the eyelids open. And I think if you shine a flashlight on a mother’s stomach, you might just get a kick or a wiggle.”

“With the miracle of modern medicine, at 22 weeks, we [babies] now have a 20 percent survival rate,” he said. “What a blessing. Modern medicine…what would that be in five years, in 10 years, in 15 years, in 20 years?”

“On January the 22nd…I read the following headline – New York Passes Bill Expanding Abortion Access.”

“My heart just sank,” he remarked.

The bill allows women to seek abortions after a fetus is 24 weeks old if the mother’s life or health is threatened by the pregnancy, also making it legal for women to have an abortion at any time if the fetus is not viable. Moreover, abortion is moved to be regulated under public health law, rather than criminal law, and allows licensed nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and licensed midwives to conduct abortions.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) hailed the passage of the legislation as a “giant step forward.”

Following the development, the spire atop New York’s Freedom Tower, standing 1,776 feet above the ground, was lit bright pink in solidarity with the activists and lawmakers who helped push the monumental change.

“The freedom tower has two pools that mark 9/11,” Cox explained. “Around each is name of every person who was killed that day. Beside the names of 11 women, a carved stone says ‘and your unborn child.'”

The speaker then told a story about a woman he knows, named Monique, who works at the Capitol building. In 1995, her mother was expecting a third child when a doctor told her that the child would possibly be born with Down Syndrome, due to tests that were run.

“The doctor strongly suggested that she get an abortion,” Cox said about the woman’s mother, who then gave birth the girl, Monique.

The speaker explained that Monique said her mother had “powerful personal belief in life, and that was out of the question.”

“She chose to part ways with her doctor,” he said, “and to make a long story short, there were errors in the testing, false positives.”

“Monique, today, is a recently-graduated young woman of Mary Baldwin University working here at the Capitol, she is marrying her high school sweetheart in July, she’s headed to law school in the fall, she is grateful she told me that her parent’s convictions led them to choose life,” the speaker explained.

Monique was sitting in the House Gallery just one story above the lawmakers Wednesday afternoon. When Cox pointed her out, she received a standing ovation from most, but not all, of the delegates in quorum. Some Democrats chose to remain seated.

“I wish Governor Cuomo could hear Monique’s story,” Speaker Cox charged. “A lot of us think what happened in New York, is New York. So what does this have to do with Virginia?”

“Headline,” Cox continued, “January 27th – Northam Vows To Implement New York Version Of Abortion Law.”

Reading the first paragraph of the article, Cox recited, “Virginia Democratic leaders backed legislation repealing restrictions on third trimester late term abortions, repealing clinic health and safety standards, and eliminating informed consent requirements, among other provisions. They noted the measures were unlikely to pass in 2019, but Governor Northam vowed,” “words have meaning,” he added, “if Democrats take the Virginia House and Senate in November’s elections.

“Here’s what that means,” he set to explain, “this bill will allow a mother showing physical signs of labor to get an abortion.”

“We are really one small step from New York,” the speaker added.

“Did anyone in New York give a speech? Did anyone sound the alarm? Did anyone get out of their comfort zone to stop this? Where have I been since 2014? How did I ever let five years slip away without really doing anything?” Cox proclaimed.

“Here’s how…I made speeches numerous times, and I thought to myself ‘I’ve done my part.’ Every time I do that speech it’s controversial, it makes people extremely unconformable, they’re squirming, they’re staring at the floor, ‘let someone else do it,'” he said. “After all, especially now, ‘you’re the speaker, you’re an important guy, this is a really sensitive topic.””

“You know, those are excuses,” he said. “Those are weaknesses, and I feel ashamed.

“So let’s go full circle,” Speaker Cox continued, “It’s good I’m here in this seat today, seat number 79. I vowed in 1990 to do everything I could to save the unborn and protect life. Frankly, my record has been spotty at best. This speech only begins the true fulfillment of that promise to myself. Promise – reflect on that word. Words have meaning.”

“It reflects not only my commitment to myself, it also reflects the quality of potential – what could be,” he added.

“There are 61,012,997 unkept promises. There are 61,012,997 Moniques who never got to marry their high school sweetheart, never went to college, never went to law school, never go to work at Thomas Jefferson’s capital,” he said.”

“So what is my promise?” Cox posited.

“I will never stop fighting for the promise of life as long as I hold a gavel, as long as I can speak into this microphone, as long as I have the privilege of this floor. I promise to fight for the promise of life.”

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GOP Advances Middle Class Tax Relief Bill, Democrats Vote with Northam for Tax Hike

Virginia’s middle class is one step closer to much-awaited tax relief.

This morning, Republicans in the House Finance Committee advanced a package of legislation aimed at easing the tax burden on the middle class, blocking Governor Ralph Northam’s planned tax hike, expanding itemization flexibility, and updating Virginia’s tax code to reflect changes in the 2017 federal tax reform law.

Last year, Governor Northam and his Democratic allies floated a tax increase to pay for his spending plan, announced earlier this year. Under Northam’s plan, state spending would increase by $2.2 billion, with $1.2 billion of that paid for through higher taxes on 600,000 middle class families. $1.6 billion of Northam’s proposed spending increases would occur after his term expires.

Republicans have said Northam’s tax increase is “dead on arrival.”

“Since last summer, we have been united against Governor Ralph Northam’s plan to pass on higher taxes in order to finance new state spending,” said Speaker Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) in a press release.

“The House Finance Committee acted today to set aside all of the individual income tax revenue from the federal tax cuts to ensure that we provide tax relief to those affected by federal and state tax law changes.”

The legislative package would direct $950 million into a taxpayer relief fund providing assistance to those impacted by the changes.

HB2529, patroned by Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Clifton), allows taxpayers to itemize regardless of how they pay their federal taxes, increases the standard deduction from $3000 to $4000 for individuals, and from $6000 to $8000 for married couples. Under this legislation, additional revenues arising from economic growth and other sources would be directed towards the Commonwealth’s Tax Policy Fund, to be used for tax relief beginning in 2020.

Hugo’s bill advanced on a party line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor of tax relief and all Democrats backing Northam’s call for higher taxes.

“We will provide immediate tax relief to middle-class Virginians,” said Hugo, the chairman of the Republican Caucus. “Our plan will allow taxpayers to itemize their state taxes regardless of how they file their federal return, increase the state standard deduction across the board, and maintain the important state and local tax (SALT) deduction as it exists today. This protects a middle class family that itemizes from what could be roughly a $805 tax increase or providing an additional $115 in tax relief to a family that chooses the standard deduction.”

The legislation also leaves in place the current state and local property tax deduction (SALT), instead of capping it at $10,000, includes a number of technical corrections, removes a drafting error on mortgage interest deductions, and includes the “GILTI” subtraction to prevent a new tax on foreign income for businesses who locate in Virginia.

Republicans have said this tax relief would not cost the state “one penny” and would leave ample revenues available to fund teacher pay raises and other core government services.

The proposal would provide an immediate $575 million in tax relief for the next year, while still allowing for revenue growth. Current projections show the GOP-led effort will result in $37 million in more revenue in the next fiscal year.

Also advanced today was HB2355, introduced by Delegate Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), which advances Virginia’s tax conformity to December 31, 2019, while directing $952 million in revenue from the changes towards the taxpayer relief fund for next year. This provision would capture 100% of the limited-time tax relief made available through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

“Though we recognize that we must act on conformity, we are committed to providing tax relief to those impacted by the federal tax changes. My legislation puts all individual tax revenues from conformity in a ‘Taxpayer Relief Fund’ to ensure that it is not used for state spending,” said Jones, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. “The House budget that will be released on Sunday will not spend one dime of the increased individual tax revenues from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and I am committed to providing tax relief for middle-class families.”

Finance committee chairman Lee Ware (R-Powhatan) urged the Commonwealth to act quickly, with the filing deadline approaching.

“With tax filing season upon us, it is important that we act quickly to move forward on conformity,” said Delegate Ware. “By setting aside all revenue from federal tax reform, as Chairman Jones’s bill does, we can ensure that the General Assembly has an opportunity to debate clearly what we should do with this money. Our plan would guarantee tax relief, while Governor Northam uses it to finance $2.2 billion in new state spending.”

Republicans have unified behind the plan, making tax relief and opposition to tax increases a priority for the legislative session.

The issue is proving to be a sharp dividing line between Republicans and Democrats as session rolls on. While the GOP has largely focused on the impacts of the bill for taxpayers, Democrats remain committed the governor’s talking points, denying that the additional $1.2 billion in revenue will be paid by the middle class.

Earlier this month, Democratic minority leader Eileen Filler-Corn wrongly stated that Northam’s proposal was not a tax hike.

“We also heard some incorrect information from the delegate from Fairfax, stating that Governor Northam’s proposal was a tax increase,” said Filler-Corn, in a floor speech to the House of Delegates, referencing Hugo’s legislation.

“There is no tax increase in the governor’s budget plan,” she continued.

Editorial boards have disagreed with her characterization, with the Richmond Times-Dispatch writing, “Gov. Northam’s tax plan wallops the middle class.”

Considering the example of a two-teacher married household, the Times-Dispatch noted, “Assuming a net income of about $80,000 for our two young educators, a back-of-the-envelope calculation of their state income tax liability suggests it would balloon by at least $700 under the Northam plan.”

While the future of the plan remains to be seen, as session continues, Republican legislators said they would continue to fight for tax relief and oppose the higher taxes proposed by Governor Northam.

Virginia’s regular legislative session is scheduled to continue through mid-February. GOP lawmakers said they hoped changes to tax policy would be made in time for filing session, however some lawmakers have hinted that a special session may be forthcoming, if legislators are unable to agree on changes before the General Assembly adjourns.

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House Education Committee Passes School Safety Bills Set Forth By First Select Committee In 155 Years

The House Education Committee took up a few bills Wednesday stemming from the findings provided by the Select Committee on School Safety. The first select committee formed in the Virginia state legislature in 155 years was created after the February 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

After the November authorization of the 24-point priority recommendation plan to increase security in schools, Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), who leads the committee, said the “final product would be comprehensive and consensus-driven.”

Addressing the committee, Speaker Cox said the work done by the select committee was “groundbreaking.”

Referencing comments made by the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), Cox added, “good news for Virginia…in so many different areas, Virginia was a leader…in the top five of states on school safety.”

The plan from the bipartisan select committee includes realigning the role of school counselors, statewide mental health and suicide prevention efforts, increasing funding for school resource officers, and bolstering school security grants, according to the Select Committee on School Safety’s “Priority Recommendations” report.

Even though dozens of school safety-minded bills have been forwarded, just a few were taken up Wednesday morning.

House Bill 1733, patroned by House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), would require a school division to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency that sets forth the powers and duties of the school resource officers (SROs). The legislation was passed unanimously by the 22 members on the committee.

House Bill 1725, introduced Delegate Barry Knight (R-Chesapeake), dictates that each school board must cooperate with local building officials and a local fire marshal to develop a procurement plan to ensure that all security enhancements to public school buildings are in compliance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code and Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The bill passed with a unanimous vote.

House Bill 1732, sponsored by Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol), would set forth annual safety training in public elementary and secondary schools. Principals would be required to develop and deliver – to each student and employee – training on safety procedures in the event of an emergency situation on school property. The bill passed with a unanimous vote.

House Bill 1738, introduced by Majority Whip Nick Rush (R-Floyd), would require a licensed architect or professional engineer to approve all plans and specifications for new or remodeled public school building construction. Moreover, the designee must be trained and experienced in crime prevention through environmental design. The bill passed with a unanimous vote.

House Bill 1729, introduced by House Education Committee Chairman Steven Landes (R-Augusta), would require school counselors across the state to spend at least 80 percent of their time counseling students. The bill passed with a unanimous vote.

House Bill 1752, patroned by Delegate Paul Krizek (D-Alexandria), would create a school holiday on the first Tuesday of November, which is Election Day. The legislation would alleviate the chance that schools are full of students, staff, and teachers when elections are held in case of an emergency on school grounds. The bill passed with an 18-3 vote.

Delegate Landes also proposed House Bill 1615, which would change the date of June primary elections from the second Tuesday of the month to the third Tuesday so schools will not be in session. That bill, however, was not taken up Wednesday.

Delegate Rush’s House Bill 1739 specifies that security equipment in schools includes software and mobile applications, which is eligible for grants through the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013, but was not voted on.