The George Allen Record – Pro-Life Record – June 1, 2004

Jun 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, on June 1, 2004, George Allen issued the following statement condemning a San Francisco federal district judge’s ruling that the ban on partial-birth abortion was unconstitutional. In 2007, the Supreme Court upheld the law passed by the people’s representatives in Congress.

“Late term, Partial Birth Abortion is a rare, gruesome procedure that the American Medical Association says is akin to infanticide.  It seems to be fairly typical that an unelected federal judge in San Francisco tries to stop a law that received such broad bipartisan support in Congress,” stated Allen. “The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is a reasonable measure which reflects the sensibilities and will of most Virginians and Americans.”

George Allen has a proven record of standing up for families through supporting initiatives that protect innocent, unborn life.  As Governor, Allen made history by signing the first-ever parental notification bill in Virginia that required a physician to notify at least one parent or guardian before performing an abortion.  As Senator, Allen received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.  In addition to being a co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, he opposed federal funding for overseas organizations that fund abortions and empowered parents by co-sponsoring a bill prohibiting minors who travel across state lines to circumvent parental consent or notification laws.

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The George Allen Record – Taxes – May 26, 2001

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

On May 26, 2001, George Allen commended Congress’ passage of a  broad-based tax relief for the American people, including a provision he sponsored to give parents a tax deduction to help pay for education expenses such as computers, educational software, and Internet access. Allen’s amendment marks a promise he made to the people of Virginia to work toward tax relief not only for higher education but all levels of education-related expenses.

“This is an important success in giving parents education-related tax relief for their K-12 school-age children.  It is unprecedented new ground gained for elementary and secondary school children in making home computers more affordable with such a tax deduction,” stated Allen.  “Over the next ten years, these computer and education savings accounts will represent over $6.5 billion in new education spending.  But instead of this new spending being controlled by Washington bureaucracies, it will be spending controlled by parents.  And with the passage of this provision, 5 million new computers can be placed in the homes of K-12 students.”

The legislation, signed into law eleven days later, expands annual contributions limits to Education Savings Accounts, previously capped at $500, to $2,000 while ensuring tax relief for parents purchasing essential educational supplies for their child. Furthermore, Allen applauded the legislation for giving relatives, who wish to help parents put money away for their child’s education, the opportunity to contribute to Education Savings Accounts allowing all family members the chance to forever shape their child’s future.

 

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The George Allen Record – Education Reform – May 24, 1994

May 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Declaring that “we will not experiment with our children any longer,” on May 24, 1994, George Allen announced the appointment of the Commission on Champion Schools to restore academic integrity and improve the academic performance of Virginia’s students. After traveling across the Commonwealth hearing first-hand the concerns of parents, Allen launched his signature education reform effort focused on implementing rigorous academic standards, ensuring accountability, increasing parental and community involvement, and ensuring safety in schools.

“For the past four years in Virginia, education reform efforts have been adrift, lacking a solid, academic vision. Instead, past efforts have focused on attitudinal outcomes and self-esteem,” stated Allen. “A solid and rigorous academic background will help our students as they enter the world of work far more than sensitivity training and self-esteem counseling…  We have a clear mandate for change, and education reform is a big part of it. The people of Virginia demand and deserve real reform. It’s now our responsibility to deliver it.”

Based on the Commission’s recommendations, Virginia adopted nationally recognized Standards of Learning (SOLs) to guide academic curriculum in the core subjects of English, math, science, and history combined with testing to ensure accountability and a School Performance Report Card that provides parents and students information on their school’s academic, attendance, and safety performances.

In fulfilling his major campaign promise to reform education, Allen helped give Virginia a top-rated public education system that today finds Virginia students ranking at or near the top on national tests while the percentage of schools achieving or exceeding test scores to qualify for full accreditation has risen dramatically from 2.7 percent in 1998 to 98 percent in 2010-2011.

 

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Does Tim Kaine Stand with President Obama or Israel?

May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 20, 2011

Does Tim Kaine Stand with President Obama or Israel?

Richmond, VA – George Allen released the following statement regarding President Obama’s calls for Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders:

“President Obama’s call for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with Israel forfeiting her lands and returning to borders of pre-1967 represents a dangerous shift in U.S. policy concerning Israel.  This proposal would risk the lives of the men, women and children of Israel.  In this unsettled region, Israel’s democracy is a well-spring in the wilderness.   The United States should stand with our ally — not undermine Israel’s ability to negotiate or put its national security at risk.  Virginia and America have a strong, historic friendship with Israel.  Virginians deserve an answer to the question:  does Tim Kaine agree with President Obama undermining the security of our friend and ally, the State of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East?”

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Statement By George Allen On Congressman Wolf’s Bill To Change MWAA Board Appointment Rules

May 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 10, 2011

 

Statement By George Allen On Congressman Wolf’s Bill To Change MWAA Board Appointment Rules

Richmond, VA – George Allen released the following statement on Congressman Frank Wolf’s legislation for improving the governance of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA):

“I commend and strongly support increasing the representation of Virginians on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board as proposed by Congressman Wolf.  Decisions made by MWAA directly affect the daily lives of the families and businesses in Northern Virginia.  If elected as Virginia’s U.S. Senator, I will work with Congressman Wolf and Governor McDonnell to ensure that the MWAA board is more accountable and attuned to the views and interests of Northern Virginians.”

 

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George Allen to Washington: “Get out of the Way and Let Virginia Chart Our Course for Energy Freedom”

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 5, 2011

 

George Allen to Washington:

“Get out of the Way and Let Virginia Chart Our Course for Energy Freedom”

Richmond, VA – George Allen today called on Washington to allow exploration and development of our American energy resources off the coast of Virginia.  Allen’s comments came as the House of Representatives was preparing to vote on a bill (H.R. 1230) that would require the Department of Interior to move forward with exploration and production of oil and natural gas off the outer continental shelf, including Oil and Gas Lease Sale 220 off Virginia’s coast.

“Gasoline prices have doubled while Washington has continued to pursue counterproductive, anti-energy policies; Virginia families and businesses are hurting as the price for gasoline, diesel, food, and many other products are skyrocketing.  The irony is that America is blessed with the most plentiful energy resources on earth.  It defies commonsense to complain about being dependent on foreign oil while refusing to use the resources sitting under our own land and water.

“Here in Virginia we want to take charge of our own energy future, but at every turn Tim Kaine and his allies in Washington have thrown up roadblocks.  It’s time for Washington to get out of the way and let Virginia chart our course for energy freedom.”

 

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George Allen Statement on the Supreme Court Declining to Expedite Virginia’s Health Care Challenge

Apr 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 25, 2011

 

Richmond, VA – George Allen today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to reject expediting Virginia’s health care challenge:

“While not surprising, it is disappointing that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to expedite the review of Virginia’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care monstrosity. This delay will cost taxpayers and businesses significant resources as they work to put themselves in compliance with a complex and overreaching government-run health care power grab. For the rights and prerogatives of Virginians it is my hope that the courts will work quickly to review this anti-jobs government mandate that exceeds the constitutional bounds of the federal government. Immediate action is needed to so we can replace this massive, expensive experiment with reforms that foster better access to affordable, personal and quality health care opportunities for families and small business owners.”

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The George Allen Record – Parental Notification – April 20, 1994

Apr 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Declaring that “to sign this bill would perpetrate a fraud on the parents of Virginia,” on April 20, 1994, George Allen vetoed Senate Bill 610, with a promise to continue working to give Virginians a true parental notification bill that respects the rights and responsibilities of parents in their child’s life.  The bill required notification only of “an adult relative” instead of parent or legal guardian for minors under age 16 seeking abortions.

“The people of Virginia want parental notification, not side-steps such as brother and sister notification, as this legislation would establish and allow,” stated Allen. “I promised the people honest change, and I would be going against my word if I signed a bill which circumvents the right of a parent to know if their minor daughter is going through the trauma of an abortion. Virginians want and deserve truth and honesty in legislating… I will veto SB 610, as acted upon by the Senate, and continue to work, in years to come, for a truthful parental notification law.”

Governor Allen’s willingness to stand on principle and insist on real parental notification bill led to its signing on March 22, 1997. After a nearly 18-year fight, a true and honest parental notification bill requiring a physician to notify at least one parent or legal guardian at least 24 hours before performing an abortion on an unwed girl under 18 years old became law in Virginia. Over 2,500 people joined Allen outside the State Capitol to watch Virginia join the 36 other states to have implemented similar parental notification and/or parental consent laws.

 

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The George Allen Record – Juvenile Justice Reform – April 9, 1996

Apr 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

On April 9, 1996, George Allen signed landmark legislation to reform Virginia’s juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Justice Reform Package, based on the recommendations of the Governor’s 1995 Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform, was designed to protect law-abiding Virginians from crime and violence by trying and sentencing the most vicious and dangerous juvenile criminals as adults, while giving the less serious offenders a better opportunity for rehabilitation and offering innovative new sentencing options, including military-style boot camp options, for juvenile courts.

With youth violence rising in Virginia, Allen called on the General Assembly to act on the commission’s recommendations in his 1996 State of the Commonwealth Address, saying “These proposals are balanced and address both the need to protect the public from violent juveniles, and the need to make our juvenile facilities places of reform and self-improvement rather than fear and despair.”  He added, “We cannot hope to have a commonwealth of opportunity for our citizens if we lose a whole generation of Virginians to drugs, crime, and violence in our schools.”

With punishment fitting the severity of the crime, juvenile crime dropped 13 percent over the next three years, exceeding the national average.  These critical juvenile justice reforms follow George Allen’s record of tough anti-crime initiatives as Governor, including tougher sentences for drug dealers and establishing truth-in-sentencing and abolishing parole for adult violent criminals.  The crime rate in Virginia stood at its lowest level in more than a decade by the end of his service as Governor.


 

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Bi-Partisan Support for Drilling off Virginia’s Coast

Apr 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 7, 2011

Bi-Partisan Support for Drilling off Virginia’s Coast

Will Tim Kaine Stand with Virginia or his allies in Washington?

Richmond, VA – George Allen issued the following statement on the need to restore offshore drilling lease sales off the coast of Virginia:

“Rising gas and fuel prices are hurting families all across the Commonwealth.  But we can pro-actively do something about it by unleashing America’s untapped natural resources and allow Virginia to explore for oil and natural gas off our coast.  There is bi-partisan support for action to reverse the Obama Administration’s misguided and irresponsible drilling moratorium that continues to leave us vulnerable to hostile nations.  The people of Virginia, not Washington, should choose our Commonwealth’s economic and energy destiny.  For our economic competitiveness and our national security, I hope Tim Kaine will finally join with us — something he failed to do as Governor and DNC Chairman — and choose to fight for Virginia’s families and our energy freedom.”

 

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