LETTER: Miller in with wrong crowd
Published: October 19, 2009
Sometimes, a politician goes down to Richmond and remembers who he works for. For years Manassas had a great man in Harry Parrish who never forgot who he answered to at the end of the day: his
constituents.
Sometimes, a politician goes down to Richmond and falls in with the wrong crowd. Sometimes, they start to think they can pull the wool over our eyes and we won’t see the knife going in our backs.
Sometimes they start to answer to the lobbyists and the special interests before they answer to us.
The process in Richmond is simple and the rules are clear. Any legislator may author a bill; others who support the bill may sign on as a co-sponsor. After a bill is authored, a committee reviews the bill
and makes a recommendation. If any legislator does not like the recommendation of the committee, they can motion to bring the bill before the full assembly. During the last session, Delegate Bob
Marshall authored a bill to provide more benefits to children with autism, and Jackson Miller signed on as a co-sponsor. After the bill was submitted, it was brought before a committee; under Republican
leadership and influenced by the health insurance lobby, the committee did not recommend the bill to be voted on. Legislators fought to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. Jackson Miller voted to kill the
bill. Jackson Miller said no to autistic children.
Our families need a leader who will stand up for us in Richmond. We need a leader who will not change a vote just for a promise of campaign cash.
According to reports in 2009, Jackson has taken money from those in the health care industry. Several of those donations are from lobbying organizations on behalf of health care professionals.
We need a leader who will fight for our children even when they are sick. Jackson Miller is not that leader.
JOHN F. MEAGHER
Manassas
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Reader Reactions
Republicans don’t corner the market on lobbyist money… just look at Saslaw’s contempt for parents of autistic parents as he killed the senate version of the bill, joking about the speed with which he ended the session. He happily takes tens of thousands of dollars from his lobbyist friends and leaves autistic kids uninsured for their diagnosis and their parents in the poor house. Both parties need to hold their members accountable, voters need to hold their members accountable. Ask yourself - does your member of the General Assembly work for lobbyist, party or for you and your community?
Mr. Meagher:
It is apparent you have not done your research. You are believing what you have been told without verifying the information about campaign contributions.
The facts are as followed from the Virginia Public Access site:
Donations from lobbyists:
RISHELL-$1,850.00
MILLER- $750.00
The question is who is Ms.Rishell beholden to? Not PWC residents.
Donations from Fairfax County:
RISHELL-$53,950
MILLER- $15,000
Mrs.Rishell has blown through her campaign donations on political consulting to the tune of $60,000.
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