Arlington Democrats Adopt Resolutions on Cooch, "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

Brian Devine tweets that the Arlington County Democratic Committee adopted two resolutions this evening, one condemning Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for his actions "to petition to reverse and obstruct US EPA's climate change endangerment finding;" and the other in favor of ending "Don't Ask Don't Tell." Also, Devine reports that Rep. Jim Moran gave a "great speech to @arlingtondems on [Don't Ask Don't Tell]."

To read the resolution regarding our embarrassment of an Attorney General, click here. The resolution on Don't Ask Don't Tell "strongly urges Congressman Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to include language in the FY2011 National Defense Authorization Bill to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in 2010; and...calls upon Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, Congressman Jim Moran, and other members of the Virginia Congressional delegation to support full legislative repeal of the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' law in 2010."

Nice job by Chair Mike Lieberman and the Arlington County Democratic Committee!

UPDATE: I almost forgot to mention that earlier today, Rep. Jim Moran held a press conference "to bring attention to the human impact of 'Don't Ask Don’t Tell' (DADT)." According to Moran, "Lost among the statistics, the testimony of our military leaders, and the debate over the political implications of repeal, are the soldiers themselves- those who want nothing more than to serve their nation honorably and honestly." Moran added, "Now, not next year, is the time to finally honor the sacrifice of all of our service members by repealing this policy." He vowed, "We will not give in…not when the facts and the American public are on our side." Good work, let's do it!

Arlington Democrats Slam Cuccinelli for Spreading "Misinformation" on Global Warming

The following resolution, slamming Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, is pending a vote next week by the Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC). I expect that it will be approved overwhelmingly, and I thank ACDC chair Mike Lieberman for taking the lead on this crucial issue. As always, I'm proud to be an Arlingtonian!

Resolution on Virginia Attorney General’s Actions on the Clean Air Act

Whereas, overwhelming scientific evidence now indicates both the current reality of climate change and the fact that warming trends are being influenced by human activities that release greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide;

Whereas, the United States Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), found that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act and held that the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has the authority and a duty under the Clean Air Act to determine whether greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and if it does, to take corrective actions;

Whereas, the US EPA appropriately discharged its statutory authority and duty in reaching its finding that the mix of six long-lived and directly-emitted greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) “in the atmosphere may reasonably be anticipated both to endanger public health and to endanger public welfare.”;

Whereas, on February 16, 2010, the Virginia Attorney General filed a request with the US EPA to reconsider its determination and also a Petition for Review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit seeking judicial review of that determination;

Whereas, in a statement to the press announcing his filings, the Attorney General explained, “We cannot allow unelected bureaucrats with political agendas to use falsified data to regulate American industry and drive our economy into the ground.”;

Whereas, the Commonwealth of Virginia is presently in a severe budget crisis and cannot afford to waste taxpayer dollars on frivolous politically-motivated litigation;

Whereas, Virginia’s elected officials should be focused on responding to and addressing threats to public health and welfare created by air pollutants, while promoting a clean energy economy and green jobs, rather than attempting to spread misinformation and obstruct progress on these matters;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Arlington County Democratic Committee hereby condemns the actions by the Virginia Attorney General to petition to reverse and obstruct US EPA's climate change endangerment finding, asks that these petitions be withdrawn, and asks that no further Virginia taxpayer dollars be spent to pursue these or similar actions

Monday: Arlington Democrats Chili Cookoff

The Arlington County Democratic Committee will continue a Labor Day tradition tomorrow, holding its annual Chili Cookoff:

The Great Chili Cook-off will be the first Gold Card event. Test your chili making skills against the 2008 reigning champion, Libby Garvey’s “Red Hot and Very Blue Chili,” prepared by Dale Proctor.

As always, the chili cook-off will be held from 4p.m.-6p.m. at Lyon Park. To volunteer to help with this ever-popular event, contact chair Amaka Gossett.

Additionally, please remember to bring any school supplies you can for children who cannot afford them - any help as always is appreciated.

It's the first of our three Gold Card events for the year!

Hope to see you there!