By Peter Dujardin
It’s a rematch in the 96th District, where Democrat Mark Downey, a pediatrician, challenges Republican Del. Amanda Batten, who took office two years ago.
The district, which includes most of James City County and about half of York County, has been in Republican hands since 1992. But it was close in 2019 — with Batten winning 52.5% to 46.4%.
Virginia Gazette
By Laura Cornish
Like me, and many in our community, Del. Amanda Batten first moved to our area as a military spouse. Having made numerous military moves in the United States and overseas, Amanda knows how difficult it is to develop a “portable” career; procure housing, find good schools and make connections with new health care providers.
Just as importantly, Amanda understands the difficulties in transitioning out of the military. Amanda comprehends that our veterans and spouses have a wealth of experience, skill and knowledge and will be valued assets in the private sector once their public service is completed. Amanda wants to continue to find ways to connect employers with these talented military families.
Amanda is the only candidate I trust to fight for common-sense policies that address the unique challenges faced by active duty military members and retired veterans. She will work to keep cost of living low so that veterans can remain in Virginia, and she is actively supporting policies to cut taxes on military retiree pay.
I urge you to join me in voting for Amanda Batten for delegate this fall.
By Delegate Amanda Batten and Senator Holly Schepisi (NJ—39th SD)
With an economy that is still reopening, President Joe Biden should be benefiting from a natural return to the workforce. The April jobs report released this month, however, was our worst in 23 years compared to expectations. It even showed unemployment back on the rise for the first time since the height of the pandemic. Despite all his campaign rhetoric about building our economy back better, the president’s reckless spending is crushing job creators who cannot seem to compete with the federal government’s steadfast commitment to paying people not to work.
Digging deeper, the data released earlier in April also highlights how Biden’s policies are disproportionately harming women. Nearly 165,000 women left the workforce in April, and 800,000 more women than men are out of work across the country. A recent McKinsey study showed that one in four women is considering leaving the workforce altogether — a vast shift from their views on working prior to the pandemic.
As Republican legislators in Democratic-led states New Jersey and Virginia, we think the reason for the disparity is obvious. Biden and his state Democratic allies are still refusing to stand up to the teachers unions and open schools five days a week, forcing women to absorb the consequences of having to stay home with their children who are being kept out of their classrooms.
Since the onset of the pandemic and the school closures that came with it, 400,000 more women than men have left the workforce. Another recent report on mothers and the workplace shows that nearly 33% of them have chosen to downshift their careers or leave their jobs completely due to increasing responsibilities, such as tending to their children’s virtual schooling. A Washington Post-ABC News poll further confirmed that women are being hot the hardest by the pandemic, with mothers stating that they had to leave their jobs because of child care responsibilities.
The remedy to this problem isn’t complicated. Research shows states where schools have fully reopened have higher labor force participation rates for prime working-age mothers than states that are keeping schools closed. The only reason mothers in blue states such as New Jersey and Virginia are suffering is because liberal politicians would rather prioritize the teachers unions that fund their campaigns than getting children back in the classroom.
Gabrielle Mueller and Karen Hampton co-own the Edgewood Outfitters store at 5709 Richmond Road in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets. The two friends and business partners have been anxious about sales in the months ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But on Monday, Mueller and Hampton got some good news.
About a month ago, they applied for a $3,000 forgivable loan through the Greater Williamsburg Small Business Relief Fund, which was established in April by the Virginia 30 Day Fund, the Williamsburg Community Foundation and the Greater Williamsburg Partnership, which represents the economic development authorities for Williamsburg, James City and York counties.
By Alex Perry
Gabrielle Mueller and Karen Hampton co-own the Edgewood Outfitters store at 5709 Richmond Road in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets. The two friends and business partners have been anxious about sales in the months ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But on Monday, Mueller and Hampton got some good news.
About a month ago, they applied for a $3,000 forgivable loan through the Greater Williamsburg Small Business Relief Fund, which was established in April by the Virginia 30 Day Fund, the Williamsburg Community Foundation and the Greater Williamsburg Partnership, which represents the economic development authorities for Williamsburg, James City and York counties.
By Joe Kildea
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Club for Growth today announced Defender of Economic Freedom awards for Virginia legislators — 3 House members and zero Senators — whose voting records distinguished them as champions of economic liberty for their high score on the new Club for Growth Foundation 2020 Virginia State Legislative Scorecard.
Elected officials who, on the Foundation’s scorecard, score 90% or better in a given calendar year and maintain lifetime scores of 90% or better are recognized by the Club for Growth as Defenders of Economic Freedom. In Virginia, for 2020, State House legislators Amanda Batten, Mark Cole, and Nicholas Freitas, received this award.
By Alexa Doiron
When women are sex trafficked, they have to go to extreme measures to protect their well being.
Whether it be stealing from a local store or identity theft, these crimes for survival can create a barrier for women once they’ve escaped from the control of their pimp.
That’s because Virginia doesn’t currently allow for the expungement of past crimes if an individual was found guilty, regardless of the situation.
By Jack Jacobs
Del. Amanda Batten, R-Norge, has kicked off an effort to slap a sunset clause on the controversial Historic Triangle sales tax hike tied to regional tourism marketing.
By Jack Jacobs
Sens. Tommy Norment and Monty Mason mounted a vigorous defense of the Historic Triangle sales tax increase levied to generate funds for tourism marketing at a pre-legislative session forum that brought together most of the Williamsburg area’s General Assembly delegation Friday.
By Sararose Martin
Republican Amanda Batten will take the 96th District House of Delegates seat after a close vote in a longtime stronghold of the party. She succeeds Republican Brenda Pogge, who held the position for 11 years and retires this year.
