• Cuccinelli Touted Himself as “Most Aggressive Pro-Life Leader” in the Senate
• In March 2010, the New York Times reported Cuccinelli touted himself as “the most aggressive pro-lifer in the Virginia Senate.”  [New York Times, 3/25/10]
• Sponsored Legislation to Defund Planned Parenthood
• In the State Senate Cuccinelli led efforts to pass legislation that would prohibit the direction of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood. [SB 850, Item 391, 2009]
•  Said Pro-Choice “Culture of Death” would Result in More Children Born to Pro-Lifers
• In September 2004, Cuccinelli said, “Pro-life people are bearing the children and pro-abortion people are killing them. The culture of death is self-limiting.” [National Catholic Reporter, 9/17/04]
• Opposed Abortion Even in Cases of Rape and Incest
• In August 2002, the Washington Post reported Cuccinelli opposes abortion — without exception in the case of rape or incest. [Washington Post, 8/05/02]
• Suggested People Should “Go to Jail” to Protest Coverage for Contraception in Health Care Law [Politico, 1/10/13]
• Pushed for Passage of 2012 Personhood Bill
• At a rally at Liberty University Cuccinelli said, “This personhood bill recognizes a scientific reality. Life begins at conception. Make sure you talk to your senators. Advocate for this issue.”  [News Advance, 2/16/12; HB 2797, 2/5/07]
• Bill Opens Families and Doctors to Lawsuits over Miscarriages
• Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) said the bill “opens families and doctors to a wide variety of criminal and civil lawsuits for health-care decisions not only in cases of unwanted pregnancies, but every pregnancy and even miscarriage.” [Washington Post, 2/13/12]
• Sponsored Bill Requiring Doctors to Inject Fetuses with Painkiller before Abortion Procedure or Face Up to Five Years in Jail
• In February 2004, Cuccinelli sponsored a bill that would have required doctors to inject a fetus with a painkiller before it is aborted or face felony charges and up to five years in prison.
• According to the Roanoke Times, “Senate Bill 371, sponsored by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County, stated that any fetus older than 12 weeks must receive painkillers ‘suitable for patients undergoing amputation’ before being aborted. Failure to anesthetize the fetus would constitute a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.” [SB 371, Roanoke Times, 2/13/04]
• Journal of Medical Association Report: Anesthesia Increases Risk of Mortality for Women undergoing Abortion Procedure
• The study stated, “This interest must be considered in concert with maternal safety and fetal effectiveness of any proposed anesthetic or analgesic technique. For instance, general anesthesia increases abortion morbidity and mortality for women and substantially increases the cost of abortion.” [Mark A. Rosen et al., "Fetal Pain," Journal of the American Medical Association, 8/24/05]
• Introduced Legislation to Preserve Fetal Tissue from Abortions to Examine for Criminal Behavior
• In January 2006, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported, “Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, to require that when a girl younger than 15 has an abortion, fetal tissue be preserved and tested to see if the pregnancy is the result of criminal behavior.” [Richmond Times Dispatch, 1/13/06]

Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus

Taking on the Republican General Assembly
And Proving That
“We Won’t Back Down”

Join The Women’s Caucus
of the Democratic Party of Virginia as we honor our
Strong Women Leaders

Special Guest and Keynote Speaker
Cecile Richards
President
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Saturday, February 16th, 2013
VIP Reception 8:00 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast 8:30 am – 10:00 am

Richmond Marriott, 500 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Host -$2,000 (includes 10 tickets, 4 VIP Reception tickets, listing in program)
Sponsor – $500 (includes 4 tickets, 1 VIP Reception ticket, listing in program)
Supporter – $250 (includes 2 tickets and listing in program)
Individual Sponsor – $100 (includes 1 ticket and listing in program)
Individual Breakfast Ticket – $60

To purchase tickets, please click here.

Dr. Karen Remley

The Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus and the Democratic Party of Virginia issued the following press release on October 19 regarding the political pressure that led to the resignation of Virginia Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Remley.  Questions may be directed to the Chair of the Women’s Caucus, Sheila Olem.

Richmond, VA – The cost of the anti-women’s health agenda that Republicans have been pushing across Virginia grew yesterday with the resignation of Dr. Karen Remley, a qualified and dedicated public servant from the state Board of Health over new regulations targeted at closing women’s health clinics that perform abortions.

Remley noted that the regulations, along with the broader anti-choice agenda of Virginia Republicans, “created an environment” in which she was unable to “fulfill [her] duties” as health commissioner.  “This is not an issue of pro-choice or pro-life,” said Remley, “but of legal opinions that continue to put politics above health.”

Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Brian Moran echoed that sentiment, calling on Virginia Republicans to put public health first:

“By targeting clinics that provide a range of health services to Virginia women, Republicans are once again putting extreme politics ahead of the public good. These regulations aren’t about health and safety – if they were you would see McDonnell and Cuccinelli pushing them for other outpatient surgery offices instead of exclusively targeting women’s health clinics. This is about right-wing politics, plain and simple, and politics shouldn’t trump the health and safety of Virginians – period.”

Sheila Olem, Chair of the Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus, criticized Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli’s anti-choice agenda that increasingly threatens women’s health:

“Dr. Remley was appointed to give sound council about what’s best for the people of Virginia and that’s what she did throughout her time on the Board of Health,” said Olem. “How can we ask experts to serve Virginians on boards and commissions if right-wing politicians like Ken Cuccinelli use threats and legal intimidation to impose their agenda over what’s best for Virginia families? All Virginians should be concerned about this extreme political agenda that threatens women’s health and undermines respected public servants.”

Earlier this year the Board of Health voted to grandfather in clinics that did not meet the General Assembly’s new regulations. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli responded by threatening to refuse to represent them in court or appoint special counsel if they did not reverse their decision at a subsequent hearing, using the threat of high legal fees to convince board members to change its ruling.

Virginia Republicans have ignored a chorus of criticism on this issue, including from the Democratic Party of Virginia, which has consistently called for women’s health clinics to be exempted from the new regulations, as a variety of other outpatient clinics already are.

State Board of Health member James H. Edmondson Jr. succinctly summarized Virginia Republican’s anti-choice agenda and consequent resignation of Dr. Remley: “That’s just bad for Virginia women.”

Mame Reiley is President of the Reiley Group, was elected in 1992 Democratic National Committeewoman from Virginia and has served continually on the Democratic National Committee. She is Chair of the DNC Women’s Caucus and serves on the DNC Executive Committee. Mame is a veteran political organizer in the Democratic Party who moves between Virginia and National political circles. Virginia is a battleground state and the women’s vote is key and Mame is the perfect speaker for our last brunch before the November election.

2012-13 VADWC Leadership: Secretary-Kelsey Phipps, First Vice Chair-Linda Brooks, Chair-Sheila Olem, Treasurer-Mattie Urquhart, Second Vice Chair-Marjorie Signer, Third Vice Chair-Victoria Cochran (not pictured). photo credit – Catherine Read

VADWC.org | Facebook.com/VADWC | @VADWC

Saturday, July 15th following the regular quarterly meeting of the DPVA (Democratic Party of Virginia) State Central Committee in Fredericksburg the VADWC (Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus) elected our new leadership for 2012-13*: Chair, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer. Outgoing Chair, Rachel Rifkind, presided over a noon membership meeting that included many new members. Only the Chair and Secretary were contested elections: Chair – Sheila Olem v. Maureen Markham, Secretary – Delores Thomas (incumbent) v. Kelsey Phipps.

Congratulations to our new officers:

• Chair – Sheila Olem
• 1st Vice Chair – Linda Brooks (incumbent)
• 2nd Vice Chair – Marjorie ‘Marj’ Signer
• 3rd Vice Chair – Victoria Cochran
• Secretary – Kelsey Phipps
• Treasurer – Mattie Urquhart (incumbent)

* Every two years the Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus elects new officers at the first regular meeting on or after July 1 of even-numbered years.

Join The Women’s Caucus
of the Democratic Party of Virginia as we honor our
Strong Women Leaders

Special Guest and Keynote Speaker
Cecile Richards
President
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Saturday, February 16th, 2013
VIP Reception 8:00 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast 8:30 am – 10:00 am

Richmond Marriott, 500 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

To purchase tickets, please click here.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

On Women’s Equality Day, we mark the anniversary of our Constitution’s 19th Amendment, which secured the right to vote for America’s women. The product of profound struggle and fierce hope, the 19th Amendment reaffirmed what we have always known: that America is a place where anything is possible and where each of us is entitled to the full pursuit of our own happiness. We also know that the defiant, can-do spirit that moved millions to seek suffrage is what runs through the veins of American history. It remains the wellspring of all our progress. And nearly a century after the battle for women’s franchise was won, a new generation of young women stands ready to carry that spirit forward and bring us closer to a world where there are no limits on how big our children can dream or how high they can reach.

To keep our Nation moving ahead, all Americans — men and women — must be able to help provide for their families and contribute fully to our economy. That is why I have made supporting the needs and aspirations of women and girls a top priority for my Administration. From signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law and creating the White House Council on Women and Girls to combatting sexual assault and promoting women’s economic and political empowerment at home and abroad, we have worked to ensure women have the opportunities they need and deserve at every stage of their lives. As women around the world continue to fight for their seat at the table, my Administration will keep their interests at the core of our policy decisions — and we will join them every step of the way.

Today, women are nearly 50 percent of our workforce, the majority of students in our colleges and graduate schools, and a growing number of breadwinners in their families. From business to medicine to our military, women are leading the fields that were closed off to them only decades ago. We owe that legacy of progress to our mothers and aunts, grandmothers and great-grandmothers — women who proved not only that opportunity and equality do not come without a fight, but also that they are possible. Even with the gains we have made, we still have work to do. As we mark this 92nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, let us reflect on how far we have come toward fully realizing the basic freedoms enshrined in our founding documents, rededicate ourselves to closing the gaps that remain, and continue to widen the doors of opportunity for all of our daughters and sons.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2012, as Women’s Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United States to celebrate the achievements of women and recommit to realizing gender equality in this country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/24/presidential-proclamation-women-s-equality-day-2012?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl&fb_source=message

Where: Seven Oaks Lavender Farm in Catlett, VA

When: October 7th, 2-5pm

Featuring Democratic Candidates from across Virginia

With Special Guest Award Winning Singer Mary Ann Redmond

Our goal is a simple one: To develop Virginia women for political leadership roles who share our Democratic Values

To learn more or to donate: http://www.farmteam.org/

For more information click here.

For sponsorship oppotunities, contact Susan Platt 202.255.3455 Contributions to the Farm Team Federal PAC are not tax deductible Paid for by the Farm Team Federal PAC, www.farmteam.org, Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee

On August 11, the Richmond, VA Chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Virginia Chapter of UniteWomen.org will join to host a public screening of the documentary film The Invisible War.

From Oscar®- and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated; Twist of Faith) comes The Invisible War, a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military.

This stunning and important film has already received critical accolades, including winning the “Audience Award” at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

This special screening by Richmond NOW and UniteWomen.org-Virginia will take place at The Byrd Theater   2908 W. Cary Street Richmond, VA., 23221, on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 2:00pm.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to SWAN (Service Women’s Action Network) http://servicewomen.org/.

Advance tickets will be available for purchase at Chop Suey Books , located at 2013 W. Cary Street, Richmond, VA.,  beginning Friday, July 13, 2012 until August 10, 2012. The advance sale price for these tickets is $ 8.00 per ticket. (Cash or check only, please. Checks made payable to: Richmond NOW  and include the initials IWM in the memo section).

Tickets can also be purchased securely online through BrownPaperTickets.com by using the following direct link:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/260711

Tickets will be on sale on the day of our screening at the theatre box office beginning at 1:00 pm, August 11. 2012. The box office price is $10.00 per ticket.

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Bragunier, President- Richmond Chapter of NOW: vic.brag@comcast.net

Brenda Seward, State Co-Director- Virginia Chapter, UniteWomen.org: bseward59@comcast.net

“The Attorney General’s refusal to comply with the decision is both unacceptable and dangerous. Allowing women’s health centers to close due to partisan action and depriving women of access to basic health care such as contraception and screenings for cancer is bad for women and bad for the Commonwealth,” said Chair of the Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus, Rachel Rifkind.

“Cuccinelli has shown he will stop at nothing to put his political priorities over those of Virginia’s women,” said DPVA First Vice-Chair Gaylene Kanoyton. “Virginia’s women deserve an Attorney General who puts partisan politics aside and uses his position to serve and protect those he represents.”