Campaign themes (2015)

Angela believes that voters should pick their representatives, not have representatives pick their voters. House Republicans have gerrymandered the Commonwealth to such an extent that groups have sued the state. Judges at the state and federal level have ruled that districts need be redrawn, however, Speaker Howell and his cronies are fighting fair redistricting at a cost of millions to the Virginia tax-payer. Steve Landes sits on the Privileges and Elections Committee and was the deciding vote to kill legislation guaranteeing fair redistricting practices. Angela believes that every vote matters and will work to support non-partisan redistricting.

Angela supports the expansion of Medicaid in Virginia. By forgoing the expansion, the House of Delegates sent Virginia tax-payer dollars to other states. The University of Virginia and its health system is the largest employer in the 25th district, and by not expanding Medicaid, the area is losing out on thousands of well-paying jobs. Expansion would inject over $6 billion dollars per year into the Virginia economy and cost savings would pay for the commonwealth’s share of expansion.

Angela has served her community as a public school teacher and a college administrator. She understands, firsthand, the issues facing teachers, administrators, and students. Angela will ensure that schools are fully-funded and that teachers have the freedom and resources to teach students life skills, rather than teaching to a test.

Angela believes in the rights of landowners to decide what happens to their own land. Greedy power grabs by entities like Dominion subvert the intentions of eminent domain. While enacting lawful authority of eminent domain is sometimes necessary for the benefit of the community, to use this action in order to pad corporate coffers is reprehensible. Communities and utilities need to be good stewards of our lands. People and property should come before corporate profit.

It affects the economy, our schools, and our taxes. Angela believes that we need to make sure that we invest in updating and building needed infrastructure. Farmers need roads to get crops to market and our children deserve a save route to school. The Commonwealth needs to work with localities to address our infrastructure and transportation needs instead of turning a blind eye.

Angela believes that natural gas is an important bridge fuel and that it should be used in combination with clean-energy technology. Investments in low and no carbon technology can provide thousands of permanent jobs in Virginia. Installation, maintenance, and manufacturing of renewable technology cannot be outsourced.

Angela will strengthen small businesses and work to ensure Virginia companies get the first crack at state contracts, so our tax dollars create jobs here. She also supports equal pay for equal work because Virginia families are penalized when women make less than they deserve.

Source: http://www.lynnforvirginia.com/