Alexandria – Delegate David Englin (D-45) issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s reversal of nondenominational requirements for State Police chaplains:

Today’s reversal by Governor McDonnell of the Virginia State Police policy permitting only nondenominational, inclusive invocations at government-sponsored functions is an affront to all Virginians of minority religion or no religion.

As a Jew, I am proud of Virginia’s history of religious inclusiveness, which started with Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Statute of Religious Freedom, and George Washington, who promised the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, an American government “which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

As an Air Force veteran raised on U.S. military bases overseas, I have experienced firsthand the unifying power of military chaplains, who defend the First Amendment by ministering in their own particular faith traditions to their denominational flocks while providing inclusive, nondenominational blessings at official government functions. [Read more...]

Arlington – Arlington officials announced today that it prevailed in the first arguments considered by a court in the County’s suit against the state and federal governments over the proposed HOT lanes project.  The action by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia allows Arlington’s suit to move forward.

“We have understood for some time that Arlington’s lawsuit is our best chance to prevent harm to our community from the I-95/395 HOT Lanes proposal, so I’m pleased with this early success,” said Delegate David Englin (D-45), who has led legislative efforts against this project.  “While the new Secretary of Transportation has personally committed to me that the proposed changes to the Shirlington Rotary will not occur, Arlington’s lawsuit seeks to address remaining larger issues.”

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Young Democrats from across Virginia gathered at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Alexandria this weekend for their annual convention, hosted this year by the Alexandria Young Democrats.  During the convention banquet Saturday evening, they surprised David by presenting him their coveted “Honorary Young Democrat for Life” award. 

“It means a great deal to me to be named a Young Democrat for life, because I wouldn’t be in a position to stand up for the Democratic values we share were it not for committed young people willing to stand with me,” said David during his remarks accepting the award.  “I was 30 years old when I first ran for this office, and I ran out of a desire to build for my son and his generation the kind of Commonwealth and the kind of Country that lives up to our founding ideals.”

Noting that “the passion and energy and idealism of young people has always been necessary for progress,” David cited examples from history of young people who changed the world, including Thomas Jefferson, who was 33 years old when he penned the Declaration of Independence, and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was 26 years old when he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and 33 years old when he preached “I Have A Dream.”

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David joined fellow members of Northern Virginia’s Jewish community, along with elected officials and community leaders, at Alexandria’s Beth El Hebrew Congregation Sunday evening for the annual community-wide Holocaust Commemoration.  As a member of Beth El and one of only four members of the House Jewish Caucus, David was invited to help open the observance with some thoughts about the theme of this year’s observance, “Conscience: The Courage to Act.”

The focus of this year’s program was honoring non-Jewish diplomats from a variety of countries who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews, even when it meant going against orders.

“As we hear their stories and also recall the stories of some of the six million who perished, let us honor their courage by rededicating ourselves to living by their example,” said David.  “May this evening’s observance remind us that we always have a choice:  We can choose to act, or we can choose to look the other way.  May we always — as individuals and as a people — have the courage to act.”

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More than two dozen Team Englin volunteers from every corner of the 45th District turned out yesterday for the inaugural Volunteer Night of 2010.  The overflow crowd included Team Englin stalwarts as well as several first-time volunteers.

“Thanks to your hard work, together we reached out to nearly 3,000 constituents and supporters in one evening, sharing our grassroots progressive vision for the future,” said David.  “Your energy and commitment gives me great hope that, despite the challenges we’ve faced these past several months, our best days are ahead of us.  It was especially exciting to see so many new faces.  Thank you for being part of our team!”

Click here to find out how you can get involved with Team Englin’s ongoing grassroots fight for progress.

David today sent to his constituents the following report on the 2010 General Assembly session:

Dear Neighbor:

With the 2010 General Assembly Session behind us, I want to update you on some of our legislative work, as well as some of the issues I have been trying to address in Richmond.  Please forgive the length of this letter, but I believe you deserve thorough information.

State Budget: Democrats win concessions, but final budget relies on gimmicks, gambles, and misplaced priorities

While there were some important legislative successes this year, the General Assembly failed to meet its central responsibility to pass a fiscally responsible, balanced budget that protects core state services and promotes future economic growth.  Faced with a $4 billion revenue shortfall, significant cuts were inevitable. Democrats had some success improving the final budget over the initial proposed versions.  However, the final budget still cuts billions of dollars from public education, health care for the poor, public safety, and aid to localities, with no serious attempt to mitigate these cuts with revenue (as then-Governor Mark Warner did when faced with a similar budget crisis) and no serious attempt to give localities the power to mitigate these cuts on their own.  It includes misplaced priorities, such as cutting funds for Healthy Families but restoring funds for Viagra.  [Read more...]

During the General Assembly session that recently ended, two bills passed over David’s strong opposition that could undermine clean air efforts throughout Virginia.  House Bill 1300 and Senate Bill 128 allow polluters to buy credits so they can emit more poisonous gases into our air.  While he was unable to defeat the underlying bills, David worked with clean air advocates to successfully amend these bills so they will not apply to Northern Virginia, at least protecting clean air here. Here’s the problem: Governor McDonnell supports the underlying bills, so there’s a real danger he will use his power to amend legislation to remove the protections for Northern Virginia.

Here’s what you can do right now to help: Please click here, or the image above, to call Governor McDonnell and ask him to sign House Bill 1300 and Senate Bill 128 as they passed the General Assembly, with no further amendments.

It takes just a minute and will add your voice to your neighbors urging Governor McDonnell to preserve the language to protect clean air in Northern Virginia.