Representing Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax

Newsletter - May 21, 2018

Read other newsletters

On the website,
 via email,
 on Facebook,
 or on Twitter.

Or by mail and phone:

Richmond Office:
Pocahontas Building
900 East Main Street, Suite E208
Richmond, VA 23219
804.698.1045

Alexandria Office:
301 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
571.234.8481

TOMORROW NIGHT:
Pub Theology with Delegate Danica Roem

The Rainbow Extravaganza will great fun and for a good cause, but it's not my only event coming up with Delegate Danica Roem, who gave me the honor and privilege of choosing me to mentor her in the House of Delegates.

Delegate Roem and I will also be speaking at an event organized by the Kingstowne Communion, a new United Methodist church in Alexandria. Please join us Tuesday night at Fiona's Irish Pub (5810 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria) at 7pm for a provocative discussion on faith, gender, identity, and the way in which religious institutions deal with these issues. I don't get a chance to talk about my personal theology very much, and I look forward to sharing my religious outlook and hearing yours.

Another Shooting: This Time in Santa Fe, Texas

Another shooting. Another bunch of innocent kids murdered because Republicans refuse to restrict gun-ownership to responsible gun owners.
 
Why do they want violently deranged people people to have easy access to weapons of war and mass murder?
 
I'll never understand that. But I do understand what we have to do about it: vote them out of office.

97% of Americans (including 97% of gun owners) support universal background checks. When politicians reject 97% of what their constituents want, it's time for their constituents to show them the door.

Back to Richmond to Fight for Medicaid Expansion!

As you recall, the House of Delegates passed a budget six weeks ago that funded Medicaid Expansion. I was proud to stand with the bipartisan majority to pass this budget. But the Republican-led Virginia Senate has still not passed a budget after all this time.

Tomorrow, the Senate is scheduled to return. At this point, it is unknown exactly what they will do, but it is my hope that they will finally pass a budget that includes Medicaid Expansion. The House of Delegates will be back in session on Wednesday to take up whatever comes out of the Senate, and I'm looking forward to getting back down to Richmond to vote on the budget again.

If the Senate passes a good, responsible budget that expands healthcare access to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, then I'll be happy to vote for it. Two Republican Senators have signaled a willingness to support Medicaid Expansion, and if they're able to combine with the 19 Senate Democrats to make it happen, it could pass. But if not, I will vote against any budget that continues to deny health care to Virginians who need it, and I will demand that a conference committee fix the budget to bring billions in federal tax dollars back to Virginia.

It's the progressive thing to do because it will give 400,000 Virginians necessary health care and will save thousands of lives.

It's the fiscally conservative thing to do because it will bring billions of dollars to Virginia in direct federal aid and indirect savings to our health care system.

It will not cost Virginia taxpayers an additional penny, because Virginia hospitals are picking up the state tab.

What's the argument against it?  I haven't a clue. (Other than the fact that Republicans call it "ObamaCare."  But that's not an argument...)

Next Mark's Monthly Meetup Sunday, June 3

Los Tios in Del Ray
(2615 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria)
Sunday at 2 pm 

Come discuss any issue on your mind.

 

And if you miss June, there's always July. Every month, I make sure to be available in this informal setting for any constituent who wishes to discuss a problem or just say hello. 

In the Community...

Democratic Party of Virginia Barbara Johns Reception at Shiloh Baptist Church
with Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, community members, and other elected officials.


Arlington Democrats Blue Victory Dinner with Delegate Alfonso Lopez and Arlington School Board Member Barbara Kanninen

Speaking to Alexandria Democratic Precinct Captains with Delegate Charniele Herring

Alexandria Earth Day with City Councilmembers John Chapman, Tim Lovain, Justin Wilson, and Paul Smedberg and Mayor Allison Silberberg

Rally Against Rape with Delegate Rip Sullivan and Matt de Ferranti

Planting trees to honor the victims off the Virginia Tech shooting.
I posted the video of my remarks on Facebook.

With Moderator Julie Carey of NBC4 for the Alexandria Mayoral Debate

Dining for Delegates with Donte Tanner and Shelly Simonds.

Indivisible Arlington Forum with the Arlington legislative delegation

Breakfast Meeting with Project PEACE
(Partnering to End Abuse in the Community for Everyone)
I'm proud to be part of Arlington's community effort to stem the tide of domestic and sexual violence.

Alexandria Town Hall on Gun Violence with Mayor Allison Silberberg, Delegate Charniele Herring, Vice Mayor Justin Wilson, and my wonderful intern, Barrett Fife, who organized the event.

Upcoming Events - Please Join Me!

Monday May 21, 5pm
Healthy Families Alexandria 25th Anniversary
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 228 S Pitt St, Alexandria

Tuesday May 22, 7pm
Pub Theology with Delegate Danica Roem
Fiona's Irish Pub, 5810 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria

Wednesday May 23, Noon
Special Session
Capitol Building, Richmond

Wednesday May 23, 6pm
ADC Blue Alexandria Dinner
Westin, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria

Wednesday May 30, 7pm
ADC Mayoral Debate
George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria

Thursday, May 31, 7:30pm
2nd Annual Rainbow Democrats Extravaganza
Freddie's Beach Bar, 555 23rd St S, Arlington

Saturday June 2, 10am
Alexandria Women's History Tour
Gadsby's Tavern, 134 N Royal St, Alexandria

Sunday June 3, 2pm
Mark's Monthly Meetup
Los Tios, 2615 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria

Tuesday June 5, 10:30am
Department of Criminal Justice Services Advisory Committee
1111 E Broad St, Richmond

Tuesday June 5, 7pm
ADC City Council Debate
Frances Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Rd, Alexandria

It is always my honor and privilege to serve you.

Delegate Mark Levine
Serving Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax in Virginia's 45th District