Family Foundation President Victoria Cobb will give an update on the recent General Assembly session as well as current events in Richmond and around the commonwealth. The program will include a question and answer period at the end. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but is helpful for planning purposes. Please click here to register.

With the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Obamacare expected any day, you won’t want to miss hearing the perspective of one of the nation’s leaders in the battle to return our nation to its constitutional foundation. Victoria’s presentation will provide insight into the hard fought General Assembly victories as well as detail some of the trials and challenges and behind-the-scenes action of the recent General Assembly session.

The event will take place tomorrow night, from 7:-9:00 p.m., at Greensprings Chapel, 3687 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg. For more information, contact Roger Pogge at 804-343-0010 or at roger@familyfoundation.org.

The Attorney General shared his insight on a number of federal legal cases that illustrate the on-going struggle between liberty and tyranny, including the EPA’s attack on the coal industry in southwest Virginia, which is contributing to unemployment there and driving up costs on items we all use. He shrewdly pointed out that the groups of people most harmed by these assaults on freedom are the most vulnerable among us — the poor, elderly and minorities. While liberals portray themselves as champions for the poor, in reality, he said, many of their policies harm them. By contrast, he asserted that it is conservative principles of limited, constitutional government that provide opportunity for all Americans.

Although it wasn’t a point of the event, Attorney General Cuccinelli has made big news recently for something else: Securing the release from prison of Thomas Haynesworth (see Richmond Times-Dispatch), who served 30 years for a crime DNA evidence now proves he did not do. His stewardship of the Office of Attorney General is proving difficult for the liberals to caricature as The Innocence Project’s award to him proves. (See David Keene via The Washington Times as well as Timothy Carney at The Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential.) But it shouldn’t surprise anyone. His principles are grounded firmly in the constitution and he is consistent with his application of them.

The Attorney General autographed Gadsden (“Don’t Tread On Me”) Flags for event sponsors. A few flags remain and are available for a $250 donation. You may receive one by calling The Family Foundation at (804) 343-0010, by e-mailing John Downer at john@familyfoundation.org, or by sending a check with “autographed Gadsden Flag” on the memo line made payable to The Family Foundation of Virginia, and mail it to our news address at 919 East Main Street, Suite 1110, Richmond, VA 23219. Please view this brief exclusive video from Attorney General Cuccinelli’s remarks.

Attorney General Cuccinelli stands on firm, consistent foundational principles — and a good sense of humor.

Just in case someone remained behind, the White House should take heed from someone who, in his role of Chief Jobs Creation Officer, meets with people every day who create jobs, not theoriticians who have worked in government their entire lives. The country is overtaxed, over regulated and feels the weight of the behemoth government suffocating the life out of our economic system.

Among the ideas offered by the LG are to extend all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and provide additional tax relief, reign in the job-killing EPA and relax restrictive regulations preventing banks from lending money to businesses for expansion. He also advocates repealing “those portions of the federal health care bill that impose massive mandates, fines and penalties on businesses.” That may be almost all of the new law, but he should have stated simply that it should be repealed in its entirety.

Lastly, Mr. Bolling wisely suggests a reduction of federal spending by at least  five percent per year until it reaches 2006 levels. A good start, and better than the House Republicans’ “Pledge To America” which plans to bring  spending down to the 2008 level. But the federal budget was in the $2.5 trillion range even in 2006. There is much more fat to be cut.

If Republicans do succeed in winning control of either or both chambers of Congress, it’s first test will be to prove their seriousness in significantly reducing the size and scope of governement and to provide a glide path down to solvency.

Ashcroft Envy?

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has reminded us of a move by then-U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in 2002, who had the topless female Spirit of Justice statue covered in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice. In Mr. Cuccinelli’s case, he wanted to issue a new lapel pin with a modified Seal of the Commonwealth, which features an exposed breast of the Roman goddess Virtus, that would be fully clothed. He said it is a replica of an old version of the seal. Knowing the AG’s love of history, that must be true. Yet, the ensuing media racket persuaded him to revert to the standard issue. Unsurprisingly, the same people who have created this disproportionate distraction over this incredibly minor deal are the same ones hammering him for “distracting and frivolous” actions fighting the EPA and ObamaCare, though that is what he is sworn to do — uphold Virginia law. But blowing up minutia to cover for a lack of substance is never a consideration for the left.

In the News: The prayer State Police Chaplain prayer policy continues to make news, even nationally, and we’re along for the ride in the three of the first four links below. The AG makes headlines for other reasons, as well. He has a 100-day review in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (where you’ll find more Family Foundation quotes) and he’s made more national headlines requesting — under Virginia law — documents from a former U.Va. professor who may have been involved in deceptive “science” and defrauded the commonwealth out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money.

In Analysis, Erica Werner of the AP may not have a job tomorrow after the White House reads her piece documenting what it says about its actions on the Gulf oil spill aren’t exactly the truth. Also, according to the AP, as many as 80 Dem Congressional seats now are in play; and Marc Thiessen reports that Senator Jim Demint (R-S.C.) is leading a conservative revolution in GOP Senate primaries. In Commentary, it’s Larry Kudlow on money and Star Parker on Life. If that doesn’t sum it up, nothing does.

News

*McDonnell strikes a balance, conservatives rethink support (Washington Post)

*Virginia’s new policy on prayer policy (Newsweek/Washington Post)

*Va. governor lifts ban on police chaplains’ sectarian prayers (Associated Baptist Press)

*Cuccinelli draws praise, derision (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

State attorney general demands ex-professor’s files from University of Virginia (Washington Post)

Cuccinelli goes for a more modest version of the state seal (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

AG Cuccinelli drops new lapel pin to get away from distractions . . . (The Shad Plank Blog)

Cuccinelli ditches lapel pin with altered Virginia seal (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Cuccinelli yanks lapel pin with breast-plate-covered goddess (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot)

Franklin County activist to head 5th District GOP (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Independent says he would run if Hurt on ballot in 5th District (Lynchburg News & Advance)

National News

Attorneys agree to block on Oklahoma abortion law (Washington Post)

Union: Va. Firm’s Ads chiding Ark. Senate candidate ‘racist’ (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Report: Congress makes too many vague laws (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Dobson changes mind, endorses Paul for Ky. Senate (AP/GOPUSA.com)

Analysis

Virginia Attorney General goes after Mann and UVA (Anthony Watts/Watts Up With That? Blog)

Leading the charge for GOP insurgents (Marc A. Thiessen/Washington Post)

SPIN METER: There since Day One? Maybe not (Erica Werner/AP/GOPUSA.com)

GOP expands political playing field; Dems slipping (Liz Sidoti/AP/GOPUSA.com)

Commentary

The Left Loses Its Way by Abandoning ‘Third Way’ (Michael Barone/GOPUSA.com)

The NAACP and Abortion Politics (Star Parker/TownHall.com)

Race and Resentment (Thomas Sowell/GOPUSA.com)

Obamacon Doves vs. Hard-Money Heartland Hawks (Larry Kudlow/GOPUSA.com)

‘Government is Us’ (Richard Olivastro/GOPUSA.com)