CHICAGO, IL – Wednesday May 23, 2012, Obama for America hosted a conference call featuring Press Secretary Ben LaBolt and Policy Director James Kvaal to respond to Mitt Romney’s remarks on education reform. View excerpts below:

Romney’s Massachusetts’  Record:

Ben LaBolt, Press Secretary: “We’ve already seen what Romney Economics means for students at every level of their education. Mitt Romney might not want to talk about his lackluster record in Massachusetts, but it’s an important window into what he would bring to the White House. Let’s start with K-12 education. By his second year as governor, Romney had already forced Massachusetts schools to take the second largest cuts per pupil in the country. Those cuts forced school districts to lay off thousands of teachers along with librarians and even police officers, 14,500 in all. Not exactly the record of the job creator. When he got elected he tried to cut funding for early literacy in kindergarten programs, vetoed a bill to create universal pre-k in Massachusetts and questioned the value for early education. As governor he vetoed programs that would’ve helped reduce class sizes in the earliest grades where individual attention is the most important. Romney still believes against all evidence that smaller class sizes are harmful. None of this helps students in Massachusetts get ready for college and the workforce.”

Romney’s Policies:

James Kvaal, Policy Director: “Mitt Romney today outlined a very different set of proposals. As a reminder, his budget would make big cuts in the things we need to invest in our future, including education. He’s proposed some $5 trillion in tax cuts above and beyond the cost of extending the Bush tax cuts. And those tax cuts are slanted to the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. He has told his donors that he would merge or dramatically downsize the Department of Education, and he supports the House Republican budget offered by Paul Ryan that would require cuts in domestic spending, including education, by almost 20%. Think of what we’ve learned today, the most troubling aspect was his proposal to stop the clock on decades of reform by no longer insisting that action be taken when a school is struggling, and struggling for years. Instead he would return to the days when failing schools were tolerated for year after year. His proposal – his only proposal in this area is to create school report cards. But it’s not clear how those reports cards are different from the school report cards that are already required by federal law. Moreover, while President Obama strongly supports transparency and has proposed steps to expand transparency, that alone is not going to improve our schools who need tools to help failing schools improve. Governor Romney has also proposed steps to expand school choice. President Obama has also worked to expand school choice, in his case, in public schools. In fact Race to the Top, encouraged states to lift caps on charter schools and expanded and strengthened charter schools in many states. Governor Romney’s proposal also appears to be open to private schools voucher, however, which is troubling because we know from experience that private school vouchers have failed to raise achievement and they drain resources from the public schools that serve the vast majority of children.”

Romney’s Claim on 6% Unemployment:

Ben LaBolt, Press Secretary:  “Government economists have been clear that under current law their projection today is that unemployment will hit 6 % by that point. What I think was interesting about this is that Romney moved the goal post in just a matter of weeks. He said that he was going to get it down to 4 % several weeks ago. Now he’s at 6%, and he’s already moved the goal post on a critical promise that he has made. The second question is how he gets to 6% without supporting the programs that the President has put on the table to create jobs now.”

If you were convicted of a felony and would like to start the process of getting your rights restored get information here.  Please obtain copies of your sentencing orders and proof that you have paid all fines and restitution -then start the process.  For more information,  go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website at www.commonwealth.virginia.gov and/or www.sbe.virginia.gov, fill out the application, print it,  and mail it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.

Register to vote, check your voter status or start the process of getting your rights restored if convicted of a felony.  To date, Governor Bob McDonnell has granted rights to over 2,790 felons in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Please don’t wait start the process now.

The next rolling rally is Saturday, May 26, 12pm-3pm at the Petersburg Masonic Lodge 1004 Halifax Street, Petersburg, VA 23803. The rally will feature voter registration, restoration of rights for ex-offenders and (DLW) Veterans Outreach.

Bring to the rally your sentencing orders and proof that you are off probation and have paid all fines in full.

The guest speaker at the Rollin’ Rally Community Speaks Stop is Garry Ellis with the State Board of Elections. Brought you by 12th Masonic District, Petersburg Mayor Brian Moore, 5th Ward Councilman Howard Myers and the Rolling for Freedom Project..

 Virginia’s local, state and senatorial primaries will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. The voter registration deadline for the June primary is May 21.  VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

The Rolling for Freedom Project (R4F) has kicked off the voter registration and restoration of rights season. The project will come to you to assist in filling out applications for voter registration or the restoration of rights process. Also, R4F will provide a list of companies that will hire felons.

R4F will make stops at area businesses, churches, parking lots, gasoline stations and more to assist you. Keep it here for all Rollin’ Rally stops.

 Learn all about the Virginia General Assembly at http://legis.virginia.gov/1_home/cit_welcome.html

“It was situation and now it’s time for restoration”   Miss Community Clooovia

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Directs State Board of Elections to Send Every Virginia Voter a Free Voter Card Between Now and Election Day

Ensures All Virginia Voters Will Have ID to Vote in November

Governor: “We will be sending every voter in Virginia a free voter card between now and Election Day to ensure they have at least one form of ID to bring with them to the polls. On Election Day this year, every Virginia voter will have at least one valid ID.”

Governor’s Executive Order is Available Here

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell signed today legislation that the General Assembly sent him that will expand the forms of acceptable identification for voting, and change the procedure when someone votes without presenting identification, requiring them to vote provisionally and later present an approved ID to their local registrar through email, fax, mail, or hand delivery. Governor McDonnell also issued an executive order today directing the State Board of Elections to take a number of steps to implement this legislation. Among other things, the executive order directs the State Board of Elections to send every Virginia voter a voter card, a valid form of ID under state law, before Election Day, so that every registered Virginia voter has a valid ID to present at the polls.

Virginia’s Voter ID law has been in place since 2000. This legislation only deals with individuals who do not bring an approved form of ID with them to the polls when voting.

Under this legislation and existing law, the following are acceptable forms of ID for voting:

• Virginia voter registration card
• Social Security card
• Valid Virginia driver’s license
• Any other identification card issued by an agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States
• Any valid student identification card issued by a Virginia institution of higher education
• A valid identification card issued by an employer containing a photograph of the voter
• A copy of a current utility bill
• A copy of a bank statement
• A government check
• A paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter.

READ MORE  at www.governor.virginia.gov

Chuck Brown, known to the world as the “Godfather of Go-Go” has died at the age of 75. Brown died Wednesday at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He had contracted pnemonia while being hospitalized earlier this month. Brown’s daughter Cookie Whiting said funeral arrangements are underway.

Chuck “Chuck Baby” Brown’s unique style started in the 1960′s and exceeded all genres from r &b, hip hop, jazz, funk to salsa music. He covered  r & b, jazz, blues, hip hop  and gave all songs a new meaning. He played all songs for nearly one hour a piece. Brown called it “Go-Go because it would not stop.” Brown traded in five cartons of cigarettes for a guitar while in jail and taught himself how to play. And the rest, is “go-go” history.

Brown headlined concerts all across the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) and the world with his non-stop “go-go” style. There were no afterparties following a Chuck Brown concert because his performance was a “before and after party.” His concerts were packed and standing room only.

One of my most memorable moments of Chuck Brown is when he invited me on stage to dance at his last concert in Richmond on February 11, 2012. He supported many causes for the people especially those living with Sickle Cell Disease.

Brown is known for his chart topper “Bustin Loose” in the 1970′s with the Soul Searchers. Brown graced us with hits like “Wind Me Up Chuck” “Run Joe” “Go-Go- Swing” “Money” “Block Party” “It’s Love with Jill Scott” and he won a grammy for that duet. Also, cover hits like “Family Affair” “Moody’s Mood for Love” “Playing Your Game Baby” and host of others.

Ladies and gentlemen please enjoy what would have been his final interview with me and performance in Richmond. We interviewed on February 1, 2012.

Heaven sent for his angel, R.I.P Chuck Brown

Click here to make a donation - http://www.enrichmond.org/partners/send-a-kid-to-camp/ or call (804) 521-8400

Residents are asked to call between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on May 10 to make a donation to the Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Campaign, and for any donation of $20 or more; the caller can have their favorite song played on KISS 105.7/ 99.3 FM or iPOWER 92.1 FM. In addition, anyone who makes a donation for the full summer camp fee of $225 will receive (2) two free tickets to the June 2nd Stone Soul Music and Food Festival on Brown’s Island.

All donations are tax deductable and will help pay for city children to have an exciting and educational summer camp experience. In return, callers will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have made a difference in the life of a Richmond child.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ summer camp program offers nine weeks of structured activities for children ages 6 – 12, Monday – Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm starting June 25 and continuing through Aug. 24.

Children enrolled in the camp are immersed in fun activities each day that include art and cultural enrichment, health and physical education, science and environmental education, and personal and social development as well as field trips. The camp is offered at 15 department community centers throughout the city and costs $225 per child for city residents; however, donations from the annual radiothon are used to provide scholarships for those who need them. It is part of the department’s promise to make the camp available to and affordable for all children in the city of Richmond.

In addition to the May 10 radiothon, donations can be made anytime. Please send donations to: Enrichmond Foundation Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Campaign 900 East Broad Street, Room 407 Richmond, VA 23219.

Please make checks and money orders payable to Enrichmond/Send-A-Kid-to-Camp. The annual radiothon is co-sponsored by the department, Radio One and Enrichmond, a non-profit foundation that partners with community groups to maintain, restore, preserve and improve Richmond’s public recreational resources. For more information on the annual radiothon, call (804) 646-5733.

Call 804-521-8400 To Make A Donation or visit
http://www.enrichmond.org/partners/send-a-kid-to-camp/

In Loving Memory Of Alexander Lance Booker

Dec 18th 1994 – June 15th 2007

View photos of previous ‘Send-A-Kid To Camp’ Radiothons. Send A Kid To Camp

Start Gallery

For more information visit – www.richmondgov.com

For an official press release CLICK HERE

Sponsored by:

Everyone in the Greater Richmond area is excited about this week’s upcoming Transformation Expo 2012 on Saturday, March 17th. We’re expecting a great turn out and an even greater experience at this year’s event so we decided to see what everyone is out there saying about it all.

Check out our recent trip to Highland Springs High School where even the students are beyond thrilled to join us at the Richmond Convention Center to celebrate a day of family, fun, food & fellowship along with Radio One Richmond.

Don’t miss out on your chance to win tickets, but if you wait too long it might be sold out in the end so go ahead & click any of the images or links below to purchase your tickets today right here on PraiseRichmond.com.

RELATED LINKS:

Donnie McClurkin – Transformation Expo 2012

James Fortune & FIYA – Transformation Expo 2012

Troy Sneed – Transformation Expo 2012

Dorothy Norwood – Transformation Expo 2012

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY ONLINE – ONLY $15

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