Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students [Revised]

Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students

As reported by the Daily Progress, The University of Virginia recently decided to raise their tuition for both in-state and out of state students. In-states student tuition has raised by $486 or 4.7 percent, while out of state tuition has been raise by $2268 or 6.2 percent (UVa board approves tuition increase). This puts a strain on current and future UVa students that are also struggling monetarily. Even to the middle class, the amount needed to pay for tuition puts them at a disadvantage. With the amount needed to sustain a household of four, sending even one of their kids to college causes financial struggles for years to come. The options are very limited to what they can do; taking out a loan and joining the military seem to be the only two solid options. Applying for scholarships are also an option, but those are unsure and others are constantly applying for them, minimizing the availability of money.

Not only is this a problem at UVa, but a problem at all colleges. Average people who want to achieve higher education have a harder time getting into any school because of their finances. Around the United States, the economy has made it harder for normal people to earn the money needed to send their children to higher education, which continues the cycle of the poor staying poor. To fix this problem, the cost of living wage should be raised, especially in the city of Charlottesville.

The reason why minimum wage should be raised is mainly because not only is getting into college a financial struggle, but sustaining a stable household is difficult as well. An article by the Huffington Post states that if Minimum wage was to keep up with worker productivity, it would be at least $21 in 2012(Minimum Wage Would Be $21.72 If It Kept Pace With Increases In Productivity: Study). Some states refuse to increase the minimum wage because they believe that it will hurt business. I believe it will be quite the opposite, with the increase of minimum wage, people will be encouraged to buy more and shop to support businesses. That could also help the economy in the long run, essentially giving the government a hand in ending the deficit.

Earlier in the year, Obama proposed that the cost of minimum wage should be raised to ten or more dollars, but so far the issue has been left up to states. Currently, the minimum wage in Virginia is $7.25 per hour; barely enough to sustain a household of two. I believe to help with the issue, Virginia should raise the minimum wage to at least $11.11 per hour. Not only to assist with college cost for the next generation, but to help with daily problems that families go through. With the rise of minimum wage, families who have always wished to send their children to college may now have that chance.

Interview Questions

I am interviewing Paige Rice, the Clerk of Council.

1. First of all, what is a Clerk of Council and how is their job given to them?
2. What does a Clerk of Council do on a daily basis?
3. How did you get to this position?
4. What did you do in High school? College?
5. Do you have any other jobs pertaining to the Government? 
6. What do you think is the most important issue in Charlottesville right now? 
7. What do you think about the UVa tuition increase? (Or is that even in your jurisdiction?) 
8. Do you have and other fun facts? 

H13

(a) Explain how TWO measures taken by states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African American citizens.

• Literacy tests were used to test African Americans before they voted to prevent them from actually voting. African Americans were unable to learn at a level of their white counterparts because it was illegal in the south to teach African Americans, especially during the Slavery area
• The Grandfather clause was used to prevent African Americans from voting as well. The Grandfather clause is when you do not have to take a literacy test if your grandfather had already voted prior to you. this was unfair to African Americans because their grandfathers were either uneducated, or slaves.

(b) Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African Americans turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe TWO alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies.

• African Americans turned to civil disobedience to send the message that discrimination was not okay. They used organized sit-ins, protests, and race riots to show that they were not going to be quiet about this issue.  
• The NAACP was created in response to the discrimination at the polls.  

(c) Choose ONE of the forms of participation you described above and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies. 

• The NAACP was created in 1909 for the advancement of African Americans. The NAACP was a voice for many African Americans to speak out against oppression at the polls. Their guidance for the African American community lasts even through today by speaking against people or corporations who are racist or oppressive against African Americans. 

Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students

Tuition Increase Causes Struggle for Future UVa Students

The University of Virginia recently decided to raise their tuition for both in-state and out of state students. In-states student tuition has raised by $486 or 4.7 percent, while out of state tuition has been raise by $2268 or 6.2 percent. This puts a strain on current and future UVa students that are also struggling monetarily. Even to the middle class, the amount needed to pay for tuition puts them at a disadvantage. With the amount needed to sustain a household of four, sending even one of their kids to college causes financial struggles for years to come. The options are very limited to what they can do; taking out a loan and joining the military seem to be the only two solid options. Applying for scholarships are also an option, but those are unsure and others are constantly applying for them, minimizing the availability of money.

Not only is this a problem at UVa, but a problem at all colleges. Average people who want to achieve higher education have a harder time getting into any school because of their finances. Around the United States, the economy has made it harder for normal people to earn the money needed to send their children to higher education, which continues the cycle of the poor staying poor. To fix this problem, the cost of living wage should be raised, especially in the city of Charlottesville.

Earlier in the year, Obama proposed that the cost of minimum wage should be raised to ten or more dollars, but so far the issue has been left up to states. Currently, the minimum wage in Virginia is $7.25 per hour; barely enough to sustain a household of two. I believe to help with the issue, Virginia should raise the minimum wage to at least $11.11 per hour. Not only to assist with college cost for the next generation, but to help with daily problems that families go through. With the rise of minimum wage, families who have always wished to send their children to college may now have that chance.

H11

1. Gender has been a topic of discrimination, especially with the issue of the 20th Amendment. Race is a civil rights issue as well. Also people who suffer with disabilities get discriminated against when buying homes, etc. 
2. The 13th Amendment abolished Slavery and Servitude unless you have committed a crime. 
3. The Black Codes prevented African American citizens equal opportunities that their white counterparts had. For example, states could hire out black people for help without paying them. 
4. The 14th Amendment allowed all people who are born in the US to be claimed as US citizens. 
5. The 15th Amendment gave African American men the right to vote. 
6. To separate white and black people in public facilities. 
7. The poll tax, literacy test, and grandfather clause were all used to prevent blacks from voting. Blacks could not pay a poll tax every time they wanted to vote, and most of them were not educated, especially coming from slavery. The Grandfather Clause was used to scare black people into not voting. The Ku Klux Klan would stand outside of the polls and scare them from voting. 
8. Plessy v. Ferguson ruled that segregation was legal as long as public facilities were "separate but equal" 
9. Brown v. Board of Education ruled that segregation is unconstitutional, and overturned Plessy v. Ferguson. 
10. De jure segregation is separation forced by law, while de facto segregation is when an individual enforces separation.

H6: Free Response

(a) Define judicial review.

• Judicial Review- a review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act.

(b) Explain how judicial review empowers the Supreme Court within the system of checks and balances.

• A Judicial review can give power to the supreme court by allowing them to declare some legislature unconstitutional. They can basically control the lawmaking of congress and even the president. 

(c) Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.

• A writ of certiorari is when the court decides to review a case that they would usually not review. Usually it comes from parties who have lost in a lower court, and is unhappy with the decision. That Party then has to petition the Supreme court to ask if they can hear their case. The Justices will then have to have a majority agree to see the case. 

(d) Explain how each of the following influences decisions made by individual justices when deciding cases

• Heard by the Court - The court agrees or disagrees on a case, and then use the constitution to decide their ruling.
• Stare decisis - This is usually when a case has already been decided on by the Supreme court, they stand by their decision. This can make it difficult to change negative rulings, but it is also a possibility to reverse the previous decisions.  
• Judicial activism - This is when judges have rulings based on their personal political beliefs or general bias instead of constitutional law. Bias can get  in the way of making a fair decision in court, especially on cases that deal with religion or morals. 

H2: Free Response - Justices

(a) Identify three important characteristics of Supreme Court nominees that many presidents consider.

• Political leanings- What sides do the Justices believe in. Are they Democratic or Republican? If a President wants to appoint a justice, they will usually choose a Justice that is in the same party as they are. 
• Their Experience- The Judges should be experienced in law and cases in lower courts. 
• Their age- If a Justice is too old, they won't be able to stay in the Supreme Court for that long. Presidents choose a younger person so the ideas of their party are expressed throughout the years they will be in the court. 

(b) Explain how each characteristic has been politically relevant during the appointment process. USE real facts from the confirmation of Elena Kagan (or the justice you chose to research) to illustrate at least ONE of these characteristics.

• When a President wants some kind of reform to pass, he will choose a Justice that is a strong supporter of his reform, otherwise the bill he made won't pass. For example, the Republicans chose Thomas because of his strong republican leanings. Since their are more Republicans than Democrats on the court, things like Obamacare had a hard time getting through.
• Presidents cannot hire someone without experience. It would look bad to have someone running the supreme court without knowing what to do.
• Hiring someone who is younger would be an ideal move. It would show to young voters that the ideas of the Supreme Court Justices can change with time, and that the government won't be stuck in their old ideals. 

(c) Identify two methods that have been used by interest groups to influence the appointment process, either for or against a nominee for the Supreme Court.

• Donations can be used in favor of the nominee, or to influence who the Judiciary committee votes for. 
• Arlene Specter of Pennsylvania asked Kagan about a report written on the Supreme Court Justices. This was an example of influencing the Judiciary committee
• Influencing Senators on the Judiciary Committee. This was used during Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court when he allegedly sexually assaulted a women prior to his nomination. 

G7: Bureaucracy

1. Two reasons Congress gives agencies policy-making discretion in executing federal laws
1. Congress does not know everything, so they may appoint policy-making discretion to agencies who have researchers to find out the causes of some issues. For example, appointing someone from Greenpeace to help decide what laws they should put in place to counteract Global Warming.
1. Quote: "Members of Congress rely heavily on members of their staffs for information on pending legislation" (p.256)
2. They don’t really know what to base their decisions on. Maybe a Congressman does not have the necessary background to tell what is good for the Environment or not, so they call in someone from an agency to assist on their decision making
1. Quote: "Members look to party leaders for indicators on how to vote." (p.253)
2. Describe tow ways in which congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent. 
1. Congressional oversight committees evaluate programs to see if they are doing their Job, and passing legislation. This is another informal power of Congress. 
2. Withdrawing funds needed to operate from agencies to regulate them.
3. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy-making discretion
1. The Environmental Protection Agency deals with issues concerning out environment and legislative rulings on conserving natural resources. 
2. The Federal Communications Commission deals with radio and television legislature. If any ruling deal with changing the way television or radio is regulated, they are usually the first ones to know. 
3. Federal Reserve Board deals with the central bank of the United States. Any legislature dealing with money or the regulation of banks goes through the Federal Reserve Board. 
4. A specific action taken by the Federal Communications Commission to exercise duties is ratings to establish shows that are suitable for children and adults. 

F9: Free Response - Congress

(a) Describe one advantage that the majority party in the House and/or Senate has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that the majority party enjoys in floor voting.

• An advantage the majority party has is the ability to nominate their moderators (Senate pro tempore, etc). If the House is having a debate, the moderator can call someone from their party to talk the most and influence a lot of the decisions.    

(b) Describe one difference between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not the other. 

• The Senate can engage in Filibusterers, which the House cannot do. 

(c) Explain how the difference identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not the other.

• The Senate can preform a filibuster, which is a prolonged speech to get in the way of making a legislative decision. The House can hold a debate, but they are unable to "block" a bill from being discussed or debated over. 

F11: State of the Union

• Obama proposes that we should expand the Middle class, simplify the tax code, and increase the Federal minimum wage. 
• Obama spoke in a hopeful way, for example, he started the speech by talking about hard working Americans, and how these changes could help these people to better their lives. The person he mentioned by name was a wounded solider on his road to recovery. He compared it to the US and our situation, showing Americans that we can get through it. I think his focus this year was to make people hopeful that they can get out of the deficit and back to a normal America. 
• One thing I would like to focus on is the major lash from the Republicans on raising the Federal minimum wage and expanding the middle class. They only seemed against it because it was going to affect their big corporations and increase their taxes. I believe that there are some Republicans do support the raise of minimum wage, but their opinions are not heard over the louder ones.

F12: Congress v The President

(a) Identify ONE formal constitutional power of the President in making foreign policy.

• The president has the power to appoint ambassadors to other countries.

(b) Identify ONE formal constitutional power of Congress in making foreign policy.

• Only congress has the constitutional power to declare war. 

(c) Identify ONE informal powers of the President that contribute to the President's advantage over Congress in making foreign policy.

• The President is able to send in troops to another foreign country for at least 60 days, due to the War Powers Act. 

(d) Explain how the informal powers you described above contributes to the President's advantage over Congress in making foreign policy.

• The President is able to send troops in to fight against foreign countries, without declaring war. For example, the United States has not declared war since WWII, but troops have been sent to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and other various countries. 

(e) Explain ONE provision of the War Powers Act that Congress wrote to limit the president's power.

• A provision of the War Powers Act is that the President needs permission from congress to keep troops in a foreign country for more than 60 days, although this rule is rarely followed. 

G16: Budget Free Response

Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget. Rarely does the government balance its budget.

(a) Define balanced budget.

• A balanced budget is when revenue is equal to expenditures, and no budget deficit exists. 

(b) Define federal entitlements.

• Federal entitlements are payments made to groups based on criteria set by the government. 

(c) Identify an entitlement. Explain how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget.

• An entitlement is something like Medicare or Social Security. It is a barrier to the federal government because money is being used to support retired Americans. The only reason why it is a problem is because America does not tax people equally, and fails to sustain the ratio of taxes to entitlements. 

(d) Describe a consequence of large budget deficits.

• A major consequence of budget deficits is the Unemployment rate increases. Many people loose their jobs because most companies do not have the money to have them as an employee. 

(e) What is the current budget deficit? See if you can find out online from a reputable source -- and cite your source.

• $635 Trillion dollars- From http://usdebtclock.org/

G18: Multiple Choice Questions

Write 3 multiple-choice questions (five answer choices) for class review: one about the presidency, one about the bureaucracy, and one about economics.

• What is an example of an Independent Regulatory Commission
• Treasury 
• Amtrak
• NASA
• Federal Communications Committee
• What is a Constitutional power that the President has over Congress? 
• The Power to Declare war 
• Regulating the National Budget 
• Appointing Ambassadors
• None of the Above 
• What is a Bureaucracy?
• A Federal office
• Hierarchy of unelected officials
• Congress 
• The House and Senate 

Answers: 1) FCC, 2) Appointing Ambassadors, 3) Hierarchy of unelected officials

H1: About a Justice- Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas, known as the "Intellectual leader of the Supreme Court" assumed office in 1991, and was appointed by George H.W. Bush. He is considered to be one of the most conservative Justices in the court, sticking to his views no matter what. He is a strong Supreme Court Justice, but he is also silent; he hasn't spoken formally during a Supreme Court case in five years.
Clarence Thomas is an interesting person mainly because he is a black republican. The republican party focused on that because there are not that many minorities on their side. He is heavily against Obamacare, and is considered to be an originalist (A person interested in sticking to the exact words in the US Constitution). He also tends to disagree frequently with the Supreme Court.

G12: The President's Budget

1. What priorities seem to be most important to the President? Give evidence from your readings -- and explain why these programs might be important priorities to him.
1. The two issues that seem to be the most important to the president are Social Security and Medicare. Obama has been focusing on these issues for a while now, but he has been getting harsh criticism from the left. Obama wants to tax the wealthy and assist the lower class so they can receive benefits that they can survive on. 
2. What are some especially notable changes that the President proposes, compared to the previous year's budget? Why might he want to make those changes?
1. Well a huge difference compared to his budget now is that Obama wants to give tax credits to the lower class, using higher taxes from the rich to pay for it. His focus seemed to shift from Social Security to the issue of taxes and a little bit of education. Obama is in his final years of his presidency, so I believe he is really putting in the ideas that he originally wanted to act upon, but he was too nervous to do. Also, he sees that the working poor cannot survive on the amount of money they receive.  
3. What elements of his plan will his opponents in Congress be most likely to strongly oppose? Why?
1. Congress have already expressed their opinion on Obama's budget plan for 2014, and the left is mainly opposed to the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy, and cutting off tax breaks for corporations. The political left would dislike this the most because their taxes will be raised, and the businesses they were supported by would be most affected by this. 

G10: News Analysis

100 Americans die of drug overdoses each day. How do we stop that?

• In response to Phillip Seymour Hoffman's recent death, the Washington Post brought attention to the startling amount of drug overdoses that occur everyday in the United States. I believe that if the Government and personal families made help readily available, there would be less overdoses.  Drugs are a huge issue, especially in low income areas, and if healthcare was more available to people in situations where they couldn't really afford it, issues like this would be fixed. Not only issues about drugs, but other issues like disease and simple health issues. 

G9: Budget Games

1. To fix the deficit, I would cut spending and raise taxes. I would cut spending on things like "The War on Drugs", and cut military spending. I would not want to cut Veterans benefits though. I would raise taxes on the higher income people, and require people who received bailouts to pay back the money. 
2. To reduce the deficit in the games, I decided to reduce the military to half it's size, reduce Social Security for higher incomes, and place a Millionaire's tax on people who make more than 1 million dollars. I decided that we didn't need a huge military, and even if we did cut the military in half, we would still have the biggest military in the world. I put lower Social Security for higher incomes and a millionaire tax to give people with lower income a chance to live a happy retirement. I avoided affecting the lower classes because they tend to be the first ones hit by economic reform. 

G4: Presidential Powers

(a) Executive Orders and Powers as Commander in Chief give the President complete power to take out orders that are important for our country. Executive orders have the full power of any law, and can be put into effect immediately. This overrules all of the checks of congress, but the judicial branch can still take down this law if it is seen as unconstitutional. Prior to the War Powers Resolution, Presidents could send in troops to different countries without congress approval. Now, they have certain guidelines in place to limit the powers of the president, although they are rarely followed.

(b) The budgetary powers of congress limit the amount of money that the President's Office of Management and Budget can receive. After Nixon's Presidency, and his refusal to spend money the way that congress wanted to, they came up with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Legislative oversight powers are used to control the power of the president and make sure that everything occurring in the government is constitutional.

G2: Current Events Connection

1. LINK: 
• Web Story 
2. UNIQUE SUMMARY: 
• The article describes Obama's changes for Immigration laws. Although they are good, republicans are skeptical because of Obama not following the Immigration laws already in place. 
3. FORMAL POWERS: 
• Since the president can make laws dealing with foreign policy, he can use that to decide what he can do to make his immigration reform into law. 
4. INFORMAL POWERS: 
• The president can enact executive orders, which puts laws in place almost immediately. 

F3: Congress

A problem that I want to change in the United States is the minimum wage payment. Although it is done on a state by state basis, the federal government could suggest a law to make minimum wage enough for a family of three to live off of. It's unfair that a person who has to support a giant family must make sacrifices for their needs just so their family can be fed or use their utilities.
Recently a group a senators tried to live off of food stamps, and realized they could not survive. Does it really need to take that much for America to change a law that has been in place for years.

F8: Congress Questions

A. HOUSE & SENATE DIFFERENCES

1. There are 435 seats in the House, and 100 seats in the Senate.
2. There are only 2 seats held in Senate and 11 seats in the House of Representatives
3. Representatives get two years in office, while Senators get six..
4. The Senate can conduct filibusterers and approve treaties made by the executive branch.
5. The House can Impeach a President and also vote for a president in the electoral college.
6. The House can ask to Impeach a President, but only the Senate is allowed to carry out the trial. .

B. IMPORTANT COMMITTEES: Look up standing committees and conference committees.

1. United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
2. The Committee on Government Operations
3. The conference committee, which works out any difference between the House and Senate bills
4. The United States House Committee on Rules

C. MORE FROM THE CONSTITUTION

1. If Congress adjourns within the 10 day period of the pocket veto
2. The President can be impeached if he has committed treason, bribery, or other high crimes.
3. Congress can declare war as well as override President's veto.
4. Congress can Impeach and remove judges and can create lower federal courts.
5. The 17th amendment allowed a direct vote to pick US Senators.

D. OTHER VOCABULARY

1. This is when Congress reviews and monitors government agencies and the like.
2. They are there to vote for the "greater common good" even if it interferes with their own short term goal.
3. The president as full control over how World War II would be handled.
4. The congressional budget office provides economic data to congress.

E. IMPORTANT JOBS

1. A whip ensures that there is party discipline in the Legislative branch.
2. The job goes to the senior member of the majority party in the senate.
3. The President of the Senate is also the Vice President of the United States.

EXTRA CREDIT: WHO HOLDS THE JOBS? (This can earn you extra points on the quiz).

1. Speaker of the House of Representatives: John Boenher
2. House Majority Leader & House Majority Whip: Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy.
3. House Minority Leader & House Minority Whip: Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer
4. Senate Majority Leader & Senate Majority Whip: Harry Reid, Richard Durbin
5. Senate Minority Leader & Senate Minority Whip: Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn
6. Senate President Pro Tempore: Patrick Leahy
7. President of the Senate: Joe Biden

F5: Your own bill

________________________________________________________________
110th CONGRESS

1st Session

HR.1333

To establish benefits and ban discrimination against same sex couples

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2014

Miss CABELL (for herself) introduced the following bill to the House of Education and Workforce, the Committee of Financial Services, and the Judiciary Committee

________________________________________________________________

I. Short Title

This Act may be cited as "The Orientation Enabling Act of 2014"

II. Findings and Purpose 

(a) Findings- Congress finds that-- 

1. Defense of Marriage act allows states from discriminating against same sex couples
2. Eighteen states do not protect same sex couples from workplace discrimination, and only fourteen states prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

(b) Purposes- The purposes of this act are to--

1.  Protect and recognize same sex marriage in all states and territories, not just those that allow same sex marriage. 
2. Social security benefits, health benefits and other policies that are given to heterosexual couples should also be given to homosexual couples in all states and territories.
3. Workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity will also be banned under this bill.

III. Definitions

Homosexual- (of a person) sexually attracted to people of one's own sex

Heterosexual- (of a person) sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex

Marriage- the formal union of two people, typically recognized by law.

Benefit- an advantage or profit gained from something

Social Security- any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no source of income

Defense of Marriage act- United States federal law that allows states to refuse to recognize same sex marriage, granted under the laws of other states

IV. Marriage 

(a) From this point forward, all states shall recognize all marriages, no matter  heterosexual or homosexual.

(b) The "Defense of Marriage" act shall now be obsolete. 

V. Shared Benefits

(a) From this point forward all same sex couples shall be able to inherit a share of their spouse's estate and file a joint income tax.
(b) Same sex couples shall receive Social Security, Medicare, and Disability, military and various benefits  for spouses
(c) Same sex couples shall be allowed to visit their partner in the hospital and make medical decisions if they are unable to. They shall also be the one who consents to after death examinations and burial arrangements.
(d) All other benefits given to heterosexual couples shall now be given to homosexual couples, no matter what state or territory they reside in.

VI. Discrimination

(a) All people no matter sexual orientation or gender identity shall not be discriminated against in the workplace.

(b) Sexual orientation and/or gender identity shall not determine if you receive a job or not.

(c) Housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity shall be illegal and require 2 years jail time if proven.

F7:Amendments and Questions

Rep. Courtney

• Question: Will the government be funding these clinics that provide mental health tests? Will the tests be covered by health insurance?

Rep. Jackie

• Question: Will this be a mandatory class for all colleges? Can it be forced upon private institutions?

Rep. Bhagi

• Question: Does this mean getting rid of the Defense of Marriage act entirely?

Rep. Alyssa

• Amendment: All fifty states and territories shall calculate their average cost of living no more than once per every five years.
• Reason: The cost of living raises every year. For example gas prices or fare for public transportation gets more expensive every year, and ten years seems too long to wait. 
• Question: Can you think of the factors that would cause the cost of living to rise? 

Rep. Sarah

• Amendment: I don't believe we should allow all drugs in America, just marijuana. Especially due to all of the recent violence caused by synthetic drugs. 
• "From this point forward, Marijuana and all natural drugs shall be legal in the United States of America."
• Reason: Synthetic drugs (like bath salts, etc.) cause trouble not only to the user, but also the people around them.  

Rep. Maggie

• Question: Is their a source on the amount of corruption compared to representatives that are there for a long time compared to those who are there a short time?

Rep. Isaiah

• Amendment: (2) Low Income- Lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money
• Reason: The official of Low Income sets a limit for who qualifies.

Rep. Jacori

• Amendment: Please elaborate the "benefits" that officers deserve. 
• Reason: It's not really clear to me. 

Rep. Demetrius

• Amendment: (3) Set lower income for housing under $100 a month
• Due to the minimum wage, a higher price would be almost impossible for a family of two or more to pay for food, utilities, and housing.

Rep. Jonathan

• Amendment: Tax breaks shall be given to small businesses that use environmentally friendly items in their business.
• Reason: They are benefiting the environment (which is hard to do when first starting out), so they should at least get some kind of break.  

 Rep. Jalen

• Question: Does this bill include financial education for the parents so they know what to avoid when sending their child to college? 

F4:Bill Breifing

I. The Problem

Same sex marriages are not recognized in all fifty states due to the Defense of marriage act. This means that same sex couples cannot receive social security benefits from their spouse, even if they are legally married in another state. In Virginia, this law not only prevents partners from receiving benefits, but also does not protect same sex couples from work discrimination. This is a major issue that needs to be addressed.

II. Existing Laws

As I previously mentioned, the current law that prevents same sex marriage from being recognized in all fifty states is the Defense of Marriage act that was put into action in September 1996. This act states that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and that any state, territory, or Indian tribe does not have to recognize a same sex marriage. Currently in the United States, there is not a federal law based on gay marriage.
In other countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, same sex marriages were recognized nationwide as early as 2000. The United States could use these countries as examples.

III. Proposal

The bill that I would like to propose will essentially be the complete opposite of the Defense of Marriage act. It will be used to protect and recognize same sex marriage in all states and territories, not just the ones that allow same sex marriage.  This means that social security benefits, health benefits and other policies that are given to heterosexual couples should also be given to homosexual couples in all states. Workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should also be banned under this bill.

IV. Committee

The committees that the bill will be introduced in are the House of Education and Workforce under the Workforce protections, the committee of Financial Services, and the Judiciary committee under Civil Justice.

V. Sources

 - X  -  X -  X -  X - X