RICHMOND
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus announced its priorities at a news conference today -- and members celebrated the shift in power in the Senate, which has elevated multiple members to leadership positions.
The Senate is now in Democratic hands, and four black senators are in charge of committees. Three of them are women from Hampton Roads: Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth; Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk; and Mamie Locke, D-Hampton. Sen. Henry Marsh, D-Richmond, is the fourth.
Locke, who chairs the General Laws & Technology Committee, highlighted one of the caucus's priorities: eliminating disparities in health care and medical outcomes. She used the death rates of African-American men from prostate cancer as an example, saying black men are two times more likely to die from the disease than white men.
The No. 1 budget priority for the group this year, she said, is continuing to fund a proton beam cancer center at Hampton University. The $200 million project, which focuses on using proton beams to shrink tumors, is under construction.
Other priorities include establishing a 36 percent interest rate cap on payday loans, expanding pre-kindergarten education programs, reforming the mental health system and allowing low-income working Virginians to purchase health insurance through a state program.
"This caucus is reaching its maturity," said Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth. "We've reached the point where we have a great deal of influence, and we're going to be using it across the board."
For so long, Melvin continued, the caucus has been -- figuratively -- tossing rocks over the wall in its attempt to communicate its message. "Now, we have a megaphone," he said, "and we're going to use it."
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More Racism
Here we go again promoting more racism bye seperating certain groups out again, If a conserative had made such a statement like white people are more likely to die from prostrate cancer than blacks and we need more health care for them for this reason. We would have Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson here in a Flash raising cain about it. We Need to stop seperating all races and stop and realize that everyone has their problems and we need to be treated equally. There is a program call SCHIP and medicare that helps provide medical coverage to people who can't afford it on income levels. We need to stop and realize how many people need to prioritize things right and pay for what is actually needed like health insurance and not fancy rims or cell phones or big screen tv's. Forget trying to keep up with the Jones and you will be surprised just what you can afford.
perpetuating racism
Racism, once again...another seperatist group of people who claim to want equality but continue to set themselves apart. Instead of black, hispanic, etc, caucuses and other seperatist groups, how about we all come together for a change?
By the way, every agenda item that was mentioned impacts Virginians of all races. Do they really want to lower the prostate cancer rates of blacks only?
When will our elected officials start treating us all the same? When will we start treating each other all the same? This issue infuriates me. I am expected to see a person for who he/she is, not what he/she looks like, and I do a pretty dang good job of doing so. But having people continually seperate themselves based on appearance kind of defeats any positive actions by people like me. Grrrrr....
jmo