The Governor of Virginia has bowed to pressure from the NAACP and liberal Democrats and announced today that he has vetoed a bill that would have strengthened the protection of Veterans’ monuments and memorials in Virginia. Because of their political shenanigans, ALL veterans’ monuments and memorials in the Commonwealth may be at risk. The Governor has effectively spit in the face of every veteran, living and dead.
Virginia War Memorial, Richmond, VA
From the Governor's office:
RICHMOND – Today Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed House Bill 587, which would hamper the authority of Virginia local governments to make their own decisions about monuments or war memorials within their jurisdictions.
The Governor also directed Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward, the former Mayor of Hampton, to form a work group with the Department of Historic Resources to begin a dialogue and study best practices about how to balance the preservation of history with the legitimate concerns many Virginians have about certain types of monuments and memorials.
The Governor’s full veto statement is below:
March 10, 2016
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 587, which overrides the authority of local governments to remove or modify monuments or war memorials erected before 1998.
The rich history of our Commonwealth is one of our great assets. My administration strongly supports historic preservation efforts, including the preservation of war memorials and monuments. However, this legislation would have been a sweeping override of local authority over these monuments and memorials including potential ramifications for interpretive signage to tell the story of some of our darkest moments during the Civil War.
There is a legitimate discussion going on in localities across the Commonwealth regarding whether to retain, remove, or alter certain symbols of the Confederacy. These discussions are often difficult and complicated. They are unique to each community’s specific history and the specific monument or memorial being discussed. This bill effectively ends these important conversations.
I am committed to supporting a constructive dialogue regarding the preservation of war memorials and monuments, but I do not support this override of local authority.
Accordingly, I veto this bill.
Sincerely,
Terence R. McAuliffe
This, less than a year after McAuliffe made the public statement "LEAVE ALL THE STATUES ALONE", when asked about the future of Richmond's Confederate monuments. http://m.nbc12.com/nbc12/db_/contentdetail.htm?full=true&contentguid=od%3anY1X7UA4&pn=&ps=#display
This announcement is evidence of McAuliffe's inconsistency and hypocrisy, considering it comes on the heels of two other major press releases about preserving battlefields and a second season of a "Civil War" mini series ($$$)...issued just days before he vetoed a bill that would protect the monuments and memorials honoring the men who died defending the Commonwealth.
https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=14339
https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=14494
https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=14339
https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=14494
If you would like to let the Governor know how you feel about his decision, you can reach him here... https://governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office
Bottom line?
By vetoing the War Memorials Protection Bill, our carpetbagger Governor has made it very clear that he stands with the liberal Democrats in the Virginia Senate (House Democrats overwhelmingly supported the measure) and the NAACP who petitioned the Governor to veto the bill, and against ALL of Virginia’s veterans. This, in a very public way, is done without truly harming our Cause.
The fact is, his veto is worthless. This bill ONLY served to tighten a possible loophole in a Virginia Statute that ALREADY protects our Veterans’ monuments and memorials. The law still stands. He knows it does... and that it’s just a matter of time until the Supreme Court says the same.
By vetoing the War Memorials Protection Bill, our carpetbagger Governor has made it very clear that he stands with the liberal Democrats in the Virginia Senate (House Democrats overwhelmingly supported the measure) and the NAACP who petitioned the Governor to veto the bill, and against ALL of Virginia’s veterans. This, in a very public way, is done without truly harming our Cause.
The fact is, his veto is worthless. This bill ONLY served to tighten a possible loophole in a Virginia Statute that ALREADY protects our Veterans’ monuments and memorials. The law still stands. He knows it does... and that it’s just a matter of time until the Supreme Court says the same.
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!
Va Flaggers
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