Ralph Northam Won’t Keep Virginia Families Safe

With Virginia Democrat gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam hoping to turn out far-left Democrat base voters who have lamented his “lackluster” efforts on the campaign trail, he and his campaign have staked out increasingly out-of-touch, extreme positions, disregarding the consequences they may have. But by refusing to oppose sanctuary cities in Virginia, Northam has made it unmistakably clear that advancing his extreme agenda comes before ensuring the safety of Virginia families.

During his bitter primary battle with Tom Perriello, Northam bragged about casting a tie-breaking vote to kill a bill in the Virginia Senate that would have banned sanctuary cities in the Commonwealth. Northam had previously stressed “the need for an efficient way for sheriff’s and state police officers to report illegals to federal officials” when he ran for State Senate in 2007, but then a decade later, once he was running for governor, he decided to flip-flop and vote against banning “sanctuary” cities in an blatant attempt to attract far-left voters. Northam has also supported pro-sanctuary policies such as drivers’ licenses and in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants – even as tuition increased for Virginian students. 

By throwing his support behind reckless sanctuary city policies that disregard federal law while allowing criminal illegal aliens to evade authorities, Northam has shown that protecting Virginia families comes second to advancing his political ambitions and his radical agenda.

BACKGROUND:


In a 2007 campaign debate, Northam said, “The answer to illegal immigration is to properly fund law enforcement,” citing the need for an efficient way for sheriff’s and state police officers to report illegals to federal officials. “What should be done at the state level about illegal immigrants: Northam said, ‘The answer to illegal immigration is to properly fund law enforcement,’ citing the need for an efficient way for sheriff’s and state police officers to report illegals to federal officials.” (Carol Vaughn, “Rerras, Northam tackle issues at debate,” Daily Times, Sept. 19, 2007)

In 2013, state Sen. Northam voted in committee for legislation that would have provided in-state college tuition to the children of undocumented immigrants living in Virginia. S.B. 1090, Jan. 31, 2013: State Sen. Northam voted for S.B. 1090, a bill related to in-state tuition and undocumented persons. (Failed to report in the Senate Education and Health Committee 7-8 and died) ( S.B. 1090, Virginia General Assembly, 2013 Session)

… But during that same year, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia released a report showing the tuition and fees for an undergraduate from Virginia to attend a state-supported four-year college would rise 4.7 percent. “The required charges for an undergraduate from Virginia to attend a state-supported four-year college will rise 4.7 percent – or $468 – to average $10,387 in the academic year that’s about to begin, according to a state report released last week. The total doesn’t include charges for housing or food.” (Phil Walzer, “Average tuition at Virginia’s colleges hits five figures,” The Virginian-Pilot, Aug. 12, 2013)

In 2017, Northam joined a group of labor and community activists at a rally in support of raising Virginia’s minimum wage and offering driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants: “Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam has joined a group of labor and community activists at a rally in support of raising Virginia’s minimum wage and offering driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.” (“Northam joins rally for minimum wage, driver’s license bills,” The Associated PressJan. 12, 2017)

When questioned about his support for the driver’s licenses, Northam said, “we need to make sure that people have access to driver’s licenses.” QUESTION: “Just one more question about the driver license.” NORTHAM: “Yea?” QUESTIONER: “Do you support the driver license” NORTHAM: “We need to make sure that we have immigration reform for this country, we make sure that we have a pathway to citizenship in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we need to make sure that people have access to driver’s licenses.” (“Ralph Northam Endorses Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants,” Need to Know Network YouTube page, Posted Jan. 13, 2017)

In addition to driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, both Gov. McAuliffe and Northam recently endorsed a proposal to repeal Virginia’s photo ID requirement at polls. “In addition to driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, both McAuliffe and Northam endorsed a proposal last week to repeal Virginia’s photo ID requirement at the polls.” (Edmund Kozak, “Democrats Target Integrity of Virginia Elections,” Lifezette, Jan. 16, 2017)

In 2017, Lt. Gov. Northam voted to break a tie and kill a bill that would prohibit sanctuary cities in Virginia. H.B. 2000, Feb. 22, 2017: Lt. Gov. Northam broke a 20-20 tie in the Senate and voted against H.B. 2000, a bill related to sanctuary policies.  (Defeated by the Senate 20-20 and then reconsidered and passed the Senate 21-19, adopted by the House 65-34) (H.B. 2000, Virginia General Assembly, 2017 Session