Polling on the Richmond casino
Guest Commentary: General Assembly Must Pass Prescription Drug Affordability Board to Lower Cost of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
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The rundown
Polling from Founders Insight shows Richmonders are evenly split on bringing a casino to Richmond. The crosstabs of age, party affiliation, education, and more are included.
SAARA Executive Director Victor McKenzie Jr. makes the case for a prescription drug affordability board
A new ad from Monty Mason
Polling on the Richmond casino
The latest polling from Republican-aligned Founders Insight shows that Richmonders are evenly split on support for a casino in South Richmond.
A poll of 250 likely general election voters in Richmond shows 44% of respondents support bringing a casino to Richmond and 44% oppose it. 12% of respondents were unsure.
Crosstabs are below.
The casino question is on the ballot for Richmond voters this November.
If approved, the location would be in South Richmond.
Gov. Youngkin is spending the first half of the day at events in Hampton Roads
At 9:00 AM, he is is delivering remarks at the Virginia Maritime Association in Norfolk. At 10:30, he is scheduled to deliver remarks at the Riverside Health Psychiatric Emergency Department grand opening in Hampton. At 12:30 p.m., he is scheduled to deliver remarks at the VEDP ribbon cutting in Chesapeake.
Guest Commentary: General Assembly Must Pass Prescription Drug Affordability Board to Lower Cost of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
By Victor McKenzie Jr
McKenzie serves as the executive director of Virginia’s Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA), a statewide organization leading advocacy and education for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.
A few weeks ago, I stood alongside members of Congress and other leaders to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act’s progress in lowering health care costs. Thanks to the IRA, more people with substance use disorders are able to access the care they need due to lower monthly premiums and expanded access to care. But the progress cannot stop with the IRA.
500,000 adults in Virginia live with a substance use disorder. Fatal drug overdoses have been the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the Commonwealth since 2013. Addiction is an epidemic, and I have dedicated my career to working with impacted families, lawmakers, and community leaders to improve the support systems and help people get the care they need.
I've witnessed firsthand the severe consequences of untreated substance use disorder and addiction in our communities. I've seen how the stigma surrounding addiction, combined with the limited access to affordable and accessible treatment, has created significant barriers for individuals seeking recovery.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting a woman in her early 30s who courageously shared her ongoing battle with addiction. She proudly mentioned that she had been in recovery for the past five years, remaining committed to her journey through its ups and downs. However, her situation took a heartbreaking turn when she lost her job and insurance, leaving her unable to afford the monthly supply of Suboxone, a crucial treatment for her substance use disorder. The critical medication that had helped her maintain her health and stay on a productive path was suddenly out of reach. Sadly, this story is all too common.
I firmly believe that treatment and recovery shouldn't be beyond the grasp of those who seek it.
More than 25,000 Virginians seek treatment for substance abuse every year, and they face a steep barrier with the high cost of prescription drugs. Beating a substance use disorder is not only mentally taxing, it’s also expensive. Common medications used to treat substance use disorders like Methadone and Buprenorphine can cost more than $6,500 per year.
It's crucial to acknowledge that substance use disorder should be considered a public health crisis, rather than a moral failing. Our response should focus on providing essential resources, rather than passing moral judgments. The reality is rapidly inflating prescription drug costs affect everybody, not just those seeking care and education from my organization. Virginians facing substance use disorder are just part of the 56% of Virginians who have personally felt the negative effect of the rising cost of medicine.
Everyone in Virginia struggling with addiction should have the resources for a good quality of life, including the medicines they need to treat substance abuse disorder.
Yet, time and again, unreasonably high costs worsen health outcomes and continue the vicious cycle of addiction. No one should go without crucial health care because of the prohibitive costs, but a lack of affordable health care keeps patients from overcoming their addictions. Virginians are feeling even more squeezed than other Americans by prescription drug prices. In 2020, Virginians spent 36% more per person on prescription drugs than the national average.
I am standing with other community leaders, health policy experts, and patient advocacy groups this year to share strong support for establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, also known as PDAB, which would place price limits on prescription drugs so we can bring down the costs.
I am calling on the General Assembly to build on the progress of the IRA and lower the cost of health care for all Virginians by finally establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Monty Mason launched a new ad
Sen. Monty Mason (D) launched a new ad in his race for reelection. He is running against Danny Diggs in SD-24.
Youngkin administration says it’s fixing issue that improperly removed some voters from the rolls - AP
by Sarah Rankin
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration said this week, with early voting underway, that it is working to fix an issue that misclassified probation violations as felonies and has led to an unknown number of eligible Virginians being removed from the voter rolls.
State election officials are working with Virginia State Police to identify voters whose registration “may have been canceled in error” and begin the process of having those people reinstated, Andrea Gaines, a spokeswoman for the Department of Elections, said in a statement Wednesday.
Vindman twin eyes congressional bid as a Democrat - Axios
by Hans Nichols
Yevgeny "Eugene" Vindman — the National Security Council official whose twin brother, Alexander, was a star witness in former President Trump's first impeachment — is actively considering a run for Congress as a Democrat in northern Virginia, according to people familiar with the matter.
House District 58 race: Republican Shaia vs. incumbent Democrat Willett - Va Mercury
by Meghan Mcintyre
As Election Day approaches in Virginia, Democratic incumbent Rodney Willett and Republican challenger Riley Shaia are facing off in Henrico’s 58th House District.
The district has narrowly voted for Democratic candidates in recent state and federal elections, except in 2017, when it favored Republicans John Adams and state Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, for attorney general and lieutenant governor, respectively.
Crime, schools and abortion dominate 30th Senate District forum between Roem and Woolf - Inside NOVA
by Ben Peters
Del. Danica Roem faced off against first-time candidate Bill Woolf Sept. 28 at an election forum for the state Senate’s 30th District, where Roem touted numerous legislative accomplishments as a three-term delegate against critiques of her record.
The 30th Senate District, which comprises western Prince William County and the entirety of Manassas and Manassas Park, is viewed as an outside pickup chance for Republicans.
In House District 89 race, candidates want to tackle education and rising cost of living - Virginian Pilot
by Natalie Anderson
Both candidates vying for an open House of Delegates seat representing parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk in the General Assembly say education, cost of living and mental health issues are among their biggest priorities.
Baxter Ennis, a Republican from Chesapeake, and Karen Jenkins, a Democrat from Suffolk, are vying for Virginia House District 89, a seat deemed competitive by the Virginia Public Access Project. Early voting is underway and spans until Nov. 4, with Election Day on Nov. 7.
Virginia trooper alleged retaliation by top commanders for speaking out on pay - RTD
by Patrick Wilson
A Virginia state trooper’s criticism of a proposed pay plan led to threats from his fellow troopers to find out who he was and possibly do him harm, according to an internal affairs complaint. The trooper said the threats were instigated by retaliatory comments from a senior commander who was later cleared of wrongdoing.
Seeking to get more pay for troopers in areas of the state with higher costs of living in 2020, trooper Brandon Ronquest sent an email to state police human resources with concerns about a proposed pay plan.
