Democrats file request for Cuccinelli expenses

2:15 p.m.
State Democrats today blasted Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit against the federal government over health-care reform as a "right-wing" pursuit "doomed to fail," and said they filed a Freedom of Information Act request to find out how much money is being spent on the action.

In a noon news conference, Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, charged that Cuccinelli is advancing “a right wing agenda” with the blessing of Gov. Bob McDonnell, and said the attorney general is pursuing a fight with the federal government over other issues, among them chasing down predatory lenders.

And when the issue of state's rights arose, so did this state's scarred racial past.

Asked by a reporter about any parallels between Virginia's opposition to desegregation decades ago and its current fight against health care reform, Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, said "absolutely."

"If you ask them, a lot of people today are embarrassed by the fact that 50 years ago we engaged in Massive Resistance and regret that we did that, and realize that was a huge waste of time that had a detrimental impact on a whole generation of children who were prevented from going to school," she said.

"If we are not careful, we could have the same detrimental effect on a whole generation of children who are denied health-care coverage right now," McClellan said.

McClellan pointed specifically to the federal health-care reform provision that would not allow insurance companies to deny coverage to children based on pre-existing conditions.

The Democrats' focused push-back came just hours before McDonnell prepares to sign four bills that prohibit Virginians from being required to buy or maintain health insurance.

Cuccinelli cites that law, which technically was already passed but does not go into effect until July 1, in his suit against the federal government. He filed that immediately after President Barack Obama signed the health-care reform legislation yesterday.

Cuccinelli will appear with McDonnell at the signing of the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act bills, several of the which garnered bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

Virginia was the first state in the nation to complete passage of legislation barring their residents from being required to purchase health insurance.

Last night, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus issued a press release saying all of its members stand behind the bill Obama signed.

“We strongly urge our governor to recognize and appreciate the importance and legitimacy of this Act,“ the statement reads. “We also demand that our attorney general cease his baseless, politically motivated attacks and end involvement in the suit against this landmark legislation," the caucus stated.

Democrats are also circulating a petition that Democratic Party Executive Director David Mills said today got 4,000 signatures in three hours. It states, in part, “Every year, we pay Attorney General Cuccinelli’s salary — and the salaries of all of his employees. We demand that the Cuccinelli recognize that the Office of the Attorney General is our law firm, not the piggy bank for his political agenda."

In filing the lawsuit against the federal government, Virginia joined at least 13 other states challenging the health-system overhaul.

Cuccinelli’s constitutional challenge is largely based on the argument that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution cannot be used by Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

McEachin predicted that the state will lose the lawsuit.

The state Democratic Party, in their FOIA request, asked for the following:

--records of Cuccinelli and the attorney general’s office staff in preparing the suit;

-- records of costs to taxpayers of staff work on the lawsuit;

-- a list of conference calls or written correspondence that the attorney general’s office had with other states’ attorneys general or any national conservative groups in planning the lawsuit;

-- the names of any outside firms contracted to assist on the lawsuit;

-- and the attorney general’s full schedule since taking office.

(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier stories are posted below.)

12:35 p.m.
The Democratic Party of Virginia today filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, asking him to reveal how much tax money is being spent on a lawsuit against the federal government over national health-care reform.

In the request, the party asked for:

• records of Cuccinelli and the attorney general’s office staff in preparing the suit;

• records of costs to taxpayers of staff work on the lawsuit;

• a list of conference calls or written correspondence that the attorney general’s office had with other states’ attorneys general or any national conservative groups in planning the lawsuit;

• the names of any outside firms contracted to assist on the lawsuit;

• and the attorney general’s full schedule since taking office.

Democrats held a news conference at noon to discuss their focus against Cuccinelli.

Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, charged that Cuccinelli is advancing "a right wing agenda" with the blessing of Gov. Bob McDonnell.

McEachin said the AG is spending time on a lawsuit "doomed to fail" rather than focusing on other business.

"It is misplaced priorities," he said.

(This has been a breaking news update. The earlier story is posted below.)

11:23 a.m.
Virginia Democrats are organizing their opposition to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit against the federal government over national health-care reform.

Democratic leaders are circulating a petition, setting up a call blast to the AG's office and holding a news conference today to address the cost of Cuccinelli's suit to state taxpayers.

The focused push-back comes as Gov. Bob McDonnell prepares this afternoon to sign four bills into law that prohibit Virginians from being required to buy or maintain health insurance.

Cuccinelli cites that law, which technically was already passed but does not go into effect until July 1, in his suit against the federal government. He filed that immediately after President Barack Obama signed the health-care reform legislation yesterday.

Cuccinelli will appear with McDonnell at the 3 p.m. signing of the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act legislation. Last night, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus issued a press release saying every member of the caucus stands behind the bill Obama signed.

"We strongly urge our governor to recognize and appreciate the importance and legitimacy of this Act," the statement reads. "We also demand that our attorney general cease his baseless, politically motivated attacks and end involvement in the suit against this landmark legislation."

But several of the Healthcare Freedom Act bills that McDonnell is signing today garnered bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

The Democratic Party of Virginia, which is organizing the news conference on the cost of the suit, is urging residents to sign a petition charging that Cuccinelli has filed "yet another frivolous lawsuit" against the federal government.

"Every year, we pay Attorney General Cuccinelli's salary -- and the salaries of all of his employees. We demand that the Cuccinelli recognize that the Office of the Attorney General is our law firm, not the piggy bank for his political agenda," the petition reads.

In filing the suit, Virginia joined at least 13 other states that are legally challenging the health-system overhaul. Cuccinelli's constitutional challenge is largely based on the argument that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution cannot be used by Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.