In Wake of Virginia Lawsuit, Blunt Presses Congress to Address Military Voting

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of a lawsuit in Virginia to extend the deadline for the state's acceptance of military absentee ballots by ten days, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today released the following statement urging Congress to do more to ensure that the ballots of the nation's armed forces are counted:

"Our soldiers stationed over seas should not be disenfranchised from voting. For many of our servicemen and women, this election is not only their first but also one of the most important, and they should have every opportunity to have their vote counted and their voice heard.

"Given the situation in Virginia and elsewhere across the country, it's clear that military voting remains a major problem and ballots should have been mailed out sooner to ensure that members of our armed forces could participate in this historic election.

"Congress had the opportunity to safeguard the votes of our military this year, but regrettably chose instead to do too little, too late. Given their sacrifice for our nation, I urge Democrat leadership to do more in the next Congress to make sure that military participation in our democratic process is vastly improved in the future."

NOTE: Blunt authored a congressional resolution, H. Con. Res. 388, that passed the House in September expressing the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense and the Federal Voting Assistance Program take additional steps to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and their families have ample information on registering to vote and voting in the 2008 election. Similar legislation, authored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), was never considered by the Senate.

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) released a report last September citing that less than 17 percent of the 6 million citizens eligible under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act chose to participate in the 2006 general election. The EAC further found that of the 48,600 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ballots that were not counted by States and local jurisdictions in the November 2006 elections, 70 percent were not counted due to incorrect or undeliverable addresses and that more than 10 percent of all uncounted military and overseas absentee ballots were rejected because they were received past the required deadline.

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U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN VIRGINIA FOXX (R-NC) ENDORSES GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY

Today, U.S. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx announced her endorsement of Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States.

Joining Romney for President, Representative Foxx said, "While the North Carolina primary may not be for several months, our party will begin the process of selecting our nominee in just a few short days. The choice confronting Republicans could not be clearer. We need Governor Romney's leadership, experience, vision and values. He stands for what makes America great. He fought to enforce our immigration laws, reform health care and protect our values. This is leadership I am proud to endorse."

Welcoming Congresswoman Foxx, Governor Romney said, "In just a few short years, Congresswoman Foxx has distinguished herself as a strong conservative leader in the United States House of Representatives. The people of North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District should be honored to have her as their representative. I look forward to working with her to advance conservative change in Washington."

Background On Congresswoman Virginia Foxx:

Dr. Virginia Foxx Is Serving Her Second Term Representing North's Carolina's 5th Congressional District In The United States House Of Representatives. During her time in Congress, Dr. Foxx has championed conservative values, fought to enforce our immigration laws and to cut government spending. National Journal ranked her the most conservative member of the North Carolina Congressional delegation. Dr. Foxx serves on the House Committees on Agriculture, Government Reform, and Education and the Workforce. Prior to serving in Congress, she spent 10 years in the North Carolina Senate. Dr. Foxx was President of Mayland Community College and was an administrator and teacher at Appalachian State University. Dr. Foxx also served as Deputy Secretary for Management in the N.C. Department of Administration.

Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life

MC LEAN, Va., Dec. 20 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the Virginia Society for Human Life, the oldest right to life organization in the country and the state's affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.

This represents the ninth state right to life organization that has followed the lead of the National Right to Life Committee in endorsing Senator Thompson for President.

"Fred Thompson is a stellar candidate for President of the United States," said VSHL President Brenda Fastabend. "Fred Thompson's one hundred percent pro-life voting record compiled during his eight years of service in the U.S. Senate, speaks volumes for his integrity and statesmanship. In the eyes of Virginians who care about the dignity and sanctity of human life and the most basic freedom upon which our nation was founded , the right to life, Fred Thompson is a leader of great promise for the office of president."

Virginia Society for Human Life, Inc., is a voluntary and non-denominational organization united in the belief that the human being in his innate dignity and worth should be safeguarded by law at every stage of biological development. Through education and legislative activity, the Society's purpose is to promote measures which will insure protection for all innocent human life.

"I'm blessed and honored to have the endorsement of the Virginia Society for Human Life for President of the United States," said Senator Thompson. "Virginia Society for Human Life is the oldest right to life organization in the country, and they know I stood with them yesterday, I stand with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow. VSHL and right to life organizations coast to coast who have endorsed by candidacy know I have the ability to win this election. They know I believe in the sanctity of life and as President I will do all that I can to do to protect life."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned. He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.