“Today Democratic leaders in the House released the outline of their plan to reform our broken health care system. The House's effort brings us a step closer to a solution that fixes what is broken with our system and builds on what already works. In the months and weeks ahead, the DNC will continue to engage people around the health care issue and push for reform that is essential to American families and businesses, and the long term health of our economy.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine issued the following statement on the nomination of Creigh Deeds for Governor in today’s Democratic primary election:

“Today, we were fortunate to have had three excellent candidates who waged hard-fought campaigns. Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran each made phenomenal efforts in their quest to represent the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, in this race, as in every election, only one person can claim victory. Tonight is Creigh Deeds’ night.

“The election of Senator Deeds tonight as the 2009 Democratic nominee for governor is an incredible victory for Virginia—and its citizens. Senator Deeds’ victory is a clear signal Virginians want to keep our state moving forward, and I am pleased to extend my congratulations to my friend and colleague on this critical accomplishment.

“As Virginia continues to weather the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, we need elected leaders with the savvy and the courage to make the tough decisions to get our economy back on track. With his years of dedicated public service and real-world experience, Creigh is the ideal leader to keep Virginia the Best State for Business, the Best-Managed State, and the Place Where a Child is Most Likely to Succeed in Life. I’ve worked closely with Senator Deeds over the years and I am confident he will do what’s right for our communities and our Commonwealth.

“I know from experience that Virginia is a place where Democrats have won—and will continue to win—because we take a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to politics and governing, instead of an ideological one. We’re known for being problem-solvers and unifiers and we pursue policies that work for Virginia families.

“Creigh Deeds has always been able to bring people together, build consensus, and deliver results. That’s exactly the approach that Virginians have supported over the past eight years, and I have no doubt that Creigh will work in a bipartisan way to keep building on the progress we’ve made.

“In the coming months, Virginians will have the chance to decide who we want to be the chief steward of our resources and the kind of leader we feel will ensure the best opportunities for our families and our future.

“The choice is clear: Creigh Deeds is the best candidate to continue the work begun by my administration — and the Warner administration before ours — while positioning us for future achievements.”

“Nominating a justice to the Supreme Court of the United States is one of a President’s most serious and consequential responsibilities. Today, we commend President Obama on his selection of Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to the Supreme Court.

“Judge Sotomayor’s impeccable resume makes her one of the most qualified nominees in recent memory. After graduating at the top of her class at Princeton University and Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal, Sotomayor worked as a big city prosecutor, a corporate litigator, a federal district judge and most recently, as a judge on the Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. She would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in the last 100 years.

“Judge Sotomayor also has an inspiring personal story. Sotomayor's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico during World War II. She was born and raised in a public housing project in the South Bronx, steps from Yankee stadium. Only in America, could someone rise from such humble beginnings to the highest court in the land.

“Sotomayor’s stirring personal history and three decades of experience in nearly every level of America’s judicial system make her uniquely qualified for the Supreme Court. Her powerful intellect and reputation as a fearless jurist, in combination with her profound respect for the rule of law and common sense understanding of how those laws affect the realities of people lives, make her an outstanding choice. We congratulate President Obama on this historic decision and congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination.”

DNC Officers & Caucus Chairs:

Donna Brazile Ramona Martinez
DNC Vice Chair of Voter Registration & Participation DNC Hispanic Caucus Chair

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Mame Reiley
DNC Vice Chair DNC Women's Caucus Chair

Rep. Mike Honda Bel Leong-Hong
DNC Vice Chair DNC APIA Caucus Chair

Linda Chavez-Thompson Rick Stafford
DNC Vice Chair DNC LGBT Caucus Chair

Raymond Buckley Virgie M. Rollins
DNC Vice Chair, ASDC President DNC Black Caucus Chair

Alice Germond
DNC Secretary

Jane Stetson
DNC Finance Chair

Andrew Tobias
DNC Treasurer

“Nominating a justice to the Supreme Court of the United States is one of a President’s most serious responsibilities. Today, President Obama announced an outstanding nominee in Sonia Sotomayor. Her experience in the American judicial system, coupled with her inspiring life story and fierce intellect, make her uniquely qualified to serve on the nation’s highest court.

“Sonia Sotomayor was born and raised in a public housing project in the South Bronx to immigrant parents of Puerto Rican descent. Sotomayor’s mother instilled in her a belief in the power of a good education and driven by that belief, Sotomayor graduated with the highest honors from Princeton University and Yale Law School.

“Sotomayor has worked at nearly every level of the American judicial system for the past three decades: as a district attorney prosecuting violent crimes, as a corporate litigator working on complex commercial cases, as a federal district judge, and most recently, as a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has been lauded as a fearless jurist, with a sharp and independent mind and a deep commitment to the rule of law and our constitutional traditions.

“In every way imaginable, Sonia Sotomayor has lived the American dream. She will be the Court’s first Latina, its third woman, and the only Justice on the current court with experience as a trial judge. I commend President Obama on his choice and congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine praised House and Senate Democrats today for passing President Obama’s budget which restores fiscal discipline, strengthens the middle class and invests in the nation’s future.

“Facing the worst economic crisis in decades, President Obama took the oath of office 100 days ago with a bold agenda to turn our economy around, get Americans back to work and lay a solid foundation for future economic growth and prosperity. And he has done just that. The budget passed today by Congress affirms and supports that vision and addresses the President’s fundamental priorities: halving the deficit over the next four years, providing quality, affordable health care to Americans, improving education investing in the clean energy revolution while reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Kaine."

“While the President and Democrats in Congress have moved with remarkable speed and with bold action to address our nation's problems, instead of contributing meaningful ideas and solutions, Republicans chose to just say no rather than support the President's plans or provide constructive alternatives of their own. The good news for Republicans, however, is that this budget is only the first step in addressing the challenges we face as a nation. As the President has said since day one, I urge Republicans to set aside their reflexive partisanship and play a constructive role in the coming debates on health care, energy and education because the American people expect more than just 'no' from the minority party in Congress.”

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine released the following statement on passage by the House of Representatives of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009:

“The House of Representatives took an important step today to close gaps in federal hate crimes law and ensure further protections for all American citizens who fall victim to violent crimes of intolerance. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act allocates crucial federal resources to assist states and local law enforcement in their efforts to prevent and prosecute hate crimes, while also maintaining individuals’ rights to freedom of speech and association. More than 300 organizations representing law enforcement, civic, civil rights and religious groups have voiced their strong support for this long-overdue legislation. I congratulate the House of Representatives, and I urge the Senate to take swift action on this important civil rights issue so that the President may sign the bill into law.”

Specter Switch, Election of Scott Murphy in Republican Leaning Congressional District in New York, Shows Republican Party Has Lost Touch with the American People, Kaine Says

Washington, D.C. – Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement on Senator Arlen Specter’s decision to join the Democratic Party and work with Senate Democrats to achieve the President’s vision for a strong and growing economy.

“I am pleased to offer Senator Specter my sincere congratulations on his decision to join the Democratic Party and I welcome him with open arms,” said DNC Chairman Kaine. “Over nearly three decades in the United States Senate, Senator Specter has represented the people of Pennsylvania with honor, conviction, and an allegiance to deeply held principles that I know will continue to inform his decisions as a member of the Democratic caucus. Senator Specter courageously supported the President's economic recovery package while most Republicans played politics with our nation's economy. The Senator's willingness to set politics aside and be part of finding solutions to our nation's problems will find a welcome reception in the Democratic Party. Coming on the heels of Democrat Scott Murphy's victory in a Republican leaning congressional district in New York state, Senator Specter's decision is additional proof that the Republican Party is in serious trouble because it has lost touch with the American people and their desire for change which was so on display in November.

“As Senator Specter noted, the Republican Party has drifted far to the right and seems more interested in ideology, conflict and obstruction than in working constructively to address the nation's problems, and no longer appeals to moderates, including Senator Specter. I commend Senator Specter on his decision to work with President Obama and Senate Democrats to help turn our economy around, create jobs and put the country back on the right track. We are thrilled to welcome Senator Specter into the Democratic fold and he can count on our full support."

“Today we highlight the important struggle of American women to earn equal pay for equal work. Women first entered the work force en masse during World War II and now comprise almost half of all American workers. They are lawyers and retailers and entrepreneurs – and women are projected to account for 49% of the increase in total labor force growth between 2006 and 2016. Despite this remarkable progress, a woman still earns only 78 cents for every dollar a man earns; a disparity that hurts not only women, but all American families.

“As we work to turn the page on the current economic crisis, it’s more important then ever that our economy works for everyone and protections are in place to prevent pay discrimination. That’s why President Obama and the Democratic Congress have made equal pay a top priority. The first bill President Obama signed, just a week after taking office, was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that makes it illegal for men and women to be paid differently for the same job.

“While we have come a long way on this important issue, we realize there is still more progress to be made. So today we will celebrate the contributions women have made to the American workforce and pledge our continued support as we work to close the pay gap.”

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine praised Democrat Scott Murphy's victory over Republican Jim Tedisco in the special election for New York's 20th Congressional District, calling his win in a heavily Republican leaning district a demonstration of broad support for President Obama's leadership and the President's efforts to turn the economy around and create jobs.

"Scott Murphy's long-awaited victory is proof positive that Americans, even in this heavily Republican district, support the President and want him to succeed and the result is a repudiation of the failed policies of the past touted by Republicans," said Kaine. "Republicans decided to make this race a referendum on President Obama's leadership of the economy and his jobs and economic recovery plan - and given the result we are thankful that they did. Scott Murphy embraced President Obama's approach to the economy and his message of change while his opponent embraced the politics of division and the failed economic policies that got our country into the mess we find ourselves in today. While the Republican Party and its candidates appear to have learned nothing from recent elections and the nation's obvious desire for change, I commend the voters in New York 20 for supporting Scott and giving the President another strong ally for change as the Obama Administration moves forward with its plans to reform healthcare, invest in clean energy and improve education.” In the run-up to Election Day, Scott Murphy trailed Republican Jim Tedisco, the well known Minority Leader of New York State Assembly, by as much as 21 points, but came from behind in a heavily Republican district to secure a victory.

Since the beginning, the race to replace former Representative Kirsten Gillibrand has been a referendum on President Obama's plans for the economy including passage of the President's $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Murphy strongly supported the ARRA while Tedisco for weeks refused to say how he would have voted. Tedisco eventually was forced to say he would have opposed the President's jobs and economic recovery package - legislation which is popular in New York 20 and across the country and which is already showing signs of success in saving and creating jobs.

President Obama formally endorsed Murphy in an email to supporters in and around New York 20 the week prior to election day, encouraging thousands of residents in the area to volunteer on behalf of Murphy. The President sent another note to tens of thousands of supporters in New York 20 on election eve urging them to go to the polls and vote for Murphy. Vice President Biden recorded a radio ad on Murphy’s behalf as well automated phones calls used to help turn out voters in the area for Murphy.

Following the President’s endorsement, the DNC ran a television ad in the Albany market touting the President’s support of Murphy and urging voters to turn out to the polls. The DNC also recruited volunteers for phone banks run out of DNC headquarters, assisted the campaign with its micro-targeting of voters, and Governor Kaine directed the committee’s major donors to contribute to the Murphy campaign.

While Republicans made the race a referendum on the President’s leadership, they also made it a priority in their efforts to rebuild the GOP after two consecutive electoral drubbings. RNC Chairman Michael Steele invested heavily in the race, said it was a “focal point” and that it was a district Republicans should win. The loss is a blow to both the GOP’s strategy of “just saying no” to President Obama’s popular and successful economic policies, but is also a huge blow to Steele and the GOP which made NY 20 the “focal point” of the party’s effort to mount an electoral comeback.

Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued the following statement congratulating Mike Quigley of Illinois on his election to the United States House of Representatives:

“I'm honored to congratulate Mike Quigley on his election to the United States House of Representatives where he will be another ally of President Obama's in the effort to rebuild our economy and bring change to Washington. Mike’s record of service as Cook County Commissioner and his dedication to fiscal responsibility and government reform have more than prepared him to take on the challenges we face today. Mike will be a tireless advocate for the people of Illinois’ fifth congressional district, and I look forward to working alongside him to help secure legislation that supports President Obama’s vision for our country.”