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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Apr 2

www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2wLJ7xJ/

www.tiktok.com

Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Apr 1

What the #Trump administration is doing with deporting people with no #dueprocess is absolutely insane. This is 1000% unconstitutional. #lawyersofbluesky

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Reposted by Oliver Keene

Senator Mark Warner @markwarner.bsky.social · Mar 20

If there’s one thing that should bring us all together, it should be that American kids – no matter their zip code – get a world-class public education.

By dismantling the Department of Education, Donald Trump is taking square aim at that goal.

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Reposted by Oliver Keene

Senator Mark Warner @markwarner.bsky.social · Mar 21

Trump has now placed a target on the back of CDFIs, critical organizations that help rural and underserved Americans access banks.

So Sen Mike Crapo and I are leading a broad bipartisan coalition to reaffirm our strong support for these essential institutions.
www.warner.senate.gov/public/index...

Warner, Crapo Lead Colleagues in Letter Reaffirming Support for Community Development Financial Institutions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), co-chairs of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus, led a letter to the Trump administration signed by 23 senators ...

www.warner.senate.gov

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Reposted by Oliver Keene

Blue Virginia @bluevirginia.bsky.social · Mar 7

Note that VA09, one of the reddest/Trumpiest districts in America (represented by Republican Morgan Griffith), is on this list, with 32% of the population enrolled in Medicaid. bluevirginia.us/2025/03/frid...

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Reposted by Oliver Keene

Senator Mark Warner @markwarner.bsky.social · Mar 7

No one is stronger, safer, or richer because Trump fired park rangers, CIA and FBI agents, nuclear safety officials, FAA employees, and more.

Trump is sending us backwards.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 30

The ACA one day will be regarded as one of the most important and successful pieces of legislation of our time. While not perfect, it’s helped countless people like me with pre-existing conditions who otherwise would not have healthcare. It’s been a massive step in the right direction.

Carolina Forward @carolinaforward.bsky.social · Nov 30

Did you know: The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) of 2010 was successful at "bending the cost curve" of American healthcare. After four decades of relentlessly rising, the ACA stopped the cost disease cold, besides a blip during COVID. Incredibly successful legislation.

Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Big facts.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Fun fact, while I was chair in Tazewell Co. I helped start their annual dinner which we named in his honor. I believe the tazewell dems still put it on annually. We had folks from all over southwest Virginia show up to honor him that first year.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Glad to help! It’s really a crime that he has largely been forgotten in Virginia politics. He was truly a great person, which isn’t something we can always genuinely say about a politician.

Our party nationwide needs a history lesson on him.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Just gonna leave this here, love seeing this old ad and the late great Delegate Jackie Stump in there! God knows our party needs more of him today.

scalawagmagazine.org/2016/07/jack...

You've never heard of Jackie Stump, but he might be the antidote to Donald Trump – Scalawag

Born in rural Russell County, Jackie Stump lacked a high school diploma, party affiliation, and electoral experience when he first ran for office. But he won. Scalawag looks back at his legacy and wha...

scalawagmagazine.org

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Violates the separation of powers. However, the politicalization of the Court means there is a high likelihood those members will hold in favor of Trump, upholding his power to enact tariffs, regulating foreign trade without the consent of Congress. so buckle up folks.. 2/

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

This would be one of those times when, the conservative members of the Supreme Court, if they really truly believed in the textualism/originalism they so profess, should rule that it’s unconstitutional for Congress to delegate so much of its authority away to the executive branch as it clearly 1/

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

The idea behind this delegation was to enable POTUS to act swiftly in response to trade issues without awaiting legislative action. Which can be incredibly slow and as we all know the law struggles to keep up with technology. But now the easiest way to fix this is legislation like Beyers.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, however, over time, Congress has delegated substantial tariff-setting authority to the President through various statutes.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Another is Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, permitting tariffs in response to unfair trade practices by other countries.

These will be some other legal areas Trump will try to legally exploit to can his Tariffs through.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

To enact these tariffs, POTUS can use existing statutory authorities that grant POTUS the power to adjust tariffs under certain conditions. One authority is Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows POTUS to impose tariffs on imports that threaten national security.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

I am very glad to see that @repdonbeyer.bsky.social has introduced legislation to clear up The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Please call your representatives and encourage them to help get this passed quickly.

Blue Virginia @bluevirginia.bsky.social · Nov 26

Rep. @GerryConnolly (D-VA11), @RepDonBeyer (D-VA08) Blast Trump’s Tariffs: “On day one...Trump will raise prices for millions...of Americans.”; “No president should have the power to raise taxes on the American people without the consent of Congress." bluevirginia.us/2024/11/rep-...

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11), Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) Blast Trump’s Tariffs: “On day one, Donald Trump will raise prices for millions and millions of Americans.”

From Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08): Beyer Statement on Trump Tariff Announcement November 26, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, t...

bluevirginia.us

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

Those were the days. Strong rural messaging back then! Love seeing the late great Delegate Jackie Stump in there too!

Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 27

One thing this tells me is that the Roanoke/New River Valley seats need to be really high on the dems hit list, as should be the Harrisonburg based seat in the house of delegates.

Blue Virginia @bluevirginia.bsky.social · Nov 27

Per @vpapupdates, 2024 US Senate results (Kaine defeated Cao by 9 pts) by state legislative district are *horrible* for Republicans: just 31 safe-GOP districts in the 100-seat House of Delegates; just 13 safe-GOP districts in the 40-seat State Senate! bluevirginia.us/2024/11/2024...

Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 26

Four years from now we are going to think groceries were so cheap under Biden…

Chris Benson @thechrisbenson.com · Nov 26

Trump said Monday in a social media post he will seek to impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico & Canada — framing the proposed plan as a response to the ongoing fentanyl crisis. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...

Trump says he plans to enact new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in his office

Trump said that he plans to seek to impose a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada.

www.nbcnews.com

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 25

11/
And building a Virginia that works for everyone no matter what your zip code is.

Ok, I’ll stop now. #Virginia #SWVA #VirginiaElections2025 #RuralVotesMatter

Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 25

10/
That’s their game plan. Run up the score in the rural areas and cut their losses in the urban areas. That’s their only path to state wide victory.

But it’s not just about making sure we win and they lose. It’s about making sure everyone in this state has good government.

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 25

9/
Now, in Tazewell County, the GOP controls every single county level seat. The story is similar across SWVA, and our margins in bigger races are getting worse.

We have not yet hit the bottom in our totals in the rural vote folks, the bottom is zero and the Virginia GOP won’t stop till it’s there

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Oliver Keene @keeneinthehills.bsky.social · Nov 25

8/
In 2016, despite Trump winning by huge margins across SWVA, Dems had control of a lot of local level seats in the area. When I left Tazewell County as the Dem Chair in 2018, we controlled 6 of 10 county offices, there was only 3 elected county level Republicans, the other one was an independent.

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