CHEERFUL TIGERS: Brentsville competition cheer team wins Class 3 Northwestern District championship, Sports, Page 10
October 24, 2018 | Vol. 17, No. 43 | www.PrinceWilliamTimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park
Wittman, Williams clash on health care, tariffs in first debate By Karen Chaffraix and Jill Palermo Times Staff Writers
By his campaign’s own count, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman has voted more than 50 times to repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act. But during his first debate with his Democratic challenger Vangie Williams Monday night, Wittman said he now supports retaining the ACA’s most significant achievements: mandating coverage for pre-existing conditions, allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ policies until age 26 and forbidding lifetime caps on medical coverage. Williams, meanwhile, insisted health care is a “human right” and
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R) and challenger Vangie Williams (D) said she supports “Medicare-forall-plus-plus,” a public health-insurance option that includes dental and vision. Williams said it was her own family’s struggle to pay for her daughter’s health care that prompted her run for Congress and said
Republicans “have done nothing” to improve the issue despite holding the majority in Congress since 2011. Wittman countered by saying he opposes more government intrusion in health care. “People trust themselves and their doctors for healthcare decisions, and they don’t want a government takeover,” he said. The nation’s health-care law – and what should be done about it – is among the issues that most divide Republicans and Democrats ahead of the Nov. 6 election. It’s no different for Wittman, a Republican and five-term incumbent, and Williams, a government contractor and Democratic newcomer who’s launched a long-shot campaign to be the first
woman of color to represent Virginia in the U.S. Congress. The 1st District, which includes parts of Fauquier and Prince William counties, has been solidly Republican in recent decades. The seat hasn’t been won by a Democrat since 1974. In 2016, President Donald Trump won the district with 53 percent of the vote. During the Oct. 22 debate at Mary Washington University, the two candidates also clashed on defense spending as well as the Trump administration’s tariff policies and subsequent $12 billion bailout for U.S. farmers. See DEBATE, Page 2
SUBMITTED
The Manassas summer estate Alexandria brewer Robert Portner built for his family in 1892 will soon become a new park, City of Manassas officials announced Friday, Oct. 19.
Annaburg Manor to become a new public park Novant agrees to sell the 126-year-old home to the City of Manassas By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
Eight months after Novant Health-UVA Health said it would put Annaburg Manor up for sale, City of Manassas officials delivered some surprising
and welcome news for those hoping to preserve the stately, 126-year-old home for public use. City officials announced Friday, Oct. 19 an agreement to buy the manor and its 3.6 acres along Maple Street and Portner Avenue to create the city’s 16th public park. The Prince William Hospital Corporation, part of Novant Health, has agreed to sell Annaburg Manor to the City of Manassas for $846,000. The price reflects the current tax assessment of the property, according to Manassas Town Councilman Ian Lovejoy (R). The sale will not affect the adjacent Caton
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Merchant House, an assisted-living facility behind Annaburg Manor, which is also owned by Novant Health, said Lovejoy, who serves on the Caton Merchant House Board of Directors. To fund the purchase, the city will use some of the $8 million it has already collected from selling city-owned land being developed as “The Landing at Cannon Branch.” The mix of townhomes, restaurants and commercial space is coming to fruition near Va. 28 and Va. 234. See ANNABURG MANOR, Page 2
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FROM PAGE 1
Wittman, Williams clash on health care, tariffs in first debate DEBATE, from Page 1 The two seemed to find common ground on immigration and climate change and both had strong words about the murder of Virginia resident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier this month. Wittman called the Saudis’ claim that Khashoggi’s death was accidental “untenable, unrealistic and not truthful,” and said the U.S. Congress “cannot look the other way when it comes to this heinous human rights violation” and must hold the Saudis “accountable.” In response, Williams said she “couldn’t say anything more than that,” adding that the Saudis have “fractured our faith in humanity.” Neither candidate mentioned the $1 billion arms deal the Saudi kingdom has negotiated with U.S. defense firms and
Annaburg Manor to become a new public park ANNABURG MANOR, from Page 1 The city expects to eventually make $20 million from the sale of the entire 40 acres slated to be used for the project, Lovejoy said.
Future use of the manor home TBD
It’s not yet clear what will become of the white-columned manor house. Built in 1892 as a summer home for Alexandria brewer Robert Portner, his wife Anna, and their 11 surviving children, Annaburg Manor is perhaps most famous for being the first private residence in the U.S. to have air-conditioning. The system was adapted from Portner’s own invention, which he originally developed to refrigerate his Tivoli-brand lager beer. Named for Portner’s wife, Anna, Annaburg was once the center of the 2,000-acre Liberia Plantation and included a deer park, fountains, a greenhouse and a swimming pool. The hospital acquired the home in the 1960s and used it as part of its nursing and rehabilitation center until 2006. Since then, it’s been boarded up and unused.
Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | October 24, 2018
whether it should be abandoned because of the murder, as some critics suggest. The 90-minute forum, moderated by UMW Professor Stephen Farnsworth with help from two Fredericksburg-area journalists, was mostly congenial. Williams wore a red jacket, her signature sartorial choice on the campaign trail, while Wittman wore a dark suit and a Trump-esque solid red tie. At times during the discussion, Williams sought to put Wittman on defense by noting that some of the district’s long-term issues, including traffic congestion and uneven access to broadband internet, remain everyday annoyances for its 750,000 residents despite Wittman’s 11 years in Congress. She also called Wittman a “hidden figure” in reference to his refusal since Trump’s election to hold a public town hall. Wittman shot back by saying he frequently meets with groups in smaller settings and interacts with constituents regularly. He also offered lengthy explanations of various bills he has championed to address access to broadband According to a recent city study of the home, it would cost $2 to $3 million to restore it, Lovejoy said. The city is looking for a willing nonprofit to take that on the project, if such a group can be found. As part of the deal, the Prince William Hospital Corporation is offering a $75,000 “challenge donation” to a nonprofit that can raise enough to match the grant and more to “preserve, renovate, repair and maintain Annaburg Manor,” according to the city’s news release. Right now, Lovejoy said, the city’s move to purchase the property is less about the home and more about preserving the land for park space. The property could have been gobbled up by new development, which Novant Health-UVA Health could have pursued by right. The area is zoned residential and could have become four new residential lots. But city council members would also like to see the home eventually used to the benefit the community, Lovejoy said. “I would love to see a nonprofit approach the city to use the house as maybe a museum site or an additional cultural attraction,” Lovejoy said.
Wolfe: ‘Broad support’ among councilmembers
The council had been discussing Annaburg’s fate in closed session for
internet and other issues, including the opioid addiction crisis.
Tariffs and $12 billion bailout
On the recently approved $717 billion defense bill, Wittman defended the measure as “wise” and necessary to restore military readiness, which he said “has atrophied” in recent years. Williams, however, questioned whether too much of the money is diverted to corporations that supply arms and equipment while military personnel are underpaid. Williams also pointed out that Wittman has received more than $700,000 in campaign donations from defense contractors. “We have active-duty men and women in this district on food stamps. We have veterans [living] below the poverty line. We also have active-duty men and women [living] below the poverty line,” Williams said. “The scary thing is, we don’t have a problem with our military. We have a problem with our congressman being beholden to corporate interests.”
On the Trump administration’s moves to address trade imbalances with tariffs, Wittman acknowledged “deep reservations.” Still, he said the country must not forget China’s transgressions, including intellectual property theft and “the things they are doing to manipulate currency.” Wittman also credited President Trump for new trade deals with Mexico, Canada and Europe. “I’ve been adamant to say, listen, I have a different vision about [tariffs],” Wittman said. “But the president has taken that option and he believes it will be effective. I think time will be the ultimate judge of that.” Williams called the $12 billion farm bill “a quick fix to a problem we didn’t have before” and said Wittman didn’t do enough to stand up to the Trump administration against tariffs. “When the chips were down, Rob Wittman didn’t fight for the farmers in this district,” she said. “We deserve better.” Contact: news@fauquier.com
months, according to both Lovejoy and Councilman Mark Wolfe (D). The city made the announcement about the sale agreement Friday, Oct. 19 because the Prince William Hospital Board of Trustees met Thursday, Oct. 18, and agreed to the parameters of the deal, Wolfe said. The city council will eventually hold a public vote on Annaburg Manor. Wolfe said there is “broad support” among councilmembers to purchase the property. The city and Novant have entered into a 60-day review period, during which city staff will assess the condition of the house to ensure it’s not in worse shape than they expect. If it is, the city could renegotiate the sale price, Wolfe said. Wolfe said he, too, is grateful for Novant’s willingness to find a community-based solution for Annaburg Manor. For Novant, the agreement delivers some revenue for the property while eliminating a “sore spot” over whether the health system was taking sufficient care of the historic home, Wolfe said. “To me, at the end of the day, I couldn’t envision a situation where we would have allowed the house to be demolished and the green space to be lost,” Wolfe said. “That wasn’t acceptable to me.” Indeed, Steve Hersch, head of the nonprofit Manassas Landmarks, was
among those who had been critical of the health system’s maintenance of Annaburg. Back in February, Hersch and others said Novant seemed to be pursuing a strategy of “demolition by neglect” of the manor house. The City of Manassas Architectural Review Board voted late last year to recommend the city create a new historic district around the Annaburg property to offer a modicum of protection for the home. Hersch said he was surprised by the sale agreement and called it “a great deal” for the city. “I think it’s just wonderful because a year ago people were worried the darn thing wasn’t going to be standing,” Hersch said. In a news city release, Steve Danziger, chairman of the Prince William Hospital Board of Trustees, said the sale is the result of the health system’s desire to respond to the community’s concerns about Annaburg. “We listened to community sentiment that this beautiful and significant property not be used for a future healthcare facility,” Danziger said in the release. “We are pleased to join the city’s efforts to restore this property as parkland for community use through a contribution of $75,000 for restoration and maintenance of the space.” Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@ fauquier.com
Defense spending
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Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | October 24, 2018
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Wittman prefers ‘common-sense conservative’ Five-term congressman touts bi-partisan achievements on the trail By Robin Earl
Contributing Writer
Pushing away the label “moderate Republican,” U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman said he considers himself “a common sense conservative” or “a get-it-done Republican.” “It’s something related to action rather than some of these descriptors that are more ideological,” he said in a recent interview. Wittman is running for a sixth term in the 1st Congressional District. His opponent in the Nov. 6 election is Democrat Vangie Williams. The first district includes about half of Prince Wiliam County. In office since 2007, Wittman said legislating hasn’t changed much since then. “I think the essence of legislating is still the same. It’s still taking good ideas from people back home, putting those together in the form of legislation and then working with colleagues in Congress to be able to get those things done… That’s why I always look for a bi-partisan co-sponsor of legislation, so I am finding all the different opportunities for support out there.” Wittman cites several examples of working alongside Democrats to pass legislation. He is particularly proud of is the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017. It recognizes the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Monacan and Nansemond tribes as sovereign nations. The six tribes, encompassing about 4,400 members, are now eligible for federal assistance in education, healthcare and housing, at a projected cost of about $67 million during the next four years. The Senate version of the bill, co-sponsored by Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both Democrats, passed unanimously Jan. 11. The bill was signed into law Jan. 13. Wittman said, “This fixes an injustice… Finally getting this through was very satisfying.”
Affordable Care Act
On healthcare, Wittman said his constituents are concerned about increasing costs for care and prescriptions. He promotes telemedicine as one possible tool in the battle to keep costs down, particularly in rural areas. Wittman has voted more than 50 times to repeal or amend the Affordable Care Act. The most recent time was May 2017 when the House passed a full repeal and replacement plan. Wittman’s office released this statement regarding healthcare: “By any measure, the Affordable Care Act has failed to deliver on its promises to lower costs, increase access to care, and expand choice. In fact, the exact opposite has occurred. Congressman Wittman believes we need a patient-centered system that favors quality, choice and empowers individuals and families to make decisions for themselves based on what best fits their needs, wants, and budget – all while protecting folks with pre-existing conditions.”
Opioid crisis
Wittman said he worked closely with Democrats on a bill to address the opioid crisis through the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. The bill combines 50 separate pieces of legislation to address the epidemic, he said. Passed earlier this month, the act provides $10 billion in federal dollars for states to use at the local level. It addresses treatment and recovery and recognizes opioid addiction “is not something you can incarcerate your way out of,” Wittman said. The bill also addresses prevention, including holding physicians accountable for over-prescribing opiates and looking at how illegal drugs find their way into communities.
Environment
As a scientist by education and profession, Wittman believes he is able to enrich the conversation on the environment. “It allows me to craft legislation to get things done and engage others to join me in that legislation,” he said. Wittman sponsored the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, which defines how bay recovery efforts are applied and managed. Wittman worked with other members in Congress to pass the bill in 2014. Warner and Kaine co-sponsored the bill in the Senate. “We were able to make sure we were able to track where every penny goes to on bay programs,” Wittman said. “We were able to determine how much is spent and then determine, too, is it being spent the right way? Are we seeing results? If not, how can we do better?”
How Congress functions
Wittman said he believes Congress needs to commit to do – at a minimum – two things: The budget and the appropriaU.S. Rep. Rob tions bills must Wittman be completed on time. For five years, Wittman has been pushing the No Budget, No Pay Act, a bill that says members of Congress should not get paid if they cannot pass a budget by April 15. He also has crafted a bill called the Stay on Schedule (S.O.S.) Resolution. It states that members should not go home for August recess unless they get all their work done by the end of July. That means getting appropriation bills passed and avoiding continuing resolutions — and the threat of a government shutdown. “We need to get the job done,” he said. “Those are the things that we can do to really make Congress operate and function the way it should.”
Constituent concerns
When Wittman is out campaigning, he says his constituents ask him about issues that affect their families directly: the economy, education (both career and technical education) and healthcare. When it comes to education, he said, of the 7.1 million jobs open today, 75
percent do require a four-year college degree, but they do require a post-secondary certificate or credentials. Because of its importance to education and to business, the accessibility of broadband internet in rural areas is a key priority for him, Wittman said. Wittman said he enjoys the chance to connect with his constituents on the campaign trail. “It’s been an exciting time; we’ve traveled across the district… We’ve gotten really great feedback,” he said. “The ideas that are the best solutions for the challenges this nation face are in the hearts and minds of the people back home. They don’t exist in the 90 miles of fantasy land that is Washington, D.C.” Reach Robin Earl at news@fauquier.com
Rep. Rob Wittman at a glance
• Spent 26 years working in state government, most recently as field director for the Virginia Health Department’s Division of Shellfish Sanitation. Earlier, he worked as an environmental health specialist for local health departments in Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula regions. • Holds a Ph.D. in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s degree in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina, and a bachelor’s in biology from Virginia Tech. • Lives in Montross. He and his wife have two children and four grandchildren.
Senior citizens
As the national deficit has risen over the last year, some politicians are reportedly considering cuts to programs such as Social Security and Medicare, but Wittman said he’s not one of them. “I am absolutely opposed to that…. It’s our obligation to protect those benefits,” he said. Wittman said he is, however, concerned about having enough money to fund these programs in the future but did not say what changes he would suggest. “The Social Security trustees tell us we need to address Social Security in the long run… It’s really a simple math problem,” he said. “We have to make sure those systems take in enough money to match the number of dollars going out… I want to make sure we have those discussions to assure that Social Security is there for folks not only today, but when they need it in the years to come.” Wittman was quick to point out the recent 2.8-percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits, announced this month. “And if you are on the standard premium plan under Medicare, then you are not going to have additional premium costs, so you will get the full 2.8 percent literally in your pocket from the cost-of-living increases for Social Security,” he said.
Paradise Springs Winery, Talk of the Mountain Seafood crab cakes & hush puppies & the Smokin’ Trout Band Also, on Saturday, The Inn at Little Washington is hosting a book talk at the Little Washington Theatre at 11AM. Young Washington author Peter Stark will discuss his book, which will be available for purchase and signing. The talk is free.
Saturday October 20th, 10am-2pm