Speaking Truth to Power
Michael Pope
Welcome to Transition Virginia, the podcast that examines the transition of power from Republican to Democrat. My name is Michael Pope and I'm joined by the co host of Transition Virginia via Skype. All the way from Richmond, Thomas Bowman. Thomas, how you doing?
Thomas Bowman
I'm doing well, Michael, I'm cooped up. I'm ready to get out but I'm really sad that people can't just wear their masks so we don't have to lock down again and it seems like that's where they're headed.
Michael Pope
I'm ready to get out. You're ready to get out. And you know, our guest today is someone who also, I bet, is really eager to get out and hit the campaign trail, Delegate Elizabeth Guzman. Delegate Guzman, how are you doing?
Elizabeth Guzman
I'm doing all right, Michael. Hi, Thomas. It's really nice to hear from you.
Thomas Bowman
Nice to hear you again too, Delegate.
Michael Pope
I say that you're interested in hitting the campaign trail because you are exploring a campaign for Lieutenant Governor, is that right?
Elizabeth Guzman
Yeah, that's accurate.
Michael Pope
Okay, well, tell us a little bit about why you're thinking about this particular job.
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, I first would like to say that there has never been a woman or Hispanic Lieutenant Governor, so both of these perspectives are important. You know, I also believe that the Senate needs more progressive voices. We saw during the last Legislative Session, and you know, I see the Lieutenant Governor job, as a promotion. I consider that I have been an effective Legislator for the past three years, and I have championed several pieces of significant legislation through both Chambers in the minority and in the majority. So I see the role of a Lieutenant Governor as a promotion for a successful legislator. And you know what, I will make my case to voters, respectfully, that I've earned this promotion.
Michael Pope
Now, I want to ask you about your qualifications to be Lieutenant Governor. How are you at standing for long periods of time?
Elizabeth Guzman
Oh, I can do well, you know, as sleeping as seat after 26 years, and having an opponent like Scott Lingamfelter, you have to leave it all out in the field, so I know how to walk, walk and stand for long periods of time. And mainly when you represent Fauquier County, where there are long driveways up and down the hill, where you have to be talking to voters as well.
Michael Pope
Okay, she can stand well, so that I guess ends the interview. Thank you so much for joining us. Just kidding. Just kidding. So no, in all seriousness, though, you you mentioned that you would be the first woman, Lieutenant Governor, the first Hispanic Lieutenant Governor. I believe you were the first Latina elected to the House of Delegates. Is that right?
Elizabeth Guzman
Yeah, that's, that's correct.
Michael Pope
Okay, so you would carry that tradition through to the role of being Lieutenant Governor. You know, the the whole job of Lieutenant Governor is kind of an afterthought. It's not really high publicity. People usually only talk about it in the sense as using as a springboard to potentially run for Governor. In terms of potentially putting your hat into the ring to run for this office. I'm going to ask you a question that the publisher of Connection Newspapers, Mary Kimm, often asked this question to candidates, which is, why are you doing this to yourself?
Elizabeth Guzman
I wanted to make sure that I can Caucus with the Senate Democrats. I am curious to know, you know, conversations as far as collective bargaining basic days, you know, I think I respect each one of them. And it's been an honor honored to serve with them. But I believe that we don't have someone who could, for example, represent the labor community or the working class. So I want to bring those insights with me. And you know, it's a part time job as well. One thing that I know today, is that, I do respect all of the women that have been serving in the Virginia Assembly before. So you tell me that four years from now, I will be running for Governor, I will tell you no, I will defer to my colleagues who are serving there for a long time and that deserve to become the first female Governor. So I'm okay as the Lieutenant Governor, you know, playing an important role there, being a progressive voice, breaking tie votes, you know, working with on the floor, to see what's going to happen, you know. It's just a different world, completely different than the House, from what I've seen.
Thomas Bowman
Well, let's talk about that different world that we're headed into and since you're considering a run for Lieutenant Governor, let's talk about the new world of offshore wind and solar. Very briefly, just what are your thoughts on some of the new alternative energy sources coming online? And what do you want to see over the next four years that you would be Lieutenant Governor?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, what I would say first, I would recognize, you know, the accomplishments that we have made these past Legislative Session. You know, I think that it's been a historic moment. You know, what we just accomplished. I would like, for example, for people to agree that we need to agree on the Green New Deal, for example, you know. That we could create thousands of good jobs while addressing the climate emergency and restoring Virginia's environment. And that doesn't mean that as part of adjustment season, we can be committed to put injustice at the forefront, and to talk about the importance of Green union jobs for union brothers and sisters, you know. I think that I got a good record of the environment, you know, by getting an A plus rating from the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters. I've been awarded by them. So I think that the future is that we have to be able to eliminate carbon emissions before 2045, if possible.
Michael Pope
Delegate Guzman, I want to follow up on this Green New Deal issue. So when you say Green New Deal to people, a lot of times you get all kinds of different responses because people interpret that differently. What exactly does the Green New Deal mean to you? Give me some specifics about what would change as a result of the Green New Deal platform that you might run on?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, number one, we have to acknowledge that this is not a legislation, this is just a resolution. So with the resolution we are acknowledging that we are living in a climate emergency, and we need to act today. We need to acknowledge that 2045 is too late for eliminate carbon emissions. If possible, we have to work together, you know, with all of the stakeholders to be able to do it by 2030, for example. And we need to do a transition without affecting vulnerable communities, like what is going, for example, in Union going on in the Union field. And so I think that we can address all of those. We can, it could be a just transition of protecting the environment, protecting wars, and creating more Green Union jobs.
Thomas Bowman
I like where you're headed with those Green Union jobs. In a past life, I was a lobbyist for a major labor union and one of the things that we learned was those pipeline jobs, that a lot of good Democrats oppose, are often the best jobs and energy were the lowest skilled worker, the laborer, is making $31 an hour on those pipeline jobs. And a lot of the opposition to renewable energy comes from the fact that the skills needed for a solar farm are almost non existent. So it's not a very good job in comparison. How are we going to make renewable energy jobs, good jobs?
Elizabeth Guzman
So we need to start by addressing and you, Thomas, I think you nailed it right on the head. You know, that's a conversation. And I've been able to navigate both systems as a labor sister, and as the champion for the Green New Deal, that it's possible. And I understand that my brothers for example from my unit, or the pipeline trades they need those jobs. However, is the job of our, of us Legislators, to help them and provide these mechanisms to acquire new skills because at the end of the day, y ou know, if we look at these type of jobs, we are exposing them, they are risking their health. So we need to sit down together, provide new training, offer them jobs where they could make as much as $31 an hour or more. But they might be, I mean, pipelines is not just everything that they do if they are trying to do much more. And I would like for us to sit down and find those jobs that are going to pay them more than $31 an hour.
Michael Pope
Delegate Guzman, I was interested in talking a little bit about the politics of what a Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor would look like. So right now, as we're recording this, there are two official candidates who have already issued paperwork and officially thrown their hat into the ring. Former Democratic Party Chairman, Paul Goldman and Prince William Delegate, Haya Ayala. And then there are two candidates who are officially exploring a run. There's you, of course, and then also Norfolk City Councilwoman, Andria McClellan. So that's already kind of a crowded field and we're like a year out from the Primary. How would you distinguish yourself in the field, especially considering you've got another Delegate from Prince William County. You might end up with two candidates from Prince William County. Talk a little bit about how you might distinguish yourself in a statewide campaign where you have to go out to Southwest Virginia, and sort of persuade people out there to vote for you. How would you distinguish yourself in that field?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, I want to start by saying, you know that that's why primaries are so important. You know, they're open to everyone who wants to put their name in the hat. You know, it's an open field, and at the end of the day, the citizens of Virginia are going to decide who the nominee is going to be. One thing that I could tell you, Mike, is if I get into this race, I'm gonna work extremely hard. I'm a good hustler, and I will go to every corner in Virginia to reach out to voters. I kind of experienced, you know, a successful campaign and running for DNC, as the first Latina to represent Virginia as a DNC member. And I was able to get the most amount of vote of votes. And how did I did? Did I do that? But, you know, through a pandemic, it was a different type of experience to campaign, but I've made myself accessible and available to every Democrat throughout Virginia, regardless of their zip code. Everyone got the same attention from my candidacy, as I held listening sessions in every single Congressional District. What I could tell you, as well, that when I'm looking at the other candidates, I would say that I represent not only one county, but I represent two counties because I'm the only Democrat that represents Fauquier County at the State Legislature. And they we might not win overall in the county wide election in Fauquier, but there are progressive Democrats in Fauquier County that are out there, and they are willing to knock on those doors and knock on rural communities like we usually do to win anytime I have to get reelected. I will also say, you know, that I traveled throughout the state with Senator Bernie Sanders, as the Virginia Co Chair. And I've seen you know, the excitement, hope on the faces of individuals when you talk about college affordability, when you talk about health care for all, and now as work as being part of The National Leadership Latino Council for Vice President Biden, I'm doing the same thing. I'm I'm you know, I'm trying to engage every single Latino voter throughout Virginia, and explain to them the importance of the election and how important it is to vote this November because our families, our dignity, is on the ballot. So I would say and you know, by being the president of the freshman class and while we were in the minority and being a plain and a critical role, we need a majority. I would say that, you know, I was part of that Campaign Committee, and I went and visited different candidates throughout the state. I launch canvases, I contribute to their campaigns, I help with the Caucus as well, bringing new stakeholders that never participate in Virginia stakehold, in Virginia politics before. So I am planning, I'm gonna amplify my game and once again, I will work extremely hard to make it happen.
Michael Pope
You mentioned Bernie Sanders, I want to follow up on that a little bit. So you have a reputation as being someone who doesn't follow closely to the establishment. And back in 2017, you were part of that coup effort to take out David Toscano as the Minority Leader. Talk a little bit about where you would like to see the Democratic Party go? Do you think the Democratic Party is in the right place right now? And where do you want to take it?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, Michael, I want to start, firstly, by setting the record straight. You know, I did support Senator Sanders. You know why? Because I think that the the issues that he fights for are very personal to me, and are very relevant to the communities that I represent, you know? And when you grow up at the fact that I was part of that movement, as the baby the scandal, I will tell you that back then I was the president of the freshman class, were 16 members, you know, and I was the voice of 17 members. So I had to call my members, the delegates that I represent, and I spoke with them, and many of them what they wanted is an election to happen. And you know, and that's when you have to prove yourself as a leader, and when you have to represent people and represent We'll so I would say that the majority of the class of 2017 wanted to an election to happen. And that's why I signed that letter in order to conduct an election for new leadership members in the house back then. Now I, you know, I would say that I was always a Democrat. So now just because I support the Bernie Sanders, do that make me feel that I'm less of a democrat? I don't think so. You know, I just because I support a candidate that believes in the things that I believe, so if you want to tell me that before senator Sanders, I was part of the establishment I was, you know, because that's what our democrats was about. And now my new role as what I pledged to the DNC, I see myself as a unity person, where you I can, you know, be the voice for those individuals who are fighting for the progressive issues within the Democratic Party, and be their voices, while respecting the amount of service for those members who have been working for a while in, in the in the Democratic Party as elected officials. And what is going to be interesting is that when I hope these listening sessions that I was telling you before, what I learned is that all the Democrats are progressives. When I held these listening sessions throughout the state, everybody wanted, you know, a better place for the working class, regardless whether there was support in Vice President Biden or Senator Sanders. They all see a need of a system of healthcare for everyone. They all wanted more investment in public education. They all, you know, wanted to protect the environment. So, I mean, that was, for me, a moment where I see that this is an opportunity for the Democratic Party to stay united and work together and elect Vice President Biden this November and continue to fight to maintain our majority in both chambers for the years to come. And I'm planning to play an important role in all of those.
Thomas Bowman
Well that is an amazing jumping off point, Delegate Guzman. Let's take a quick break. And when we come back, let's talk about some of your experience in the minority and how it shaped where you are today.
Elizabeth Guzman
Sounds good.
Michael Pope
And we're back on Transition Virginia. We're talking with Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who is thinking about throwing her hat into the ring to potentially be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. For the record, I want to point out that there are two other candidates who have already officially announced, Paul Goldman and Delegate Haya Ayala. And there's another candidate who is officially exploring a run, just like Delegate Guzman, Andria McClellan. I want to point out for the record, we have invited all of those people on Transition Virginia. We hope they all say yes so we can have them come on our podcast and talk to them, like we're talking to Delegate Guzman right now. So Delegate, let's talk about this is Transition Virginia. We like to talk about the transition of power. One thing that we always like to focus on is how things changed from the time Republicans were in power versus when Democrats are in power now. So let's go back to the year 2017, when you are first elected to the House of Delegates. So you arrive there in Richmond, it's January 2018. You're a freshman in the minority. What was that like? Give us a window into what it was like on a day to day basis, trying to introduce bills and get stuff done, when you're a freshman in the minority.
Elizabeth Guzman
So what I would say, you know, that number one...I don't think that people were used to seeing someone like me serving in Richmond. What I would say that I, many times, I was confused as an advocate, or I have to prove my credentials to people who weren't in the Chamber, you know? It's just like, no, I have to, I mean, show them my things. And no, I'm a Delegate, I'm not with any organization, and I'm here to present a bill. But I think that now, you know, it's a, it was a transition. I hope after that seen so many Latinos running throughout the state is exciting. So I would start with that. As far as introducing legislation in the minority, you know, I make sure that I will I deliver in all of that campaign items that I promised my constituents. So for example, you know, we're talking about more funding in early childhood education, we're talking about reducing the case loads for school counselors, we talked about, you know, increasing the age of minor on adults. So I thought that these were no brainers right? That I was able to elaborate and prove to a Republican majority, that these were issues that were very important to the ordinary Virginian. Little did I know that they had a different agenda, right? That what they wanted is just, you know, number one, don't see you as successful as a freshman. There was a theory out there where they said, "And now, you are in your first year, you don't pass, you're not allowed to pass any bills." And I'm like, "What do you mean, what do you have against this bill?" Well, and I saw how they will work together and look at the ins and outs of your bill to find a mistake and to see what they could do against that in order to kill it. I didn't have that but the reality was, you know, that they couldn't prove their point, but I didn't have the votes. But I wanted to set the record straight and I wanted my constituent, my constituents to know that I was fighting for the issues that I told them I would fight for. And, you know, I just didn't have the numbers. And I think that having bills that I was able to pass this year, when they were BVI without any further hearing, or they were just not heard. Because, you know, I was in the minority. It was frustrating, I'm not gonna lie. But you know, at the end of the day, I just had to go to my hotel room, recover myself, and I said, "Well, I'm here to stir, and I'm here and I, they are not gonna, you know, they are not gonna defeat me, or they might won this battle but they're not winning the war. I'm coming back tomorrow, and I'm going to be re energized. And I'm gonna bring these bill and I'm going to present it again. And I'm going to put it in record that they are against criminal justice reform. They are against the working class. They're against the environment." And to be honest with you, that information, what is from each of those videos, all of those votes against the people in Virginia, were extremely helpful for us to win the majority. So, you know, that was important to me. It was frustrating. I don't want to say that I was disrespected. I never was, but I think that the first year, we had a congressmen oh my gosh, I forgot his name. He got the elected from congressional district six. I can't think of his name right now. Ben Cline! Okay. So, Ben Cline was famous for introducing legislation about trying to institutionalize 287G agreements, and how he would talk about immigrants on the floor. You know, that they let that happen, you know, I just couldn't help it. People were like, "No, don't say anything. They're gonna use that against you." And I'm like, "No, I cannot allow, I mean, an individual, that is going to demonize my community in that way and try to prove a point that is not true. That he's gonna, he says that 287G agreements work?" In Virginia, they don't. I live in a county where we had the 287G agreements, and I share with the members my experience of what I went through as a person of color, and how it's difficult, I mean, to prove to people whether I am documented or undocumented, because let's be real, you know, the first reaction when they see someone who look like me, it's like, "Okay, does she have a passport? Is she American? Where is she from?" So I think that day was a historic moment. I was in the Washington Post, and I felt like I could get along well with you know, then Delegate Cline, now, Congressman Cline, but I made clear that, you know, comments or racist remarks against the immigrant community or my undocumented brothers and sisters, would not be tolerated on the floor. And after that they have never heard them afterwards.
Michael Pope
Now, one thing that's really significant, that happened in your first term, was you got to give the Spanish Language Response to President Trump's State of the Union. Right? Talk a little bit about how that happened and what you did to prepare for it, and how you think about that now, in retrospect.
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, I, you know, the way that it happened, I would say that it got me by surprise. I remember Leader Descano, back then, telling me that he wants the Nancy Pelosi, Leader Pelosi, Minority Leader then, wanted to speak with me. And I remember that after Trump was recently elected, you know that Trump was campaigning on a just repeal the DREAM Act. So you know, the first thing that I thought was "Well maybe Leader Pelosi wants to talk to me about the DREAM Act, and how important it is. Maybe I could provide an insight as an immigrant myself, and how this is relevant to Dreamers." I never thought that she would ask me to do that. You know, when she told me that I was elected unanimously by Congress that represents Democratic Representatives in Congress to do the State of the Union rebuttal in Spanish. I would, I would say, I was extremely excited, a couple of fears, you know, came to my face because it's like, "Man, did I deserve to, I mean, all of these what, you know, what did they saw me?" And I asked those questions. And you know, what Leader Pelosi said then said, "Elizabeth, we have been following you throughout the campaign trail, and she told me and I, many of us were talking about you as you were campaigning. You didn't know this, but we saw how you work extremely hard, and how you are extremely proud of where you come from, and you represent the American dream." So one thing that I immediately thought was, "Oh, maybe she wanted me to do a translation. So let me get that straight first." So I said, "You know, I will do it. But as long as it's not a translation, and I get to do my own." And she said, "You got that. You got it, you're gonna do your own." So, I started working with her communications department, I think that I had probably a 10 day notice and started, you know, jotting down ideas of what I wanted to share in those 10 minutes. And, you know, start working, reflecting of my personal life, using the opportunity to share to individuals who speak Spanish, the importance of their vote, you know, and how their vote is their voice, and to have that opportunity, to let them know that if all Latinos get and vote, we could decide the elections, we could decide the majority in Congress, we could decide who the next President of the United States, it was very rewarding. And I'm extremely humbled and proud to be given that opportunity.
Thomas Bowman
I could hear you talk about that for hours. They're such neat stories. But let's take a quick break. And when we come back, we're going to talk about your time in the majority.
Michael Pope
And we're back on Transition Virginia, we're talking to Delegate Elizabeth Guzman of Prince William County. And we'd like to now move the discussion into the period of time when Delegate Guzman is suddenly in the majority. She's no longer in the minority. As a sophomore member of the House of Delegates, you got to be on the winning side of the committee votes, and the winning side of the Floor votes. And yet, there was still some conflict with Democrats in the Senate. Delegate Guzman, talk a little bit about your experience, trying to push a Collective Bargaining Bill that had collective bargaining for state workers and also for local workers. I know this was a fight for you, and it didn't quite turn out the way you wanted it to. Talk a little bit about your experience dealing with Democrats in the Senate.
Elizabeth Guzman
So well, I would say first, I would like to thank my colleagues in the House of Delegates for their support on the Collective Bargaining Bill. I believe that our bill in the House was very thorough, and looked at every single part of implementation, including creating our board. And I think that's what we needed for Virginia. We need a collective bargaining that would not leave any worker behind. You know, unfortunately, when we went into the Senate, and I look at the Senate version, it was an opt in version that would leave state workers behind. You know, I would say that I did my best, you know, spent a lot of hours speaking with the Senate Leader, and he listened to me and I'm thankful for that as well, you know, I know, he was extremely busy, but he gave me his time. We talked about this bill. And the reality was, he said, "Elizabeth, I don't have the votes. So we could accomplish some of it or...I mean, do you want 50% or do you want zero?" And at the end of the day, I had to think about the lives that we will impact with 50%. And I need to think about those public sector workers who work in different localities and did not have the right to bargain collectively.
Michael Pope
You got collective bargaining for the employees of local governments like yourself, you actually work for a local government, but you did not get collective bargain for state workers, right? Is that on the agenda for the next Session?
Elizabeth Guzman
So what we agree with Senator Saslaw, is that for the next Legislative Session, we are going to introduce a study, who's gonna look at the feasibility of providing collective bargaining rights to state employees. And we decided, as part of that conversation, that we will work together and present that as a study. So that intention that in 2022, we could deliver collective bargaining for state employees as well.
Michael Pope
Now, I know one of the issues that also was being debated was who gets to initiate the creation of the Union? Is it the workers, or is it the employers? Talk a little bit about that debate and how where things ended up?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, first, I would like to, you know, clarify that when we're talking about employers, we're talking about public sector employers, not all employers. So then what I want to say is that depending if it's the City Council, if it's the Town Council or if it's the County Board of Supervisors, they will have to vote to opt in a collective bargaining agreement. And after they vote in our accept their localities to allow their employees to unionize, then we can move forward. Now the implementation process is gonna depend on you know, this is like an open, you know, an RFP RFP, where unions are gonna, I mean, try to represent a specific individual. We do a good job though communicating to each other. And we don't like to compete, you know, so we are already at representing I have presence in, I don't want to say all, but I would say in many local governments throughout Virginia. So what we have to recognize then we're gonna be provided a seat at the table when anytime there are conversations about salaries, anytime there are conversations about training, anytime there are conversations about benefits, anytime there is conversations about the equipment, so actually workers will be able to have a voice at the table to get their voice heard during these conversations. Now, I want to make sure that we understand that the local government continues to retain their power of appropriation. So it works the same as the General Assembly where we have a budget and there's so much money that we can work with. So that this doesn't mean you know, if they say, you know, "We're gonna pay $15 to these employees," and the union said, "No, we want 25." You know, it doesn't work that way. You know, we still reserve the power of appropriation and that is not changed, but it is important, you know, I think the most and Mike you and I think we spoke of this in Richmond, the most recent practices of leadership, talk about listening to your employees. And it is important that they are the ones doing the job. So they should tell you what they need to do the job better. So I'm excited about 2021 and the amount of change that we're going to be and how many, you know, satisfied public employees we're going to have, and how many people we will be willing to serve for the public sector as a public sector, employee myself, which I'm proud of, I'm excited that people will consider to work into the private sector now.
Thomas Bowman
Delegate Guzman, a lot of unions are looked at with cross eyes down in this part of Virginia, now that I'm in Richmond. Tell me how you plan to convince localities that aren't necessarily interested in public sector union, that it is really the best thing for that locality when the history isn't there.
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, I would say that people who are against unions, they will use every single what we call union busters, right? They will use every single excuse just not to allow the individual the right to unionize. You know, at the end of the day, I will tell these elected officials, because it will be a decision for the County Board, that they represent their people, and they should deliver on what their constituency wants. We conducted a poll, the AFLCIO and all of the foreigners who were part of this process. And there was some there was support of at least 70% of the population, want collective bargaining among public employees, and this included Republicans. So I could say to those Republican elected officials and local governments to not harm themselves and don't do what my colleagues in the Virginia Assembly did and try to fight for the will of the people. And if their employees want their access to collective bargaining, give it to them with that you will have satisfied employees and you're securing yourself years to serve the Commonwealth.
Michael Pope
There's another issue I'd like to explore from this most recent General Assembly Session, which was paid sick days. You had a bill on the House side, that would require most employers to offer paid sick days. On the Senate side, Barbara Favola had the bill. And right up until the last minute, the General Assembly Session, it looked like there's some version of this was going to get to the Governor's desk but then the rug was pulled out at the very last minute, mainly because of concerns about the cost of having state workers...having the state budget pay for paid sick days for state workers. Senators were worried about the potential cost of that, at a time when the economy was about to fall off the cliff. Talk a little bit about your experience with paid sick days and how do you feel about how things ended up with that?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, I would say, you know that I'm not gonna deny that I was frustrated, I failed. Like, we put a lot of work into that bill and we included the feedback of multiple stakeholders, including those in the private sector, because this bill was a result of a study that was conducted during the 2019 Legislative year. So I am, you know, and then to see that we put all of the work and trying to address every single issue, and just to learn, that the very first Session, this bill, was not heard? It hurts. It hurts me, not because of me, but because of the people that I represent. Because the reality is that when I learned about this issue by knocking on doors. When I ran in 2017, I remember one of my constituents talking about and say, "Delegate." Well, Elizabeth, you know, back then they said, "Is there something that you could do for me? Would you get paid sick days, I been, you know, forced to get health insurance through the ACA. And I can not take off from work to go to the doctor. My employer only gives me one week off. And I use that time to spend with my family because I have two jobs." The following year, not last year during that campaign cycle, I'm knocking on doors, and I had this individual working in a factory, the same story. "You know, I do, you know, work full time, and I have health insurance. I'm thankful to be provided health insurance, what but why is it there if I cannot use it, if I cannot use time to go to the doctor?" So I remember those. And you know, and it was disappointing that at the last minute, they were using arguments that were you know, I don't want to say that they were unfounded, but I wish we could have known before so we could be prepared to answer and not that they'd be for Session, when there was no room for more coversation. We just ran out of time.
Michael Pope
You're talking about money, like at the last minute, they started bringing up arguments about how much it would cost the state budget to offer paid sick days for state employees. Right?
Elizabeth Guzman
Exactly. Because that bill would include all of the employees, regardless of the hours that they work. So they were talking about how there were some state employees who are per diem, or they are or are calling are working just hourly, and how much it would cost to provide in basic time it wasn't attorney. So with that, the argument, we couldn't get the numbers on time. And since the fiscal impact said undetermined, then we couldn't get it through. But guess what? There's a Special Session, we went through this pandemic, and I'm coming back. I'm coming back and I'm running again with Senator Favola, and we are bringing these Paid Sick Days Bill to provide 40 hours of paid sick time to all of the full time employees. And we have a clause that all of employees in Virginia should get quarantine time paid. So they should have 14 days paid while they have to quarantine if they're affected with COVID-19.
Thomas Bowman
Delegate, I have to ask, related to COVID-19, since we're all forced into home office or home classroom situations for the time being, what is the Commonwealth gonna do if anything about rural broadband?
Elizabeth Guzman
Well, you know, that is it's a very good question, Thomas, and I'm glad you bring it up because you know, I represent rural Virginia. There's a Latina that represents rural Virginia and I will tell you that it is something that we need to address. During this pandemic, many schools in the rural area that do have internet service, were offering their buildings as hotspots, so the students could go and you know, socially distant park their cars, and be able to connect there so they could access the virtual environment. So we're gonna, I mean, we're living in a time that we were not prepared, and I'm thankful for the teachers, and for the administration you know, the Department of Education that were ready to just respond to that demand, and children were allowed to finish the school year. As we are coming up, you know, the Department of Education have decided to empower localities to determine what is the best system that is going to work for them. So the state is not telling them "You should do virtual, you should do two days in classroom, you should do three days." They are they are saying, you know, "You, you know, your locality best, and you know, what's gonna work best for your constituency, so you decide what is better for you." So I could tell you like, for example, Fauquier County, decided to go two days in person, and three days virtual learning, which is rural as well. While in Prince William County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, we decided to go all online for the first quarter. Now, we have to look also at the cases, this is has to be a data driven decisions were a decision, where I think Fauquier has not had many cases of Coronavirus. So they are not neglecting people's lives. They know they can provide, you know, it's less and also in rural areas you have less students, so they will be able for their students to be socially distant while they're in the classroom.
Michael Pope
Delegate, quick follow up question on what you were talking about in the Special Session, that I know you and Senator Favola are interested in bringing back this legislation on paid sick days. And there is this question you still have to answer about how you're going to afford it and the cost to the state of offering paid sick days to state employees. And I think the sort of menu options there are, either you sunset it, or you limit it to workers who work 20 hours a week or more. In other words, there's there's a very temporary benefit that's only for the emergency that we're in, or you exclude part time workers. Talk a little bit about how you're going to persuade some of those Senate Democrats who want to figure out a way to afford it.
Elizabeth Guzman
So well, you know, very good question. I would say that the bill, we're gonna have two different approaches. So one is going to be in the form of a legislation and one is going to be in a form of a budget amendment. So while we have to pay for the public sector is going to be addressed by Chairman Victorian we in the form of class are paid and includes paid sick time for public employees and that will come in the form of a budget amendment. And you know, if Delegate, if Chairman Darian said that there is they are using money for the Cures Act for that, and that's how they are paying for it in the bill that is going to come is going to include private sector employees who work full time. So there is no fiscal impact and then there is no more rejection from the Senate.
Thomas Bowman
Real quick, before we go, let's talk about the different constituency you have, compared to some of the other elected officials, and the impact that Coronavirus is having, specifically on the Latino population, which is far different from the impact on white populations. What are some things that the Latino community needs out of this Legislative Session?
Elizabeth Guzman
So I would say you know, number one, we need more investments in outreach and communication. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Delegate Shelly Simonds and Delegate Dawn Adams in joining me to speak with the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and bringing up these concerns. And the result is that they could hire their first hired health equity person that was a consultant that was looking different to see what the problems were. They've identified that there is a lack of outreach to the Latino community, as we learn differently. And you know, and also a lack of healthcare workers that speak Spanish. So that was identified. And that's why now the Health Department is working on recruiting more Appraisers who are bilingual, many hospitals and health care organizations are, you know, recruiting in state and out of the state to bring people to speak Spanish. So we can add, I mean, serve these individuals. What I would tell you is that one community that we have left behind is what we call the hybrid household. You know, those half households, where one will have either either husband or wife is undocumented, and even when the wife or the husband are citizens, they are not getting any type of relief from the federal government. So that communities left behind. Also, the undocumented community is also left behind, as well. Many of them are essential workers, many of them are putting themselves on the line, you know, to offer services that we need, like working, you know, cleaning those hospitals, or, you know, cleaning as housekeepers on those hotels, so people could quarantine, or in those, you know, restaurants or retail stores, grocery stores, working for us. So I would like to see, you know, more money that could help these communities that have not been able to get access to any type of support. And, you know, I can see I would continue, you know, to work with the administration to do outreach to the Latino community. There is a huge need for knowing more about what is going on. I have held at least two town halls on the Coronavirus in Spanish, and I outreach more than 7000 people. So which tells me, that it's not that the there is a reluctance to learn more is that that they just want the information available to them in their language, and in the way they'll receive it, which is via TV, or many of them are construction workers, so we spent a little time commuting, so we can invest more money in communication as well in the radio.
Thomas Bowman
Well, that's a wonderful place to leave it. I'm going to be respectful of your time, Delegate. It's hard to say goodbye, but you've got a really big decision ahead of you. And you've got a really busy, Special Session ahead of you. So thank you so much for your time today.
Elizabeth Guzman
Thank you, Tom. He's really nice to see you, Mike. It's always nice to do interviews with you. So, looking forward to staying in touch in the near future. Let's see what happens.
Thomas Bowman
Well thank you for listening to Transition Virginia. Find us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. We're on Twitter @TransitionVA and you can find us on the web at www.transitionvirginia.com.
