Legislative Issues


Thank you for your support during this 2010 General Assembly Session. This was my first General Assembly session, and that alone represented some significant challenges for me personally. However, the state budget challenges facing the newly elected Governor, Bob McDonnell, and the entire House of Delegates and State Senate were unprecedented due to the ongoing economic recession. I am proud to say that the House of Delegates responded to this challenge.

The overwhelming majority in the House agreed with Governor Bob McDonnell on the premise that 2010 was not the time for considering tax increases. With this in mind, the House of Delegates was faced with the daunting challenge of cutting spending by $4.2 billion in order to fulfill our constitutional obligation of balancing the Commonwealth’s budget. In the VA House of Delegates, our other primary goals were:
  • Getting Virginia's economy moving again made job creation a top priority.
  • Energy independence
  • Education reform
  • Health Care
  • Public Safety
  • Government reform
I introduced one bill and five resolutions for consideration during the 2010 VA General Assembly session. My first bill, HB 384, streamlines tax procedures for Virginians paying income tax in more than one state, and prevents individuals and businesses from overpayment of taxes. I am happy to say that HB 384 passed the House and Senate, and has been signed by Governor McDonnell. I also introduced HJR 98, which provides for a constitutional amendment that gives the people the “right-of-recall” of elected officials. HJR 98 will be taken up in the 2011 General Assembly, and Governor McDonnell has informed me that this legislation will be part of his government “reform” package.

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

The House of Delegates voted 97-0 to reject the 17% state income tax increase proposed by outgoing Governor Tim Kaine (HB1155). The state budget also preserves car tax relief for Virginia taxpayers and localities at a total of $950 million each year. The budget also eliminates one-third of Kaine’s $145 million in fee increases, holding the total to $47.7 million each year, which is significantly lower than the $330 million fees proposed by the Senate over the 2011-2012 biennium; only remaining fee increases are not broad-based and have a direct nexus to underwriting or providing specific services. The new budget strengthens fiscal stability and prudent budget management going forward with a $50 million reserve for the state’s Rainy Day Fund, in addition to a $6.8 million unappropriated balance. On Sunday March 14th, the budget won strong bipartisan support, winning approval from 79% of those present to vote between the Democrat-controlled Senate by a vote of 34 to 6 and from the Republican-majority House by a vote of 73 to 23. All in all, the approved budget shrinks the size of government for the first time in recent memory. In fact, the 2010-2012 Biennial Budget returns Virginia to 2006 spending levels.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Governor McDonnell campaigned on turning Virginia into the "Energy Capital of the East Coast" and the General Assembly passed three significant bills on energy exploration and production. I was proud to co-patron three of these House bills. House Bill 756 will allocate 80% of future offshore royalties and revenues to transportation and the remaining 20% to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, which researches and develops renewable energy solutions. House Bill 787 provides a clear statement of the Commonwealth in support of oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production 50 miles or more off Virginia's coast. House Bill 389 promotes development of off-shore wind-powered electric energy generation.

EDUCATION

The Republican education reform agenda will position our public school students for success in the future, and help bring more educational resources to every community in the state, and will be particularly beneficial for at-risk and disadvantaged students. The State Budget holds total targeted K-12 reductions – achieved by implementing ongoing structural changes and providing additional local flexibility – to approximately $250 million in net savings over biennium compared to the Kaine-introduced budget. The budget directs more funding into the classroom for student learning by making structural changes to non-personnel support services costs, such as limiting staff travel, lease and rental expenditures; and provides $29.5 million to unfreeze the Local Composite Index (LCI) update in FY 2011. The budget provides 100% “hold harmless” grant ($116.5 million) for those school divisions whose LCI is increasing based on re-benchmarking cycle in first year of biennium and 50% “hold harmless” in the second year; and Restores $115.6 million to local schools divisions for new Virginia Public School Authority Technology Grants over biennium.

Other Education bills

I was proud to be a co-patron of Delegate Chris Peace’s HB 1389 which establishes college partnership laboratory schools for the purpose of stimulating the development of innovative programs for pre-school through 12th grade students. HB 1389 was part of Governor McDonnell’s package of educational reforms. HB 1390 expands charter schools in Virginia by implementing a new process for reconsideration of those that are denied or revoked by local schools boards. This legislation offers new hope for students in chronically failing schools as well as brings new ideas and innovation to the Commonwealth’s entire educational system. HB 1390 was also part of Governor McDonnell’s Chart School package of educational reforms. I was also a co-patron of HB 1390.

HEALTH CARE

Τhe Budget bill restored respite care for Medicaid waiver recipients, and lifts freeze on all Medicaid waivers for elderly and disabled Virginians – including Intellectually Disabled (ID) waivers; and funds 250 new ID waivers slots, beginning in FY 2011; and restores hospital, nursing homes, physicians and other health care provider reductions proposed by Governor Kaine by using Federal Medicaid funds when received. The budget bill also restores funding for the Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents, as well as funding for free health care clinics and community health centers. I have always believed in the premise that a primary function of responsible government was to assist those citizens who, through no fault of their own, are unable to enjoy those things that the rest of society takes for granted. I believe the new state budget prioritizes funding in this area.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The budget bill eliminates all of the nearly $98.6 million in Kaine’s proposed budget reductions to Sheriffs, and restores $32.6 million for “599” funding for localities with police departments; and restores $21.0 million for the state police, including funding for a new Trooper Academy so that we can begin to fill the nearly 200 vacant trooper positions. The budget provides $1.8 million in dedicated funding for Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces; and changes Line of Duty Act funding mechanism by rejecting Kaine’s 18-cent surcharge increase on E-911 calls and instituting an insurance premium model supported with funds from the VRS group life program.

Other Legislation:


HB 502 redefines the "triggerman rule" to allow imposition of criminal liability on accomplices to murderers. This legislation passed the House of Delegates, but was defeated in the State Senate Courts of Justice Committee. HB 885 allows persons lawfully possessing a gun to transport the gun secured in a motor vehicle or boat. Finally, HB 505 allows a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of a restaurant or club and prohibits such person from consuming alcoholic beverages while on the premises. A person who consumes alcohol in violation of the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. I was proud to co-patron both HB 502 and HB 505.

TRANSPORTATION

HB 42 directs JLARC to annually audit operational & programmatic performance of all state transportation agencies. HB 402 expands opportunity for increasing the capacity of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel by allowing VDOT to accept unsolicited proposals from the private sector. HB 856 increases the speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph on certain highways in Virginia following a traffic engineering study and analysis of accident and law-enforcement data.

FEDERALISM

I was proud to be a co-patron of HB 10, which protects Virginians from Federal government requirements or mandates to carry health insurance through the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act and preserves the prerogatives of the Commonwealth and its sovereign people. This makes Virginia the first state in the nation to pass anti-mandate health reform legislation.