A lot can happen in just one week. This was one of those weeks.
Virginia inaugurated a new governor, Bob McDonnell. There's a lot of ceremony and tradition that goes along with swearing-in a new Virginia governor. We were blessed with uncharacteristically beautiful weather (for January) for the event, which made things enjoyable for spectators and participants alike. There's a parade that immediately follows the swearing-in of the new governor. This year, All County Marching Band from Hanover County marched in the parade. It is a great honor to be chosen to participate in an Inaugural Parade, and the band students from Hanover schools did a fantastic job.
Later that evening, Ashley and I attended the Inaugural Ball, along with several thousand other Virginians dressed in their very best.
Not surprisingly, Governor McDonnell got to work very quickly. In an address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Martin Luther King Day, he laid out his priorities. Not surprisingly, he made clear that job creation and economic growth would be the chief focus of his new administration for the year ahead.
Specifically, Governor McDonnell is asking the General Assembly to pass specific measures and changes to the budget that will strengthen Virginia's economy. He also made clear that he will not be permitting state taxes to be raised, pledging to veto bills that raised taxes or a budget based on higher taxes.
This marks a significant change from the previous administration. The budget proposed by now-former Governor Kaine included a large hike in the income tax. On Thursday, the House voted on that plan.
Most delegates, myself included, had already indicated they would not support higher taxes. So, it wasn't entirely surprising that the House rejected former Governor Kaine's plan to raise the income tax. What was somewhat surprising was the margin, as the House rejected former Governor Kaine's plan by a vote of 97 to 0. Not a single member of the House of Delegates voted to raise the income tax.
While the Senate has yet to weigh in on the issue of taxes, it is very clear that the House and Governor McDonnell will not support higher taxes. For people already struggling to make ends meet in the current economy, this is very good news.
PUBLIC HEALTH REMINDER
H1N1 may be an 'old' story but it's still active and could return. If you haven't gotten vaccinated, doses are available to everyone for no charge at the Hanover County Health Department in Ashland. The Health Department is located in the Hanover Human Services Center, 12312 Washington Highway. Hours are 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday. For more information call 365-4313 or e-mail Marcus.Allen@vdh.virginia.gov
MY LEGISLATION
While the state's budget will receive most of the attention in news pages during this session, we're considering a lot of other legislation as well. Among the hundreds of bills that will be considered by the General Assembly several relate to health care policy and ways Virginia can improve its system without federal interference.
Mandated benefits eliminate choice and impair the free market. They also drive up costs. In order to foster competition and lower costs, I introduced two bills. House Bill 726 will require Virginia's Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits to review mandated health insurance benefits and assess their social and financial impact as well as their medical efficacy. We must discern whether these "benefits" are actually beneficial or just driving up the cost of health care. The bill requires the Commission to submit a schedule of evaluations to the standing committees having jurisdiction over health insurance matters. House Bill 720 is the Health Insurance Choice Act which will allow for health insurance choice for health insurance policies from insurers in other states to be sold here in Virginia. Free market principles must be introduced to what is otherwise not one due to the heavy regulations which exist.
Additionally, HB 722 presents the people of Virginia a declaration of rights for the election of health insurance coverage byproviding that a resident of the Commonwealth shall not be required to obtain or maintain a policy of individual health insurance coverage. This applies regardless of whether the person is eligible for health insurance coverage under any policy or program provided by or through an employer or a plan sponsored by the Commonwealth or the federal government. The measure provides that no resident shall be liable for any penalty, assessment, fee, or fine as a result of failure to procure or obtain health insurance coverage.
Please visit http://legis.virginia.gov to review these bills and others pertaining to health care and other facets of the Virginia state legislature.
Any of the legislative issues affecting our region along with other important subject matter will be deliberated in the Capital Region Caucus. Senator Donald McEachin (D) and I have the privilege of co-chairing the over 20 legislative member Capital Region Caucus representative of the nine local governments in the Richmond region including three of my Central Virginia district's counties Hanover, Henrico and New Kent. This year, the Caucus will meet every Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the General Assembly Room 3 West. I invite you to attend and participate. This past week we entertained a discussion on the latest concerning stormwater regulations.
VISITORS
The General Assembly does not take off for federal holidays. Since a lot of people do, though, they come to the see the General Assembly in action on federal holidays. Martin Luther King Day was no exception. The building was filled with people wanting to meet their legislators and see them in action.
We were delighted to visit with Jenni and Heather Jones of King George, Lori Lenz of Tappahannock, Carol Mathis of Hanover, James Cunningham of Sandston, David Dahl and Curtis Epperly of Mechanicsville, Beth Townsend of Hanover, Brent and Johanna Mancy of Sandston, Ron Lentz of King William, the Irene Longest the Caroline County Treasurer and her staff, Larry Pritchett the Spotsylvania Treasurer and his staff, King and Queen County Treasurer's Office, Herb Chittum and Wallace Yarbrough of Mechanicsville, Katherine and Emil Deliberto, Phillip Rose, Sr, and Robert Creasey, III of King William, Rhonda Caitlin of Sandston, Lou Simpson of Ladysmith, the Cousins of Aylett, Margaret O'Bryan of Mechanicsville, Gary Bullis of Spotsylvania, Carl Lamberti of Sandston, Byron Heath of Mechanicsville, Sally Pearson, King William Commissioner of the Revenue, Christine Mason of Providence Forge, Hanover ARC, Grayson Jennings of Hanover, Richard Dawes, Ron Stiers, John Phelps of New Kent, Elizabeth Christeller of Bruington, Charles and Nancy McNamara of Spotsylvania, Dr, Tripp Stover of Mechanicsville, William Taylor of Lanexa, Robert Ostergren of Mechanicsville, Lois Smith of Patrlow, Mary Howell of New Kent, Tom Simcoe of Lanexa, Amanda Palmore of Aylett Health Clinic, Ginny James of Spotsylvania, along with many of our wonderful Veterans that are members of the American Legion visited us this week.
CONTACT ME
Make sure to stop by our office in Room 527 of the General Assembly Building if you visit Richmond between. You can contact us here by sending an e-mail to Delcpeace@house.virginia.gov or by sending a letter to me at PO Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218-0406. Or, if you just want me to know your opinion on a particular issue, you can call on the toll-free Constituent Viewpoint Hotline at 1.800.889.0229.
Have a great week, and look for more news from Richmond in this same place next week.
