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Last Wednesday marked the first day of the 2012 Session. On January 11, the 100 members of Virginia's House of Delegates and the 40 Senators took their oaths of office.
Opening day ceremonies also included the organization of both the House and Senate. Typically an unremarkable event, the organization of the Senate this year marked this year by intense media attention. With an evenly divided Senate -- 20 Republican and 20 Democratic members -- the stage was set for partisan conflict. Anticipating hostility and negative rhetoric, observers were pleasantly surprised by the civil discourse regarding changes to the Rules, assignments to standing committees, and the constitutional prerogatives and responsibilites of the Lieutenant Governor.
The core of the disagreement between the two parties is the role of Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the Senate and is empowered by the Constituion of Virginia to break tie votes in all but a few circumstances. The Lieutenant Governor's responsibilites in Virginia are similar to those of the Vice President of the United States, who is the presiding officer of the United States Senate and empowered to break ties in that body. Because Lieutenant Governor Bolling is a Republican, the Senate's partisan "tie" effectively becomes a 21-20 Republican majority. For the first time in four years, Republicans are the majority caucus in the Virginia Senate. I am honored to serve as majority leader, and I look forward to working with my colleagues during the upcoming weeks.
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| State of the Commonwealth | | |
The first day of every General Assembly session concludes with the Governor's State of the Commonwealth Address to a joint session. This year, Governor McDonnell's address marked the impressive progress Virginia has made over the last two years and detailed his legislative priorities. Virginia hs the distinction of enjoying the lowest unemployment rate in our region, and the Governor is committed to continuing that progress. His agenda includes multiple measures to further strengthen Virginia's business environment to create jobs.
Continuing his efforts to make state government more efficient and effective, Governor McDonnell outlines his proposals to streamline state government by reducing and consolidating some state agencies, departments, boards and commissions. To keep government spending under control, the Governor announced a new effort to study and address unfunded federal mandates. To ensure that Virginia does not experience a pension crisis like the ones plaguing several states, he is proposing the greatest employer funding of the Virginia Retirement System in Virginia history.
Making improvements and instituting reforms to Virginia's education system is a major component of Governor McDonnell's agenda. He is proposing that Virginia's state-supported colleges and universities receive a significant funding boost. He is also proposing major reforms and increased funding for Virginia's public schools.
You may view the State of the Commonwealth address by clicking HERE |
| Committee Assignments | | |
Like most legislative bodies, the Senate uses a committee system to review legislation. After a bill is submitted, it is sent to one of eleven standing committees for review. Each of the committees considers specific areas of legislation. The members of the committees screen bills, sometimes suggesting amendments and determing whether or not they should be considered by the entire Senate.
I have been appointed to serve on the following five Senate committees:
Commerce and Labor - The Commerce and Labor Committee considers legislation relating to Virginia's businesses, including regulatory policy, workplace relations, and consumer affairs.
Courts of Justice - The Courts of Justice Committee reviews legislation affecting the operation of Virginia's courts and law enforcement, including criminal and civil law.
Finance - The Finance Committee reviews legislation relating to taxes and spending, and is responsible for crafting the Commonwealth's budget.
Rehabilitation and Social Services - The Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee reviews legislation including the sale and regulation of alcohol, and the administration of social service and corrections.
Rules - The Rules Committee reviews appointments, Senate Memorializing and Commending Resolutions, and matters related to the operation of the Senate and the General Assembly. |
| Legislation | | |
With our first full week of session behind us, progress is being made in the General Assembly. Bills and resolutions, all of which must be reviewed by a legislative committee prior to being voted on in the Senate, are making their way through the process.
Every standing committee held meetings this week and heard testimony on dozens of bills. The meetings allow Senators to ask questions of the member sponsoring the legislation and to hear the reasons the bill was submitted. A committee hearing a bill can decide to keep it as it was written or make amendments to it. Then, after they decide by a recorded vote whether to send the bill to the entire Senate, it has been fully vetted.
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| Visitors | | |
The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday was observed on Monday of this week. As always, many visitors took the opportunity to visit their legislators. Several citizen advocacy organizations also coordinated visits this week.
We saw many visitors this week, including friends from the following organizations:
- American Legion
- A.B.A.T.E.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Virginia Dental Association
- Family Foundation
- Thomas Nelson Community College
We enjoyed seeing our friends Heather, Carlo and Christopher Cordasco, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Lee, Betty Coyle, and the Digges. Thank you for stopping by our office! |
| Please visit us in Richmond! | |
We are now working in our office in the General Assembly Building in Richmond. If you are in town, please visit our office in Room 621. You can reach me or my legislative assistant, Amanda Johnston, by phone at 804-698-7503, email at district03@senate.virginia.gov or by mail at
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218-0396 |
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Very truly yours,
Senator Tommy Norment |
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Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Tommy Norment. | |
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