| Workforce Training Initiatives Legislation I have been working on this year has not gotten much notice despite its importance to Virginia's long-term economic health. This is the latest step in making effective the use of the $50 million a year federal Workforce Investment Act money as our citizens prepare for the jobs of now and the future. (more) |
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| Hospitalizing the Dangerously Mentally lIl Mental health bills arising from the Virginia Tech shooting have been a major focus this year. (more) |
A Short Questionnaire to Prepare for the Upcoming Session This year's General Assembly begins Wednesday, January 8th and by all accounts it is going to be a busy session. (more) |
| New Fine for Worst Drivers Beginning this week those drivers who flaunt Virginia's laws against dangerous motorists will risk greater fines. The new law, that was passed in February and went into effect on July 1st, targets those drivers who have endangered the families of our citizens by irresponsible activity that risks others that use the roads. (more) |
Limiting the Increase of Real Estate Assessments. Over the last several years, in each and every county in the region, we have seen real estate assessments skyrocket. In an effort to address that issue I introduced legislation this year that would change Virginia’s constitution to no longer require that local government reassess your home every year. (more) |
| Payday Lenders and VA Wineries. One of the most controversial bills to reach the Senate floor tightens the rules that control Payday lenders in the state. . . Another important bill will be voted on . . .. This bill is of great concern to small wineries and the farmers that grow grapes for those wineries. (more) |
How Long Should the Governor Serve in Office. That is one of the many bills that have re-emerged before the General Assembly this year. This proposal has been raised many times in the past, however this year it seems to have gained substantial support. (more) |
| Making Prescription Drugs Safe and Affordable. As always, matters of healthcare are perennially of chief concern. This year is no different. The issue of affordable prescription drugs is a major one. Frequently, I am asked what can be done to ensure prescribed medications are available at a reasonable price. . (more) |
Avoiding the Soviet Mistake I was campaigning in the Tidewater area, when I gave a speech pointing out that Eastern Europe dumped Communism as a system of government — not because they were tired of the form of government they had but rather because it could not deliver. (more) |
| Understanding Economic Interdependencies as Virginians Should we take money from rural areas and send it to Northern Virginia for road construction? Should we create more debt that must be paid later as the House of Delegates has proposed? Or, should we follow the course of the Senate plan by generating a bulk of the funds from the individuals who use the Virginia highways but are not residents of the Commonwealth? (more) |
Streamlining Higher Education and Job Training Virginia is currently spending $250 million a year on workforce training, not counting what the localities and private employers pay. But we must make changes because we are not keeping pace with new technologies and new systems of production. (more) |
| Comparing the Legislature to FootballAs I sit here working on this column, I have one eye on a NFL playoff game. Trying to stay focused on both is tough; however, it is similar to the General Assembly. Legislators try to stay focused on those things that are most important to the people of their district, while at the same time, try to block those legislative proposals that would do harm to their districts. (more) |
How do we pay for the roads we need? Proponents of expensive road projects highlight traffic gridlock in Northern Virginia and Tidewater. However, the voters rejected the opportunity to pay higher gasoline taxes just a couple of years ago. Therefore, unless traffic has changed drastically in the last two years, it makes me wonder if people are ready to pay higher taxes as a means of combating the traffic dilemna. (more) |
| Avoiding Hard Issues -- the Rights of the Unborn For the second year in a row, supporters of pro-choice initiatives showed up en-masse to speak against a bill that would require fetal anesthesia during an abortion. (more) |
Sharing Road Improvement Costs Fairly As I heard from my constituents about the transportation situation, several messages came through very clearly. One was that no one wants to pay more in taxes, but if we must have more money for roads, it should weigh most heavily on the rapidly growing parts of the state. (more) |
| Successes with Tobacco Tax Relief and Workforce Training Much of my time the last couple of weeks has been spent playing defense. I had to work hard to make sure that the Senate transportation tax package was not paid for on the back of the people of rural Virginia but rather mostly by those in northern Virginia, Tidewater, and the suburbs around Richmond. . (more) |
Tobacco -- New Legislation Passed to Compete in a World Market The big tobacco companies purchase a great deal of their tobacco from foreign growers, thus lowering their cost of production. Local tobacco companies, under new legislation, will enjoy a more equitable tax structure and incentives to purchase higher quality, domestically grown tobacco. . (more) |
