Successes with Tobacco Tax Relief, Workforce Training

February 27, 2006

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. That is what we accomplished and was incorporated in the Senate budget proposal.

This last week however I was able to work on several much more productive projects. Senators Hanger, Deeds, and I were able to change language in the bill that allows the state to act much faster to deal with outbreaks of avian flu while protecting the small growers around the state. Many of the smaller growers had been concerned the bill would trample on the rights of the small producers. We wrote protection of them into the legislation.

Also last week I was able to get several pieces of legislation through the various House Committees, most of those will have passed the full House of Delegates by the time this column reaches you.

My legislation that exempts the Federal buyout of tobacco quota holders from being taxed on that payout is moving forward and will soon be on the way to the Governor for his signature. Likewise he will be receiving the bills creating a license plate honoring Robert E. Lee and continuing the Commission on Alzheimer's which I was honored to carry. My bill to return the speed limit on Interstate 85 to 70 mph is also awaiting the signature of the Governor.