Chamber News

Reconvened Gen. Assembly Session Approves 92% of Gov. Amendments

Apr. 22-At Reconvened Session, General Assembly Approves 92% of Governor’s Amendments to Budget and Legislation. Nearly 70% of Spending Amendments Focused on Economic Development Initiatives

McDonnell Concludes Successful First Session as Governor: Balances Budget without a Tax Increase; 80% of Legislative Agenda Passes; Job and Education Reforms Garner Broad Bipartisan Support RICHMOND - At the reconvened session of the General Assembly today, Virginia legislators approved 92% of Governor Bob McDonnell’s 213 amendments to the budget and previously passed legislation. Sometimes called the “veto� session, this year’s one-day gathering featured no vetoes from the Governor, as the Governor and staff worked out many issues cooperating with legislators during the regular session. Among the key amendments of the Governor agreed to today by the House and Senate were measures to: · Restore funding for the job-creating Governor’s Opportunity Fund by $6 million in the second year of the budget and to free up nearly $10 million in the first year · Reinstate a critical $10 million tax deduction for Virginia employers to help foster job growth · Increase funding for Virginia’s growing commercial spaceport at Wallops Island · Restore funding for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk · Provide funding for the successful Commonwealth ChalleNGe program at Camp Pendleton · Meet prior state commitments to major employers SRI and Bank of America, and increased funding for the Biofuels Production Incentive Grant Program. · Equalize amendments to the state’s public employee retirement system to ensure current local and state employees are treated the same concerning payment of retirement benefits Speaking about today’s reconvened session, the Governor noted, “I want to thank the members of the House and Senate for their excellent bipartisan work today and during this recent session of the General Assembly. Together we closed an historic budget shortfall without raising taxes. We focused on reducing government spending at a time when families and businesses are doing the same. While many states try to navigate these difficult times by significantly raising taxes on their citizens and businesses, Virginia has chosen to take a different and more fiscally responsible path. With an unacceptable 7.4% unemployment rate hurting our people, we now have invested wisely in job-creating measures that give us great new tools to compete in the global economy. With the session now concluded, I look forward to moving forward with important Commissions that will create innovative new policies to spur economic development and job creation, reform government to make it simpler and more efficient and to make our higher education system more affordable and accessible.� The legislature’s work today concludes the regularly scheduled legislative sessions for the year. Governor McDonnell entered his first session as Virginia’s Chief Executive with three priorities: · Close an historic budget shortfall without a tax increase · Pass a package of significant economic development and job creation measures · Pass innovative education reforms to expand charter schools, create college laboratory schools, and improve virtual education The Governor was successful in all three efforts. For more information about the Governor’s first legislative session please visit: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=74