Jan . 14-Richmond-Del. Poindexter reports on the results of Week 1 at Richmond and the Virginia Legislature.
Dear Friend,
The 45 day sprint known as the 2013 General Assembly Short Session began last Wednesday with much fanfare, including what hopefully is the start of a new tradition: the Richmond Symphony Chorus singing a rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.
I am honored to begin my 6th Session in the Virginia House of Delegates. I anticipate this will be a tumultuous but productive legislative year as the House of Delegates focuses on jobs and economic development, improving education, assuring Virginia is efficiently governed, addressing a real long-term solution to transportation, and balancing our budget with expected revenue. While I will be involved with legislation across the board, most of my time will be spent on the budget as the House Appropriations Committee, on which I am a member, develops the budget and handles all bills that have a fiscal impact.
Wednesday evening, Governor McDonnell delivered his State of the Commonwealth address. The Governor began his speech by highlighting the progress our Commonwealth has made over the past three years. Our unemployment rate is at 5.6%, the lowest in the Southeast states, and we have created 150,500 net new private-sector jobs with many billions of new private sector investment. Our public schools continue to rate high nationally, but we need to improve the opportunities for education for all youth. We have balanced our budget without tax increases on Virginia families or businesses, and have maintained our critical AAA credit rating. While Virginia is going in the right direction, we continue to be hampered and driven by the policies and fiscal vectors from our federal government. Sequestration and reduction in DOD spending will have a huge impact on Virginia's finances and jobs for our citizens.
Governor McDonnell also laid out a bold agenda for his final legislative session that focuses on the issues most important to Virginians. Such legislative priorities for this year's session contain reforms that will continue to help our small businesses create new jobs and opportunities, improve our public schools, and ensure we are able to maintain our existing roads and provide improved and new roads. I share Governor McDonnell's commitment to finding solutions to these priority problems.
I have introduced two bills that continue Governor McDonnell's efforts to make Virginia's government more efficient. One bill, HB2067, addresses unnecessary regulatory mandates within the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Alternative Fuels Revolving Fund. This is just one of several areas the General Assembly has detected that currently requires regulations but would be better suited with the ability to issue guidelines, instead. This change will help reduce government red tape and waste.
Another bill I am carrying, HB2044, similarly addresses government efficiency within VDOT. At Governor McDonnell's request, we have spent the past two years carefully auditing Virginia's governmental functions and identifying areas that are no longer efficient. One of these is the Recycled Materials in Highway Construction Advisory Committee, a group that has not met in over ten years but has remained on Virginia's books as a standing committee. My bill would simply eliminate this committee, saving Virginia money and improving VDOT's operations. I am pleased to carry these two components of Governor McDonnell's agenda and hope I will have broad support for their passage.
My bills submitted won't be final until around January 18 but one I have worked hard on is to find a funding solution for completing Route 58 from Stuart to I-77. Doing so is critical for economic development in the region, as well as to support the movement of import and export of goods via the Port of Virginia. To date, the four-laning has been principally funded by bonds that are being repaid from the General Fund (Recordation Taxes). As these bonds are paid down, my bill would permit re-borrowing within the current bond limit, something the old code does not allow. The bill will also move the Lover's Leap segment to the top of the list for the segments remaining to be constructed.
Session would be far less pleasant without the many gracious visitors who visit my office to discuss legislation or the budget. This week, I received visits from Ron Haley of River Community Bank and Charley Majors, Jeff Haley, Randy McDaniel and Brandon Atkins of American National Bank, for the annual Virginia Bankers Day at the Capitol. Other visitors during the week included, Lavada Robertson (Hardy), Mike Poreda (VFW Post 10574), Pam Weddle (Wirtz), Christopher Parker (Martinsville) and a large group from Patrick Henry Community College, David Grimes (Gretna), and Melody Williams and Brett Bennett of the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with constituents and stakeholders during the legislative session and encourage anyone interested in visiting me at our Capitol to contact my Legislative Director, Alex Thorup.
As always, it is an honor to serve as your Delegate and represent the principles and values that are most dear to us in the 9th District. I often glance up to the wall plaques and statues in the Virginia House of Delegates chamber and at the Capitol to read the names of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Nathaniel Bacon. I am always reminded of the importance these Patriots placed on the principle of a responsible and limited government that serves the people first and foremost. Their historical presence inspires me to follow their wisdom in my work in and out of Session.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone: 804-698-1009, or by email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov. You may also learn more about my background and positions by visiting my website: www.votepoindexter.com.
Best Regards,
Delegate Charles D. Poindexter
9th District, House of Delegates,
Virginia General Assembly
