Feb 11-Richmond-Del. Charles Poindexter reports on the activities at the Virginia Legislature during the week of Feb. 3-9.

The Poindexter Report Week#5, February 3-9, 2013 Dear Friend, This week both the House and Senate completed their respective legislation on schedule at Crossover, February 5. Both also passed their respective budget proposals. Conferees from each body will now work to reconcile the differences so that we can hopefully pass the final budget by February 22 and adjourn on schedule on February 23. Three of my bills have now passed the House and are in the Senate this week. My VDOT bill, HB2044, which eliminates the old and unnecessary Highway Recycled Materials Committee, and my bill, HB1829, recognizing the use of electronic tracking collars for managing hunting dogs, were approved unanimously. They will be heard in the full Senate this week. My Route 58 bill, HB1953, passed the House this week 70-30 after a spirited debate on the floor. It will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee early next week. I am hopeful the Senate will agree on the importance of completing Route 58 from Stuart to I-77, as this is a critical link for economic development and jobs in the region and as a linage to and from the Port of Virginia from points west, north, and south. The House Budget is a responsible and conservative budget reflecting the economic realities the nation and state are facing. Our revenue is now at the 2008 level, so we propose targeted priority investments in core areas of need while setting aside 95M for the Rainy Day Fund. These targeted investments are in jobs/economic development, K-12 and higher education, the health care safety net, and school and public safety. They include, for example, funding for a 2% raise for K-12 personnel, state employee raises -- including a salary 'compression' adjustment -- 45M to restore previous reductions in aid to local governments, an additional 200 ID and 50 DD Medicaid slots for the health care safety net for less fortunate citizens, and 31M for school safety and security. In addition to the additional Medicaid slots, above, the House budget directs the Department of Medical Assistance to request waivers from the federal government to allow Virginia to reform its current Medicaid program in order to produce better health outcomes while controlling costs in the program. Medicaid is now about 21% of the state budget, up from an historic level of around 13%. In 2010 JLARC, our own 'watchdog' agency, concluded an approximate 90M was spent in waste, fraud, abuse, and error per year. That's probably enough for a 3-4% raise for our teachers! So, clearly, reforming the current program is mandatory and the highest priority, regardless of any future expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare). Assuming the federal government grants the waivers, careful and responsible governance is still essential in determining whether Virginia expands the program. Thus, the House budget also requires the Department of Medical Assistance to ask the General Assembly for final authority to expand Medicaid. While many advocates want to jump aboard immediately, I want to be very careful and deliberate in making any final decision on the proposed expansion. I have to be somewhat skeptical of whether the federal money would or can be there as promised as, clearly, the President and Congress simply have to reduce spending, borrowing, and debt. Would an expanded federal program really save Virginia money? Would the health outcomes be better? Do we have general practitioners and others available to serve this many new patients? And, who would most benefit from the expansion? The latter question needs further review since the elderly, pregnant women, and children are already covered under Medicaid or FAMIS, so it seems likely the demographic group the expansion would most affect would be younger age adults, very likely more males than females, earning less than 138% of the national poverty level. Why able-bodied citizens in this group should go on Medicaid for health coverage via expansion in lieu of purchasing subsidized insurance on either a state or federal exchange needs, in my opinion, further evaluation. Appropriate to the Medicaid reform and expansion discussion, many health care representatives came to the Capitol this week. I met with Bill Jacobsen and other administrators from Carilion and Skip Philips from Memorial Hospital of Martinsville. The Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors also visited, represented by Betty and Billy Kingery, Matt Huff, Donna Greer, and Melissa Morgan. On Sheriffs Day-perhaps the safest day of Session-I met with Sheriff Bill Overton and several of his deputies from Franklin County, Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry and his staff, and representatives from the Martinsville city sheriff's office. Representing the Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network, Franklin County's Valarie Angle with her daughter Baylee came to discuss early childhood education initiatives. Vice-President of Primland Steve Helms came to discuss some of the initiatives Primland is undertaking in Patrick County to help boost tourism in our area. On behalf of Delegate Kathy Byron and myself, I had the honor of introducing veterinarian Dr. Brian Weitzman and his son Jacob Weitzman as they viewed House Floor proceedings from the House Gallery during their tour of our Capitol. To arrange a visit to our Capitol or to meet with me, please call my Legislative Director, Alex Thorup, at (804) 698-1009. I can be contacted at DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov or at P.O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218. Best Regards, Delegate Charles D. Poindexter 9th District, House of Delegates, Virginia General Assembly