General Assembly Update

February 21, 2010

Dear Friends:

All Senate and House of Delegates bills that gained passage this session were sent to the opposite chamber on February 16, 2010, by the midnight deadline, with the exception of the revenue bills.  Now, both chambers are hearing their counterpart’s bills to complete consideration of legislation as we move towards the truly difficult work on the budget.  As I write this, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee are meeting to complete work on their respective budget bills by midnight tonight, February 21st.  As we move towards adjournment, we will discover what areas of the budget will be cut and how much.  I will keep you posted as the negotiations unfold. 

Governor McDonnell proposed his recommended cuts to Governor Kaine’s introduced budget last week.  To close the huge gap left by the previous administration, the Governor proposed cuts amounting to $2.2 billion, which is a staggering amount. Gov. Kaine’s introduced budget contained a $2 billion tax hike, which was rejected by the House of Delegates along with Gov. McDonnell’s suggested elimination of the car tax relief program, on a 97-0 vote.  Many of these proposals will not be popular, but keep in mind these are proposed cuts, as nothing is yet engraved in stone.  In commenting on the budget negotiations of the General Assembly money committees, Gov. McDonnell said, “I have laid out three major priorities for this budget:  it must be done on time, not contain any general tax increases, and invest, even in a difficult fiscal environment, in job creation and economic development measures imperative to a successful recovery.”  To that end, I will continue to talk with my colleagues who are on the money committees, asking for focused attention on the needs in education and Medicaid funding and how those needs can be accommodated in this biennium’s budget.  There will be an ongoing dialogue this month on all aspects of the budget and its effect on state and local governments and, of course, the citizens of the Commonwealth.  Though there are no easy choices, the feeling I receive from my colleagues is that we are committed to working towards a budget that will address the shortfall and is delivered on time.  As noted, the Governor and the House of Delegates have refused to consider any budget containing a tax increase, so for the Senate to insist on any tax increase, if indeed that is the direction our Finance Committee is going, will set us up for a long, drawn out budget process that may sharpen partisan rhetoric but do nothing to pass a final budget.

I submitted several budget amendments, which include language for setting standards for the design of energy and water efficient state buildings; language that would have the position of an institution of higher learning relative to the base adequacy guidelines and their enrollment growth be considered in any further reductions during the 2010-2012 biennium; and an amendment to provide funding of $1.75 million in each year of the biennium for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, which will be matched by the members of the Consortium.  The last amendment is the only one in which money is requested, as I feel the work of VCERC is vital to moving our offshore energy development forward.

I was quite pleased that two bills I submitted, which I feel are quite important to the development of the Virginia Energy Plan, passed the Senate and have been communicated to the House for consideration.  One of the bills, which creates an Offshore Wind Development Commission to facilitate siting and development of offshore projects, was rolled into a similar bill submitted by Senator Don McEachin. Thus, my Senate Bill 393 is now Senate Bill 577, and my good friend and colleague, Sen. McEachin and I hope for passage in the House.  Another energy bill I submitted, Senate Bill 394, changes the language in the Virginia Energy Plan to state that Virginia wants to explore and develop any offshore natural gas and oil resources that may be found, 50 miles or more, off our coast.  Former Governor Warner would not sign the bill that created the Virginia Energy Plan until the language dealing with “oil” and “development” was removed.  But, in order to comply with federal statute, oil has to be included, as well as development.  So, this bill codifies the language to comply with federal law and to make clear that we want to develop our energy resources.  Currently, one bill I introduced has passed the House and I have nine remaining that will be heard in the House in the next two weeks. 

To follow my bills, or other bills of interest, please access the General Assembly website:  http://legis.state.va.us.  I have also included a link this week to a Crossover Legislation Summary, divided into subject areas, which you may find useful.

Last week I had the pleasure of greeting constituents who attend Longwood University, visitors from the Nimmo, Princess Anne and Beach Suburban Women’s Republican Clubs, members of the Hampton Roads Realtors, the Tidewater Builders, and representatives from our Port Authority.  I was also pleased to meet with Dr. Deborah DiCroce, President of Tidewater Community College. 

On Friday, February 19th, I was honored to accompany a delegation from Virginia, which included Governor Bob McDonnell and Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech, to a meeting with Secretary Ken Salazar at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Sec. Salazar had called this meeting of representatives of east coast states to discuss the development of offshore wind resources.  Sec. Salazar stated he wants to work closely with coastal states to streamline the permitting process for offshore wind energy projects and emphasized that the federal government must collaborate with the states in this effort.

I hope you will contact my office with any concerns you may have.  I depend upon you, my constituents, to keep me informed on the issues of the day.  If you visit the Capitol, please come by Room 312 to say hello.

Sincerely,

Frank Wagner

Contact Information Jan. 13, 2010 – Mar. 13, 2010: 

804-698-7507-Richmond Office

District07@senate.virginia.gov

PO Box 396, Richmond VA  23218