General Assembly Update

January 16, 2012

Dear Friends:

As you could probably tell from the extensive news coverage, the Senate’s opening day revolved around the unique circumstances we face this session. The election of 20 Republican and 20 Democratic Senators guaranteed that the day’s business would take considerably longer to complete and that every aspect of opening day activities in the Senate would be closely monitored. The media was waiting for a pitched partisan battle.  What they got instead was a Senate with members disagreeing, but doing so in a thoroughly “senatorial” way.

The most contentious debates in the Senate were marked by civility.  Instead of over-the-top rhetoric and wild accusations, discussions over the merits of changes to the Rules, assignments to standing committees, and the constitutional prerogatives and responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor were the focus of the day. 

The core of the disagreement between the two parties is the role of Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the Senate and is empowered by the Constitution of Virginia to break tie votes in all but a few circumstances.  The Lieutenant Governor’s responsibilities in Virginia are similar to those of the Vice President of the United States, who is the presiding officer of the United States Senate and empowered to break ties in that body.  Because Lieutenant Governor Bolling is a Republican, the Senate’s partisan “tie” effectively becomes a 21-to-20 Republican majority.  So for the first time in four years, Republicans are the majority caucus in the Virginia Senate.

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS

After an exciting first day, Governor McDonnell addressed both the House and Senate in his State of the Commonwealth Address. After a series of moving introductions, including the wife of Officer Deriek W. Crouse who was tragically killed on the Virginia Tech campus in December, the Governor worked to instill confidence in the impressive progress Virginia has made over the last two years. Virginia now has the distinction of having the lowest unemployment rate in our region, and the Governor’s agenda includes multiple measures to further strengthen Virginia’s business environment to create jobs.

Governor McDonnell’s proposals challenge Republicans and Democrats to work together in order to benefit the Commonwealth and reach agreement whenever possible.  Some important issues we will discuss this session include a significant funding boost for Virginia’s state-supported colleges and universities, major reforms and increased funding for Virginia’s public schools, proposals to streamline state government by reducing and consolidating some state agencies, departments, boards and commissions and a proposed $2.2 billion investment in the Virginia Retirement System which would be the highest in the Commonwealth’s history.

LEGISLATION

I am working on and supporting a wide range of legislation this session that supports veterans, small employers, those in the medical field, and others. You can access and follow the progress of all the bills I will patron this year at http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+mbr+S60  or any other legislation at http://legis.state.va.us/.

COMMITTEES

I’ve been appointed to serve on five Senate Committees this session:

• Commerce and Labor – The Commerce and Labor Committee considers legislation relating to Virginia’s businesses, including regulatory policy, workplace relations, and consumer affairs.

• Finance – The Finance Committee reviews legislation relating to taxes and spending, and is responsible for crafting the Commonwealth’s budget. 

• Rehabilitation and Social Services (Chair) – The Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee reviews legislation including the sale and regulation of alcohol, and the administration of social service and corrections.

• Rules – The Rules Committee reviews appointments, Senate Memorializing and Commending Resolutions, and matters related to the operation of the Senate and the General Assembly.

• Transportation – The Transportation Committee reviews legislation relating to Virginia’s roadways, transit systems, shipping and trucking, railways, and airports.  

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

We are now set up in our offices in Richmond and would love to meet with as many of you as possible during the session. We value your opinions and concerns on current issues facing Virginia residents. My legislative assistant, Vicki Wilson, is staffing our office here, located in Room 303 of the General Assembly Building.  You can contact us by sending an e-mail to District07@senate.virginia.gov, or by sending a letter to me at Senate of Virginia, PO Box 396, Richmond VA 23218-0396.  You can also call us at 804.698.7607. Please keep yourself updated by visiting my website at http://wagnervasenate.com/.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Senator,

Frank Wagner

Contact Information 1/11/2012 - 3/10/2012:

804-698-7507-Richmond Office

District07@senate.virginia.gov

PO Box 396, Richmond VA  23218