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DELEGATE LANDES’ GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPORT
By Delegate R. Steven Landes
Week of February 7, 2011
Crossover week at the General Assembly is always a busy week. Crossover, which marks the midpoint of theSession, is the day when all bills that have passed the House are sent to the Senate for their consideration and vice versa.
We started off this week with a marathon nine-hour floor session - the longest floor session this year. Thursday also saw an extended floor session as we debated proposed changes to the current biennial budget. By the time Friday rolled around, many legislators were ready for a chance to go back home to their districts to be with their families and constituents.
Spotlight On: A Tale of Two Budgets
The biggest issue before both the House of Delegates and State Senate this week was the state budget. In the House, we have approved our plan to revise the state budget, and the State Senate has approved their plan. When one compares the House and Senate budgets, it is clear that there is a vast difference in the approach each body took to meet the long-term needs of Virginia. While the House listened to the voters who told us to put fiscal discipline first, the Senate has chosen to spend beyond our means.
On the House side, our primary objective was to restore fiscal discipline by limiting new spending, reducing the amount of authorized debt, setting aside money in the state Rainy Day Fund, and reducing the burdens on small businesses.
In particular, the House budget sought to address the overall structural imbalance by rolling back the accelerated sales tax for 98% of affected retailers, increasing our reserve payment to the Rainy Day Fund by an additional $64 million above the required $50 million payment, and reducing the state’s authorized debt by $120 million. The House budget has reduced or eliminated funding for a number of programs such as public broadcasting which was included in Governor McDonnell’s proposed budget amendments. Even though we all enjoy public broadcasting and many other programs that were eliminated, they really are not a core function of the state and pale in comparison to the needs of health care, education, and public safety. The House again this year had to make tough choices to balance the state’s budget correctly.
In contrast, the Senate budget spends every dollar available and more with almost $335 million in increased spending as we enter the next biennium. Specifically, the Senate budget:
-Does not reduce the accelerated sales tax for a single retailer
-Provides only an additional $20 million payment into the Rainy Day Fund, $44 million less than was approved in the House budget
-Authorizes nearly $700 million in new state supported debt, including nearly $300 million to pay for the construction of a new government building in Richmond, including a new building for the General Assembly.
When you add it all up, the Senate’s budget equals more spending, more debt, and no relief for Virginia small businesses.
As both budgets have passed their respective chambers, it is now up to members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance committees to work together to put forward a final budget that both the Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate can agree upon. I am once again a member of the House and Senate Budget Conferees, and will have direct input into the final budget.
Bills Targeting Illegal Immigration Pass the House
Virginia already is one of the nation’s leaders in its efforts to address illegal immigration issues, but this week the House advanced a number of bills that strengthen the efforts to address this problem that concerns so many of our citizens.
Illegal immigration has always been, and will continue to be, a hot button issue that incites passion from both sides. I believe strongly that all individuals seeking citizenship should follow established and lawful procedures. This nation has prospered because of the contribution of legal immigrants.Illegal immigration, however, is not only unfair to those who do follow the lawful procedures to become a citizen, but those who come here illegally have also broken the law.
While it is the responsibility of the Federal government to protect our borders and stop illegal immigrants from entering our country, it is clear that they have failed to uphold their obligation. Since the Federal government has failed to stop illegal immigrants from entering our country, it falls upon the states to do what we can to stop illegal immigration in our states.
The bills below are just some examples of legislation that passed the House that will strengthen efforts to address the illegal immigration issue:
-Denial of Public Benefits (House Bill 1468 - Patron Dave Albo, R-Springfield): This bill requires localities to verify legal citizenship or legal presence before providing public benefits. Benefits required under Federal law, such as emergency medical care, cannot be denied to anyone regardless of their citizenship or legal presence, and this bill does not deny those federally required benefits.
-Arresting Officer to Inquire About Citizenship (House Bill 1430 – Patron: Dave Albo,
R-Springfield; (House Bill 2332 – Patron: Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge): Under current law, Sheriffs are required to inquire about the legal presence of everyone taken into custody at a jail. These bills would expand the law to require an arresting officer to determine the citizenship or legal presence of everyone who is arrested, even if they are not taken into custody at a jail.
-Enrollment in E-Verify (House Bill 1727 – Patron: Carrico, R-Galax): This bill requires public contractors, employers with 15 or more employees within the Commonwealth, and localities to enroll in the E-Verify Program to verify the citizenship of all newly hired employees.
My Legislation
House Bill 1454is a simple “clean up the Code” bill that repeals references to special license plates whose authorizations have expired, thus these license plates will not be produced. The plates that were affected by this repeal are Benefitting the Children of Victims of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001, Supporters of the Canine Health Foundation, Inc., Supporters of Adoption Programs, Supporters of the Professor Garfield Foundation, Supporters of the Virginia Recycling Association and BUY Local. As an update, on Tuesday, February 15th, my bill HB 1454 passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits the Governor’s signature.
I had the honor and privilege of sponsoring House Joint Resolution 767commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Ronald Wilson Reagan.I would like to take a moment to share a brief overview of President Reagan’s life as commemorated by HJ 767. Reagan was born February 6th, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois. Reagan initially won fame as a movie star appearing in over 50 films from the 1930s to the 1960s and even was the head of the Screen Actors Guild. After winning the general election by nearly one million votes, the largest plurality by which a sitting governor had ever been defeated in American History, Reagan became the Governor of California in 1966. Ronald Reagan tried twice in the 1970s to gain the Republican nomination for President and finally received the nomination on his third bid in 1980.Reagan went on to easily win the Presidential election to become the 40th President of the United States. President Reagan initially took office at a time when the country faced economic woes, a Cold War with the Soviet Union, and the waning confidence of the American public in its government. He won his reelection bid in a landslide in 1984, showing that the majority of the American people believed he had restored public confidence in government and had become one of the most popular presidents in recent history. President Reagan lived for 16 years after leaving the office of the Presidency, plagued by the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease shortly after he retired. President Reagan remains one of America’s most beloved and respected figures and his 100th birthday is an appropriate time to reflect on the beloved and inspiring leader.
Visitors
This week we received visits from several different school systems. Representing Rockingham County Public Schools, School Board Chairman Gayl Brunk andmembers W. R. Good, John Myers, Jr., and Superintendent Carol Fenn came byalong with middle school students Brianna Brunk, Matthew Good and Brandon Hylton. From the Albemarle School Board,Chairman Steve Koleszar and Vice Chairman Harley Miles stopped by.
I also had the opportunity to meet with the Kiwanis-Linkous Model General Assembly from back home. Our local high schools from Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County were well represented by these young men and women.
Also visiting were a number of health professionals. Dr. Tom McNamara, from Waynesboro, came by.The Augusta Health, Administration and Board of Directors paid us a visit, as well as Edward Howell, CEO of the Medical Center at the University of Virginia. Martha Jefferson Hospital also sent representatives down to discuss the important issue of health care. Brian Veerhoff with representatives from the ARC of Piedmont came in support of their issues.
From the business sector I was able to visit with a number of realtors representing Harrisonburg, Rockingham and the Augusta County areas. Invista sent down representatives and Robin Sullenger from the Shenandoah Valley Partnership came to discuss possible new businesses locating in the Valley. Representatives from Virginia Regional Transit also came to discuss transportation concerns in Waynesboro.
From the 25th District, Jeremy Clark and several of his daughters came by to discuss issues of concern to them. My mother, Betty Landes, came down with her friends to take tours around the Capitol and in the Executive Mansion. With her were Sharon Williams, Linda Licklighter, and Jo Fields. We also had the privilege of meeting with some very special athletes that have done well in the Special Olympics competitions.
Closing
As always, my staff and I are here in Richmond to serve you. We want to hear what you think about the legislation pending before the House, or if there's anything we can do to help you with state related concerns. My office can be reached at 804.698.1025 or via the Internet at If you are planning to visit Richmond during Session, I encourage you to visit me in Room 515.
Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate.
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