Today was a historic day for our nation, yet amazingly it was also the norm. For the 25th time in American history, power transferred from one political party to another, yet it was done peacefully and cooperatively. While it is the standard in our nation, we cannot take it for granted or dismiss the significance. […]
The 2017 General Assembly session officially got under way at noon on Wednesday, January 11. Even though this year is a short session, we will still be making adjustments to our biennial budget and working to enact policy that strengthens Virginia’s economy, improves our schools, and provides healthcare services to the most in need, without […]
We are now working from our Richmond office for the duration of the 2017 General Assembly Session. Session is scheduled to end on February 25. I welcome and encourage you to reach out to my office if you would like to voice your opinion on legislation. If you are experiencing a problem with a state […]
If you have not already done so, please take time to complete my annual legislative survey online. This is one of several ways I gain your feedback on issues the General Assembly may address in the upcoming session. While we do our best to cover a large sampling of topics, there is simply no way […]
Ballot Question One – Right to Work: “Should Article I of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership to the union […]
Local Registration Fraud Reaffirms Need for Photo IDRegardless of the outcome this November, we need to be confident that our elections are carried out fairly and with integrity. While I believe nearly everyone has this same desire, unfortunately there will always be those individuals that want to cheat and do whatever is necessary to tip […]
As of July 1, most of the legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor went into effect. Of the 780 bills signed into law, some may have an impact on your day to day life, while many may not. Every year the Division of Legislative Services publishes a document, titled In […]
Last month, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced his executive action to immediately restore the political rights of over 200,000 convicted felons, including approximately 40,000 felons who committed violent crimes. This blanket restoration contains no criteria or limitations. It does not even require the individual to pay their obligated debts to victims or the courts. Not only […]
The 2016 General Assembly adjourned sine die on Friday, March 11. For the second year in a row we were able to complete our work a day ahead of schedule, allowing us to save taxpayer dollars. Before I discuss the budget and other legislative initiatives, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that […]
It’s hard to believe, but there are just two weeks left in the 2016 General Assembly session. This past week the House passed a new two-year spending plan. The budget is the most important work we do each year at the State Capitol. It sets the priorities for what services the Commonwealth will support over […]
