Proudly Serving the People of Virginia's 25th District
The second full week of the 2020 Session of the General Assembly began with a huge gun rights rally at the Capitol. Officials estimated 22,000 people were in attendance. The majority of the attendees were outside of the fence and many of them were armed. The rally was without incident.
The day was fairly gloomy for those of us who had work in or around the Capitol. Because of the large number of people expected and credible threats, the Governor declared a state of emergency. [Read more…]
The 2018 Session of the General Assembly is history. It will be noted for a new governor, success and failures, including our inability once again to agree on a biennial budget. [Read more…]
The 2016 Session of the General Assembly has now been through its first full week. Days full of work make the time pass quickly. A 60-day session suffers under the misnomer of the “long” session and the odd numbered year 46-day sessions are the “short” sessions. We handle about the same amount of work in each session, with the exception of the consideration of the two year budget during the 60-day session. The Virginia Constitution does not provide for holiday or weekend breaks. So even when the General Assembly does not hold floor sessions, for example on weekends, the time period rolls on.
Likewise, the Session continues during federal holidays, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This past Monday, we celebrated that holiday and welcomed many people who had the day off to the General Assembly. Standing committees met and both houses held a floor session. There were an inordinate number of people trying to navigate the hallways, stairwells and elevators of the General Assembly Building to talk to their legislators. It was a busy day.
This year, as in other years, groups from all over the 25th District and throughout Virginia trekked to Richmond to share ideas with their elected representatives. This past week, during a radio interview I was asked whether anyone coordinated the rallies that occur during the legislative session. Historically, the pro-gun control and the pro-Second Amendment groups come to Richmond on Martin Luther King Day. Another day, the pro-choice and anti-choice people attend; another day the pro-Medicaid expansion and anti-Medicaid expansion attend. I’m not sure that anyone puts these groups together, but I am sure it is no coincidence that both sides of the issue are represented in Richmond at the same time.
It is still early in the session. The primary focus continues to be the budget. This week the Senate Finance Committee held important hearings regarding revenue projections and other fiscal matters. Of particular concern was the discussion on the relative weak growth of Virginia’s economy. As stated before in this space, we face a number of very serious challenges, many of which are brought on by sequestration at the federal level. We all know that the economy will change and that government contracting and direct military spending, which has driven economic growth in Virginia since the end of World War II, will not continue unabated. We have to diversify, and without question there will be growing pains in our economy and in Virginia’s government during that process.
Of note as well this session is the continued discussion revolving around Justice Roush of the Virginia Supreme Court. Many will recall that she was a Fairfax trial judge whom Governor McAuliffe appointed on an interim basis to the Virginia Supreme Court. She was appointed upon the recommendation of Delegate Dave Albo, the Republican Chair of the House Courts of Justice Committee. Unfortunately, her appointment ruffled the feathers of some of the Republican hierarchy. They have objected and are trying to remove her from the bench. Late last week, the Republican leadership was surprised to find that one of their freshman senators, Glen Sturtevant, a Senator from Richmond, was supporting Justice Roush. The discovery delayed for the time being their efforts to unseat her. This story will have to be continued because there does not appear to be any compromise.
Ultimately, part of the problem with putting people on the bench is that partisan politics becomes an issue. Thomas Jefferson, while the Minister to France, wrote an important letter to James Madison. At the time, Madison was developing the Constitution of the United States and had sent a draft to Jefferson. One of the important things in the draft, Jefferson concluded, was the absolute independence of the judiciary. He applauded the lifetime terms which he felt would ensure independence. We don’t have lifetime terms for state court judges in Virginia. Frankly, there needs to be some mechanism to assure the public that those people appointed to the bench are doing their jobs. However, we have to be vigilant that members of the bench are independent; judges should not consider that their position is owed to any segment of the political class. Without that, we cannot ensure there is equal justice for all in our court system.
I have once again sponsored a bill to create a merit based selection process for judges. The bill has not yet been heard.
This is being written as a major storm bears down on Virginia leading the Governor to declare a State of Emergency. I urge all Virginians to be careful, to not travel unless they have to, to stay warm and hydrated, to be mindful of their neighbors, and to care for their pets and animals. Even though the snow may come, I will need to make sure the ice gets broken and the chicken and equine are cared for. I urge caution.
It continues to be my high honor to serve you in the Virginia General Assembly. If I may be of service, do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at
[email protected] or (804) 698-7525. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Creigh
The 2016 regular session of the Virginia General Assembly is off and running. The long sessions are held in even years and are significant because we will be adopting a new two-year budget. Due to our budget cycle, this is the first year Governor McAuliffe has an opportunity to put forward his vision for the Commonwealth. This biennial budget will be the Governor’s opportunity to leave a legacy.
On the first night of the session, the Senate and House of Delegates convened a Joint Assembly to welcome the Governor and hear his State of the Commonwealth speech. Typically such affairs are light, and the mood is hopeful and congenial. Certainly this year was not much of an exception.
Governor McAuliffe laid out his outline for the $109 billion two-year spending plan. His budget priorities include education and economic development, which generally receive widespread support. The Governor boosts spending for both K-12 and higher education. Those in K-12 know that spending has been very tight for at least the past seven years. The Governor’s re-benchmarking of that area of the budget was needed just to catch up.
In higher education, Virginia’s historically frugal way has left us behind many surrounding states in terms of our overall investment in higher education. This year’s plan achieves a number of important goals. First, it adds planning money and capital outlay for a number of important projects throughout the system. Of particular interest to those who reside in the 25th Senate District, money is allocated for the development of a student center at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Second, and important for our economy, there is additional investment in workforce training at our community colleges in clear recognition that a bachelor’s or associate’s degree is not necessary for every segment of the workforce. Sometimes a certification can increase earning power and productivity.
In an effort to build a budget to include something for everyone, the Governor also proposes corporate tax cuts to promote business growth in Virginia and remain competitive with other states. He also provides funding for GO Virginia, which is supported by business and local governments, to encourage regional partnerships and planning for economic development. This funding will allow jurisdictions to work together on common goals, rather than compete for business.
While his efforts in these areas may receive widespread support, the Governor has not avoided controversy in the budget. For the third time, the Governor put forward budget language to expand Medicaid in Virginia. The proposal and related money is woven into the budget. I have consistently argued that expanding Medicaid makes good economic and political sense for Virginia. Ninety percent of the dollars to expand Medicaid will come from the federal government. Of course, those dollars don’t just “come from the federal government”; the funding is generated by money higher earning Virginians already pay due to increased taxes in the Affordable Care Act. If we have an opportunity to bring our tax dollars back to Virginia to work for us, we have a responsibility to act. In doing so, we can provide insurance coverage for hundreds of thousands of Virginians, a significant number of whom suffer serious mental illness, who are falling through the cracks. Providing health care to these individuals is the right thing to do.
Predictably, there is a good deal of partisanship being displayed, particularly about the Medicaid issue. But I am hopeful we can put aside some of our past differences and genuinely work together for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth.
In addition, there are a number of judicial issues before the Virginia General Assembly. Specifically, I will introduce legislation that calls for an additional fourth general district court judgeship in the 25th Circuit, the area that stretches north from Craig and Botetourt Counties to Highland and Augusta Counties. I will also carry a budget amendment to fund an additional circuit court position in the 16th Circuit, in the Charlottesville-Albemarle region.
The Virginia General Assembly must also confirm or elect a new justice to the Supreme Court. A great deal of partisanship continues to surround this issue, even though the Governor’s appointment was nominated by the Republican Chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee. Many Republican leaders oppose Justice Jane Roush’s election. How that plays out remains to be seen.
On the first day, the Senate voted on a number of procedural measures necessary for conducting the work of the people. We narrowly adopted new rules, including the controversial removal of media access to the chamber during session, and finalized committee assignments. I resumed my seat on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, on which I last served in 2011. Longtime friends know that I spent many years on the Courts Committee while in the House of Delegates. In order to obtain that assignment, I gave up positions on the General Laws and Technology Committee and the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee. I maintained my seats on the Transportation and Privileges and Elections Committees.
Although the Virginia General Assembly Session just began on Wednesday, lots of bills have been introduced and standing committees have begun working through the over 2,000 bills already before us. I urge you to please let me hear from you if you have any information or ideas about the legislation currently before us.
It remains a high honor to serve you in the Senate of Virginia. If I may be of assistance, or if you wish to share your thoughts with me, please contact me at [email protected] or (804) 698-7525. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Creigh
After much thought, I want to announce that I will run for re-election to the State Senate this fall. I am proud of the many things we have been able to accomplish, working together, to protect the most vulnerable, Virginia’s children, to conserve Virginia’s open space, to rebuild Virginia’s economy, and recently to reform our system of mental health care. I will be humbled to ask the voters in the 25th Senatorial District for their votes on November 3rd so that I may continue my work. [Read more…]
