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Headlines Moving Towards Crossover Questions Remain on Health Care Exchange
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Careening to Crossover The sound and fury emanating from the halls of power in Richmond over the last few weeks has been propelled by a host of divisive issues that animate interest groups and tempt lawmakers on both sides to bear their partisan fangs. Pitched battles on the floor and in committee meetings over gun and hunting rights, abortion, and voter ID laws have otherwise obscured a host of critical business issues. With the deadline for each chamber to complete work upon its own bills, known in legislative parlance as Crossover, drawing closer, the frenzied pace of the General Assembly will only quicken next week.
Bills to Watch: HB714/SB368 - Major business facility job tax credit extension. HB585/SB344 - Small business investment tax credit.
HB512/SB549
- Classifies as intangible personal property, and therefore
subject only to state taxation (not local M&T taxes), machinery
and tools purchased on or after July 1, 2012 that have not been in
service for more than three years. Deliberations
Continue on Lawmakers continued
discussions on several pieces of legislation that would create the
framework for Virginia's health insurance exchange. At a Senate
subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, a diverse group of industry and
consumer representatives presented divergent preferences over which
entity should be responsible for housing the exchange. Nearly all
agreed that the state should move forward during the 2012 session on
this complex process. Speaking for the McDonnell
Administration, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel
pointed out that while the Administration continues to explore what
the architecture of such an exchange may look like, the Governor
believes there are too many unanswered questions about federal
regulations to pass a law during the 2012 session. On Tuesday, a
House Commerce and Labor subcommittee declined to take action on
three House proposals to set up an exchange. Other Week 4 Highlights
Transportation Bills Meet Quick Demise
On Wednesday afternoon, the tax averse House Finance subcommittee turned into a veritable temple of doom for several bills that would have generated additional revenue for transportation. After sitting patiently through testimony on HB393 (increase motor fuels tax by 10 cents), HB422 (phased in motor fuels tax - click here for presentation on bill), and HB983 (converts motor fuels tax rate to a percentage rate), members of the committee quickly tabled each bill with little comment. The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Joe May, provided a thorough overview of his HB802 that would have created a new toll of 50 cents at the gas pump. May pointed out that this legislation was designed to capture around $200 million of additional revenue from all drivers, including those driving hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles. While appreciative of May's creative approach, members declined to advance May's legislation to the full committee. Another bill (HB1241) that would index the motor fuels tax to the Department of Transportation's Transportation Services Index was carried over until next week. Position: The Chamber supports long-term, dedicated, and sustainable sources of funding for transportation.
Congressional
Redistricting Lawsuit Takes Interesting Turn Earlier this week, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli hired a former Democratic Attorney General as outside council to represent a circuit court whose authority Cuccinelli is challenging. This seemingly bizarre situation began last week after Richmond City Circuit Court Judge Richard Taylor ruled that a lawsuit challenging a recently approved General Assembly plan to redraw Virginia's 11 Congressional districts could proceed. Plaintiffs in that case contend that lawmakers were bound by the Virginia Constitution to finish redistricting in 2011, the year after the decennial census. Cuccinelli counters that the circuit court does not have jurisdiction over the case and subsequently filed a petition for a 'writ of prohibition' requesting for the Virginia Supreme Court to stop the circuit court from acting. Cuccinelli's office contends that pending deadlines associated with the Voting Rights Act and the fall electoral calendar led them to seek a ruling from the state Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied Cuccinelli's petition, prompting the Attorney General to ask the General Assembly to pass emergency legislation that would delay the state's congressional primaries by two months. The primaries are currently scheduled for June 12th. Another lawsuit challenging the Congressional redistricting plan will be heard next month in federal court. See more here and here.
Project Labor Agreement Bill Wins House Approval
Delegate Barbara Comstock's (R-Fairfax) legislation (HB33) that would neither require nor prohibit project labor agreements for state transportation and infrastructure projects passed the House on Monday despite Democratic efforts to amend the bill. Comstock argued that because the bill requires neutrality in state contracting, competition will be enhanced, driving down the cost of taxpayer supported projects. Democrats questioned the bill's necessity and impact on existing state construction contracts. A similar Senate bill (SB242) won approval with Lt. Governor casting the tie-breaking vote. Bolling argued that the legislation will strengthen Virginia's Right-to-Work Law and pro-business environment. Position: The Chamber supports HB33 and SB242.
Other Headlines
McDonnell 2nd in Nat'l Journal Veepstakes
Reflections on Senate GOP Control
Chopra to Explore Run for Lt. Governor Important Session Dates
February 14 - Crossover
March 11 - Adjournment Sine Die
For more information, click here.
Video
To view live video or hear live audio from the House and Senate floor sessions, click here.
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