Legislative Blog

An analysis by VDOT economists shows that in Bob McDonnell’s 2011 $4 billion transportation plan, 10 projects, costing a combined total of $378.4 million and providing over $255 million in “gross state product”, will also provide over 3,600 Virginia construction jobs, $190.8 million in personal income, and nearly $15 million in tax revenues.

“The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) advertised more than $2 billion worth of construction and maintenance contracts last year, a direct result of the money provided by our 2011 transportation package, which the General Assembly approved,” Governor McDonnell said. “This review of a cross section of new VDOT road projects clearly illustrates that putting such work on the street in turn puts Virginians to work and returns other financial benefits back to the commonwealth.”

Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton also noted that the projects will benefit the in communities in the proximity of the 10 projects through money spent by workers and construction firms in the work site areas on food, lodging, and other goods and, upon completion, the projects will “streamline transportation of goods and services, thus increasing economic development.”

Included in the 10-project economic analysis are the phase II improvements to the Interstate 581/Valley View Boulevard interchange in Roanoke, the relocation of Erickson Road in Harrisonburg, and the extension of Odd Fellows Road in Lynchburg.

Via the Office of Governor Bob McDonnell.

Following U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt’s (R, VA-5) speech on the intransigent nature of the U.S. Senate at the Military Officer Association of America Central Virginia Chapter, a new candidate has entered the race for Virginia’s 5th District. Dr. Peyton R. Williams Jr. now plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the seat. Williams cited the irony of Hurt’s speech on the efficiency of the House compared to the Senate as the impetus for his decision.

“What I have witnessed for the last year has been a House that was unwilling to compromise and which blocked all bills that did not meet their narrow view. Our system of government was built on compromise and I am a firm believer that we can learn from each other and by working together, come up with better solutions for problems.”

“One of my strengths is getting people together to talk about problems and finding solutions that are acceptable, workable and likely to achieve the result,” he said. “I look forward to bringing civility, compromise and progress back into the legislative process.”

Williams, a native of Norfolk, worked in Orange as an ecologist, retired from the Army in 1999 as a lieutenant colonol in Special Forces and from Lockheed Martin in 2012 as a systems engineer.

 On Tuesday evening, over 50 members attended the Chamber’s annual Capital Dinner at the Richmond Marriott. Following a brief reception and lively dinner conversation, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling commented on the administration’s recent achievements on job creation and pledged to continue their efforts to maintain Virginia’s preeminence as a business friendly state. Senator Ralph Smith lauded the virtues of free enterprise and reminded the audience that small business remains an important engine for economic development. Delegate Greg Habeeb pointed out that the delegation representing the Roanoke region continues to work cooperatively and touched upon a few of his key bills, including H228 that would incentivize federal contractors for contracting with small or minority-owned businesses. Lastly, new Delegate Chris Head reflected on his first few weeks as a lawmaker and how honored he is to be a part of such a historic and august institution.
 The Roanoke Regional Chamber would like to thank each of the lawmakers who joined us on Tuesday evening and the event’s sponsors: Appalachian Power, Cox, Lanford Brothers, and Norfolk Southern.

On Wednesday, the Virginia Coalition and the Alliance for Progress in Southern Virginia hosted a news conference to request a delay in the lifting Virginia’s 30 year old moratorium on uranium mining, citing the potential adverse impact that uranium mining could have on the economy in Southside Virginia. Members of the Coalition and Alliance were joined by Delegates Danny Marshall (R-Danville), Don Merricks (R-Martinsville, James Edmunds (R-Charlotte), and Tommy Wright (R-Amelia) and Senators Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville) and Bill Stanley (R-Moneta). Governor McDonnell has not yet taken position on the issue but a spokesman reiterated that the Governor’s top priority remains public safety. The deadline to file legislation is Friday, January 20th.

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee approved HB251 to redraw Virginia’s 11 Congressional districts. Over the strenuous objection of committee Democrats who questioned the bill’s constitutionality, the bill was reported by a vote of 8 to 7. Senator Donald McEachin(D) queried if the General Assembly could act on redistricting bills in non decennial years. The Attorney General’s office argued that nothing prevents the General Assembly from acting on such bills. The Senate version of this legislation also passed on an 8 to 7 vote. McEachin further contended that the bills would violate the Voting Rights Act by packing minority votes into one district. The legislation is subject to review by the Justice Department.

Below, find the rosters for the newly minted committees of the 2012 Virginia Senate.   

Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Hanger (Chairman), Watkins, Puckett, Ruff, Blevins, Obenshain, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Stuart, Marsden, Stanley, Black, Miller, J.C., Ebbin

Senate Rules

McDougle (Chairman), Stosch, Norment, Martin, Hanger, Newman, Watkins, Ruff, Wagner, Obenshain, Smith, Colgan, Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Vogel

Senate Transportation

Newman (Chairman), Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Watkins, Puckett, Wagner, Blevins, Deeds, McDougle, Smith, Marsden, McWaters, Colgan, Carrico, Favola

Senate General Laws and Technology

Ruff (Chairman), Colgan, Stosch, Martin, Locke, Herring, Petersen, Barker, Vogel, Stuart, Black, Reeves, Garrett, Deeds, Ebbin

Senate Commerce and Labor

Watkins (Chairman), Colgan, Saslaw, Miller, Y.B., Norment, Stosch, Edwards, Wagner, Newman, Puckett, Herring, Martin, Obenshain, Stuart, McWaters, Stanley

Senate Courts of Justice

Norment (Chairman), Saslaw, Marsh, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Puller, Obenshain, McDougle, McEachin, Stuart, Vogel, Stanley, Reeves, Garrett

Senate Education and Health

Martin (Chairman), Saslaw, Lucas, Howell, Newman, Blevins, Locke, Barker, Northam, Miller, J.C., Smith, McWaters, Black, Carrico, Garrett

Senate Finance

Stosch (Chairman), Colgan, Howell, Saslaw, Norment, Hanger, Watkins, Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Lucas, Newman, Ruff, Wagner, McDougle, Vogel

Senate Local Government

Smith (Chairman), Marsh, Lucas, Martin, Hanger, Puller, Ruff, Herring, Locke, Marsden, Stanley, Blevins, Miller, J.C., Ebbin, Favola

Senate Privileges and Elections

Obenshain (Chairman), Howell, Martin, Deeds, Puckett, Edwards, McEachin, Petersen, Smith, Northam, Vogel, McWaters, Carrico, Reeves, Garrett

Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services

Wagner (Chairman), Miller, Y.B., Puller, Hanger, Locke, McDougle, Herring, Barker, Northam, Black, Carrico, Reeves, Favola, Norment, Stosch

Listed below are the 2012 House of Delegates Committee rosters.

PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS

Cole (Chairman), Putney, Ingram, Jones, Albo, Cosgrove, O’Bannon, Bell (of Albemarle), Miller (Vice Chairman), Landes, Hugo, Cox (of Hanover), Ramadan, Ransone, O’Quinn, Scott (of Fairfax), Alexander, Joannou, Sickles, Howell (of Norfolk), Dance, Spruill.

COURTS OF JUSTICE

Albo (Chairman), Kilgore, Bell (of Albemarle) (Vice Chairman), Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Miller, Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Farrell, Minchew, Morris, Johnson, Watts, Toscano, Herring, McClellan.

EDUCATION

Tata (Chairman), Landes (Vice Chairman), Lingamfelter, Rust, Cole, Pogge, Massie, Greason, Bell (of Staunton), Stolle, LeMunyon, Robinson, Yost, Yancey, Dudenhefer, Alexander, Ware (of Roanoke City), McClellan, Tyler, Bulova, Morrissey, Keam.

GENERAL LAWS

Jones (Chairman), Albo, Wright, Iaquinto (Vice Chairman), Gilbert, Peace, Anderson, Greason, Knight, LeMunyon, Cox (of Hanover), Helsel, Farrell, Watson, Rush, Ward, Dance, Bulova, James, Carr, Torian, McQuinn.

TRANSPORTATION

May (Chairman), Cosgrove (Vice Chairman), Rust, Hugo, Scott (of Madison), Tata, Villanueva, Comstock, Garrett, Cox (of Hanover), Habeeb, Anderson, Minchew, Yancey, Dudenhefer, Ward, BaCote, Brink, Toscano, McQuinn, Carr, Filler-Corn.

FINANCE

Purkey (Chairman), Orrock, Ware (of Powhatan), Byron, Cole, Hugo (Vice Chairman), Cline, Marshall (of Prince William), Anderson, Garrett, Villanueva, Pogge, Bell (of Staunton), O’Quinn, Head, Johnson, Watts, Lewis, Englin, Keam, James, Carr.

APPROPRIATIONS

Putney (Chairman), Tata, Ingram, May, Sherwood, Cox (of Colonial Heights) (Vice Chairman), Landes, Jones, O’Bannon, Lingamfelter, Poindexter, Massie, Scott (of Madison), Peace, Greason, Scott (of Fairfax), Joannou, Brink, Ware (of Roanoke City), Howell (of Norfolk), BaCote, Dance.

COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS

Ingram (Chairman), Marshall (of Prince William), Marshall (of Danville) (Vice Chairman), Iaquinto, Crockett-Stark, Poindexter, Merricks, Knight, Morefield, Edmunds, Stolle, LeMunyon, Wilt, Morris, Hodges, Spruill, Ware (of Roanoke City), McQuinn, Howell (of Norfolk), Surovell, Kory, Torian.

COMMERCE AND LABOR

Kilgore (Chairman), Purkey, Byron, Ware (of Powhatan) (Vice Chairman), Hugo, Rust, Marshall (of Danville), Cline, Miller, Merricks, Loupassi, Cosgrove, Bell (of Albemarle), Comstock, Habeeb, Johnson, Joannou, Alexander, McClellan, Ward, Lewis, Tyler.

HEALTH, WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS

Orrock (Chairman), O’Bannon (Vice Chairman), Bell (of Albemarle), Peace, Crockett-Stark, Pogge, Merricks, Bell (of Staunton), Garrett, Stolle, Robinson, Helsel, Yost, Ransone, Hodges, Spruill, Sickles, Howell (of Norfolk), BaCote, Englin, Morrissey, Hope.

AGRICULTURE, CHESAPEAKE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Sherwood (Chairman), Ware (of Powhatan), Wright, Orrock, Scott (of Madison) (Vice Chairman), Marshall (of Danville), Poindexter, Pogge, Knight, Edmunds, Wilt, Morefield, Webert, Ransone, Fariss, Plum, Lewis, Bulova, Sickles, Englin, James, Torian.

MILITIA, POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Lingamfelter (Chairman), Sherwood, Wright (Vice Chairman), Cline, Gilbert, Merricks, Morefield, Edmunds, Wilt, Webert, Morris, Fariss, O’Quinn, Head, Rush, Lewis, Tyler, Filler-Corn, Hope, Surovell, Kory, Lopez.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Byron (Chairman), May, Purkey, Marshall (of Prince William), Rust (Vice Chairman), Cosgrove, Scott (of Madison), Crockett-Stark, Comstock, Anderson, Robinson, Helsel, Ramadan, Watson, Dudenhefer, Watts, Toscano, Plum, Herring, Surovell, Kory, Lopez.

RULES

Howell (of Stafford) (Chairman), Putney, Landes, Cox (of Colonial Heights), Kilgore, Ware (of Powhatan), Sherwood, Jones, Orrock, Gilbert (Vice Chairman), Knight, Joannou, Johnson, Plum, Alexander.

Last night, VA Governor Bob McDonnell delivered the annual State of the Commonwealth Address to the state Legislature. Governor McDonnell demanded more accountability from both sides of the aisle and outlined his proposed $85 billion budget for 2012 which includes increased funding for colleges and universities, the public school system, and several other key state services.

Get the whole text here (via Washington Post) 

After an hour of robust debate, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling cast a tie-breaking vote on the organization of the Virginia Senate. Decrying what they called ’systematic dismantling of rules that help us govern in a fair way,’ Senate Democrats appealed the ruling of the Lieutenant Governor. The Senate Democrat’s appeal failed with the Lieutenant Governor once again casting the tie breaker. The debate continued as the Senate began the process of choosing officers.

Welcome to the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s New Legislative Connection blog!