The main issues I had to contend with during the 2011 Virginia General Assembly session included legislative redistricting, transportation funding, education funding, whether or not to privatize the ABC, contributions to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), protecting victims of dating violence, and environmental protection. Below, I’ve provided a brief summary of each of my updates from the General Assembly with links to the full text of each of them.
2011 General Assembly Updates:
- Redistricting & Attacks on Sustainability (6/20/11): comparison of the Virginia House and Senate Congressional redistricting plans, and reflections on the attacks on sustainable growth initiatives, the reality of climate change, and challenges to joint planning on the local level.
- Redistricting Finalized (4/29/11): overview of the final redistricting plan and how it affects the 57th District and Charlottesville-Albemarle.
- Redistricting & the Veto Session (4/19/11): Governor McDonnell’s veto of the General Assembly’s redistricting plans and how various bills fared in the Veto Session.
- Agreement on the Budget (3/1/11): summary of the final budget agreement of the 2011 Virginia General Assembly session.
- Education Funding, Climate Change, & Survey Results (2/25/11): My concern for education funding in the compromise budget agreement, my opposition to efforts to undermine the Clean Air Act, and the results of my 2011 constituent survey.
- Dueling Budgets & the Immigration Debate (2/16/11): a comparison of the Va. House and Senate budget bills, a discussion of the debate over immigration policy, and description of the progress of my bills in the General Assembly.
- Transportation & ABC (2/8/11): A discussion of Gov. McDonnell’s transportation plan, the fate of the ABC privatization proposal, my own efforts to strengthen the protective order statute, and other major issues working their way through the Virginia General Assembly at the mid-point of the 2011 session.
- The Calm Before the Storm (2/1/11): A summary of the status of my bills including the budget transparency bill and a measure that would protect victims of dating violence. I also explain my opposition to the proposed Repeal Amendment and Right-to-Work Amendment to the Va. Constitution.
- Governor McDonnell’s Amended Budget (1/21/11): I discuss Gov. McDonnell’s proposal to force Virginia state employees to contribute a portion of their salary to the Virginia Retirement System.
- The First Day (1/12/11): The bills I introduced on the first day of the 2011 General Assembly session to promote government transparency, renewable energy development, and bike safety among other goals.
- Hopes for 2011 (1/8/11): My wish list for 2011 includes everything from improved City-County cooperation to expansion of passenger rail service.
- Looking Ahead (11/16/10): The budgetary challenges and legislative priorities of the 2011 General Assembly session.
