David Toscano

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David Toscano
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Crossover and Budget

February 10, 2017 by David Toscano

We’ve hit the mid-point of session, marked by what we call “crossover,” the day that all bills from one body cross over to the other in order to be considered. Many of the most heavily-contested bills arrive on this day, leading to long hours and fierce debates.

My primary focus continues to be passing legislation to help build the New Virginia Economy. That means pushing bills that spur job creation and that provide Virginians a much-needed raise. It also means supporting investments in education at all levels. We have made progress in some areas, but not in others. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: General Assembly 2017 Tagged With: Adoption, Anti-Discrimination, DNA Database Expansion, Domestic Violence, Education, Environmental Protection, Gun Safety, Immigration, Job Creation, K-12 Education funding, Legislative Redistricting, Pre-K Education Funding, Renewable Energy, Reproductive Choice, State Employee Compensation, Virginia budget, Voting Access

House Loss is Senate Gain

February 4, 2014 by David Toscano

The big news last week was the transfer of power in the Senate. The election of Lynwood Lewis as the 20th Democratic member of the Senate, and with Democrat Ralph Northam in the tie-breaking role of Lt. Governor, Democrats assumed control and promptly moved to reconstitute committees. This is precisely what the Republicans in the Senate did two years ago. It is not clear how this will affect the key issues of the session, particularly the budget and Medicaid expansion, but we will soon find out.

Medicaid expansion continues to be a major subject of debate. House Republicans have not moved off their opposition, but there is new information every day that makes Medicaid expansion more attractive. An updated set of numbers developed by the administration suggests that Virginia could gain over $1 billion by fiscal year 2022 by accepting Federal dollars and insuring more Virginians who are at or near the poverty line. I have given several floor speeches on this matter and you can access them immediately below or on YouTube. This issue is not likely to be resolved until the end of session.

Several less publicized of interest to our region have passed. HB1141 will make it easier for arts venues in places like Charlottesville to offer alcoholic beverages at their open houses. HB848 will permit Dominion to engage in placing utility lines underground in older cities like Charlottesville.

I supported HB1113, a bill that would have permitted adoption by a “second-parent.” This bill would have allowed same-sex couples to jointly adopt a youngster. It was opposed by the Family Foundation and ultimately tabled in the Courts of Justice committee. I was pleased to vote for and actively support this bill as I think it would have provided greater opportunity for youngsters to be adopted into loving family situations.

A bill that will require Virginia textbooks to recognize that the Sea of Japan is also known as the East Sea was passed by the Senate and will likely pass the House this week. This measure was brought by many Virginians of Korean descent, who feel justifiably wronged by their oppression at the hands of the Japanese through the end of World War II. While I am not sure that the Virginia General Assembly should be engaged in decisions that have foreign policy implications, and worry about the precedent of legislative intrusion into textbook requirements, this bill will likely pass and be signed by the Governor.

Finally, the House passed HB706, a bill targeted directly at Attorney General Mark Herring and his recent decision not to defend the same-sex marriage prohibitions in Virginia law and Constitution. This bill would give standing to House members to represent the Commonwealth when the Attorney General and Governor have chosen not to. I agree with Attorney General Herring, and spoke against this bill on the House floor. If you are interested in my comments you can see them here. I believe this bill violates our traditional separation-of-powers doctrine, a principle that our Founders felt was essential to the maintenance of democracy. The bill creates the possibility of 140 separate Attorneys General that could intervene in court proceedings and supposedly represent the interest of the Commonwealth, a prospect that would prove chaotic. The Senate will likely defeat this bill, but it is yet another example of how partisanship can trump sound governmental policy.

As always, I enjoy hearing from you during the assembly session with your concerns and views about specific bills. Please do not hesitate to contact our office. It is a pleasure serving you in the General Assembly.

David Toscano

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Filed Under: General Assembly 2014 Tagged With: Adoption, Affordable Health Care, Medicaid expansion, Same-Sex Marriage

Delegate David Toscano to Serve on Statewide Steering Committee for “VA Adopts”

July 19, 2013 by Carmen Bingham

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Delegate David J. Toscano announced he agreed to serve on the statewide Steering Committee for the Commonwealth’s “Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000”, an initiative to match 1,000 children currently in foster care with adoptive families.

“As a long time advocate for adoption and as an attorney who assists with the placement of children with good families, I am delighted to be a part of this effort,” said Toscano. “I was proud to work with then-First Lady Anne Holton on her initiative to decrease the number of children who were ‘aging out’ of foster care, and am encouraged that the Governor’s office has embraced a new effort to find permanent homes for Virginia’s foster children.”

Toscano joins co-chairs Mrs. Kay Coles James of Midlothian, former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources and a former foster mom, and Mrs. Bobbie Kilberg of McLean, President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, mother of five children and a member of the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors, along with Fr. Wayne Ball, Senator George Barker, the Reverend Jon Barton, Ms. Sophia Booker, Secretary Doug Domenech and Mrs. Jeanne Domenech, Senator Emmett Hanger and Mrs. Sharon Hanger, Mrs. Angie Landes, Dr. Allan Morris, Mrs. Karey Nobles, Supervisor Marty Nohe and Mrs. Kristina Nohe, Delegate Chris Peace, and Mr. Chuck Slemp on the committee.

Delegate Toscano will participate in a regional kick-off event with other members of the steering committee and local adoption advocates on Wednesday, July 31st at the Albemarle County Office Building on McIntire beginning at 6:00 p.m. The event will provide an opportunity to showcase the services and resources available to parents and families interested in adoption, and highlight some of the children from across the Commonwealth who are in need of their forever family. For more information on this events including registration, please visit: VA Adopts: Charlottesville Regional Kickoff.

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Filed Under: Press Releases Tagged With: Adoption

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