Richmond Roundup
Feburary 16, 2007
Richmond Report: Delegate Al Eisenberg
February 16, 2007
We have passed the halfway point in the General Assembly, known as œcrossover. Bills that passed the House of Delegates get sent to the State Senate for consideration, and bills that pass the Senate come to us in the House, creating double scrutiny on measures that come from each of the respective legislative bodies.
Transportation
Transportation continues to take a front seat as both House and Senate seek some accommodation that all can embrace. The Senate passed its version of the budget on February 14 with its amendments, sending their proposals to the House of Delegates. The Republicans rejected the Senate amendments, and the bill is now going to a conference committee to settle the differences between the two proposed budgets. The Senate proposal is much more to our liking on the Democratic side, its principal feature ensuring protection against irresponsible raids of the General Fund. The Republican plan would use up virtually all the $250 million that comprises the General Fund, while core services go begging.
Civil War Commission
As I noted in earlier Richmond Reports, the Speaker of the House appointed me to the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission - a match for me if there ever was one. As a 50-year collector, battlefield preservationist, writer, and researcher of Civil War lore, its the perfect place for me to assist the work of the Commission as the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Civil War in Virginia. Ive suggested to the Commission that we call upon Virginians to search their attics, closets, basements, and other hidden places for all relevant documents, letters, diaries, and memorabilia that could be rediscovered and properly placed in both public and private repositories. Whether the donations or loans are transcripts or the original authentic items or documents, these tangible remembrances of this conflict will enhance our appreciation of our historic heritage for our citizens and those who visit these places of valor and sacrifice. I am hopeful that the work of this commission will bear that fruit and protect the artifacts that those who fought left behind. For more information about the work of this commission visit the website at www.virginiacivilwar.org, this website is under development as I write this report.
Joint Subcommittee Studying Open Space and Farmland Preservation
I was also appointed by the Speaker to a joint subcommittee studying open space, farmland preservation and the purchase of development rights. Our work should support Governor Kaines drive to protect 400,000 acres of these precious and notable lands, vistas, and unique natural features. I have made it a point to articulate the need to recognize urban parks, streams, watersheds, and habitat in the urban setting. We can bring these resources together to ensure that the Governors initiative receives welcome attention.
Counting the Days
We are now entering our last week of the 45 day session. The official deadline for adjournment sine die, is February 24th.
In the 40 days we have been here, more than 3000 bills have been introduced and addressed in one way or another by the House and the Senate. Generally, about 900 of those bills make it to the Governors office for his consideration.
Student Suicide
My bill, HB 3064 concerning œsuicidal students, has weathered the legislative process at all steps. It initially passed the House with no dissent, and went from there to the Senate where it needed a one word amendment to report it to the Senate floor. The Senate passed the amended bill 40-0. Then it had to go back to the House so it could agree on the one word Senate amendment. That one word is an important one, because accepting the Senate amendment allows it to go the Governor for his signature. As I noted before, the bill requires all public colleges and universities in Virginia to devise and implement policies that help direct students in crisis to secure help from counselors and mental health professionals. In addition, it makes sure that no student may be expelled solely because of an attempted suicide, although appropriate actions may take place to ensure the safety of individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others.
This afternoon (Feb.15) the Suicidal Students bill, HB 3064, was passed without dissent. As a result, the Commonwealth will apparently become the first state in the nation to address this issue by requiring policies that do not penalize students who experience these problems.
Valentines Day
As one would expect, the Virginia General Assembly is steeped in tradition. One of the more recent entries, and I might add, one of the more bizarre, is the way Valentines Day is celebrated at the General Assembly. All of us must wear red, or shades of pink, we send flowers and produce mounds of sweets of all descriptions to force on unsuspecting visitors. Competition has been added to the festivities. Each floor in the General Assembly Building competes for the trophy for best Valentines Day decorations. The House aides and assistants go to great lengths to wrap the halls and doors and even the floors, all part of the ritual of the General Assembly. We participated with great gusto, but the 7th floor won.
Minimum wage
On Thursday (Feb. 15th), just when we thought that the Minimum Wage bills were dead, the Republicans came to the rescue of our lowest income Virginians by forgetting the rules of debate. Sue Rafferty, my intrepid assistant, suggested that we go over to watch the House Committee on Commerce and Labor hear the last remaining Minimum Wage bill- Senator Colgans SB1327. Senator Colgan™s bill had passed the Senate, but had been killed by the subcommittee of Commerce and Labor. We had heard that an attempt was to be made to bring the bill up before the full committee. Just as we entered the committee room to watch the action, Delegate Tim Hugo (R-Centerville) moved to lay the bill on the table (a gentle way of killing it). That motion cuts off debate. The Democrats on the committee quickly moved a substitute motion to report the bill, and then quickly moved the pending question “ again, requiring an immediate vote. The motion to report passed on a 13 to 9 vote, sending the bill to the House floor for possible action. This action sets the stage for another first “ the first time in Virginias history that a Minimum Wage bill would require a higher wage than the Federal Minimum Wage.
The Majority Leader, Delegate Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), argued that Virginia has always used the Federal Minimum Wage. While all of this was going on the Republicans heard from Delegate Frank Hargrove, Sr.(R- Hanover), who decided to join the Democrats on the committee in their vote for SB1327, saying he had changed his mind after realizing that he pays his yardman $13 dollars an hour, and that a raise in the Minimum Wage would not break Virginia™s economy.
It will still take some maneuvering to get this bill to a vote on the House floor. But, for right now, the Republicans are on the run. A recorded vote on the House floor will force them to show their true allegiance “ either to the working people of this Commonwealth who subsist on $5.15 an hour, or to those who for years have held back the hard-working people of state. Stay tuned! |
