Session Highlights

With the 2009 General Assembly Session now completed, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of our accomplishments this year for the people of the 20th House District.

First, as many of you know the Commonwealth Center of Children and Adolescents faced closure due to budget recommendations from the Governor. The Center serves a critical role for children and families in the Commonwealth, providing a safety-net for the most at-risk children. From day one I made it a priority to keep the Center open, and I’m pleased to report the Center will continue to serve our community and families throughout the Commonwealth. My focus was on ensuring Virginia’s most at-risk youth were not left in jeopardy by the closure of this facility, so I was surprised and humbled that the Psychiatric Society of Virginia recognized our efforts, and named me their 2009 Legislator of the Year. This is an honor that I share with my colleagues in the legislature, and all of the members of our community who worked alongside us to keep the CCCA open.

During this year’s session, we considered over 2,300 bills and resolutions on many different matters that affect our community and the Commonwealth. Along with my colleague, Delegate Albert Pollard (D-Lancaster), I co-sponsored HB2506, a bill authorizing investor-owned electric utilities to recover the costs of designing and operating energy efficiency programs that have the effect of decreasing the total amount of energy used and of delaying the need for construction of new generation facilities. This bill passed both the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support, and I am hopeful the Governor will sign this commonsense environmental measure.

Additionally, we worked this year to further protect Virginia’s wonderful natural resources and preserve these resources for future generations. During the session, the biennial budget was amended to include $15.2 million in funding for the Natural Resources Commitment Fund, which supports the implementation of agricultural best management practices. This is particularly important to the 20th District with our many agricultural businesses and family farms, but also the entire Commonwealth.

Last year, I also had the opportunity to work with representatives of our local arts and tourism communities on developing legislation to help grow and expand arts and cultural opportunities. Arts and cultural programs are important industries for our local economy, and we developed HB 2535 to expand the ability to creation of arts and cultural or education districts to all localities in Virginia. While some localities are already given this authority, many, including localities in the 20th District, are not. Under this authority, localities may provide incentives for the support and creation of arts and cultural venues in the district. Though the broader legislation to allow all localities in the Commonwealth this authority did not pass this year, I was pleased to support Senator Hanger’s SB 1483, which adds the Cities of Lynchburg and Staunton to the list of eligible localities. I will continue listening to the concerns of the arts community in order to submit legislation in 2010 to help expand this important industry throughout the Commonwealth.

We also worked on many measures to help make your government operate more efficiently and effectively. I worked with my colleague Del. Pollard on HB2092, a bill to shift Virginia’s budget process from our current two-year budget cycle to an annual budget. This move would create greater transparency, as well as help the Commonwealth to more quickly respond to changes in the economy. Unfortunately this measure did not pass this year, but I will continue to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to create greater transparency and accountability in our budgeting process and our state government in general.

Another important issue that we acted on this year was health care affordability and expanding health insurance coverage to more Virginians. I was a co-patron of HB2024, which passed almost unanimously in both the House and the Senate. This bill allows health insurers to expand their coverage by offering and selling group health insurance policies to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to provide coverage for previously uninsured employees. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but often they find it challenging to find health insurance plans that are affordable for their employees. This measure will help to expand health insurance benefits to Virginians by allowing more of these small businesses the ability to offer coverage to their employees, and is an important step in addressing health care affordability in the Commonwealth.
For more information on these, or any other bills, please do not hesitate to contact me. You may also view legislation online at http://legis.virginia.gov.

It continues to be a great honor and privilege to work for the people of the 20th District as your representative in the House of Delegates. Thank you for all of your calls, emails, letters and feedback during session and throughout the year. I always appreciate hearing from you, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to make our Commonwealth a great place to live, work and do business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 24, 2008

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Chris Saxman (R-Staunton) issued the following statement regarding the 2008 reconvened session held on Wednesday, April 23rd, which included the bipartisan approval of a comprehensive, bond package that includes $181.3 million for projects at Western State Hospital and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, as well as the appointments to fill judicial vacancies.

“Yesterday, the legislature reconvened to act on the Governor’s recommendations to legislation approved during the 2008 General Assembly Session as well as finalize appointments to fill judicial vacancies in the Commonwealth. In addition, the legislature came together in a bipartisan manner to approve an approximately $2.6 billion bond package. These bonds will help provide important resources in Virginia in the areas of higher education, mental health services, and our state parks.

“I am particularly pleased that the approved bond package includes two important projects for our area- Western State Hospital and VSDB. A project that has long been discussed- the construction of a new Western State Hospital facility- is included in this bond package. In addition, the bonds will provide an additional $71.3 million for construction of the new Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-disabled in Staunton. These projects are important to our community, and to Virginia as a whole, and I am pleased that we were able to provide this additional investment from the state.

“I am also pleased that the final package we approved yesterday includes significant, business-like reforms to the state capital outlay projects. As Chairman of the bipartisan Cost Cutting Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to find ways to ensure our government is using taxpayer dollars in the most efficient and effective manner. This bond package provides greater accountability and establishes safeguards to prevent cost-overruns with a comprehensive, multi-year capital construction plan.

“Overall, this bond package is an important legislative accomplishment for all of Virginia, and will provide important funding for many state infrastructure needs. It also includes the important reforms Virginians want to assure them that the money invested in these projects will be used effectively and responsibly. I look forward to seeing these investments in our community and will continue to work to ensure that our government continues to increase accountability, transparency and efficiency in all areas of government spending.

“Additionally, I was very pleased that the General Assembly agreed to the appointment of the Honorable Victor V. Ludwig of Staunton as a judge on the 25th Judicial Circuit Court for an eight year term commencing May 1st, 2008. Judge Ludwig has served honorably as a judge in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and I know our community will be well served by him in this new position.”

# # #

March 14, 2007

The 2007 session of the General Assembly is complete, and I am very proud of the work that we have accomplished for the citizens of Commonwealth of Virginia. Although the General Assembly met for just 46 days, we passed some significant measures that will benefit the 20^th District and all of Virginia.

Finding a comprehensive solution to very complex transportation needs was the top priority for the General Assembly. The Republican comprehensive plan offers the most significant reform to how the Commonwealth delivers transportation services in decades. Though the compromise is not perfect, it does contain substantive reforms, and it does provide for a significant infusion of funding. While most of the media coverage focused on transportation, the General Assembly, in fact, addressed many other areas of public concern. This year, I supported the passage of eminent domain protection, electric utility re-regulation and some important amendments to the 2006-2008 budget – to list a few.

Comprehensive Transportation Plan (HB 3202/Speaker Bill Howell)

1.VDOT Reform Component: 1) General Assembly to select some CTB members; 2) Creates Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability with legislative oversight power; 3) VDOT to competitively bid services the private sector could provide more efficiently.

2. Land-use Reform Component: 1) Establishment of Urban Development Areas to focus growth in certain defined areas; 2) Creates Urban Transportation Service Districts to allow localities to impose impact fees for transportation improvements; 3) Requires localities or neighborhood associations to maintain a certain classification of subdivision streets.

3. Transportation Funding Dollars: 1) statewide revenue stream ($760 million in first year and $530 million in FY 2009); 2) $2.5 Billion bond issue; 3) Northern Virginia Authority Package ($400-420 million a year); 4) Hampton Roads Authority Package ($200 million a year).

Eminent Domain Protection (HB 2954, SB 781, SB 1296)

1. Defines “public use” to limit a localities use of eminent domain to a legitimate public project. Will prevent Kelo v. City of New London-type abuses.

Electric Utility Re-regulation (HB 3068, SB 1416)

1. Ends Virginia ’s 10 year experiment with deregulation and electricity restructuring, which did not produce the desired result of greater utility competition.

2. Restores Virginia to full cost-of-service regulation by the State Corporation Commission

3. Adds consumer protections that place certain restrictions on a utilities’ ability to raise its rates

4. Provides incentives for utilities to build new generation to meet growing demand and find renewable forms of energy

Amendments to 2006-2008 Budget (HB 1650)

1. Additional $3.5 million to VSDB Consolidation project

2. $12 million in incentive payments to SRI – research firm for Shenandoah Valley

In addition, I introduced important measures that will further our economic prosperity and help build Virginia’s future.

A 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling stated that Virginia’s law allowing in-state farm wineries to self-distribute their product was unconstitutional because that same right was not afforded to out-of-state wineries. Virginia’s wine industry has been a growing business, but unfortunately many Virginia wineries have suffered since that ruling. During the 2007 session I introduced legislation that will help the Virginia wineries continue to be an economic engine of the state. It allows the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to act as the wholesaler for Virginia wineries. HB 2540 passed unanimously.

I also introduced successful legislation that provides a uniform statewide statutory classification and taxation for idle machinery and tools. Some localities consider idle machinery and tools to be subject to tax as salvage, scrap or spare parts and have resisted taxpayer requests to classify unused equipment as idle machinery and tools. My bill, HB 2181, addresses this discrepancy and was approved by both chambers of the General Assembly.

Ensuring that every child receives the best education possible has been a key component of my legislative agenda since taking the oath of office. Again this year, I introduced legislation, HB 1843, to afford all Virginia’s families the opportunity to send their child to a school that best fits their individual needs. As a former teacher, I understand that finding the right learning environment can make all the difference in the success of a child. Giving parents the power of choice will make that goal more attainable. For the third time in three years, the House passed the bill only to see the Senate fail to take action on the measure.

While the General Assembly meets every winter in Richmond, I think it is important we focus representing the interests of our constituents and not political campaigns or lobbying interests. Though lawmakers are prohibited from raising money for their own campaigns during the session, I introduced HB 3150, to ban state elected officials from attending political party committee fundraisers during General Assembly sessions. Although the bill passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 64-34, the Senate of Virginia did not pass the legislation.

There are some important amendments to the 2006-2008 budget (HB 1650) that will benefit the 20^th House District. We provided $12 million in incentive payments to attract SRI-International, a major research company, to the I-81 corridor. This partnership will create jobs and contribute to Virginia’s growing research industry. We have also added $3.5 million to the budget to assist with the consolidation of VSDB in Staunton that we finally approved in 2006.

Another significant measure approved last year but finally gaining recognition this year was HB1055. I worked with my colleagues in the House to pass this environmental protection bill that will greatly reduce emissions of mercury, SO2 and NOx from the state’s power plants. The final compromise was incorporated into Delegate John Reid’s (R-Henrico) bill and passed unanimously. This compromise will achieve deeper reductions in pollution sooner than the proposed alternatives. In fact, the net result will be cleaner air in the Shenandoah Valley three years ahead of the previous schedule set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Finally, as chairman of the Cost Cutting Caucus, I was excited to organize a comprehensive operational review of 11 areas of state government with the support of the administration. The bi-partisan, bi-cameral teams will explore state spending practices to find ways Virginia government can operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. The legislators from both sides of the aisle will work with executive branch middle management and some private sector people to conduct these reviews.

While my sixth session as a member of the General Assembly was busy, it has been very productive. I appreciate the help of individuals like you who have helped me make a difference for our community. We will continue to reform the way we conduct business in Virginia – making government more accountable and cost-effective. It has certainly been a privilege serving the 20^th District. Now that I am back home in the Shenandoah Valley , I hope to see you around the community.

For more information on these or other bills, please visit the General Assembly’s website at http://legis.state.va.us. If you have any questions about any bills brought before the General Assembly this session, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached via email at DelCSaxman@house.state.va.us or by phone in Staunton at 540-886-8284. Thank you for your continued support and suggestions. I look forward to building our future together.

Sincerely,

Chris Saxman