The House and Senate approved their respective versions of Virginia’s biennial budget this week.  That’s what generated most of the news coverage from Richmond.  It wasn’t the only thing that took place on Capitol Square though, as lawmakers continued to work on approving legislation on a wide variety of issues.

The budget remains – by far – the most significant issue of this year’s session.  By week’s end, the House and the Senate had approved their respective spending plans for Virginia.

The House plan would give the state a balanced budget without raising taxes. The House plan eliminated former Governor Kaine’s proposal to increase the state income tax by 17% (previously rejected by a nonpartisan 97-0 vote).  Further protecting Virginians from higher taxes, during this fragile economy the House plan preserves car tax relief and eliminates the $145 million in new and higher fees proposed by the former Governor.

To ensure a balanced budget, there are reductions in spending.  Direct state aid to public education will be reduced by $310 million annually.  To help reduce the effects of lower spending, local school divisions are being given greater flexibility in how they use the funds provided to them by the state.  Because of a change to the Virginia Retirement System that will allow localities to save $270 million, the net impact of the additional spending reductions to K-12 education state-wide is $40 million annually.
Creating jobs has been top of the list on the agenda throughout this year’s session, and the House budget plan reflects that.  Some $54 million in investments over the biennium is dedicated to job creation measures, including tax credits.

The House budget plan also reduces the spending cuts to public safety proposed by former Governor Kaine.  Under the House plan, cuts to Commonwealth’s Attorneys and Sheriffs were limited to 5%, restoring much needed funding to maintain critical core public safety services.

Now that the House and the Senate have passed their respective plans, the two must reach agreement on just one plan to send to Governor McDonnell for his consideration.  That process has already begun, as negotiators on behalf of the House and Senate have already been designated and are expected to begin talks almost immediately.
I continue to stay focused and fully committed to doing what I can for folks in our 23rd District.

During every General Assembly session, the House and Senate square off – for a basketball game.  That’s right, legislators in gym shorts.  Needless to say, those who attend the game do not do so in the interest of seeing amazing athletic feats.
And, legislators aren’t the only ones who participate in the evening’s activities.  There are actually two games, one where Delegates face Senators, and another featuring the Governor’s Office taking on lobbyists.

As is usually the case, the House of Delegates team defeated their Senate counterparts.  But despite having Governor Bob McDonnell on their team, the Governor’s Office fell to the Lobbyists. The game is all for a good cause, raising $15,000 for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center.  And this year, no legislators were harmed during the event.

Friendly faces from home continued to visit us here in Richmond this week.  Visitors included, Kelly Love, the Lynchburg Family Foundation Group, George Peyton, numerous VMI students, Richard E. Reimels, Elizabeth Douchette, Dawn Best, and many more!

With just two weeks remaining before the scheduled end of Session on March 13, we’re really in the home stretch of the 2010 General Assembly session.  Still, there’s time to hear your concerns on the issues of the day.  To ensure we hear from you while we’re still in Richmond, you can contact our office at 1.804.698.1023 or send us an email at DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov.  Look for this column in this same publication next week, as we wind down the 2010 General Assembly session in Richmond.

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