Politics

Column: General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die

Commentary

The 2015 session of the General Assembly has officially adjourned. Bills I introduced that now await Governor McAuliffe's signature include legislation on issues from job placement and hospital patients' rights to tax refunds and ethics reform.

Duncan Visits Alexandria's Patrick Henry Pre-K

Secretary of Education and others express support for Alexandria’s early childhood development.

In a crowded corner of the Patrick Henry Elementary School Library, Duncan heaped praise on Patrick Henry Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten education program while expressing his frustrations at a nationwide lack of similar programs.

Alexandria Budget Winners and Losers

Acting city manager presents budget proposal to City Council

When Acting City Manager Mark Jinks presented Alexandria City Council with the $647.9 million proposed budget, the generally positive reception was tempered with the knowledge that many departments would not be receiving the funding they had requested.

Arlington County Manager Avoids Tax Rate Increase

Homeowners to face rise in property taxes through higher assessments.

Beneath the surface of the County Budget there are several notable changes that could have a sizable impact on the lives of many Arlingtonians.

House Passes Keam’s Bill on Food Allergies

The Virginia House of Delegates passed legislation this week to require restaurants in Virginia to train their employees to be aware of customers with food allergy and safety issues. Del. Mark Keam’s House Bill 2090 and its companion Senate Bill 1260 introduced by Senator Creigh Deeds passed both chambers of the Virginia Legislature with overwhelming support. Both bills are now headed to the Governor’s desk.

Celebrating Black History Month

This week in Reston.

Herndon Forbidden to Govern Itself?

Virginia House squashes Town’s move to November elections.

The Virginia House of Delegates blocked the Town of Herndon’s plan to move town elections from May to November. The change would have begun in 2016. Despite passage through the Virginia Senate with a unanimous 39-0 vote on Jan. 26, the House of Delegates never voted on Herndon’s bill. After the bill cleared the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns, the House voted to sent it to the Committee on Privileges and Elections on Feb. 20.

Addressing Campus Sexual Assault

By Adam P. Ebbin - State Senator (D-30)

With only a few days left in this year’s legislative session, the General Assembly has finished much of its business. Republicans have defeated commonsense proposals to raise the minimum wage, close the health care coverage gap, and my bill to keep guns away from toddlers. Negotiators from the House and Senate are inching closer to a final budget deal. Governor McAuliffe has already begun signing some bills into law. Even so, a handful of high-profile issues have yet to be resolved. Notably, we are still working towards a final compromise on how best to prevent and respond to sexual assaults at our colleges and universities.

Virginia General Assembly Reaches Crossover

Bills live, die or fold into other legislation before review by the opposite chamber.

As the current meeting of the Virginia General Assembly neared the one-month mark, legislators in the House of Delegates and Senate had to finalize work on bills they would send to their counterparts for consideration.

Incremental Defeats

Northern Virginia Democrats face major defeats and minor victories.

Halfway through every session of the Virginia legislature, bills from the House are sent to the Senate for a vote and vice-versa. The event is called crossover, and in 2015 this will be marked by the complete absence of major reforms the Democratic minority hoped to push through.

Seeking Funds for Schools’ Capital Improvements

School Board seeks $4 million more than council’s cap.

The Alexandria City Public School Board approved Superintendent Alvin Crawley’s $305 million 2016-2025 Capital Improvement Plan Budget, including $42 million for the 2016 fiscal year, at its Feb. 5 meeting.

Two More Candidates

Hyland’s announced retirement yields more supervisor candidates.

Two additional candidates are interested in running for the Mount Vernon district supervisor seat as a result of Supervisor Gerry Hyland’s retirement announcement. This brings the total of announced candidates, all from the Democratic party, to four. Earlier, community activist Jack Dobbyn and School Board member Daniel Storck announced for intent.

It’s Time for a “Place”

The community of Great Falls is abundant with creative talent. Our ability to socialize our children into many layers of being in the world is truly remarkable: the home and school, the beach, the mountains and ski slopes, the world of the spirit, the arts, the sciences, technology, philosophy…exploration in nature, taking walks, journeying on the river, photographing nature, looking out the window while doing homework - connecting with the tree spirits, the herd of deer, the birds outside the window, all hanging out in the same tree. Our children have access to the knowledge of the world through the centuries on their phone, laptop or computer.

Legislating Against Discrimination

I passed several bills last week that would advance equality for women, gay and lesbian married couples, and LGBT state employees.

Del. Filler-Corn’s ‘CARE Act’ Passes the House

Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s (D–41) HB 1413 passed the full House of Delegates on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. HB 1413 or the “CARE Act” addresses the important role of the informal and family caregivers and improved communication with them and medical providers. Specifically, the bill looks to improve healthcare and reduce preventable hospital revisits by having hospitals formally acknowledge a patient’s family caregiver at the time of admission and provide critical home care instruction before discharge.

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