Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Archive for January, 2009
Delegate Cox Proposes Early Out Program for Schools
Jan 29th
Delegate Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) today announced a House budget proposal to help local schools with possible layoffs of any eligible school division employees. By enacting this Session the House’s Teacher and Support Staff Enhanced Retirement Incentive Plan, it will lessen the possibility of having to layoff younger teachers and other school division employees as well as help Virginia’s schools better manage their budget in these extraordinarily difficult economic times.
January 29, 2009 -
January 30, 2009 -
Tax Increase Proposal Defeated in House of Delegates
Jan 29th
A subcommittee of the House Finance Committee defeated a cornerstone of Governor Kaine's legislative agenda in a bi-partisan vote. With a the subcommittee voted down a tax increase on tobacco products.
Three of the five Democrats on the panel voted against the proposal.
House Republicans Advance Pro-Growth Economic Recovery and Prosperity Agenda
Jan 28th
Members of the Republican Caucus held a press conference on January 28 to discuss legislation being advanced in the House of Delegates that will relieve the pressing economic strain on Virginia's families and businesses.
Speaker Howell was joined by Delegate Jimmie Massie, Delegate Kirk Cox, Delegate Phil Hamilton, Delegate Lacey Putney and other members of the Republican caucus to discuss legislation they have introduced.
For complete coverage of the press conference, including audio clips from the conference visit the House Republican Caucus Press Office.
Press Conference on Virginia Economic Stimulus Packaged Scheduled for Wednesday
Jan 27th
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
House Republicans to Hold News Conference
on Virginia Economic Stimulus Package Tomorrow
WHAT:
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates William J. Howell, House Majority Whip M. Kirkland "Kirk" Cox, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Lacey E. Putney and other members of the House Majority Caucus will discuss legislation to be considered in the 2009 Session to stimulate the economy, create jobs and foster economic development and prosperity.
WHO:
William H. Howell (R-Stafford), Speaker of the House
M. Kirkland "Kirk" Cox (R-Colonial Heights), House Majority Whip
Lacey E. Putney (I-Bedford), Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News), Vice-Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
Kathy J. Byron (R-Campbell), Chairman, House Science & Technology Committee
James P. "Jimmie" Massie III (R-Henrico), Delegate
Donald W. Merricks (R-Pittsylvania), Delegate
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
11:00 A.M.
WHERE:
House Room 1 (1st Floor)
Virginia State Capitol
Richmond, VA
# # #
Republicans Announce Health Care Initiatives
Jan 27th
Members of the Republican Caucus held a press conference to announce legislative initiatives that would make access to health care more affordable.
was joined by , and to talk about legislation that has been introduced in the 2009 General Assembly session to make health care more accessible. Also joining the members of caucus was , State Director of the NFIB.
Delegate Hamilton spoke about which changes the criteria to be considered by the Commissioner of Health when reviewing Certificate of Public Need (COPN) applications by owners and sponsors of identified medical care facility projects.
“The COPN bill represents significant legislative reform to what has been a controversial health care topic over the past 20 years,” commented Delegate Hamilton, Chairman of the House Health, Welfare & Institutions Committee. “Through the cooperative and collaborative work of the Administration, the Committee and the healthcare provider network, consensus on a framework for addressing the COPN issue has at long last been developed.”
Delegate Marshall spoke about , which would give businesses with 50 or fewer employees the ability to offer their workers health insurance coverage that does not include some or all of the costly mandates currently required, allowing consumers to tailor a plan that bests fits their needs and pocketbooks.
“Small businesses desperately want to be able to offer health insurance to their workers, but cannot afford the increasing costs in the current economic climate,” noted Delegate Danny Marshall, a member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee. “My legislation will make it easier for employees to receive access to needed health care. With over 1 million uninsured Virginians, this practical solution would help bring coverage to many families at an affordable cost to their small business employers.”
Delegate Nixon spoke about his legislation that would direct the Informatin Technology Investment Board to develop software for health-care technology.
“Bringing best practices to health information technology systems improves the delivery of care, reduces costs and cuts down on unnecessary errors that can cost lives,” said Delegate Nixon, Vice-Chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and a member of the House Science & Technology Committee. “Reaching out and working across party lines and with the Administration, especially the Secretary of Technology, House Republicans are committed to developing practical solutions to bring quality health care to Virginians.”
from the NFIB was able to provide real world need for these measures to provide more access to health care to small businesses throughout Virginia.
Health insurance costs have risen 129% since 1999, and 84% since 2001, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). These huge cost increases have forced small business owners to terminate their health plans while preventing others from instituting any in the first place. These dramatic increases, in part, can be attributed to mandated benefits requirements, which increase the cost of health insurance by as much as 45% in some markets. Delegate Danny Marshall’s legislation, , would give businesses with 50 or fewer employees the ability to offer their workers health insurance coverage that does not include some or all of the costly mandates currently required, allowing consumers to tailor a plan that bests fits their needs and pocketbooks.
January 30 -
Delegate Lingamfelter Receives Praise from Local Press
Jan 27th
Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31) who represents parts of Prince William and Fauquier counties received praise from the News & Messenger. In an opinion article in the paper they praise Delegate Lingamfelter for uncovering $8 million in waste the state government spends on unnecessary printing.
As the paper puts it "These are the types of ideas we like to see from our legislators."
Millions of reasons to thank Lingamfelter
Our View
Published: January 25, 2009With a $3.2 billion budget shortfall staring down the Virginia General Assembly like a bull eyeing a matador who forgot his cape, tough decisions need to be made. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and others have scoured the budget looking for anything that can go. And then came Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-31st, rushing into the bullring, capote in hand.
A revelation, which took place when he was staring at a pile of government-produced papers stacked in his home, brought Lingamfelter to an important and frugal question: “Just how much does it cost the government to print all of its worthless paper products anyway?”
Annual reports, executive agency studies and other products are churned out by the Virginia government and distributed out into the Ether, often never to be read. Given our modern Internet age, most of these printed items could simply be put online.
Lingamfelter put in a Freedom of Information Act request to the governor’s office and discovered that the state spends (wastes) more than $8 million a year on this stuff. Lingamfelter revealed his discovery to Kaine, and the governor instituted a freeze on unnecessary printing. As quick as that, Virginia has a little more money in its pocket.
These are the types of ideas we like to see from our legislators. While there are, of course, plenty of programs that must be reviewed, prioritized and, perhaps, eradicated, there are other places in the budget where money could be cut with barely a whimper. Lingamfelter found one from the comfort of his home, and he is to be commended for his perception and his action. He demonstrated one quality a legislator should have — discernment.
For in the end, this isn’t a Republican or a Democrat thing. Both parties should be in favor of eliminating waste. But the story we are told is that the Republicans do it better. Well, one point for the GOP, assist by Lingamfelter.