RICHMOND, VA – The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold its weekly media availability on Monday, February 6 at 11:00 a.m. in the House Briefing Room.  Delegate Chris Peace (R-Hanover) will be joined by members of the House Republican Majority Caucus to address various public safety initiatives followed by a question and answer session.   

Coffee and light refreshments will be served and all members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT:  House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group weekly press conference followed by a question and answer session. 

WHO:    Members of the House Republican Caucus, including:

              Del. Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover)

                     Member, House Appropriations Committee

              Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax)

                     Chairman, House Courts of Justice Committee

              Del. Robert B. Bell (R-Albemarle)

                     Vice Chairman, House Courts of Justice Committee

              Del. Benjamin L. Cline (R-Amherst)

                      Chairman, Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Judicial Appointments

WHEN:   Monday, February 6, 2012

              11:00 AM

WHERE:  House Briefing Room

              General Assembly Building (1^st Floor)

              Capitol Square

              Richmond,Virginia

NOTE:    For local media unable to join us, a conference call has been set-up for your convenience.

              Dial In Number:  (605) 475.3200

              Access Code:  931488

RICHMOND, VA – This morning the House Republican Caucus held their weekly Policy Work Group press conference, this week discussing various government reform proposals the Caucus has introduced this session.  Following the press conference, the Policy Work Group issued the following statement:  

“As Vice-Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform, I have worked with Governor McDonnell and the House Republican Caucus over the last few years developing and implementing common-sense reforms to improve Virginia’s government.  Increasing efficiency, eliminating waste and developing innovative solutions are critical to the ongoing improvement of our government,” said Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). 

The press conference featured various proposals from the McDonnell administration and members of the House Republican Caucus, including a government reorganization plan introduced by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah).  The government reorganization plan proposes the elimination or consolidation of various boards, commissions and agencies. 

“House Bill 1291 lays the groundwork to eliminate or merge over 40 boards, commissions and agencies, and proposes the deregulation of three industries in the Commonwealth,” said Gilbert.  “Many of these agencies are outdated, unnecessary or duplicative.  Amalgamating the functions of these groups with pre-existing government entities reduces costs, increases cooperation and improves overall administration.  Other boards and commissions have simply outlived their usefulness and will be eliminated to simplify government and reduce taxpayer costs,” he continued.

The McDonnell Administration estimates the reorganization plan submitted with save at least $2 million annually.  While the executive reorganization plan addresses statewide efficiency, Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Bedford) has a bill that would eliminate various mandates on Virginia’s localities.
“As Conservatives we believe in small, effective, streamlined government.  While we work towards eliminating various unfunded federal mandates weighing down the Commonwealth, we must also eliminate mandates on our localities.   House Bill 1295 eliminates a variety of requirements our localities labor under,” said Byron.  “From procurement requirements to land use regulations, localities carry a heavy burden.  Doing away with all but the most necessary mandates is the first step in a series of legislative, regulatory and administrative actions to reduce these burdens, save money and simplify government.”

Freshman Delegate Peter Farrell (R-Goochland) is building upon 2011 legislation that created a new Office of the Inspector General.  “House Bill 520 strengthens and clarifies the duties of Virginia’s Inspector General.  Under this bill, every executive agency in the Commonwealth will undergo a performance audit, at least every four years, administered by the Inspector General.  Such deliberate and consistent oversight will enable the General Assembly to ensure citizens that government agencies are performing as efficiently as possible,” said Farrell.

Speaker Howell also discussed his plans for reforming the Virginia Retirement System.  “Various analysts, including the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission have made it clear that Virginia’s Retirement System has significant structural issues which require serious attention, today,” said Howell.  “To combat these issues, the Governor has proposed legislation to improve the long-term funding and administration of VRS.”

The proposed changes to VRS are expected to net $160-170 million in annual cost savings and additional contributions.  Alongside the Governor’s proposed $2.2 billion employer contribution, a total of $5.8 billion in additional funding and savings would flow to VRS in the coming years.

“Keeping government lean, efficient and innovative are the keys to prosperity,” said Delegate Chris Peace (R-Hanover), who hosts the weekly Policy Work Group press conference.  “The proposals we’re discussing today cut unnecessary government programs, strengthen oversight measures and propose innovative strategies to improve the provision of core government services.  As always, we look forward to working with the Governor and our colleagues in the Senate on these important issues.”

The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold a press conference each Monday at 11:00 am.

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RICHMOND, VA – The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold its weekly media availability on Monday, January 30 at 11:00 a.m. in the House Briefing Room.  Speaker William J. Howell and members of the House Republican Majority Caucus will address various government reform proposals followed by a question and answer session.   

All members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend.

Event Details

WHAT:  House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group weekly press conference followed by a question and answer session. 

WHO:  Members of the House Republican Caucus, including:

               Del. William J. Howell (R-Stafford)

                              Speaker of the House of Delegates

                   Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah)

                              Deputy Majority Leader

                   Del. Kathy Byron (R-Bedford)

                              Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology

                   Del. Peter F. Farrell (R-Goochland)

                              Member, House Committees on Courts of Justice and General Laws

                   Del. Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover)

                             Member, House Appropriations Committee

WHEN:  Monday, January 30, 2012

             11:00 AM

WHERE:  House Briefing Room

              General Assembly Building (1^st Floor)

              Capitol Square

              Richmond,Virginia

NOTE:  For local media unable to join us, a conference call has been set-up for your convenience.

            Dial In Number:  (308) 344.6400

            Access Code:  931488#

RICHMOND, VA – The House Republican Caucus was joined by Bill Thomas, Associate Vice President of Hampton University, for their weekly Policy Work Group press conference, this week discussing various K-12 initiatives the Caucus has introduced this session.  Following the press conference, the Policy Work Group issued the following statement:  

“Last year our Caucus worked with Governor McDonnell investing in the future of Virginia’s higher education system.  Through structural improvements and targeted investments, we laid the groundwork to ensure Virginia’s public colleges and universities remain among the most competitive in the nation,” said Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights).  “This year, we will continue our efforts to improve Virginia’s education system, with particular emphasis paid to our public K-12 institutions.  Improving access, increasing accountability and encouraging innovative alternatives are key to improving our public schools,” he continued. 

The press conference featured various proposals from members of the House Republican Caucus, including a proposal from Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico), which would permit corporations to sponsor educational improvement scholarships for lower income children – particularly those in underserved areas of the Commonwealth.

“House Bill 321 would improve the education of thousands of Virginia’s most disadvantaged children, improve our public schools and save the Commonwealth’s taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Massie.  “Existing models, including Florida’s long-standing, eleven-year scholarship tax credit program, have proven all three of these points.  I will be working closely and tirelessly with the Governor and the Senate to provide Virginia’s families with this important educational choice over the coming weeks,” he continued. 

Republicans hope to reform Virginia’s system of teacher contracts.  Performance-based teacher incentives were introduced last year by Governor McDonnell, and Delegate Richard Bell (R-Staunton) intends to build on last year’s initiative during the 2012 Session with House Bill 576. 

“In business, we demand performance and accountability from executives and workers alike,” said Delegate Bell.  “For the sake of our children, we must require the same results-oriented approach for our teachers and administrators.  We entrust these individuals with the critically important job of educating our children, and as a former teacher I’m well aware of the hard work and good results many of our teachers put in.  We would simply like to implement fair, common-sense metrics to ensure all our schools and all our teachers are working for our children,” said Bell.

Delegate Chris Peace (R-Hanover), host of the weekly Caucus press conference, also discussed House Bill 765, which would allow any institution of higher education in Virginia to operate a college partnership laboratory school.

“In 2010, the General Assembly passed legislation enabling public colleges and universities in Virginia to team with approved teacher-preparation programs in an effort to establish college partnership labor.latory schools throughout the Commonwealth.  This legislation would permit more partnerships between Virginia’s higher educational institutions and K-12 public divisions, in turn increasing choices for K-12 students statewide,” said Peace.  “Laboratory schools allow local divisions to offer greater opportunities for innovative instruction and assessment methods – customizing and improving the educational experience for all of our students.  Providing educational options through utilizing the strengths and talents at the Commonwealth’s colleges and universities are necessary steps toward assuring academic success for our youngest citizens.”

The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold a press conference each Monday at 11:00 am.

RICHMOND, VA – The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold its second weekly media availability on Monday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m. in the House Briefing Room.  Bill Thomas, Associate Vice President of Hampton University, House Majority Leader M. Kirkland Cox and members of the House Republican Majority Caucus will address various K-12 initiatives followed by a question and answer session.   

All members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend.

Event Details

WHAT:  House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group weekly press conference followed by a question and answer session.  In focus this week, the House Republican K-12 Education agenda, including educational improvement scholarships, teacher tenure and charter schools.

WHO:  Bill Thomas, Associate Vice President of Hampton University and various members of the House Republican Caucus, including:

           Del. M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights)

                      House Majority Leader

           Del. Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico)

                      Member, House Appropriations and Education Committees

           Del. Richard P. Bell (R-Staunton)

                       Chairman, House Education Subcommittee on Students and Early Education

           Del. Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover)

                        Member, House Appropriations Committee

WHEN:  Monday, January 23, 2012

             11:00 AM

WHERE:  House Briefing Room

              General Assembly Building (1^st Floor)

              Capitol Square

              Richmond,Virginia

NOTE:  For local media unable to join us, a conference call has been set-up for your convenience.

            Dial In Number:  (308) 344.6400

            Access Code:  931488#

RICHMOND, VA – This morning the House Republican Caucus held their first weekly Policy Work Group press conference, highlighting various job creation and economic development initiatives.  Following the press conference, the Policy Work Group issued the following statement:  

“We were excited to host our first weekly Policy Work Group press conference this morning,” said Delegate Chris Peace (R-Hanover) who will host the weekly event.  “Each week we have an opportunity to articulate the Republican vision for job creation, government reform, public education and other issues – to show Virginians that we have affordable, thoughtful, common-sense solutions to the issues that affect every citizen in the Commonwealth,” he continued.

The press conference featured various proposals from members of the House Republican Caucus, with this week’s focus on jobs and economic development.

“Again this year, we’ll be working hand-in-hand with Governor McDonnell to create good paying jobs and to promote investment in Virginia’s business community,” said House Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford).  “The keys to successful economic development are access to capital, innovation in growth sectors and fostering an environment conducive to business.  We will continue to pursue these objectives.”

“As we continue to recover from the economic recession, we need to help add fuel to the business community,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Scott), patron of House Bill 714, which extends the acceleration of the Major Business Facility Jobs Tax Credit.  “Helping the job creators in Virginia secure the capital investments they need in order to create jobs, is a critical piece of the puzzle.  Paving the way for some of Virginia’s largest job creators is an important step,” he commented.

Republicans plan to expand Virginia’s role as a national high-tech leader.  House Majority Whip Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) is carrying legislation to incentivize research and development in the Commonwealth.  “House Bill 1102 will promote research and development activity here in Virginia, while promoting renewable energy.  Exploring energy alternatives while creating jobs is a win-win, and I look forward to working closely with Governor McDonnell on this innovative legislation,” said Miller.

Delegate Barbara Comstock (R-Fairfax) discussed two bills she introduced this session.  House Bill 1013 extends the current capital gains tax exemption for start ups.  Comstock said, “This will continue to allow our job creators to expand investment in science and technology by exempting investment in business start ups from capital gains taxes.  Virginia investors will be encouraged to support our entrepreneurs and create more good paying high tech jobs.”

Comstock is also carrying House Bill 33, a bill that encourages competitive bidding on transportation and infrastructure projects and will stretch our tax dollars and guarantee that free enterprise and full and open competition will determine how public construction contracts are awarded.  “Some have attempted to mandate union project labor agreements on projects.  It has been estimated such union mandates would raise costs by 10 to 20 percent or more with the most egregious example being Boston’s ‘Big Dig’ debacle.  This bill simply ensures neutrality and provides that the 96 percent of the Virginia private construction workforce who choose not to join a labor union have a fair opportunity to compete for projects funded with our tax dollars,” said Comstock. 

The House Republican Caucus Policy Work Group will hold a press conference each Monday at 11:00 am.

RICHMOND, VA – The House Republican Caucus will be holding weekly media availabilities to highlight various legislative initiatives.  Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell will be joined at a Capitol Square press conference by members of the House Republican Majority Caucus Monday, January 16 at 11:00 AM to announce their job creation agenda for the Commonwealth.  The event will take place in the West Reading Room in the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond (please note the change in location).

All members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend.

Event Details

WHAT:  Speaker Howell and members of the House Republican Majority Caucus will hold their first weekly press conference.  Featured this week, the House Republican job creation agenda.

WHO:  Various members of the House Republican Caucus, including:

                William J. Howell (R-Stafford)

Speaker, Virginia House of Delegates

                Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah)

House Deputy Majority Leader

               Christopher K. Peace (R-Hanover)

Member, House Appropriations Committee

WHEN:  January 16, 2012

11:00 AM

WHERE:  Patrick Henry Building - West Reading Room (please note the change in location)

              Capitol Square

              Richmond, Virginia

NOTE:  For local media unable to join us, a conference call has been set-up for your convenience.

Dial In Number:  (308) 344.6400

Access Code:  931488#

"Over the last two years, our Caucus has worked together with Governor McDonnell to cut unnecessary government spending, reform duplicative programs and exercise general fiscal prudence. Frugal, common-sense measures, coupled with better than projected revenue collections, led to a budget surplus of $403.2 million for FY 2010 and another surplus of $311 for FY 2011," said Howell.

The $311 million surplus may be adjusted later in the month to reflect final state agency savings. For the second year in a row, the surplus is attributable to frugal budgeting, low taxes and strategic investments. The surplus revenues are, in large part, previously obligated through state budget language addressing allocations of surplus. Though figures are not final, it is expected that the surplus will include a $146.6 million allocation to the Revenue Stabilization Fund, $32.2 million to the Water Quality Fund, $23.0 million for the Transportation share of the Accelerated Sales Tax, $8.9 million to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, $4.3 million for Tornado Relief, $7.5 million to BRAC Obligations and $7.4 million to supplement Public Safety Funding for Sheriff's Offices. Many of these allocations were pre-designated by the 2011 Budget Bill and any remainder is expected to go into the VRS.

"The House has worked together with and supported the Governor on budgetary issues as well as economic development. The Governor's efforts to bring more jobs to Virginia was one key factor in stimulating vitality and improving revenue flow throughout the Commonwealth. We must continue to spend and save wisely, mindful of the tough challenges ahead. In addition to designating $114 million during the 2011 General Assembly Session for the Rainy Day Fund, we wisely put aside a further $146 million for the FY 2012-2014 biennium to deal with any future contingencies," said Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights).

"We are thrilled that the Commonwealth has upheld its balanced budget requirement, posting surplus figures while many other states and the federal government are grappling with dire budgetary challenges. It is more important than ever that the Commonwealth tighten its belt, in light of the continuing recovery and uncertainty in Washington," said Howell. "Since 2008, citizens and legislators have learned that the economy will not always be buoyant, so we must save whenever possible to prepare ourselves for difficulties in the future. I believe the hard work of the Governor and our Caucus has positioned Virginia as one of the most fiscally responsible states in the country and has financially prepared Virginia moving forward."