Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Budget
Republicans Add Another $35K to $1.1M in Leg Branch Savings
May 21st
Speaker Howell announced another $35K in savings in the House of Delegates budget for Fiscal Year 2010. That’s on top of the $1.1 million already eliminated from the House operating budget during Fiscal Year 2010.
During his tenure as Speaker, Howell has led the way in reducing Virginia’s per capita expenditures in the legislature from 40th in the Nation to 46th. And, with Senate Democrats running up a tab on the other side of the Capital, you can’t expect much better than that.
See the full press release at the Speaker’s website.
Speaker, Delegates Ware and Oder appointed to Governor’s Reform Commission
May 7th
Today, Governor Bob McDonnell announced the members of his Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring (see press release).
Speaker Howell and Delegates G. Glenn Oder (Newport News) and Lee Ware (Powhatan) will serve on the Commission, chaired by Fred Malek, founder and chairman of Thayer Capital Partners in executing the charge the Governor has set for the Commission, “We must make government simpler and easier to use, more efficient and more effective. That is the work of this Commission. The Commission members will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the state’s agencies, programs, and services to find out how we can make our state government work better for its owners, the people of Virginia. I look forward to working with these reform-minded leaders to examine how Virginia can better serve the taxpayers. Our state and local government employees have made Virginia one of the best managed states in the nation and just like them, I will always seek to make us even better.”
The Speaker has a long history of seeking these kinds of reform solutions, promoting new ideas and market-based reforms to improve the delivery of government services, maximize the return on investment of limited taxpayer dollars, and minimize the costs of government wherever possible.
The Speaker and Delegates Oder and Ware look forward to pursuing the many opportunities for reform in Virginia’s government with the Governor, Commission Chairman Malek, and the other member’s of the Commission.
Putney Reports Budget Conference Agreement to the House
Mar 14th
Today, Chairman Lacey E. Putney summarized the provisions of the State Budget conference report adopted by the House and Senate today. This press release includes his prepared remarks.
Republican Successes as 2010 Session Ends
Mar 14th
As the House adjourned sine die, Speaker Howell issued a press release on the many legislative successes of the House in the 2010 session.
The State Budget contained many of the key accomplishments of the session, including rejection of former Governor Kaine’s 17 percent income tax hike, and a reduction in state spending for the first time in recent memory. In fact, the 2010-2012 Biennial Budget returns general fund spending to 2006 levels.
Budget-Busting Senate at it Again
Mar 13th
As the General Assembly goes into overtime, extending its 60-day session by a day to complete consideration of the state budget, Frederick Kunkle’s post on the Washington Post’s Virginia Politics Blog makes clear the contrast on fiscal responsibility between the Virginia House and the Virginia Senate.
The House Republican Caucus followed its long-time principle—no reward for missing a deadline—by proposing House Resolution 40, which the House adopted today. The Resolution eliminates the $135per diem payment for delegates during the extension of the 60-day session.
The Senate, which already gives its members a more generous $169 per diem, took no similar action.
This is the same Senate that dragged its feet on negotiating the state budget with the House. Having come up with over-inflated revenue estimates, the Senate conferees would not engage with the House Budget Conferees in serious discussion about revenue last weekend.
Having created a delay by its inaction, the Senators insist on reaping a reward for missing the budget deadline established on December 11 (See House Joint Resolution 9).
Legislators who live outside the Richmond metro area receive per diem payments to cover the expenses of living in Richmond during the legislative session. Under the Federal tax code, per diem in excess of actual costs can be kept as tax-free income.
UPDATE: See what others are saying about the Senate’s action: Too Conservative, Bearing Drift, SwacGirl at Virginia Virtucon
Special Budget Information Page
Mar 9th
We’ve posted a special page at http://www.vahousegop.com/budget/ highlighting House actions and House Conferee perspectives on the 2010-2012 Biennial Budget. It includes YouTube videos, speech transcripts, and other critical information.