Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Health Care
Republicans Highlight Success at Session Midpoint
Feb 17th
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and House Majority Caucus Chairman Samuel A. “Sam” Nixon, Jr. (R-Chesterfield) today highlighted the many legislative successes so far by members of the Republican Majority Caucus through the halfway point of the 2010 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. The announcement comes at the 2010 session’s midway mark, commonly referred to as “crossover.” By that date, which this year fell on February 16, each house must have acted on the bills filed by its respective members.
“As Virginians struggle in today’s economy, state government must address their needs without burdening them with additional job-killing taxes and burdensome requirements,” said Speaker Howell. “Since the House of Delegate’s defeated Governor Kaine’s $1 billion per year statewide income tax plan by a unanimous and bipartisan vote of 97-0 at the beginning of this Session, House Republicans have aggressively pursued fiscally responsible legislation to create jobs and opportunities for Virginians, reform government to deliver services more efficiently and transparently and address other challenges. I’m delighted that our strong Majority Caucus has produced real results with the support of Democrats and Independents which has enabled us to achieve House passage of scores of positive reforms.”
“Offering practical solutions to Virginia’s challenges is a hallmark of House Republican leadership in the General Assembly,” said Chairman Nixon. “With our citizens and Commonwealth confronting the most difficult economic environment in decades, it is essential to build and expand upon our many accomplishments. The overwhelming bipartisan support for many items on our agenda underscores the ability of Republicans to govern effectively and respond appropriately to the concerns of Virginians.”
Caucus Leaders tell US Senators about unfunded costs of Obamacare
Dec 17th
Speaker Howell and House Appropriations Chairman Lacey Putney wrote to Senators Warner and Webb about the extensive costs that Obamacare would impose on state government (see letter text).
In addition to the impact of adopting so-called Health Care Reform on the Federal budget deficit, Howell and Putney detail the impact on Virginia’s budget. Fearing that the Democrats in Congress will try to hide the true costs of this ill-considered Pelosi-Reid health care scheme, Howell and Putney did extensive research to document the costs that would have to be born by Virginia (which is to say Virginia taxpayers).
Howell and Putney close by noting that 54 percent of Virginians oppose the Health Care bill. They also recite the common-sense proposals for real reform that have been left out of this ill-considered legislation–medical malpractice reform, association health plans, and expanded health savings accounts.
Setting the Record Straight on MR Waivers
Mar 27th
Delegate Phil Hamilton sets the record straight on MR Waivers:
Setting the Record Straight on MR Waivers
In a recent e-mail response to a question to the Governor about MR waivers, the Secretary of Health & Human Resources, Marilyn Tavenner wrote, “…Fortunately, the federal stimulus package enabled the Senate Finance Committee to restore funding to the Medicaid waiver program and prevent any caps on services or changes in waiver eligibility or enrollment procedures. The stimulus package provisions also enabled Virginia to restore funding for 200 new MR waiver slots and maintain Medicaid reimbursement for durable medical equipment…
Unfortunately, the Secretary failed to mention the efforts of the House of Delegates with regards to MR waivers in this biennial budget. In 2008, it was the House that included 400 additional MR waivers in each year of its biennial budget proposal. The Senate proposed zero additional MR waivers. During the budget conference process, the House eventually compromised and settled for 600 MR waivers in FY 2009 with a promise to try and do more for FY 2010 during the 2009 General Assembly session.
Because of the economic downturn, Governor Kaine was forced to make numerous difficult decisions in his budget amendment proposal that was released on December 17, 2008. One decision was to reduce the number of MR waivers for FY 2009 from 600 to 400.
This was one of the budget actions opposed by the House. In its budget proposal which was released on February 8, 2009, before any additional federal funding was available, the House budget restored the 200 MR waivers reduced by the Governor by funding them effective July 1, 2009 and funded 200 additional MR waivers to be available on January 1, 2010. This ensured 400 MR waivers for FY 2010.
Once the federal funding became available, the Senate finally passed its budget, over a week late, and restored the 200 MR waivers eliminated by the Governor. This was a necessary action for them to take because without doing it they would not be able to include the federal money in their budget proposal. They did not, however, provide any additional MR waivers for FY 2010.
During the 2009 budget conference process, it was the House conferees that insisted on increasing the number of MR waivers for FY 2010. Since the 200 waivers had to be restored to FY 2009 to maintain the 600 waivers approved in 2008, the House conferees insisted on the 200 MR waivers to be available on January 1, 2010. After much negotiation, the Senate agreed to the House position. This ensured 800 MR waivers for the biennium.
According to Delegate Phillip Hamilton (R-Newport News), “It has been the Republican-led House of Delegates that has demonstrated, through their actions to fund additional MR waivers with state general fund dollars, a serious commitment to the intellectually disabled citizens of Virginia. The Governor reduced the number of MR waivers in his budget proposal and the Senate did not provide any additional MR waivers even after they included federal funding in their budget proposal. Clearly, actions speak louder than words.”
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House Democrats Play Political Games with Autistic Children
Feb 9th
Today, in a cynical display of political posturing and partisanship that exploits the tragic situation of Virginians with autism spectrum disorder, the following House Democrats voted against a measure that would have provided tangible financial assistance to children with autism spectrum disorder, allowing them to obtain the special educational services they need:
Amundson
BaCote
Bouchard
Bowling
Brink
Bulova
Caputo
Ebbin
Eisenberg
Englin
Herring
Marsden
Mathieson
Morrissey
Nichols
Phillips
Plum
Shannon
Shuler
Tyler
Vanderhye
Watts
In a display of hypocrisy and blatant partisan posturing, these Democrats voted against House Bill 2104 without offering any justification for their opposition. HB 2104 establishes a tuition assistance grant program that would allow the parents of students with autism to pursue individualized educational programs that best meet the needs of their child. HB 2104 was moved further towards final passage in a bipartisan vote of 58 to 33.
The partisan motive of their no vote on HB 2104 is made patently obvious given their vote earlier in the day in favor of an extraordinary procedural maneuver on a related matter that failed by a bipartisan vote of 63-32.
When these Democrats had the chance to actually help Virginia’s children with developmental disabilities, they cynically voted NO, further clarifying their motive to exploit this important and sensitive issue, and the parents and children who are seeking real help, for purely political purposes.
Please contact these Democrats and tell them to stop playing political games with the lives and hopes of Virginians with autism.
House Republicans Champion Mental Health Reforms
Feb 4th
Building on the landmark of Virginia’s mental health system enacted by the General Assembly in the 2008 session, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and Delegates M. Kirkland “Kirk” Cox (Colonial Heights), Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News), Robert B. “Rob” Bell (R-Albemarle) and Dr. John M. O’Bannon, III (R-Henrico) today announced a package of legislation that:
· Improves the critical safety net for Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens;
· Builds upon previous efforts to reform Virginia’s mental health laws for mandatory outpatient treatment when using this option for children and adolescents; and
· Empowers those with mental illness and their families to obtain the best care possible in a crisis
In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, House Republicans led a bipartisan effort in the 2008 Session of the General Assembly to pass fundamental mental health reforms. Last year, House Republicans also succeeded in having 600 Mental Retardation (MR) Waiver Slots incorporated into the 2008-2010 biennial state budget. Governor Kaine has proposed cutting 200 of those MR Waiver Slots in his proposed budget amendments this year.
“Last year, House Republicans committed to advancing a long-term approach to reforming the delivery and oversight of mental health care in Virginia,” noted Speaker Howell. “The responsible initiatives we are offering today are a logical continuation of that commitment to help those in need. Virginians understand that, even in tough financial times, we cannot afford to neglect our citizens who often do not have a voice. House Republicans remain determined to do everything we can to address the urgent waiting list for our community-based waiver program and ensure Virginia’s children and adults with mental illness receive proper treatment.”
As the House Appropriations Committee continues to examine proposed amendments to the biennial budget, key leaders on the budget-writing committee have expressed a desire to work to reinstate the 200 MR waiver slots Governor Kaine proposed cutting from the budget. In addition, by redefining funding priorities, House leaders hope to be able to increase the number of MR waivers available in FY 2010. The MR waiver program is a home and community-based program that funds services to help individuals with intellectual disabilities remain in the community and avoid institutional care. House Bill 1852, patroned by Delegate Cox, requires the Governor to develop a plan to eliminate the urgent care waiting list for MR waivers and the waiting list for Developmental Disabilities waivers by the 2018-2020 biennium. The Health and Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee recommended reporting the substitute version of the bill on February 2.
“Virginia cannot fall further behind in keeping pace with the growing mental health needs of our citizens,” said Delegate Cox, a budget conferee. “Setting out an aggressive goal of eliminating the urgent care waiting list for these valuable mental health services is an important step to improving our services to citizens with intellectual disabilities. Despite our current economic situation, House Republicans know that we cannot afford to fall behind in reducing our urgent care waiting list and will keep working to fix this problem.”
Delegate Hamilton is patroning House Bill 2061 that reforms the process for placing juveniles in outpatient mental health treatment services and monitoring those cases. The bill would allow minors hospitalized, while properly detained by the courts, to enter mandatory outpatient treatment if less restrictive alternatives to involuntary inpatient treatment are deemed appropriate. The process established in this legislation, as well as clarifying changes included in Delegate Hamilton’s House Bill 2060, complements the mental health reforms enacted by the General Assembly in the 2008 session.
“As Virginia continues to grapple with how to better serve those with mental illness, House Republicans understand that policy changes are needed to facilitate better access to critical services in an environment that does not stigmatize those needing assistance,” noted Delegate Hamilton, Chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and a budget conferee. “The changes we are proposing today furthers the progress that state lawmakers and the Governor accomplished in a bipartisan manner last year.”
House Bill 2396, patroned by Delegate Bell, would allow a person with mental illness to prepare directives to guide one’s care if the person was later incapable of proving such guidance. Allowing the mentally ill to identify preferred medications, facilities and to name an agent to make future decisions for themselves addresses the “Ulysses Question,” where an individual directs that a certain medication be given to him even if he subsequently protests. The bill provides exceptions where the advance directive would require care decisions that are themselves life-threatening.
“This bill is a way to empower the mentally ill to help their doctors determine how to best provide care,” remarked Delegate Bell, Chairman of the Mental Health Subcommittee of the House Courts of Justice Committee. “If someone is capable of making informed decisions about his care, we certainly want to have that input. This continues the most fundamental mental health reforms in the last 35 years we passed last year as a result of the Virginia Tech tragedy.”
Delegate O’Bannon is patroning a series of bills – House Bill 2459, House Bill 2460, and House Bill 2461 – that would provide practical solutions to many of the issues raised in the wake of the comprehensive mental health reforms enacted last year. The bills would allow for a consumer at a mental health facility to choose someone to be notified of his care and location, provide safe transportation for a person under an emergency custody order, and ensure a family member is notified when a person is involved in a commitment process.
“We need to be ever mindful of the concerns of the people impacted directly by emergency mental health care services,” observed Delegate O’Bannon, the only practicing physician in the House of Delegates. “These bills make important changes in order to address those concerns by strengthening protections and facilitating communications with the patient and their family. As Virginia continues to take a comprehensive approach to improving our mental health system, House Republicans will seek to keep the best interests of our mentally ill citizens at the forefront.”