Speaker Howell Welcomes $6 million in Legislative Branch Savings

RICHMOND, VA - Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today welcomed legislative actions that return over $6 million in legislative branch savings to the general fund by June 30, 2011. The Joint Rules Committee, which the Speaker chairs, voted this morning to return $5,584,395, including $1.3 million from the Auditor of Public Accounts, $2.3 million from the Virginia Capitol Police, $727,344 from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and $673,266 from the Division of Legislative Automated Services, among other legislative branch agencies. This afternoon, the House Rules Committee voted to return $500,000 to the general fund as agreed to earlier this year in the current Appropriations Act. Since 2003 when Howell became Speaker, the House alone has returned over $6.0 million to the General Fund.

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G. Paul Nardo Elected Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates

RICHMOND, VA -- The Virginia House of Delegates today unanimously elected G. Paul Nardo as Clerk of the House of Delegates and Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth. In keeping with tradition, Mr. Nardo was escorted by a special committee of delegates to the well of the House immediately following his election. There, the Honorable Cynthia D. Kinser, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, administered the oath of office, beginning immediately Mr. Nardo's service as the 21st Clerk of the House.

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Statement by House Speaker William J. Howell on the Death of House of Delegates Clerk Bruce F. Jamerson

RICHMOND, VA – Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today issued the following statement regarding the death of the Bruce F. Jamerson, Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates and Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth:

“On behalf of the Virginia House of Delegates, I express our tremendous grief and sorrow at the death of not only a distinguished and respected professional but our dear friend Bruce Jamerson.

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Statement of Speaker William J. Howell on Today’s Introduction of New Redistricting Legislation and its 16-0 Passage by House Privileges & Elections Committee

RICHMOND, VA - Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today issued the following statement after the introduction of House Bill 5005, patroned by Delegate Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), and that new redistricting legislation's passage by the House of Delegates' Privileges and Elections Committee on a strong bipartisan vote of 16-0.  HB 5005 was introduced following the veto of House Bill 5001 on April 15, 2011 by the Governor because of his "significant concerns" with the Senate reapportionment plan that was added to the House Bill by the Senate Democratic majority on a straight party-line vote of 22-18.  As Governor McDonnell requested in his veto letter last Friday, House Bill 5005 strengthens the original House redistricting plan that garnered an unprecedented 85-9 vote earlier this month, with a majority of House Republicans supporting as well as a majority of House Democrats.  Presently, the 100-member Virginia House of Delegates has 61 members in the Republican Caucus and 39 Democrats.

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