Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Posts tagged Speaker Howell
Cox Bill to Support Innovative Rehab for Wounded Warriors Advances
Feb 3rd
HB 128 advanced out of subcommittee today with unanimous, bipartisan support.
Del. Kirk Cox introduced the bill to provide a free, one-year fishing license to military personnel and veterans with service connected disabilities receiving treatment from a military or veterans hospital in Virginia or an adjoining state.
The idea for the bill came from a program started at Walter Reeed in 2005. Project Healing Waters found that fly fishing and tying proved very therapeutic for soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines recovering from physical and emotional rigors of military service.
In the five years since starting at Walter Reed, Project Healing Waters has grown to 78 chapters nationwide and in 3 foreign countries.
Dr. Mike Cherwek, a retired cardiologist from Speaker Howell‘s district in Fredericksburg, testified in support of the bill and explained the great work of Project Healing Waters. Cherwek serves as national Vice President of the group.
Dr. Mike Cherwek, national Vice President of Project Healing Waters, testifies before House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Subcommittee.
In addition to support from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, HB 128 has 43 co-patrons.
Holsworth–Kaine’s Tax Hike a National Boomerang
Jan 20th
Check out Bob Holsworth’s analysis at Virginia Tomorrow. Holsworth highlights Speaker Howell’s tax hike jujitsu, which, to mix sports metaphors, will turn Tim Kaine’s tax hike proposal into a boomerang for the chair of the DNC.
McDonnell Highlights House Republicans in State of the Commonwealth
Jan 18th
Governor McDonnell highlighted the great policy initiatives led by Republican members of the House in his first State of the Commonwealth Address:
- Caucus Chairman Sam Nixon‘s bill will grant an income tax exemption for qualified investments by technology and science startup businesses. HB 523.
- Delegate Terry Kilgore will help the Governor create an energy corridor in Southern and Southwest Virginia.
- Delegates Glenn Oder and Scott Lingamfelter have a bill, HB 42, to identify cost savings and establish performance metrics on congestion releif and mobility at VDOT.
- Delegate Rob Bell‘s bills will help protect victims of domestic violence by improving Virginia’s protective order process. HB 930, HB 931.
- Delegate Jackson Miller will help fight gangs by expanding Gang-Free School Zones into Gang-Free Zones, to better target gang activity wherever it occurs. HB 682.
Check out Speaker Howell’s comments on the Governor’s speech here.
Speaker Howell’s Opening Day Remarks
Jan 13th
Check out video of Speaker Howell’s Opening Day Remarks.
Howell responds to Kaine’s Tax-Hike Budget
Dec 18th
Following Kaine’s presentation to the General Assembly’s money committees of his budget, Speaker Howell issued a statement (see press release) highlighting the impact of Kaine’s tax increase proposals on Virginia families.
Howell committed the House Republican Caucus to working with Governor-elect McDonnell to delivering a structurally balanced budget on times, matching spending to available revenue.
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.