Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus
Posts tagged Speaker Howell
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 ) 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 ).
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.
Howell leads the way in budget cutting
Dec 16th
Speaker Bill Howell continued to show Republicans leading the way in their commitment to fiscal restraint, responding to shortfalls from the Governor's revenue estimates by cutting costs in the House of Delegates budget.
The Speaker announced cuts and cost saving measures of $1 million in the House operating budget for FY2010 (). That brings to $2.1 million the total savings initiated by the Speaker for FY2010 ($1.1 million in cuts were adopted during the 2009 General Assembly session).
Under Republican leadership, the Virginia General Assembly now ranks 46th among the 50 states in per capita spending on legislative operations (and 5 state legislatures meet only every other year). Virginia ranked 40th when Howell was elected Speaker in 2003.