| The 2005 General Assembly session has adjourned, ending my 8th session in the House of Delegates. I was pleased with all that we were able to accomplish during the 2005 session on important issues like tax relief, transportation, tort reform, and public safety.
Taxes:
I supported the Republican-sponsored legislation to complete the phase-out of the state portion of the tax on groceries and to end the practice of accelerated sales tax collections for more than 96% of affected retailers and they were approved this session. Although Republican-sponsored legislation to lift the cap on car tax relief failed in the State Senate, House Republicans will continue to support efforts to re-start the planned phase-out in a fiscally responsible manner.
* I co-sponsored HB1638 which completes the phase-out of the groceries tax, particularly benefiting the low and middle income families.
* HB 1833 accelerates the personal exemption on income taxes so that it will be effective 1 July 2005.
Transportation:
I served on the Speaker’s House Transportation Task Force that helped craft the House Transportation plan. The plan passed overwhelmingly, beginning major new investments in transportation infrastructure. In addition to legislation that I sponsored encouraging public-private partnership solutions, the General Assembly invested nearly $849 million in new money to address Virginia's transportation problem, the largest highway funding increase in 20 years. Building a comprehensive package based on trust, reform and sustained investment, transportation was the top priority for House Republicans in the 2005 session. Successfully committing nearly $850 million in new transportation investment statewide, the legislative and budget proposals of House Republicans are taking the steps necessary to begin addressing congestion and safety problems on Virginia’s roads.
Health Care:
The General Assembly passed a measure that will help lower health care costs by making reforms to the medical malpractice system. Republicans not only supported increased investments in health care for seniors and others, but also successfully sponsored legislation offering new policies that offer greater access, provide better security, and get at the sources of rising health care cost.
* I supported HB1492, which provides the structure for identifying measures that will increase the utilization and efficacy of health savings accounts (HSAs), and requires state employee insurance plans to offer HSAs as an option.
* I voted in favor of HB 1624, which establishes the Virginia Insurance Plan for seniors to provide assistance in the purchase of prescription drugs to those caught in the Medicaid coverage gap.
* Republicans unanimously supported HB 2036, which establishes a policy for the Commonwealth to ensure a community and consumer-based system of long-term care services for Virginia’s senior population.
* I was particularly enthusiastic about co-sponsoring HB 2659, which limits law suits against health care professionals to cases where the plaintiff introduces expert witnesses, and would declare that expressions of sympathy and benevolence from the physician are not admissible as an admission of guilt in court of law.
Crime:
House Republicans always have taken the lead in making Virginia a safe place to live, learn, work, and raise a family. This year, I supported several pieces of legislation to combat gang violence, punish sexually violent offenders and address the growing problem of computer-based fraud.
* HB 1573 directs the Board of Education to develop guidelines for school boards to establish dress codes prohibiting any apparel or style of dress that promote illegal gang activity.
* I voted for HB 2059 to punish as a felony the use of sensitive information obtained through the use of a credit card scanner.
* I supported Delegate Albo’s HB 2217, which enhanced punishments for gang activities and includes gangs as public nuisances.
* HB 2318 gives judges power to place minors on sex offender registry, when circumstances dictate.
* In addition, I supported HB 2836 which requires sex offenders from outside Virginia to register when moving into the state.
Education:
Continuing a commitment to high academic standards and accountability at all levels of public education in the Commonwealth, the General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by House Republicans to improve Virginia’s schools. In addition, amendments to the 2004-2006 Biennial Budget provide $123 million of general fund revenues in direct aid to public education, as well as a 3% teacher salary increase, and $12.3 million in financial aid for college and university students were approved.
* I voted for HB 1726, which establishes free-market opportunities for textbook sales and bookstore competition for community colleges and other public higher education institutions in Virginia, thereby ending the kick-backs that some professors were receiving from textbook companies to push new textbooks each year.
* I co-sponsored HB 1767 which provides for localities to notify home school student and parents of availability of important examinations and financial assistance for qualifying students.
* As a co-sponsor of HB 2223, I was pleased to see it pass. It provides that the local school board, or a committee thereof, or the division superintendent may review petitions for readmission by students expelled for violence.
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