General Assembly session update

While most of the nation’s attention became focused on another capitol city one hundred miles to the north, things were very busy down here at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond this week.  With this session limited to forty-six days and nearly 3,000 bills and resolutions to consider, getting to work is a necessity.

In most years, activities in Washington wouldn’t loom as large over Richmond as they do this year.   The election of Donald Trump, however, indicates a change in policy as significant as it was eight years ago when Barack Obama took office.  Even before he took the oath of office, the anticipated change in federal policy could be seen in Richmond.

This year, for the first time in four years, Governor McAuliffe did not place the funding for Medicaid expansion in his budget.  He did ask for the authority to unilaterally expand the program, something he undoubtedly knows has no chance of being approved.  What was different this year?  The incoming Trump administration and the Republican majority in Congress have pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare.  As a result, we have no idea what will ultimately happen to Medicaid expansion.  And now, those states that adopted the costly program have to prepare for the potential it may not continue in its current form.

Virginia, on the other hand, will not have to deal with any shortfalls or shock associated with a dramatic change in Medicaid expansion.  Because its legislature took a “wait and see” approach, holding off a Democrat governor intent on expanding the size and scope of government, we are ideally positioned to take full advantage of any coming changes.

Committees spent the week working and considering bills, a quick start as we work to get through the tens of hundreds of bills and resolutions.  The House and Senate both have until February 6^th – a little over two weeks from now – to complete work on bills filed by their respective members.

Last week I shared my legislative priorities with you, and we remain committed to educational excellence, and innovation.  Towards this end, I am continuing my fight for charter schools.  If we get to pick our own doctors and health care providers, I can’t imagine why it should be less important for parents to be able to pick their children’s schools – especially if they live in a locality with a failing school division.  I am also fighting for integrity in our election system, and allowing voters and political parties the freedom to pick their affiliation and parties the freedom to decide who can participate in their nomination processes – a right embodies in the First Amendment to the Constitution.  These bills will come before committee next week and the week after, a breakneck pace for the more than 25 bills we’ve drafted to improve the lives of Virginians.

The Martin Luther King holiday falls early in every session, and it invariably brings large numbers of Virginians to Richmond to meet with their legislators.  Although two federal holidays and one state holiday fall during every General Assembly session, the General Assembly continues to meet, even on those holidays.  That gives a lot of Virginians who have those days off the opportunity to come to Richmond and see the 140 lawmakers they elected in person.

We had quite a few visitors from the 26^th District stop by the office in the past week.  My good friend and former State Senator Nathan Miller and his wife Kim were here, and Kim’s artwork is actually displayed in my area of the General Assembly Building.  We also welcomed groups from Americans for Prosperity, the AARP, the American Legion, Virginia’s Sheriff’s Association, Valley Health, Harrisonburg/Rockingham SPCA, Augusta Health, Bridgewater College, and graduate students from (National Champions!) James Madison University.

It was also great to see Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce President Frank Tamberrino and the Leadership Harrisonburg-Rockingham group, who came down on Thursday to meet with myself and Delegate Tony Wilt.  Earlier this past week, Colleen Whiteford with Appalachian Physical Therapy stopped by as well.

Planning a visit to Virginia’s Capitol between now and February 24?  If you are, please consider stopping by our offices in Room 331 of the General Assembly Building.  If there’s an issue under consideration this session on which you’d like to share your views, please send us an e-mail at District26@senate.virginia.gov.

Next week, I’ll have more information on the latest activity at the Virginia Capitol.  Until then, have a great week.

Best regards,
Mark Obenshain