While the 2019 session arrived as a predicted storm from day one, it swiftly became a hurricane, then went out like a lamb last Sunday afternoon upon voting out the budget and declaring sine die. The session was without a doubt the most eventful and potentially disastrous session, I would say, for the last few decades. Both on the ground and in the media the distractions from the scandals, actions and allegations over the past conducts of Virginia’s governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general could have led to impasse or to little, if anything, getting done. Rather, my caucus members and I focused on performing our legislative work. This session, surprisingly, rates as among the most productive in many years.
The most pressing issue was to conform Virginia’s tax code to the Trump Tax Cut law so you can file your 2018 tax forms. Simultaneously, we reformed Virginia tax law to allow Virginians to receive the benefits of the new federal law and not pay increased Virginia taxes. We then based the new budget for 2019-2020 on the actual ‘regular’ revenue forecast.
The budget is heavy in increased funding for our schools, such as 5% raises for teachers and staff and increased funding for at-risk students. For higher education, it includes money so state college and universities can freeze tuition prices rates. For students not going on to four year institutions of learning, we increased funding for them to obtain credentials, licenses and certificates from our community colleges to fill increasing demand for high paying career and technical jobs. We also increased funding for school safety.
Another high priority spending item was for compensation for our state and state-supported local workforces. While raises were already in the two-year budget passed last session, we added to those, including a special amount for registrars. Broadband spending, a priority of mine, was increased as was funding for The Crooked Road and increased numbers of extension agents for our rural counties.
All judge positions are funded in the budget. Accordingly, we elected four highly qualified judges for the 21st Judicial Circuit Court which includes Patrick County, Henry County and Martinsville. Marcus Brinks will be the Circuit Court Judge in Stuart, James R. McGarry the District Court Judge in Stuart, Joan Ziglar the District Court Judge in Martinsville, and Kimberly Belongia the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge in Martinsville.
There was inaccurate information in the media and elsewhere when we were preparing to vote the budget. It was claimed we violated or changed our Rule for that but would not change a rule to vote on the ERA resolution. That is not correct. The rule states we have 48 hours from the time of posting before the vote unless we vote to suspend the 48 hours requirement. We cut it back to 24 hours by a 4/5 vote, as allowed in the rule. After all, there were only seven items in the entire budget that were changed in Conference. The entire remainder of the budget had been read, debated and voted on when the House budget was voted on two weeks prior.
The proposed ratification of the ERA to the U.S. Constitution was not approved even after the other side of the aisle attempted a rule change. The simple fact is that amendment proposal died in 1982, several states have rescinded their ratification, and the unintended consequences are not acceptable. Even the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the proposal dead.
Some examples: In states that have passed state level ERAs, their courts have ruled taxpayer funded abortion as a result; women would have to be allowed in full-up combat roles; bathrooms would be designated for both sexes only; special programs for women and women’s sports would be voided, including women and minority owned business set-asides in government procurements.
What the ERA debate did do was vividly and starkly identify for all that supporters’ true agenda is abortion anytime, anywhere, for any reason. The videos, newscasts and articles fully demonstrate this. While I believe in equal rights for all, the 14th Amendment and existing laws on equal pay and such assure equality without going down the path to infanticide and avoiding an endless array of legal battles regarding the endless variations of special treatment of gender identities, conduct and relations.
My last four bills have passed to the Governor for his signature, veto, or just allow to go into effect without any action. My RGGI (HB2611) and TCI (HB2269) bills I consider critical, as without them your electricity costs will rise, probably soar, and who knows what could happen under TCI if the General Assembly does not have a say in your future choices and costs for cars, roads, fuels, delivery of goods, etc.
While a most productive session, as usual there were disappointments, as well. Agreement could not be reached on how to fund the needed $2B in near-term improvements to I-81 and, by extrapolation, I-73. A lot of hard work and negotiations went on right down to the end with many funding options reviewed and discussed. The issues are complicated and effects are so many I believe it will take a long session and much work in-between now and next year to develop some consensus and some give and take among legislators from all regions of the state plus numerous stakeholders to forge a solution that would likely be some combination of sources.
I was also disappointed the cell phone usage while driving bill failed at the end. Something has to be done as too many people are dying or being injured as a result of cell phone usage distractions. I thought the version of the bill that simply stated one could not have a device in one’s hand while the vehicle is moving made the most sense.
Perhaps the most stinging disappointment of this session was the disgusting in-your-face shouting, spitting, nasty and totally inappropriate behavior of many of the visitors to our sacred Jeffersonian Virginia State Capitol and grounds. It is one thing to lobby, visit, meet, rally, even protest in a polite, respectful, adult manner but it is unacceptable to display or engage in such totally inappropriate behavior anytime, anywhere in Virginia—or, for that matter, anywhere else.
Arriving home after the high-intensity of Session is always a sweet reward. My District Office reopens on Monday, March 4. You may contact me at DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov or P.O. Box 117, Glade Hill, VA 24092, phone 540-576-2600. As always, I invite you to like and follow me on Facebook and to visit my website www.votepoindexter.com.
