CAPITOL OFFICE
General Assembly Building, Room 807
PO Box 406, Richmond VA 23219
Phone: 804-698-1009
Fax: 804-698-6709
Viewpoint Hotline: 800-889-0229
Email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
DISTRICT OFFICE
PO Box 117, Glade Hill VA 24092
Phone: 540-576-2600
Fax: 804-698-6709
Email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
CAMPAIGN OFFICE
PO Box 117, Glade Hill VA 24092
Phone: 540-352-9795
Email: Charles@votepoindexter.com
Charles@charlespoindexter.com
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Appropriations
Counties, Cities, and Towns
Agriculture, Chesapeake
& Natural Resources
COMMISSION ASSIGNMENTS
Virginia Commission on
Energy & Environment
Roanoke River Basin
Advisory Committee
Roanoke River Basin Bi-State
(VA/NC) Commission
Roanoke Higher Education Authority,
Board of Trustees
Western Virginia Public Education
Consortium
Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
ENDORSEMENTS & RATINGS
National Rifle Association - Endorsed with an A rating
National Federation of Independent Businesses
Virginia Society for Human Life
Rated 100% by The Family Foundation
|
|
| State Capitol Report February 23, 2009 |
This past week the House and Senate began addressing one another’s bills. The other major event of the week was the governor’s announcement that the state’s shortfall in revenue estimate for the biennium has increased by $821M to a total of $2.9B (the previous estimate) plus $821M, or $3.7B dollars. Many of us legislators were uncomfortable with last session’s estimates and even the fall updates. I believe this process needs to be improved in future budgets and expect the next governor and General Assembly will propose changes to it.
This past Wednesday, the Senate passed their revised version of the budget, backfilling this shortage with federal stimulus money and even proposing spending beyond it. The House then rejected the Senate budget. The two versions went to Conference, which is the regular course of action. The Conferees (6 Senators, 6 Delegates) are supposed to report their proposed budget back to both bodies this week so that they can approve the budget in time to proclaim Sine Die (end) of the Session on February 28.
It is difficult to predict if that will happen. The process could play out for some time while differences are reconciled and the strings on the stimulus funding are analyzed. For example, the conditions on the use of the stimulus education money won’t be available for some time yet. This makes it very difficult for localities to develop their budgets based on the State budget.
I do hope the Conferees can resolve the differences by February 28. I am not optimistic, however, as the Senate Conferees declined to meet with the House Conferees until Sunday night. That will significantly narrow the time available to meet the deadline. One thing is for certain, from my perspective, the resulting budget should not initiate new programs, contain large expansions of existing programs, or lead to long-term reliance on federal stimulus money. Long-term structural changes and reforms must be made to prevent us from relying on stimulus dollars for future budgets!
This week I will present my remaining two bills to the Senate subcommittees and/or committees. One is my biomass definition bill to broaden the definition of biomass to encourage new energy generation from biomass resources which we have in abundance in the 9th District and the Commonwealth. My other bill to be considered adds an indicator for “wanted on other charges” to the Sexual Predator Registry.
Several of you have asked about the autism bill that would have mandated insurance coverage for autism to employer sponsored health insurance plans. Legislators are aware of and sympathetic to the needs of these children, the huge demands placed on their parents, and want to address the issue. The problem was the submitted bill was flawed in many ways that could and would have had unintended consequences.
For example, the bill would only include some employer-sponsored plans—not health insurance purchased by individuals or state employees. As more and more individuals purchase their own insurance due to layoffs, companies dropping health coverage benefits, and more citizens moving to COBRA, for which financial aid is being funded via the stimulus, many families and state employees would have been discriminated against. Another major concern was premium increases and the potential for more employers to drop their health insurance plans due to increased costs.
While I am not on the subcommittee that received the bill, I understand the subcommittee allowed an unusually large amount of time for testimony. While sensitive to the problem, both Republicans and Democrats could not go forward with this specific bill. I expect and hope we find a better, more comprehensive bill submitted to the next session. In the meantime, the House did add $1.7M for autism in its budget, while the Senate proposed reduced spending on autism by $215,000.
My last point on autism relates to process. There was some criticism over the bill failing due to a lack of motion. That is not unusual; in fact, this happens frequently, as it is part of the Rules. This even happened to me this last Thursday. My Resolution for DEQ to study the environmental impact of CFLB’s passed the House Subcommittee, full House Committee, and the House Floor without any NAY votes. The same thing happened when I presented it to the Senate subcommittee—all YAYs. When I presented it to the full Senate Committee, no motion was made to report the Resolution to the Senate floor. My resolution died right there. Could it be that the Senate exercises the same “obstructionist” view the House is often accused of?
On a lighter note, let us all recall Mark Twain’s comment that “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” Perhaps this week will speed by.
As always, my staff and I always look forward to your visits. We appreciate your calling in advance ( 804-698-1009) so that we can best meet your requests and needs. You may also contact us by sending an email to DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov or leave a comment on our Constituent Viewpoint Hotline at 1-800-889-0229.
Charles
|
|
|
|
News & Announcements:
Charles runs
for re-election!
Read News Release |
| |
“Entrepreneurs and their small business enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States".
Ronald Reagan
|
 |
| Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library |
“Whatever else history says about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way".
Ronald Reagan
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
