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HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND UGO
SCOTT A. SUROVELL
PO BOX 289 MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA 22121 FORTY-FOURTH DISTRICT
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS: CITIES, COUNTIES & TOWNS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MILITIA, PUBLIC SAFETY & POLICE
2013GeneralAssemblySessionRecap March11,2013 Constituent 1234FortHuntLane Alexandria,VA223___ DearConstituent: Twoweeksago,theHouseofDelegatesadjournedSineDie.Thishistoricsessionwasfullofmajorinitiatives regardingeducation,transportation,andhealthcare.ItendedwithVirginiasfirsttransportationpackagein28years andaprocesstoexpandMedicaidcoveragefor400,000Virginians. Inadditiontothesetwomajorpolicychanges,$2millionhasbeensecuredforaU.S.1transitstudy.Thisis thenextlegallyrequiredstepbeforeanymajorimprovementscanbemadetoU.S.1andsomethingthatIhavebeen workingtowardssinceIwaselectedin2009.ItisacriticalsteptowardstheeconomicrevitalizationoftheU.S.1 CorridorandmaintainingourqualityoflifeinMt.Vernon&Lee. TransportationFunding Thetransportationfundinglegislation,HouseBill2313,ifsustainedbythecourts,significantlychangestheway thatVirginiageneratesrevenuefortheconstructionandmaintenanceofourtransportationsystem.Todayssystem isfundedlargelybythreesources(1)anannuallicenseandregistrationfees,(2)the3%titlingtaxoncarsales,and(3) a$0.175/gallongastaxleviedatthepump.ThegastaxhasnotbeenadjustedsinceMarch,1987.Theplanchanges Virginiassystemasfollows: TheplanrepealsVirginias$0.175/gallongastax Placesa3.5%unleadedtax(equaltoabout$0.11/gallon)and6.0%dieseltaxatwholesalelevel Raisesthevehicletitlingtaxoncarsalesfrom3%to4.3% Raisesthesalestaxby0.3%fortheGeneralFundraising$900millionbyYear5 Enactsanew$100feeonVirginiashybridvehicles Redirects$700millionoftheGeneralFundforschools,publicsafety,andhealthcaretotheTransportation TrustFundoverfiveyearsorabout$1.5billionovertenyears
OftheNorthernVirginiamoney,$300millionisinitiallydedicatedtolowerthetollstofundtheconstructionofthe SilverLine,anddedicatedrevenuesmustbespentontransitandlocalroads.
Thereisnodenyingthatthestateandourregionespeciallyarestarvedfortransportationfunds.However,I votedagainstthisplanbecauseitsatisfiesonly30%ofourlongtermneedandisunlikelytogeneratesufficientfunds toimproveU.S.1orextendYellowLine.Also,itwasnottherightwaytoraiserevenue.Weareprobablytheonly stateinthenationthatisreducinggastaxesandincreasingregressivesalestaxes. ThebillalsoraidstheGeneralFundwhichfundseducationsystem,healthcare,andpublicsafety,punishes individualswhoareenvironmentallyfriendlythroughthehybridtax,andeliminatesVirginiassystemofrelyingon userbasedfeestofundtransportationneeds.SenatorEbbinandIhavestartedapetitionurgingtheGovernortoveto thehybridtax.Youcansignitatnohybridtax.com. IalsohavereservationsaboutNorthernVirginiaandHamptonRoadscarryingalargertransportationfunding burdenvianewregionaltaxes.Thesenewtaxesbearzerorelationshiptoourtransportationuseandleaveuswithout anymeaningfulprotectionagainsttheCommonwealthTransportationBoard(CTB)raidingourshareofstatefunds inlightofourregionaltaxes.Furthermore,NorthernVirginias2.2millionresidentsstillhavethesamevoteas 380,000peopleintheBristolDistrictaftermylegislationtogivetheurbandistrictsafairshareofvotesontheCTB waskilledforthefourthyearinarow.TherestofVirginiaowesusafairerdealinlightoftheburdenNorthern Virginiabearsforfundingotherprogramssuchasschools. Finally,IhaveseriousconcernsabouttheconstitutionalityofregionaltaxesenactedbytheGeneral Assembly.ThereisnorealprecedentforanythinglikethisandifthisispermissibleunderVirginiasConstitution,the nextstepcouldbeaNorthernVirginiaonlyincometaxnexttimewehaveabudgetdeficit. MedicaidExpansion TheexpansionofMedicaidinVirginiastillhangsinthebalance.Asapartofsomelastminutewrangling, languagewasincludedinthestatebudgetthatallowsthestatetoextendMedicaidcoveragetotheworkingpoor oncecertainreformsareblessedbyapanelmadeupofseveralopenlyantiMedicaidexpansionappointees.There arealsoconstitutionalconcernsaboutdelegatinglegislativeauthority. IhavebeenaconsistentadvocatefortheexpansionofMedicaid.TheMedicaidexpansionwould: Create30,000jobsinVirginia Reducehealthpremiums Providecoveragetoanadditional400,000Virginians SaveVirginia$17millionperyear.
Theexpansionwouldalsohaveadramaticimpacthere.InFairfaxCounty30,000newadultswouldbeeligiblethrough Medicaidexpansion.Also,thisplanwouldbringcoveragetothousandsofresidentsofthe44thDistrict.Oneinthree kidsinthe44thDistrictreceivestheirhealthcarefromMedicaidtoday. Icontinuetohaveconcernsaboutwhethertheexpansionwillactuallyoccurnotwithstanding.TheAttorney Generalhasissuedanopinionthatthiscommissionmaybeunconstitutional.Wewillnotknowforsometimeabout theissueofconstitutionalityorwhatreformstheymaypropose. SixSurovellBillstoTheGovernor,ThreeMoreStudied&ThreeBudgetAmendmentsThru Thiswasmymostsuccessfulsessionyet.SixbillsthatIwaspatronorChiefCoPatronofareontheirwayto theGovernorandarewaitingtobesignedintolaw: HB1913ProtectingConsumersfromUnlicensedContractors:Prohibitsanunlicensedcontractorfrom recordingamechanicslienwhenavalidlicenseorcertificateisrequiredforthelabortobeperformed.This preventsanunlicensedcontractorfromtakingadvantageofconsumersandbusinesses.
HB1917PromotingRenewableSolarThermalEnergy:Allowsconsumersandbusinesstosellrenewable energycertificatesforenergygeneratedbysolarthermalenergysystemssuchassolarhotwaterorair heatingsystems.Solarthermalsystemsarethemosteconomicsystemsonthemarket. HB2322PromotingMentalHealthInCommunityColleges:RequiresCommunityCollegestodesignatean individualasapointofcontactforamentalhealthservicesproviderforreferralsofanystudentswhomay haveurgentmentalhealthneedsanddevelopanofficialpolicyforreferringstudentsinmentalhealth distress HB1360BanningTextingWhileDriving(ChiefCoPatron):Prohibitsuseofamobilephonewhiledrivingfor anythingotherthanaphonecallaprimaryoffenseandclassifiesitasrecklessdriving.Itwouldbepunishable byasmuchasayearinjailanda$2,500fine.ThisbillwasincorporatedintoHouseBill1907whichprohibits theuseofacellphoneforsolelytextingandmakesitaprimaryoffenseandpunishablewith$250forafirst timeoffender. HB1695AgriculturalRenewableEnergyNetMetering(ChiefCoPatron):Allowsforagroupoffarmersto collectivelybuildrenewableenergyprojectsandnettheenergyagainsttheelectricitybillontheirownbills.I hopetoexpandtotheresidentialsettingnextyearsothat10homesinMt.Vernoncouldnettheirhome electricalmetersagainsttheenergygeneratedbyasolarpanelonachurchinMt.Vernon. SB1112StreamlinedEvidenceforDrunkDrivingVictims:Streamlinesevidencerequiredtoprovebreathor bloodalcoholconcentrationinacivilactionforinjuriesofvictimsbyaccidentscausedbyadrunkdriver. LegislationisidenticaltomyHB1909thissession.
ThreeotherbillsIauthoredwerereferredtocommissionsforstudy. HB1915FairOnlineLearninginSchools:Prohibitsaschoolsystemfromofferingstudentsanelectronic textbookoutsideaschooluntiltheschoolsystemcanshowtheyhavetakenstepstoensurethatevery studentinthelocalityhasaccesstoapersonalcomputingdeviceandbroadbandinternetserviceintheir residence.ReferredtotheJointCommissiononTechnologyandScienceandtheVirginiaBroadband Commission HB1973ClarifyingControlofRealEstateBrokerages:Clarifiestheeligibleindividualsandpriorityof personsabletorunarealestatebrokerageintheeventofthedeathofthebroker.Thislegislationwas suggestedbylocaltrusts&estatesattorneyDeborahMatthews. HB2321SunlightontheStateCorporationCommission:SubjectstheStateCorporationCommission(SCC) totheVirginiaFreedomofInformationAct.TheSCCregulatesallutilities,securities,insurance,andrailroads inVirginiaincludingrates,premiums,anddisputeresolution.
Finally,threeofbudgetamendmentsIproposedwereincludedinthefinalbudgetamendments: Route1TransitImprovementStudyBudgetamendmentcarriedbySenatorPullerandIprovides$2Million inordertofullyfundtheRoute1TransitImprovementStudywhichwillanalyzeseveraldifferentmodesof transportationincludingtheextensionoftheYellowLinefromHuntingtontoLorton,lightrailand/orbus rapidtransitinadditiontoregionalandemploymentforecastsforourarea.ThestudywillfocusonRoute1 southofAlexandriaCitytotheOccoquanRiver Amendment539HFillingJudicialVacancies:RestoresoneofFairfaxCountysCircuitCourtJudgeships.This willhelpreducecongestionintheCourtsystemsandensureanefficientdocket. Amendment1084HDedicateMortgageSettlementtoHTF:Providesanadditional$2.5milliondollarsto theHousingTrustFundwhichassistsvictimsofwrongfulforeclosure,remedyblightandassistswith foreclosurecounselingandfirsttimehomeownership.
SeveralbillsdealingwitheducationreformthatwereproposedbytheGovernorpassed.Thefirstwasaplan thatwouldgradeschoolsonanAFscalemodeledonaplanpromotedbyJebBushandJohnPodesta.Ourcurrent systemisdifficulttounderstandandsimplifyingthissystemwillprovideeveryoneclearerinformationonthequality ofourschools.Makinginformationreadilyavailableandeasytoaccessisanimportantstepinimprovingourschools. IwasoneofonlytwoDemocraticlegislatorstosupportthislegislation. TheGeneralAssemblyalsopassedaplanmodeledonaLouisianaplanthatwouldallowthestatetotakeover failingschoolsbymovingthemintosomethingcalledtheOpportunitySchoolDistrict.Onceaschoolisremovedfrom localcontrol,localtaxpayerswouldstillhavetobearthecosts,buthavenosayinschooloperationsorpolicies.I adamantlyopposedthisplananddonotbelieveacentraltakeoveristhewaytofixlocalschoolproblems. TheStateBudgetincludeda2%raiseforteachers,fundsadditionalMedicaidwaiverslotstoallow intellectuallyand1bdevelopmentallydisabledadultstobecaredforinhomesettings,andfundsanother1,000spots atVirginiasuniversitiesforinstatestudents. Overall,itwasamixedsessionbutVirginiaprobablyinchedforwardabit.Medicaidexpansionstillhangsin thebalanceandwewillhavetoseeiftheconstitutionalityofthetransportationbillholdsup.Wemadestepsinthe rightdirectionwithpayraisesforourteachers,greaterinvestmentinourhighereducationanddevotingmoretothe HousingTrustFundbutthereisstillmoreprogresstomake. LookingAhead AsIcontinuetorepresentourcommunityIhopetobeasaccessibleandtransparentaspossibleaboutmy legislativegoalsandviewsonstatepolicy.Thereismuchmoreinformationonmyblog,TheDixiePig,regardingthis pastsessionslegislation,thebudget,myviewsonanumberofissues,andthe6,000+/votesIhavetakenoverthe lastfouryears.Youcanfinditatscottsurovell.blogspot.comormywebsiteatwww.scottsurovell.org. Iamalsohappytoansweranyquestionsyouhaveaboutmylegislation,votesorpolicypositions.Wealso standreadytohelpserveourconstituentsregardinganydifficultiesyouhavewithstategovernmentorstatepolicy. Youcanemailmeorsendmealetter: P.O.Box289 MountVernon,VA22121 DelSSurovell@house.virginia.gov Office571.249.44TH(4484) InApril,wereturntoRichmondforthevetosessiontovoteontheGovernorsamendmentsandvetoesandthen thisNovember,Iwillstandforreelection. ItisanhonortoserveyouinRichmondandIhopeIhaveearnedyourvoteforathirdterm. SincerelyYours,
DelegateScottA.Surovell 44thDistrict
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 289 Mt. Vernon, VA 22121 Telephone: 571.249.44TH (4484) Facsimile: 703.542.3741
Web: www.scottsurovell.org Email: DelSSurovell@house.virginia.gov Online Newsletter: scottsurovell.blogspot.com Twitter: @ssurovell Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottsurovell
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