tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69744919940992665192024-03-18T20:32:45.946-07:00A Blog by Delegate Marcus B. Simon The official Blog of Virginia Delegate Marcus B. Simon representing the 13th House of Delegates District, including the City of Falls Church and part of Fairfax County.Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-50736278177313963792024-03-12T12:57:00.000-07:002024-03-15T12:59:53.126-07:00Post Session Stats & What's Next<p>It’s
good to be home from Richmond, after a super busy General Assembly
Session. We wrapped up the 2024 Session on Saturday evening, adjourning <em>sine die </em>at
5:05pm. During this "long" session at 60 days, we used our timely
wisely, completing ALL our work, including passing a compromise budget -
a feat that hasn't happened during a regular session in 3 years!</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><a href="https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00304/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240309/-1/20166?startposition=20240309142436&mediaEndTime=20240309142916&viewMode=2&globalStreamId=4&emci=bb710022-ccdb-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">We
had so much time, in fact, that I gave a speech about it on our last
day, offering a litany of our many accomplishments this session.</a></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
<span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>The Compromise Budget</em></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
On the last day of the 2024 Session, we voted on the House and Senate's
compromise version of the budget. This is the culmination of months of
work, making sure that our values are reflected in the biennial budget
we send to the Governor. Passing with a bipartisan vote in both
chambers, the budget bill will now go to the Governor for his review. He
has until 11:59pm on April 8th to sign, veto, or amend it. To view the
latest budget, visit <a href="https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/?emci=bb710022-ccdb-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">budget.lis.virginia.gov</a>. The Commonwealth Institute also provides a great <a href="https://thecommonwealthinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Key-Budget-Policy-Choices-2024-conference.pdf?emci=bb710022-ccdb-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">side-by-side comparison chart of all the budget versions</a>.
</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>Session By The Numbers<br /></em></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">As
I mentioned in my previous email about crossover statistics, here are
some updated stats now that we're done with the regular session:</p><ul style="line-height: 1.5; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><li>60 Day "Long" Session
</li><li>34 new Delegates in the House (out of 100)</li><li>17 new Senators (out of 40)</li><li>3,594 total bills and resolutions introduced</li><li>2,280 bills and resolutions passed the House & the Senate</li><li>1,046 bills communicated to the Governor to sign, amend, or veto</li><li>405 bills continued to the 2025 Session</li><li>84 bills communicated to the Governor as "7 Day Bills"</li><li>64 of the "7 Day Bills" were <em>signed</em> by the Governor</li><li>
12 of the "7 Day Bills" were <em>amended</em> by the Governor</li><li>8 of the "7 Day Bills" were <em>vetoed</em> by the Governor</li></ul><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>What's Next</em></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
Bills that were communicated to the Governor by March 1st meant that
they were "7 Day Bills," and he had until March 8th to take action on
them. The remaining bills that passed the General Assembly will be
communicated to the Governor shortly and he will have until April 8th at
11:59pm to take action. The General Assembly will then reconvene on
April 17th for the Veto Session, where will address all of the
Governor's vetoes and recommendations.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Now that session is
officially over, I'm back home in the 13th District and looking forward
to getting back in the groove of things - visiting with family and
friends, being back at my small business, and, of course, attending
community events.</p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-20268980751476335322024-03-09T07:52:00.000-08:002024-03-11T07:53:59.701-07:002024 Sine Die - Right On Time<p><span style="font-size: small;">Today, we've officially gavelled out of the 2024 General Assembly Session! <strong>And you won't believe what we've accomplished.</strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>Education</em></span><br /><br />
If all we had time for this session had been to pass bills to set us on a
path to make sure Virginia teachers are compensated at least at the
national average (HB 187), to protect our at-risk students (HB 825),
improve student mental health (HB 919 & HB 603), ease the teacher
shortage, and to secure our kids future through a world class education,
it would have been a great session.<br /><br /><strong>But wait, there’s more.</strong><br /><br />
We also passed bills to protect the rights and freedom of a Virginians,
including the right to obtain contraception (HB 609 & HB 819), to
keep their health and medical data private (HB 78 & HB 1539), their
right to a marriage license regardless of sex, gender or race of the
parties (HB 174), the right to vote in free and fair elections (HB 623).</span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>Abortion Access</em></span><br /><br />Even
if we’d only had time to block efforts to ban all abortions in Virginia
with no exceptions (HB 404), that would have been a great session. But
we did all that AND we built an economy that works for Hardworking
Virginia families.</span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8a0707;">Economic Justice</span></em><br /><br />
We raised the minimum wage (HB 1), removed Jim Crow era exceptions to
the minimum wage (HB 157). We established a prescription drug
affordability board (HB 570) so Virginians don’t have to choose between
paying for essentials like rent and groceries so they can buy their
medicines.</span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>Gun Violence Prevention</em></span><br /><br />
We also had time to pass important bills to protect victims of domestic
violence from deadly gun violence (HB 46 & HB 362), to ban weapons
of war from Virginia’s streets and neighborhoods (HB 2 & HB 175), to
ban dangerous devices that can convert an ordinary firearm into a
virtual automatic weapon (HB 22), and to ban the ghost guns (HB 173).</span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="color: #8a0707;">A Compromise Budget</span></em><br /><br />In
the last few days of session, we only had a handful of outstanding
conference reports yet to be signed, and, for the first time in at least
3 years, a completed budget conference report sitting on our desks. <strong>Right. On. Time.</strong><br /><br />A
budget that makes important investments in our infrastructure, in our
teachers, in our public employees. It directs the Governor to reenter
the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), to invest $149.5 million transportation improvements
and WMATA, includes $100 million for the Community Flood Preparedness
Fund, $400 million to meet Chesapeake Bay improvement goals, and $25
million for Coastal Risk Storm Management Projects.<br /><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><a href="https://secure.ngpvan.com/3D_IFGUXIUSlYQaGfQiwzQ2?emci=30afc9a7-3ade-ee11-85fb-002248223794&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">We’ve delivered on our promises to Virginians and we got it all done right in time. </a></strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="font-size: small;">
Now, it’s up to the Governor. He’s on the clock – will he sign these
bills and make sure Virginians get the education, the freedoms, the
economic opportunities and the environment they want and deserve? Only
time will tell.</span></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-66954345537071324452024-03-04T07:54:00.000-08:002024-03-11T07:58:34.287-07:002024 Session | March 4th Update<p>As our 60 day “long session” enters its final week, many of you have
asked me how we get it all done on such a compressed schedule. Part of
the answer is in the hectic schedule. Many of you have commented that
you enjoyed reading about a “<a href="https://marcusbsimon.blogspot.com/2024/01/an-average-session-day.html?emci=e98ec649-c9d7-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">typical Thursday</a>” in a previous e-mail.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Last
week it took me spending every minute of a very atypical Wednesday to
keep my legislative agenda moving forward. In addition to being an
extremely long day on the Floor as the General Assembly worked to meet
our deadline to get all revenue bills into conference committees, 9 of
my bills were 4 different Senate committee dockets - the first 3 being
heard at a 7:30am subcommittee and the last 2 heard in Senate Courts at
about 7pm.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">I
spent the evening bouncing back and forth between committee rooms in
the Senate taking meetings with lobbyists in the hallway in between.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">The other part of the answer to how we get it all done: We don’t.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">On
Thursday, the Speaker appointed me to Joint Rules, which is the
committee that reviews appointments to commissions, councils, and boards
across the Commonwealth. There are several hundred bills that will be
carried over to the 2025 session and referred to one of these joint
boards, committees or commissions for further study and review.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
By next week I should learn which commissions and councils I’ll be serving on in the “off-season” – stay tuned for that.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><em><span style="color: #8a0707;">The Budget</span></em></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
Work on the budget is ongoing. Now that the House and Senate conferees
have been appointed, the work of reconciling the 2 budget versions has
begun. Hopefully, a compromise budget will be introduced later this week
so that we can have one to vote on and then send to the Governor.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
It's been several years since we've been able to complete work on the
budget before the end of the regular session. Instead, we've often
adjourned without a compromise and have then returned for a special
session just on the budget. Whatever happens, we are obligated by the
Constitution of Virginia to have a balanced budget every year and we
have not met that obligation.</p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-8503099693387118832024-02-16T11:39:00.000-08:002024-03-11T08:03:18.591-07:002024 Crossover Session Update<p><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US">What a difference a year (and an election) makes. </span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{e4a7bb38-78aa-4c18-9497-b302857fcc6e}{175}" paraid="928746871" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">This time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> last year, I used my monthly column to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">write about how the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">short 45-day </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">2023 Session was winding down and how the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">only </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">significant legislation left to deal with was the state budget. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I went on to talk about how the House version of the budget, then crafted by the Republican Majority, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">fell short in meeting the needs of hardworking Virginians. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">How it focused on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">multi-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">million-dollar</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> corporate tax breaks</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, putting our critical services in jeopardy. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rather bleak</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> outlook for sure.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{e4a7bb38-78aa-4c18-9497-b302857fcc6e}{209}" paraid="1906920368" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Fast forward to February 2024 and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> having </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a very different</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> conversation.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{e4a7bb38-78aa-4c18-9497-b302857fcc6e}{215}" paraid="1831464440" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">First</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">aren’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> nearly done yet. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">W</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> still got a month left in our long 60-day session. And </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> got a Democratic Majority in both chambers, which means that not onl</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">y</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> are the bills </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’re</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> passing looking radically different, but the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">House budget will also look dramatically different</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> when it comes out on February 18</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-fontsize="12" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{e4a7bb38-78aa-4c18-9497-b302857fcc6e}{237}" paraid="180861475" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Now that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reached the halfway point, or Crossover</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> had a couple of marathon days on the House Floor, ensuring that we get through all the House bills that passed committee </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">so they can get to the Senate for review.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{e4a7bb38-78aa-4c18-9497-b302857fcc6e}{249}" paraid="90932308" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">My </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Legislati</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Update</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{6}" paraid="1718183510" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> also happy to report that 16 of my bills have officially passed the House and are headed to the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Senate! </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Here are some highlights:</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{16}" paraid="1780717983" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It looks like the 3</span><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-fontsize="12" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">rd</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> may be</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a charm </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">for Falls Church City’s char</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">er change request. This year I amended</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> HB 54</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> on the floor to get in a format that wou</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> get </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bipartisan support and a 97-2 vote. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The c</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">harter update </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">will</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> allow more </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Little City </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">residents to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">participate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> on local boards and commissions. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{62}" paraid="1541588301" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I also got significant bipartisan support for my bill to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">abolish the common law crime of suicide. The</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> criminal status of suicide stigmatizes those who have passed and escalates the pain family's face following the tragedy of a loved one's death.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{74}" paraid="636973679" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I even got a bipartisan vote on the floor to advance </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">HB 173 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">which </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bans these unserialized </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">“ghost guns” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Strong" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and plastic firearm components in the Commonwealth.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{90}" paraid="131013305" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Another firearm safety bill,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> HB 175 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">prohibits the carrying of certain (loaded or unloaded) semi-automatic weapons on any public street, public park, or any other place that is open to the public. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That passed the House on a strict party line vote, as did a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">nother common-sense gun safety bill, HB 183 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">which </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">requires that firearms be stored in a biometric safe when individuals under the age of 18 are present</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">To avoid fraudulent or duplicative removal petitions for certain public offices, HB 265 states that removal petitions will not be certified when the asserted grounds have been previously filed and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dismissed against the same public official. It also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">requires the signatures collected on a removal petition be collected within </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); 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-webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{120}" paraid="1528698934" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> consumer protection bill, HB </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed GrammarErrorHighlight SCXW180772832 BCX4" color="var(--clrSquiggleHighlightTextColor, #000000)" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">418</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> makes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> it possible for class action lawsuits to be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">established</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in Virginia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Under the bill provisions, th</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e Supreme Court of Virginia </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">is tasked </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">with creating regulations to govern such actions. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The last bill I introduced, HB 1539, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">prohibits extraditions of those who travel to Virginia for reproductive health services</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> It also prohibits the sharing of personal reproductive or sexual health information without the consent of the consumer under the VA Consumer Protection Act.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{150}" paraid="1790650957" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Crossover Stats</span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{156}" paraid="628148905" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">During the 2024 session, there were 1,547 House bills introduced and, of these, 734 passed the House and 185 were continued to the 2025 Session.</span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{162}" paraid="2078445353" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Legislation ran the gamut this year, covering topics like retail cannabis, raising the minimum wage, gun safety, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">abortion access, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">housing affordability, solar accessibility, tax policy updates, and campaign finance reform - just to name a few.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{172}" paraid="1270460023" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">To get a little more into the weeds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">253 of the total </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">House </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bills introduced went through House Courts</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, 187 we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t through General Laws, 91 through Public Safety, and 140 through Rules. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">That’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a grand total of 671 bills that went through </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">my </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">4 commit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tees</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> – or 43% of the total bills introduced</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW180772832 BCX4" paraeid="{f9efc430-ada5-4a93-bf42-5b2507aef557}{204}" paraid="480323805" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In the Senate, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">737 Senate bills were introduced</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and the 430 that passed will be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">crossing over to the House.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">To keep things moving, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> started hearing Senate bills in my committees and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> already been over to the Senate to present a couple of my bills</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW180772832 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Session is moving right along and while some of the longer days are
challenging, we're inching closer to the halfway point of this long,
60-day session.</p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
I started the week by speaking at the Virginia Association of Defense
Attorney's legislative breakfast on Monday and we kept a full calendar
all week - meeting with more advocacy organizations and lobbyist groups
about my bills, the budget, and other issues they care about.
Subcommittee and full Committee meetings are running longer every day as
we try to make sure that all the House bills have a hearing before
crossover next week.</p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of meeting with and then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9C0Ht_Z8MU&emci=54600d63-cec2-ee11-b660-002248223197&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">introducing the 50+ Caucus of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee on the House Floor</a>.</p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
Thursday morning, I saw some familiar faces again as several of our
local Falls Church elected officials were visiting, including our
recently elected mayor, Letty Hardi, all the City Council Members, and
folks from the City Manager's Office. That afternoon, my Housing
Subcommittee had 25 bills on the docket! You can <a href="https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00304/harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240201/-1/19936?startposition=20240201145207&mediaEndTime=20240201163207&viewMode=2&globalStreamId=4&emci=54600d63-cec2-ee11-b660-002248223197&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #1684c2; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">watch me chair the nearly 3-hour meeting online</a>.
</p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Friday
afternoon, I sat on a special subcommittee of General Laws as we met to
discuss 2 important pieces of legislation - the regulation of skill
games and establishing a marijuana retail market in Virginia. This
discussion went several hours and the work continues as these bills move
through the legislative process.</p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">With
this most recent appointment, I now chair one committee (Public
Safety), serve as vice chair on another (Courts), and serve on 4
committees overall.</p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-23046908704412657652024-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:002024-03-04T09:29:09.597-08:00An "Average" Session Day<p>As we finished out last week in Richmond, we're continuing to move at a
rapid pace this session. I've had a couple of my busiest days yet -
between meeting with advocacy groups and presenting legislation, the
days are flying by!</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><strong>An "Average" Session Day<br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">I
always tell folks there is no such thing as an "average" session day.
That is to say, that no 2 days are ever truly alike. However, a few
things remain the same - the days are long and the issues we cover are
diverse.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>In the Morning</em></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">As
an example, my longest day last week was Thursday. I started the
morning at 7:30am, presenting my bill on real estate disclosures in a
Counties, Cities, and Towns Subcommittee. I then went straight to my
Public Safety Subcommittee at 8am for a fairly long bill docket that
covered correctional facilities, the Parole Board, law enforcement
officer training, and even Space Force.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Even
though the subcommittee was still meeting, I rushed back to my office
just after 9am to meet with folks from the Culmore Clinic of Falls
Church, plus a few other advocacy groups both in-person and virtually.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
At 10am, I met with the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors for
their lobby day in one of the conference rooms. By the time I finished
there, I needed to run over to the Capitol for our 11am caucus meeting,
which happens every day an hour before the floor session begins at noon.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span style="color: #8a0707;"><em>In the Afternoon</em></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Because
our committee agendas are getting longer, we had a relatively short
session that day and I was headed to the General Laws Committee about
1:15pm. As soon as the full committee was over, I chaired my Housing
Subcommittee which had 16 bills on the docket.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
While I pride myself on running an efficient committee meeting, I still
only had a few minutes in between before heading to the Firearms
Subcommittee meeting at 4pm. Unfortunately, we then had to delay the
meeting time as we waited for a quorum - several of the subcommittee
members were in another committee that was running over time. We finally
began at 5pm, completing the docket about 6:30pm. This gave me just
enough time to return to my office to drop off my bill folders and floor
calendar before heading to our weekly Thursday evening caucus meeting
at 7pm.
</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Whew!</p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-29576369638784013442024-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:002024-03-11T08:08:45.363-07:002024 Session | January 22nd Update<p>We've wrapped up the first full week of the 2024 General Assembly Session and things are moving quickly.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
It was another busy week of meeting with advocacy groups and lobbyists
on bills that are important to them. Starting on MLK Day, traditionally
the biggest lobby day of the session, there were a lot of folks
visiting the building, advocating on a variety of issues from gun
violence prevention to criminal sentencing reform and from environmental
protection to mental health care.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
<span style="color: #8a0707;"><strong>New Chair Appointments</strong></span></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
Chairman Bulova appointed me as Chair of the Housing & Consumer
Protection Subcommittee of the General Laws Committee and Chairman Hope
appointed me as Chair of the Civil Law Subcommittee of the Courts of
Justice Committee. These are two of the busiest subcommittees in the
legislature and is in addition to my role as Chair of the Public Safety
Committee. We had our first meetings last week and I'm looking forward
to continuing our work this session.</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Keep reading for a legislative update on my bills, information on the budget amendments I've introduced, and a few more items!</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><span></span></p><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-2" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0;"><strong><span style="color: #8a0707;">Legislation Update<br /></span></strong></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-3" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-4" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8px; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">Of
the 22 bills I've introduced this session, 7 were heard in committee
last week and are all advancing through the legislative process quite
nicely.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><strong><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB40&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 40</a> | Prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal use.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
This bill was heard in the Privileges & Elections Committee on
Friday, passing unanimously. It will now go to Appropriations for
further review, but I am confident it will make it to the House Floor
for a vote.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB54&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>HB 54</strong></a><strong>
| Allows the City of Falls Church to change their charter to allow
residents who aren't citizens to participate in local boards and
commissions.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
The City has asked for this update so that more residents can
participate in local government. It has passed the Counties, Cities, and
Towns Committee and will reach the House Floor for a vote early this
week.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB63&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>HB 63</strong></a> | <strong>Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain punishment.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
This bill simply allows people accused of crimes to make informed
decisions about how they want to exercise their rights. It provides some
flexibility for defendants to waive jury sentencing up until the time
of the sentencing hearing. It passed Courts of Justice Committee with
bipartisan support.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<strong><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB81&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 81</a> | Abolishes the common- law crime of suicide.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">This
bill is a common-sense update to the Code of Virginia, repealing an
obsolete section. It's working its way through the Courts of Justice
Committee.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<strong><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB173&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 173</a> | Prohibits the manufacturing, importing, or selling of ghost guns.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
I've been working on this legislation with gun violence prevention
advocates (both local and nationally) for several years to ban these
unserialized firearm components in the Commonwealth. It passed the
Public Safety Committee on Friday morning and should have a full House
vote later this week.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB315&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><strong>HB 315</strong></a> | <strong>Department of Medical Assistance Services; lien for claim of personal injuries.</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
This bill brings Virginia in compliance with federal and state Medicaid
regulations relating to recouping funds from third-party recoveries such
as personal injury settlements or judgments. These regulations state
that fund recovery must be within 60 days, but DMAS currently takes 12
to 18 months. Courts of Justice passed this bill unanimously.</p><p style="margin: 0;">
As always, you can view <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+mbr+H264C&emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">my full legislative agenda</a> here. </p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-5" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-6" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0;"><strong><span style="color: #8a0707;">My Budget Amendments<br /></span></strong></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-7" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-8" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8px; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
All budget amendments from members to the Governor's introduced budget
were due this passed Friday. I put in a few to ensure that any of my
bills that pass and have a fiscal impact will subsequently have funding
in the state budget.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><strong><a href="https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2024/1/HB30/Introduced/MR/124/14h/?emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Item 124 #14h</a> | Falls Church Grow Your Own</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
On behalf of Falls Church City Public Schools, I introduced this budget
amendment for a FCCPS "grow your own" teacher recruitment and retention
program. This program will include: student development to become a
teacher, funding for FCCPS employees who participate in an ESOL
endorsement cohort at George Mason University; enhancing the current
teacher mentor program; providing job shadowing opportunities for
students; and provide signing bonuses for teachers hired from HBCUs.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><strong><a href="https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2024/1/HB30/Introduced/MR/132/2h/?emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Item 132 #2h</a> | SCHEV - Restore Student Loan Ombudsman</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
The Governor's budget removed funding for the the Student Loan Ombudsman
Office, which i helped establish. The Ombudsman provides timely
assistance to student borrowers of any student education loan in the
Commonwealth. This amendment restores that funding.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<strong><a href="https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2024/1/HB30/Introduced/MR/4-5.04/1h/?emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Item 4-5.04 #1h</a> | Firearm Buyback Programs - Conditions and Restrictions on Expenditures</strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
The purpose of firearm buyback programs is to reduce the number of guns
in circulation. This amendment prohibits any state agency or local
political subdivision from contracting with companies that do not
dispose of all firearm components for the purpose of a firearm buyback
program.</p><p style="margin: 0;">
You can <a href="https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendments/2024/1/HB30/Introduced/MR/?emci=0533fa67-f2b6-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">view all the budget amendments that House Members introduced</a> on the budget website.</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"><br /></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-65194345975479318012024-01-19T08:09:00.000-08:002024-03-11T08:10:35.025-07:002024 Session | January 19th Update<p><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US">The 2024 legislative session kicked off on January 10</span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-fontsize="12" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> with the House of Delegates unanimously electing Don Scott of Portsmouth the first African American Speaker in the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">405-year</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> history of the body. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{179}" paraid="1907689788" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Scott’s ascension to the Speaker’s dais was the result of Democrats winning 51 of the 100 seats up for grabs in November’s election, putting the party back in the majority in the House by the slimmest of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">argins.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{189}" paraid="2130359783" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Along with the ability to elect the Speaker, majority status means Democrats will </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">be in charge of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the Committees and Subcommittees in the House where the real work of legislating happens. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{195}" paraid="1218362639" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">As the 26</span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-fontsize="12" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> most senior member of the House and one of the most senior members of the Democratic Caucus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> have a lot of leadership responsibilities this session. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{209}" paraid="468835343" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> honored to have been appointed </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Chairman</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of the House Public Safety Committee by Speaker Scott, as well as Vice Chair of the Courts of Justice Committee</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">on the General Laws and Rules Committees as well.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">subcommittees, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">chair</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the Civil Law </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">S</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ubcommittee of Courts of Justice and the Housing and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of General Laws this session.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{237}" paraid="2020471762" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Chairman</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of Public Safety</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> be charged with shepherding through </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a number of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> caucus priorities </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in the area of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> gun violence prevention, including HB2 our assault weapons ban, my bill to ban </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">un</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">erialized</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, untraceable, ghost guns, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a number of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> bills to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">required</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> safe storage of firearms. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ad3ba012-750b-45d7-b86f-4c1d8d859a00}{255}" paraid="136922154" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The Courts of Justice Committee is among </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> busiest in the General Assembly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> hearing hundreds of bills in the short </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">60-day</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> session</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As Vice Chair of the full committee and Chair of Civil </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">sub</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">committee, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> be working on legislation to improve access to justice by making Virgnia the 49</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-fontsize="12" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of the 50 states to allow class actions. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> be working on leveling the playing field between landlords and tenants when they find themselves in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">court and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> working on fine tuning of family law and civil procedures.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{34}" paraid="509067375" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On the General Laws Committee</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reprise my role as the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Chairman</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of the Housing and Consumer </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">P</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rotection </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Subcommittee </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">where bills regulating real estate transactions, landlord tenant law, fair housing and other important subjects are addressed. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{52}" paraid="1291816902" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">If those assignments </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">weren’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> enough to keep me occupied</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">patroning</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">roughly 20</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> bill myself, including my perennial effort to make it illegal for candidates to convert the funds in their campaign accounts to personal use. I also have a bill to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">establish</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a public financing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">option</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for candidates that choose to rely on small donations to fund their campaigns. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{66}" paraid="1939849381" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On behalf of the City of Falls Church, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reintroduced legislation to allow the city to change </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">their charter to allow residents who </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">aren't</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> citizens to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">participate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in local boards and commissions.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{74}" paraid="439186183" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">My bill, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46896859 BCX4" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB81&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7b%7bContactsEmailID%7d%7d" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: #0068a5; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">HB 81</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, will finally a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bolish the common- law crime of suicide.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> An outdated provision that needs to be removed from the Code of Virginia.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{89}" paraid="1554158107" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As I mentioned previously, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reintroduced my bill to prohibit</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the manufacturing, importing, or selling of ghost guns.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{99}" paraid="630159519" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">To further my gun violence prevention agenda, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46896859 BCX4" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB175&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7b%7bContactsEmailID%7d%7d" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: #0068a5; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">HB 175</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rohibits individuals from carrying assault weapons in public areas</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46896859 BCX4" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB183&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7b%7bContactsEmailID%7d%7d" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: #0068a5; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">HB 183</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">equires firearms to be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">properly stored</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in a locked container when minors are present.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{125}" paraid="202581174" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Related to the election process, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46896859 BCX4" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB185&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7b%7bContactsEmailID%7d%7d" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; user-select: text;" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; color: #0068a5; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">HB 185</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">equires that challenges to a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">candidate’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ballot qualifications be made at least </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMTBweCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIycHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAxMCAyIiB2ZXJzaW9uPSIxLjEiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgeG1sbnM6eGxpbms9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzE5OTkveGxpbmsiPgogICAgPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IFNrZXRjaCA1Ny4xICg4MzA4OCkgLSBodHRwczovL3NrZXRjaC5jb20gLS0+CiAgICA8dGl0bGU+aW5zaWdodF90ZXh0dXJlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9Imluc2lnaHRfdGV4dHVyZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+CiAgICAgICAgPGcgaWQ9Ikdyb3VwLTItQ29weSI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSIxMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyIj48L3JlY3Q+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xLDEgTDUsMSIgaWQ9IkxpbmUtNCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjNzE2MEU4IiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjIiIHN0cm9rZS1saW5lY2FwPSJyb3VuZCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+")); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">60 days</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> before the election date.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> This will hopefully prevent deceptive challenges from being </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">submitted</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for political purposes. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{146}" paraid="1433669476" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 16px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> also got a bill that will enhance consumer protection in Virginia, which allows f</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or class action lawsuits in Virginia's circuit courts.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":240,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{154}" paraid="895257168" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Working with the Legal Aid Justice Center and Justice Forward, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> got two bills that will further improve the criminal justice process by allowing defendants to have more flexibility in jury sentencing as well as protect them from being charged with “failure to appear” when the circumstances are beyond their control. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW46896859 BCX4" paraeid="{ed3631a5-7bb3-4f1b-aaa1-a11eb9c40f72}{160}" paraid="1689907069" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="TextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> got a full legislative agenda, to say the least, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> looking forward to working on the issues that my constituents care about the most. In that vein, you can contact my office in Richmond any time, sharing your concerns about a bill or if you have questions about </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">what’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46896859 BCX4" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> happening - (804) 698-1013 or delmsimon@house.virginia.gov.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW46896859 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-52279093333283482502024-01-15T08:04:00.000-08:002024-03-11T08:07:07.848-07:002024 Session | January 15th Update<p>The 2024 General Assembly Session began on January 10th and we've hit the ground running! <br /></p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">
During the first floor session, all the House members were sworn in and
we officially elected Delegate Don Scott as the first black Speaker of
the House. Since then, committees have started meeting and the General
Assembly Building has been full of advocacy groups, lobbyists, and
constituents - all eager to meet with legislators and to tour the new
building. We've also had several legislative deadlines already for
submitting budget amendments and introducing bills. No rest for those in
the General Assembly!
</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;">Keep reading for more information on my 2024 Legislative Agenda, committee assignments, and more!</p><p style="margin: 0; mso-line-height-alt: 21px;"> </p><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0;"><strong><span style="color: #8a0707;">My 2024 Legislative Agenda</span></strong></p></div><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-3" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-4" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8px; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
I'm looking forward to working on some big issues this session,
including bills on gun violence prevention, criminal justice, campaign
finance, and the election process. To highlight a few:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB40&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 40</a> | Prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal use.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB54&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 54</a>
| Allows the City of Falls Church to change their charter to allow
residents who aren't citizens to participate in local boards and
commissions.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB81&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 81</a> | Abolishes the common- law crime of suicide.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB173&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 173</a> | Prohibits the manufacturing, importing, or selling of ghost guns.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB175&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 175</a> | Prohibits individuals from carrying assault weapons in public areas.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB183&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 183</a> | Requires firearms to be properly stored in a locked container when minors are present.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB185&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 185</a> | Requires that challenges to a candidates ballot qualifications be made at least 60 days before the election date.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB418&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">HB 418</a> | Allows for class action lawsuits in Virginia's circuit courts.</p><p style="margin: 0;">You can view <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+mbr+H264C&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">my full legislative agenda</a> here. </p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-5" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;"><span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="paragraph_block block-6" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%; word-break: break-word;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 19.2px; text-align: center;"><p style="margin: 0;"><strong><span style="color: #8a0707;">2024 Committee Assignments<br />
</span></strong></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="divider_block block-7" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="pad"><div align="center" class="alignment"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="mso-table-lspace: 0; mso-table-rspace: 0; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="divider_inner" style="border-top: 1px solid #bbb; font-size: 1px; line-height: 1px;">
<span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8px; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">Now
that the Democrats have once again taken over the House, I'm happy to
report that my committee assignments have expanded and I have the
opportunity to take on a larger leadership role in this area.
Subcommittee chair assignments will be announced later this week.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+com+H8&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Courts of Justice</a> | I have been on this committee since 2020 and have been appointed Vice Chair.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+com+H15&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Public Safety</a>
| I'm honored to be the Chair of this committee and look forward to
working with my colleagues to enhance gun violence prevention
initiatives, strengthen the relationship with law enforcement agencies,
improve transparency, and hold our Department of Corrections to a higher
standard.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+com+H11&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">General Laws</a> | As I work a lot on these issues, I'm thrilled to be back on this committee.</p><p style="margin: 0;">
<a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+com+H20&emci=3f12c2b2-95b1-ee11-bea1-0022482237da&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}" rel="noopener" style="color: #0068a5; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Rules</a> | Chaired by the Speaker, this committee reviews a variety of legislation and resolutions.</p><p style="margin: 0;"> </p><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro, Tahoma, Verdana, Segoe, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 120%; text-align: center;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: #8a0707;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Please welcome new members to Team Simon!</span></strong></span></em></p></div><div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Source Sans Pro,Tahoma,Verdana,Segoe,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0; line-height: 120%; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8px; text-align: left;"><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">
We're rounding out Team Simon this year with some additional staff for
session. Many of you already know Andrea, my Chief of Staff, and may
have also spoken with Becky, our Administrative Assistant.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin: 0;">However,
I'd like to introduce Spogmai Anwar, a recent UVA graduate, who is our
Session Aide. She's interested in criminal justice, government
transparency, ethics reform, and plans to attend law school.</p><p style="margin: 0;">
Justin Sheppard is joining the team as our session intern. A junior at
VCU, Justin also has an interest in criminal justice and would love to
work at one of our federal law enforcement agencies one day.</p></div></div>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-22240627564530403762023-12-22T12:36:00.000-08:002023-12-22T12:36:35.808-08:00Best of 2023<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My December column comes so late in the year I decided
to make it a “Best of 2023 Edition.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are my favorite lines from my 11 monthly Richmond
Reports here in the Falls Church New Press.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In January, I wrote about having to participate in the
opening days of the new legislative session remotely because I’d finally
contracted COVID-19. My favorite line:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While I was out, I missed the kerfuffle that
occurred outside my office in the Pocahontas Building over my Little Banned
Book Library.</span></i></span><span class="eop"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately, it was just a kerfuffle and the library
will return in 2024.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In February, I was already writing about the waning
days of our short session. My favorite line described the developing budget
impasse:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Unfortunately, the House budget, crafted by
Republicans, falls short in meeting the needs of hardworking Virginians. At the
heart of the budget are over $350 million in corporate tax breaks, which
disproportionately benefit big businesses rather than the average Virginian. </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By March the short session was over, and I dedicated
this column to shouting out retiring legislators while predicting November’s
election would focus a on a very small number of seats:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By packing us all into nice, geometrically
pretty districts, we’ve created 46 or 47 safely Democratic districts where you
can win without a single Republican or independent vote, and about 42 or
43 on the Republican side. This leaves maybe 10 -12 competitive seats up for
grabs in November. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In April, I reported on the retirement announcement of
Kaye Kory, with whom I’d been drawn together in redistricting, and the results
of our reconvened session, which ended without a budget deal. We’d also learned
that Governor Youngkin had stopped restoring the voting rights of former felons
who had completed their jail sentences, and I wrote:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I urge the Governor to return to the
automatic restoration of voting rights, as it's a crucial step in promoting a
more inclusive and just society.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In May, I took the gloves off with the Governor and
his administration over another issue involving voting rights:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the parent of two very young adults who
are coming of age at a time when social media is often their primary source of
news about current events, I’ve had to spend a lot of effort teaching my kids
how to be smart and discerning consumers of quality information. How to tell
facts from fiction and identify intentional disinformation campaigns. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, that skill set doesn’t seem
to be a prerequisite for employment in Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's
Administration.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In June of 2023, Donald Trump was indicted and our
Governor tweeted in support of the former President. I took him to task for it:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Youngkin couldn’t be more wrong about the nature of the charges against
the former President. I wonder if he regrets his decision to tweet before the
indictments were unsealed.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In July, we still didn’t have a state budget and I wrote about what that
would mean to our local school systems here in Falls Church City and Fairfax:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, when the kids do go back to
school in just a few short weeks, public school students here in Falls Church
and Fairfax will be in classrooms staffed by teachers who are once again being
asked to do more with less. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because Governor Glenn Younkin’s
Department of Education flunked math last semester and miscalculated the
state’s share of education funding by about $201 million.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">August’s column was written after Ohio proponents of
abortion rights won the day passing a referendum to enshrine abortion access in
their state constitution. I made this promise: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">With control of both the House and Senate, we can
pass a resolution to put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot that would
make access to abortion a constitutionally protected right in Virginia, just as
it was at the federal level before the Dobb’s decision. </span></i></span><span class="eop"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By September we finally had a state budget: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Governor’s agenda of giving big tax breaks to corporations at the
expense of public education funding was soundly defeated as the conferees’
budget largely resembled the draft put forth by Senate Democrats at the end of
February.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In October, I made some dire predictions about what would happen if
Republicans gained majorities in both houses of the General Assembly giving the
Governor’s party total control of state government:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Frankly, I’d rather not find out if these
predictions come true.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately, last month I was able to report back that
Virginians had given Democrats a majority in both houses. The takeaway:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was a major rebuke to Governor Glenn
Younkin and a setback for his presidential ambitions. Hopefully he’ll be
humbled by the result and step back from some of the incendiary actions he took
during his early years, with executive orders establishing a teacher snitch
line, and attempting to limit teaching of history under the guise of a ban on
divisive concepts in the class room. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-25930186096225261012023-11-17T12:33:00.000-08:002023-12-22T12:35:17.013-08:002023 Election Results<p><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Last week’s election brought</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> a wave of change to the General Assembly. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">There are 34 new delegates-elect – 20 new Democrats and 14 new Republicans. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">With a new ruling Democratic majority of 51 to 49 in the House and 21 to 19 in the Senate. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p><div class="WACEditing EditMode EditingSurfaceBody FireFox WACViewPanel_DisableLegacyKeyCodeAndCharCode usehover" contenteditable="false" id="WACViewPanel_ClipboardElement" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; overflow: hidden; visibility: visible;" tabindex="0"><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">So, let me take this opportunity to thank those </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">who</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> help</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">ed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> make this happen – </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">my</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> constituents and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">supporters</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">. With </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">all</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> the 13</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-fontsize="12" style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> District ballots counted, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">I earned 82% of the vote in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Falls Church. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">It’s clear I wouldn’t be where I am without </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">you</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> and I can’t express how honored I am to continue representing the Little City</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> and the new 13</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-fontsize="12" style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> District. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">With </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">City Councilmember </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">retirement</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">, including</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> my good friend Phil Duncan, this paved the way for some new </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">members of the Falls Church City Council. Letty Hardi handily won re-election</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> and will now be working with the newest </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">councilmembers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">, Justine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Underhill</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> and Erin </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Flynn.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">On the School Board, Jerrod Anderson won reelection and we can welcome </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Bethany</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Henderson </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Amie Murphy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> as the newest members.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">I also want to congratulate our new state senator, Saddam Salim. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">He and his campaign team worked diligently to earn the votes and support of our mutual constituents this past year. I look forward to working with him in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> the General Assembly for many years to come.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">And the winning doesn’t stop there. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Congratulations to Andres Jiminez for winning the Mason District Supervisor race, Jimmy </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Bierman</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> for the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Dranesville</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> District Supervisor race, and to Dalia </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Palchik</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> for winning reelection as Providence District Supervisor. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">However, the biggest </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">headline </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">is that Democrats took control of the House of Delegates again </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">with a slim majority of 51 to 49. A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">nd we maintained control of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">state </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Senate. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Overall, this year’s election proved the most expensive yet in Virginia. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">In the final stretch to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">For</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">Election Day, Democrats outraised Republicans, particularly in the House races</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> - $14.2 million compared to $</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">8.4</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> million.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">In this kind of divided government, where the election stakes were high and the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">resulting majority is narrow</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">, we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">have to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> look for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">opportunities to be non-partisan. Because while Democratic control of the General Assembly means that w</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">e can stand against the most egregious right-wing legislation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">, it also means that getting the Governor to sign legislation that does reach his desk will be a challenge. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="direction: ltr;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW71872337 BCX2" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="TextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">So, in that vein, I’m focusing on the roots of my campaign promises – campaign finance reform. Every year that I have been in office, I have introduced a form of campaign finance legislation, whether it’s to require independent </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">audits, banning personal use of campaign funds, or strengthening our campaign ethics laws. The only thing different in 2024 is that this issue is one that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">can work within the confines of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">new makeup of the General Assembly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2"> and with our current Governor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW71872337 BCX2">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW71872337 BCX2" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: Times New Roman, "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19.425px;"> <br /></span></p></div></div>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-73975580412566629412023-10-20T13:04:00.002-07:002023-10-20T13:04:00.148-07:00What A Virginia GOP Majority Looks Like<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is my last column before the November 7<sup>th</sup>
general election, where all 140 members of the General Assembly are on the
ballot across Virginia. In 2019, I used this column to try to help readers
imagine how much better Virginia could be if we managed to take control of both
the House and Senate with a Democratic Governor already two years into his
term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A year later, I used this column to reflect on how
much of what I’d predicted had come to pass.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We’d passed seven common sense gun violence prevention
bills, expanded voter access to the polls, instituted meaningful criminal
justice reform, repealed the death penalty, expanded anti-discrimination laws,
passed the Equal Rights Amendment, and continued the minimum wage increase. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Although we lost our House majority by less than 300
total votes in 2021, with the Democrats holding the State Senate, the GOP
failed in their efforts to roll back or repeal most of these laws over the last
two years, but not for a lack of trying. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We know what can happen if we have the majority. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2023, this column is about what happens if the
Virginia GOP takes control of the Senate and the House in addition to the top
three state-wide offices.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Let's Travel to the 2024 Session </span><br /></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can tell you it won’t be pretty. Everything that the
Republicans have failed to do legislatively, they will do. There will be
nothing to stop them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Governor has already said repeatedly that he will “gleefully”
sign any abortion restriction bill that reaches his desk. I know Halloween is
right around the corner, but don’t be tricked by the Governor’s efforts to mask
his true intentions. Given the opportunity, the Virginia GOP would pass
legislation banning abortion. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is in spite of the fact that a recently released
poll from Christopher Newport University found that more than 70% of Virginians
think our abortion laws should stay the same or become less restrictive than
they are now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Speaking of masquerading as something you aren’t,
we’ve watching the Governor funding a PR campaign to encourage Republican
voters to set aside their concerns about early voting. At the same time, the
Virginia House GOP passed bills that would have all but eliminated early
voting, reduced the number of early voting days, banned ballot drop boxes, and require
even more aggressive purging of voter rolls. They will certainly never pass a
Constitutional Amendment on the Right to Vote and restoration of rights will
become even less of a priority. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And all the budget surpluses accumulated under
Democratic leadership? Look for sweeping corporate tax cuts. Every economic
advantage that the Governor wanted for big corporations in the recent state
budget, Republicans will push for at the expense of individual taxpayers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention
programs will take a hard hit. They’ll put a stop to any true reform like
earned sentence credits. Getting a concealed carry permit will get even easier
as will purchasing any kind of firearm. Plus, you’ll see the end of “gun free”
zones as firearms will be permitted anywhere.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While it’s possible they won’t come outright with a
banned book list, they will institute tighter control over what our public
schools and public libraries have access to, and what our kids can read. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And that’s not the only aspect of our kids’ education
that will come under attack. We saw their response to COVID-19 protocols. There
is already a teacher shortage and Republicans seeming distrust of teachers will
only make this worse. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You should expect to see weakening of protections for
the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination at schools or in employment under the
guise of so-called “religious freedom” exceptions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Governor’s withdrawing from the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will have only been the first step in their
plan to reduce environmental protections and to continue to deny the extent or
even the existence of climate change.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public employees will likely lose their right to form
unions and collectively bargain for better pay and working conditions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Frankly, I’d rather not find out if these predictions
come true. And I’d rather not be writing a March column that points to all the
bad bills the Republicans passed during the 2024 Session that the Governor will
gleefully sign into law. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This election is so important, and we owe it to
ourselves, to those we love, and to our community to ensure that Virginia
remains an inclusive place to live, work, and raise a family.</span></p>
Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-73893941818366444132023-09-22T07:59:00.009-07:002023-09-22T07:59:00.146-07:00The September Marathon<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s been a busy few weeks since my big Labor Day BBQ and
September shows no signs of slowing down. Between knocking doors here at home
and in swing districts across Virginia, attending a Special Session in
Richmond, and preparing for the imminent start of the early voting period, the
fall is shaping up to be a marathon of activity as we sprint to the end of the
year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know I’m mixing my running metaphors here, but stick
with me. What I’m trying to say is it’s very busy!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Budget Deal</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On September 6<sup>th</sup>, the General
Assembly returned to Richmond for a special session on the state budget. The
Governor’s agenda of giving big tax breaks to corporations at the expense of
public education funding was soundly defeated as the conferees’ budget largely
resembled the draft put forth by Senate Democrats at the end of February. While
it’s a shame we lost several months of important funding, here are a few
highlights from a budget that prioritized education, mental health care, and
putting money back in the wallets of hard-working Virginians.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Education</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For our teachers (and state employees),
there is an additional 2% salary increase that will go into effect later this
year. The budget also includes a $645.3 million increase in direct aid to
schools with the City of Falls Church getting an additional $307,343. Plus, the
Little City will receive $3 million for improvements to Oak Street Elementary
School.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As part of a larger effort to increase
access to mental healthcare (more below), $11.7 million is allocated for community
and school-based children’s mental health services.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mental Health & Healthcare</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, the budget has $155.6 million in
new spending for mental health services:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$58 million to create crisis receiving centers and crisis
stabilization units. </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$10 million for 15 additional mobile crisis teams.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$34 million for permanent supportive housing and housing for
individuals with serious mental illness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$18.0 million for a targeted pay raise of an average of 5% for all
CSB staff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$10.0 million to contract for psychiatric emergency programs in
hospitals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">$4.0 million for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This allocation also includes 500
additional Developmental Disability waiver slots, which will go into effect in
January 2024. Further, we were able to maintain budget language allowing state
funds for abortions in certain fetal abnormality cases.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Environment</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Water Quality Improvement Fund will
receive $644 million in the next fiscal year. The Department of Conservation
& Recreation’s Agricultural Best Practices will get a total of $338.5
million to help curb pollution and adverse environmental impacts. We’re also
investing $30 million in the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, plus $17.0
million at the Department of Environmental Quality for local stormwater
management projects.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Easing the Burden on
Hardworking Virginians</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of an oversight during the regular
2023 Session, there wasn’t a bill introduced for the annual back to school
sales tax holiday that usually occurs in August every year. To remedy that, the
budget reinstates the program for school supplies, hurricane preparedness,
clothing and footwear and energy efficient appliances. This year, the sales tax
holiday will be October 20<sup>th</sup> to 22<sup>nd</sup>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those that filed taxes this year will get a taxpayer
relief check of either $200 or $400, for single and joint filers respectively. When
you file your taxes next year, the Standard Deduction will increase to $8,500
for single filers and $17,000 for joint filers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The budget includes an additional $15.3
million for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which
goes a long way to help those in need. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Continuing to address the Virginia
Employment Commission’s backlog of benefits appeals, there is $12.3 million
provided for Call Center Support and other necessary administrative items.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The November Election is Coming</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m sure you’ve seen emails and social media posts
about how we are less than 60 days away from the November election. There is a
big push to make sure that voters know their options and what’s at stake. So,
here’s my early voting PSA:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Early voting begins September 22<sup>nd</sup>. Thanks
to legislation passed while Democrats controlled the General Assembly, you can
vote early in-person or absentee for any reason. The last day to register to
vote in the November Election is Tuesday, October 16th. (However, you can
register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional
ballot.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you
is Friday, October 27th at 5pm. Check out the City of Falls Church Elections
Office webpage (</span><a href="https://www.fallschurchva.gov/135/Voter-Registration-Elections"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.fallschurchva.gov/135/Voter-Registration-Elections</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">)
for more details about early voting and weekend voting dates.</span></p>
Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-61587989068130689932023-08-18T08:51:00.003-07:002023-08-21T06:49:07.221-07:00Abortion on the Ballot<p>T<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here were two big stories in the
news last week about the state-by-state effort to protect abortion access and
freedom to make medical decisions governing bodily autonomy. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Ohio, voters soundly rejected a
Republican-backed effort to change the rules to prevent voters from updating their
state constitution to guarantee abortion access. This vote in a state with a
Republican-controlled state legislature and a state that has become increasingly
Republican in recent elections was seen as a sign of just how potent the issue
of abortion access can be in state level elections - even elections held in odd
years and at odd times.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also last week, we learned a Republican
candidate for the House of Delegates was caught on tape advocating for a “total
ban” on abortions in Virginia. In recorded conversations obtained by the
Washington Post, Republican John Stirrup, running in one of a handful of truly
competitive seats this November in Prince William County said, “I am in favor
of a complete ban,” and “I’d like to see, you know, a total ban.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He's up against Democratic nominee
Josh Thomas, a veteran of the Marine Corps and an abortion rights supporter who
advocates for leaving Virginia’s abortion laws as they are today. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stirrup is not the only Republican
office-seeker or elected official in Virginia to be caught on tape expressing
support for the most extreme abortion restrictions. Last year, unsuccessful
congressional candidate Yesli Vega was recorded making controversial statements
in questioning the need for rape exceptions to an abortion ban. Governor Glenn
Youngkin himself whispered his desire to ban abortion to supporters in a
caught-on-tape moment in 2021. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, after being sworn in, Youngkin
was recorded telling the Family Foundation he’d sign the most restrictive
abortion legislation they could get to his desk at what he thought was a closed
event. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Virginia, we can’t put a
constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect abortion access without the
help of the General Assembly, and that won’t happen if we elect state
legislators who want a total ban on abortions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That makes this fall’s election the
closest thing we will get to a referendum on abortion access in Virginia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If Democrats can regain control of
the General Assembly, Virginia's abortion laws will stay as they are today,
with residents of the Commonwealth remaining free to make their own medical
decision in consultation with their medical providers. Virginia is the only
state in the south to not have instituted abortion restrictions after the
Dobb’s decision last summer. And this is only because Democrats currently hold
the state Senate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With control of both the House and
Senate, we can pass a resolution to put a Constitutional Amendment on the
ballot that would make access to abortion a constitutionally protected right in
Virginia, just as it was at the federal level before the Dobb’s decision. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the other hand, if Republicans
are able to use Governor Youngkin’s vast financial resources to tip the balance
in a handful of House and Senate seats, we face the possibility of a Republican
trifecta. With no check on their power to rewrite Virginia law, there is no doubt
such a result would pave the way for restrictive abortion laws that severely curtail
access and wind back the clock on hard-fought advancements. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the year plus since the Supreme
Court’s Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Republican-controlled legislatures
have shown us repeatedly what they are capable of – from drastically reducing
access to outright bans. So, when the Virginia GOP says it will support a total
ban and Governor Youngkin says he’ll sign any abortion ban that reaches his
desk, believe them. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Falls Church is very likely
to elect candidates supportive of Virginia’s existing abortion laws, you can still
impact the results statewide. Some of the handful of districts that are true
toss-ups are within relatively easy driving distance of the Little City. And
there are things you can do from the comfort of your own home to mobilize
voters and let them know what’s at stake in these key districts. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For more information on how to
actively participate in the most pivotal races of this election, I encourage
you to contact my office. Together, we can make a difference and shape the
outcome of these elections, ensuring that Virginia remains a beacon of progress
and inclusivity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let us not underestimate the
significance of the choices we make in the voting booth. Our decisions in this
election will reverberate for years to come, setting the course for the future
of Virginia and its commitment to abortion access. Stand up, be counted, and
make your voice heard – for the sake of the future we want for our
Commonwealth.</span></p>
Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-62786631770824443022023-07-21T07:05:00.004-07:002023-07-21T07:05:00.134-07:00Virginia's Education Funding Gap<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The calendar still says it’s July, yet back to school
sales and ads are starting to pop up all over the place. And it just feels a
bit too soon. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, when the kids do go back to school in
just a few short weeks, public school students here in Falls Church and Fairfax
will have be in classrooms staffed by teachers who are once again being asked
to do more with less.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because Governor Glenn Younkin’s Department of
Education flunked math last semester and miscalculated the state’s share of
education funding by about $201 million. To make matters worse, instead of
passing budget amendments that would have fixed the error and added about $1
billion in additional education funding during the 2023 Session as the state
Senate proposed, the Governor and his allies in the GOP controlled House
insisted on billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest corporations. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, we ended the session with no new budget bill and
when legislative leaders attempted to regroup after the primaries, we found we
were no further along than we were last February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Word on the street is that the Governor has
stopped working on the 2023 budget amendments and turned his attention to his
2024 biennial budget proposal. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No budget compromise means no fixing this education funding
gap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because of VDOE’s error, Fairfax County Public Schools
will receive about $18 million less than expected in state funding and Falls
Church Public Schools about $144,000.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And that’s just the beginning of our education funding
shortfall. A recent study of Virginia’s school funding formula concluded we already
underfund our schools by about $6.6 billion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">JLARC Study on School Funding</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2021, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review
Commission (JLARC) conducted a study to determine the true expenses of
Virginia's education system and evaluate what it would actually cost to
implement Virginia’s mandatory Standards of Quality (SOQ). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The SOQ is a state mandate intended to ensure every
locality has a high-quality public education system. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Currently in Virginia, we try to estimate how many
staff positions are necessary to do all the things the SOQ tells a school
system they have to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most states (42 out
of 50) allocate funding on a per-student basis. JLARC looked at what would we
be spending if we joined the vast majority of states in providing funding based
on the number of kids enrolled in school, not the number of staff we thought we
would need to teach those kids.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The answer is we are off by $6.6 billion. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In K-12, for instance, our current approach tells us
we need 113,500 FTEs statewide while the actual data shows that 171,400 staff
are currently employed to cover the responsibilities of educating our kids.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It also doesn’t account for certain costs incurred
because of students with higher needs, such as at-risk kids, kids requiring
special education, or kids learning English as a second language (ESL).
Although funding for at-risk and ESL students has increased over the years, the
funding for special education has been stagnant.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This means that the financial burden rests with the
localities. And some are better able to cover the disparities than others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">JLARC Recommendations</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As part of the study, JLARC recommended several
short-term and long-term options to improve the funding formula and better meet
our education systems’ needs. Some of the recommendations are as simple as
discontinuing Great Recession-era cost reduction measures that are no longer
needed. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of the recommendations will require a longer-term
commitment to redirect funding allocations to where it is needed most and at the
level that reflects actual costs. This includes establishing new staffing ratios,
re-benchmarking staff salaries, replacing the cost of competing adjustments
with a more accurate method, and adopting economies of scale to help smaller
school divisions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Every school district must have the funding and
resources they need to be successful - addressing the basics of increasing
teacher pay and creating a safe learning environment. Providing additional
resources for “no loss” funding due to reduced enrollment, expanded broadband
access, need-based direct aid for remediating lost learning time, increasing
the per pupil amount for the Preschool Initiative, and extended special
education eligibility are also integral aspects of our public education system.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, we must redefine the SOQ with more support
from the state so that it reflects the priorities of a 21st Century public
education system. These SOQs are only effective if they accurately reflect the
actual costs the school districts incur to meet these standards. Otherwise, we
are failing in our obligation to provide our kids with a productive and
effective learning environment.</span></p>
Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-18440990602943251462023-06-16T10:48:00.001-07:002023-06-30T12:55:05.380-07:00A Two-Tiered Justice System<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When news of the indictment of Donald Trump broke,
before the indictment was unsealed, Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin issued a
tweet in which he decried the emergence of a “two-tiered justice system where
some are selectively prosecuted” implying that the charges against Trump were
politically motivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Youngkin couldn’t be more wrong about the nature of
the charges against the former President. I wonder if he regrets his decision to
tweet before the indictments were unsealed. It is certainly plain for all of us
to see now that the charges are based on meticulously researched, thoroughly
documented evidence that all serious-minded legal experts agree put Trump in
great peril.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If the Governor is genuinely concerned about a two-tiered
justice system, about politically motivated investigations and weaponizing the
grand jury system, he ought to look in the mirror, preferably while he’s
standing next to his Attorney General and fellow extremist, Jason Miyares. </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Impacts on Public Education</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br /></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over the last year and a half, we have witnessed
Attorney General Jason Miyares initiate investigations into two school
districts in northern Virginia with duly elected school boards that are
dominated by members endorsed by Democrats: Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS)
and Fairfax County Public School (FCPS). These so-called investigations (at
least one on Governor Youngkin’s orders) were in response to issues raised by
conservative activists and amplified by far-right media outlets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In late December, criticism of the school system's
handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations arose following an article
written by a co-founder of the Coalition for TJ, claiming that Thomas Jefferson
High School for Science and Technology (TJ) intentionally delayed notifying
commended students until after the early college application deadline,
suggesting it was part of a "war on merit." The Coalition for TJ
currently has an ongoing lawsuit against FCPS concerning revisions to the magnet
school's admissions policies, which has been found meritless by an appeals
court.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In response to the Attorney General’s politically
motivated investigation, FCPS commissioned an independent investigation
conducted by the law firm Sands Anderson that found no basis for the claims
that notices of National Merit Scholarship commendations were intentionally
withheld from students. The review confirmed that eight schools within FCPS did
not notify students designated as "commended" however the investigation
concluded that there was no evidence of intentional withholding or any policy
decision by FCPS or the individual schools involved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Superintendent Michelle Reid emphasized that there was
no evidence to suggest deliberate withholding of notification or any inequity or
racial bias in the actions taken by the schools regarding notifications or
distribution of certificates.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The story is in the headlines again as the schools
pour resources into attorney’s fees to defend against a subpoena of the Sands
Anderson report to protect the privacy and safety of those teachers and
administrators who cooperated with the independent investigation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A Two-Tiered System</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My primary concern lies with the detrimental impact
these attacks will have on our children's education. They create obstacles for
our schools to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and hinder their
ability to provide a top-notch education.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Youngkin and Miyares should redirect their focus
toward real issues that demand attention, such as ensuring the safety of our
communities from gun violence. Or maybe even just getting the Virginia
Department of Education to review and renew teacher licenses in a timely manner
– an issue that has caused a lot of problems for our already stressed education
system. It is imperative that Republicans refrain from wielding their power to
launch baseless assaults on elected school boards and our hard-working school
administrators for their own personal political gain.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now is the time for us to come together as a united
community and rally behind our schools. We must guarantee that every child,
irrespective of their background or geographical location, has access to a
first-rate education.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, just as with Trump’s unsealed indictment, the
truth has come out about the real two-tiered justice system we have in
Virginia. In almost every jurisdiction you don’t have to look far to find
disproportionality in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in bringing
charges, seeking jail time, and use of cash bail.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ll continue to support the good work begun by our
progressive prosecutors to address that problem. The same prosecutors, like
Falls Church’s own Parisa Deghani-Tafti who have been attacked by Youngkin and
Miyares for doing the real work of criminal justice reform so that we have one
system of justice regardless of race, income, or zip code.</span></p><p></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-12769946819012856872023-05-19T08:14:00.008-07:002023-05-30T13:16:30.844-07:00Conspiracy Theories ≠ Good Policy<p><span face="tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif">As
the parent of
two very young
adults who are
coming of age
at a time when
social media
is often their
primary source
of news about
current
events, I’ve
had to spend a
lot of effort
teaching my
kids how to be
smart and
discerning
consumers of
quality
information.
How to tell
facts from
fiction and
identify
intentional
disinformation
campaigns.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately,
that skill set
doesn’t seem
to be a
prerequisite
for employment
in Virginia
Governor Glenn
Youngkin's
Administration.<br />
<br />
Officials are
increasingly
relying on
fact-free
notions from
the depths of
social media
and the
internet to
shape policy,
endangering
our democracy
and
undermining
the
credibility of
our
decision-making
processes. <br />
<br />
Most recently,
Virginia
Elections
Commissioner
Susan Beals
quietly
announced the
state's
withdrawal
from the
Electronic
Registration
Information
Center (ERIC).
Founded in
2012, ERIC
aims to ensure
accurate voter
rolls, enhance
voter
registration
accessibility,
improve
efficiency,
and reduce
election
costs. Sadly,
ERIC has
become a
target of
conspiracy
theories
propagated by
the same
groups
responsible
for baselessly
perpetuating
"The Big Lie"
that Donald
Trump won the
2020
presidential
election,
which was
supposedly
stolen from
him.
Succumbing to
pressure from
MAGA election
deniers,
states like
Alabama,
Florida,
Louisiana,
West Virginia,
and Texas have
recently
severed ties
with ERIC, and
Virginia is
now following
suit.</span></span></span></p>
<p> <span face="tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif"><b><span style="color: firebrick;">Undermining Our Elections</span></b><br />
<br />
During a press
conference, I
accused
Governor
Youngkin of
directing
Beals to
withdraw from
ERIC based on
unfounded
conspiracy
theories
surrounding
its governance
and
allegations of
external
manipulation
or influence.
<br />
<br />
When
confronted
with my
assertions,
the Governor's
spokesperson
chose not to
deny them, a
silence that
speaks
volumes. If
Youngkin
refuses to
reject
conspiracy
theories, he
proves himself
unfit for the
role of
governor. <br />
<br />
Joined by
Senate Caucus
Chair Mamie
Locke and
House Minority
Leader Don
Scott at the
press
conference, I
also
emphasized the
legal
implications
of withdrawing
from ERIC and
condemned the
ongoing
conspiracy
theories
perpetuated by
the Virginia
GOP.<br />
<br />
Virginia law
mandates the
comparison of
voter
registration
data with
neighboring
states as a
critical
measure to
ensure
accuracy.
However,
abandoning
ERIC would
necessitate
the creation
of an entirely
new system and
somehow
coordinating
with
neighboring
states in time
for future
elections.
This
alternative
approach
involves
negotiating
individual
agreements
with each
state, leading
to less
accuracy and
consuming
valuable time.
Unsurprisingly, this follows the Republican pattern of undermining the
election
system, only
to shift blame
and assert
that the
system itself
failed when
issues arise.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif">Moreover, Beals'
resignation
letter citing
increased
costs as the
primary reason
for withdrawal
strains
credulity. <br />
<br />
Mere months
before pulling
Virginia out
of ERIC, Beals
sang the
programs
praises in her
annual report
to the Chairs
of House and
Senate
Privileges and
Elections
Committees,
noting:<br />
<br />
“The ERIC
program
membership fee
from July 1,
2021 to June
30, 2022 was
$37, 644. The
data quality
from the ERIC
program is
significantly
better than
other
interstate
exchange
programs and
any program
that ELECT
could operate
in-house with
existing
resources.
The ERIC
membership
costs are less
than the costs
incurred if
ELECT were
required to
create and
manage an
in-house
program
resulting in
the same
quality of
data.”</span></span></span></p>
<p> <span face="tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif"><b><span style="color: firebrick;">Conspiracy Theories Are Not Policy</span></b><br />
<br />
It is evident
that
collaborative
programs like
ERIC are
cost-effective,
as expenses
are shared
among multiple
states.
Venturing down
this path
alone would
undoubtedly
burden
Virginia with
significantly
higher costs.<br />
<br />
Republicans in
Virginia have
repeatedly
made baseless
claims of
voter fraud
but have
failed to
produce any
evidence to
support their
assertions.
Nonetheless,
they persist
in pushing
legislation
that aims to
hinder
people's
voting rights,
particularly
those who are
likely to vote
for Democrats.
It is a clear
attempt to
suppress the
vote and
disenfranchise
voters.<br />
<br />
The 2020
election was
not stolen. It
stood as one
of the most
secure
elections in
American
history,
devoid of
widespread
voter fraud or
any evidence
of manipulated
votes
impacting the
outcome. The
claims of
voter fraud
propagated by
Republicans
are simply
false. </span></span></span><br />
</p>
<div> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif">The decision of the
Virginia GOP
to withdraw
from the
Election
Assistance
Commission
(ERIC) serves
as a
smokescreen.
ERIC, a
nonpartisan
organization,
provides
technical
assistance to
states in
improving
their election
systems. There
is no evidence
linking ERIC
to voter
fraud, and
withdrawing
from the
organization
will not
enhance
election
security. </span></span></div>
<div> </div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="tahoma,geneva,sans-serif">The Virginia GOP's
decision to
withdraw from
ERIC stems
from baseless
conspiracy
theories
regarding
voter fraud.
These theories
lack
supporting
evidence and
should not
guide
policy-making.<br />
<br />
The right to
vote is the
bedrock of our
democracy. We
must safeguard
this right and
ensure ease of
access for
all. The
Virginia GOP's
attempts to
suppress the
right to vote
are a threat
to our
democracy, and
we must stand
up to them. </span></span>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-253687626556375262023-04-21T13:22:00.002-07:002023-05-30T13:27:26.753-07:00Reconvene & Restoration of Rights<p>I have some major news to share with you this month. Last week, my colleague, Kaye Kory, announced her retirement after many years of dedicated service to the people of the Commonwealth. I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to Kaye for her service and leadership. Kaye has been a tireless advocate for her constituents and a fierce defender of progressive values in Richmond. Her leadership and contributions to the Virginia House of Delegates will be greatly missed. <br /><br /> As you may know, both of our homes were drawn into the new 13th District by the Redistricting Commission and we would have had to face each other in a primary on June 20th. However, with Kaye’s decision to retire, I am now the official Democratic nominee for the district. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve the people of the 13th District and to build on the progress we've made together. </p><p><b><span style="color: #990000;">Reconvene Session</span></b><br /><br />In other big news, the Virginia General Assembly Session and Reconvened Session have both wrapped up, with more than 800 new bills becoming law this year. We reviewed 78 recommendations and 3 vetoes from the Governor during Reconvene – while we upheld his vetoes, we did not accept all of his recommendations, sending 16 bills back to him to reconsider. He now has until May 12th to either sign or veto those remaining bills. You can view all the legislation from that day online at <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/">lis.virginia.gov</a>. <br /><br />One issue that drew a lot of attention during the Reconvene Session was the Governor's attempt to amend legislation to prohibit Virginians from exercising their first amendment rights by making it a crime to picket near the homes of Supreme Court Justices. Thankfully, this measure failed, and Virginians can continue to exercise their constitutional right to protest peacefully. <br /><br />However, there is still some unfinished business in the Commonwealth. Despite a revenue surplus of $3.6 billion, we still don't have a supplemental budget bill to allocate this money to support public education and unmet needs for mental health services. Unfortunately, the Governor insists on using the surplus to cut taxes for giant, wealthy corporations, while Democrats are advocating for investing in the well-being of our citizens. It's crucial to prioritize the needs of our community, and I'm hopeful that we can reach a bipartisan agreement to use this surplus in a way that benefits all Virginians. </p><p><b><span style="color: #990000;">Restoration of Rights</span></b><br /><br />Finally, I want to draw your attention to an important issue that affects the rights of thousands of Virginians - the restoration of voting rights for former felons who have completed their terms of incarceration. The day before Reconvene Session, I participated in a news conference at the Bell Tower in Richmond, calling on the Governor to resume his predecessor's practice of automatically restoring these rights. We had a big crowd, including Senators Dick Saslaw and Maime Locke, House Democratic Leader Don Scott, himself a former felon whose rights were restored by Governor Bob McDonnell, and dozens of advocates and other legislators. <br /><br />It was heartening to see the strong turnout and support for this cause, especially from those who, like Delegate Scott, have experienced the challenges and barriers that come with having a criminal record and have worked so hard to overcome them. <br /><br />The Governor recently changed the policy to individually review each case, with no clear process for applying for restoration of rights. This new policy creates significant obstacles for many individuals who are trying to move forward with their lives and once again engage in their communities, exercising their right to vote as citizens of the Commonwealth. <br /><br />I am deeply troubled by this change in policy and the lack of transparency and fairness in the current process. It's time for the Governor to live up to his values of forgiveness, mercy, and second chances and restore the rights of these individuals who have completed their sentences and are ready to fully participate in our democracy. <br /><br />I urge the Governor to return to the automatic restoration of voting rights, as it's a crucial step in promoting a more inclusive and just society. As always, I am committed to representing the interests of the people of the 13th District and to working hard to create a better future for all Virginians. </p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-75141599973746836172023-03-17T10:52:00.003-07:002023-03-20T10:55:57.519-07:00Redistricting, Retirements, and the 2023 ElectionWhen the Virginia General Assembly meets next January, it will be a much different body than the one that adjourned last month. In addition to the retirement of giants like Senator Dick Saslaw and Delegate Ken Plum, dozens of other members are not seeking reelection, are running for a different office, or are paired with another incumbent in a seat that only one of them can represent next year. <br /><br />It’s mathematically certain that at least 30 or close to a full third of the 100 member House of Delegates will be brand new members when they take the oath in January of 2024. <br /><br />Why such a major shift? Some of it is just timing. Saslaw and Plum are both in their 80s, plus Senate Finance Chair Janet Howell had always planned for this to be her final term. A much larger portion of the turnover is a result of the redistricting fiasco brought on by the ill-considered Constitutional Amendment which left the task to a bi-partisan, bi-cameral hybrid legislative/citizen commission. <br /><br />Despite my every effort to offer a palatable compromise to the GOP members, the Commission deadlocked, meaning the Supreme Court of Virginia and their two special masters took over. The Special Masters looked at the General Assembly’s legal criteria establishing guidelines for drafting their new map and did not find any authority to consider incumbent addresses or to avoid incumbent pairs when creating new districts. <br /><br />As a result, nearly half the House and Senate members initially found themselves paired with another incumbent. Some of those pairings resolved themselves when one incumbent moved to an adjacent district. Others involved members of the House running for Senate, either to avoid an incumbent pairing or because the newly created Senate Districts appear more favorable than their new House Districts. In some cases, a paired incumbent elected not to run at all. <br /><br />Some people may not be bothered by the massive loss of experience and institutional knowledge this round of redistricting has wrought. I can understand those who might argue that turnover and fresh faces are a feature rather than a bug of redistricting reform. <br /><br />However, we’re often told that the real goal of redistricting reform is to reduce the political polarization plaguing state houses caused by gerrymandering — the practice of drawing odd shaped and seemingly illogical districts crossing various city and county lines, dividing communities of interest in order to gain political advantage for the party in charge. If you banned the practice, we were promised, the districts would naturally be less partisan and politicians running in them would once again be incentivized to tailor a message to appeal to centrist voters. <br /><br />Only that’s not what happened. <br /><br />Even if you think the large amount of turnover is a good thing, the new faces will almost all be coming from even more politically polarized districts than the ones these experienced legislators are vacating.<br /><br />By packing us all into nice, geometrically pretty districts, we’ve created 46 or 47 safely Democratic districts where you can win without a single Republican or independent vote, and about 42 or 43 on the Republican side. This leaves maybe 10 -12 competitive seats up for grabs in November. <br /><br />Senator Howell said in an interview with the Richmond Times Dispatch that she “does not look back on her 32-year legislative career with many regrets, but one of them was her vote on the 2021 redistricting.” She goes on to say she “didn’t see the long-term implications” and that she “never bought the idea that incumbency doesn’t mean anything.”<br /><br />One thing is clear. Those of us that return will have a much heavier load than usual to carry. In addition to having to work with the political neophyte who currently occupies the Governor’s mansion, we’ll have 30+ brand new Delegates with differing levels of experience and knowledge of the legislative process. <br /><br />We will need our delegates and senators to not be afraid to be a bit partisan, to fight for our shared progressive values that got us the majority in 2019 and hopefully again later this year. That’s what won those elections and enabled us to pass legislation that made the Commonwealth more inclusive, our communities safer, voting more accessible, and criminal justice more attainable. We best represent our districts when we speak out against injustices and lift up policies that truly make a difference in our constituents’ lives.Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-49370129955866936752023-02-17T06:17:00.013-08:002023-02-17T06:17:00.221-08:002023 State Budget<p> As the 2023 short session winds down, the most significant legislation we have left to work on are the two budget bills amending the two-year state budget plan we adopted last year. <br /><br />As the saying goes, a budget is a reflection of one's priorities, and the House and Senate budgets released last week underscore the stark contrast in priorities between the two chambers and the two parties. With a staggering $1 billion difference between them, the Democrats and Republicans in Richmond clearly have very different visions for Virginia's future. </p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><b>The GOP's House Budget </b></span></p><p>Unfortunately, the House budget, crafted by Republicans, falls short in meeting the needs of hardworking Virginians. At the heart of the budget are over $350 million in corporate tax breaks, which disproportionately benefit big businesses rather than the average Virginian. This, in turn, puts critical services like our schools, roads, and healthcare in jeopardy. It is evident that the Republican party is more concerned with appeasing their corporate donors and extremist base than ensuring that middle-class Virginians have the resources they need to succeed. <br /><br />At a time when inflation is causing significant strain for many households, it is simply unacceptable that the House budget proposes middle-class Virginians pay a higher tax rate than our wealthiest corporations. As we delve deeper into the budget negotiations, we will be keeping a watchful eye on this discrepancy and advocating for the needs of all Virginians. <br /><br />The House budget is a cause for concern on multiple fronts. Notably, it includes a provision for $50 million to be directed towards lab schools, which diverts much-needed attention and funding away from our public school system. Additionally, the House budget eliminates language that allows for state-funded abortions in certain fetal abnormality diagnoses - a critical access point that is currently allowed in state law. This, coupled with a $13.4 million reduction in the VA Cannabis Control Authority budget, presents a worrying picture of the House GOP's priorities. <br /><br />The House budget also fails to allocate funds for important programs, such as the Firearm Violence & Prevention Center, the Safer Communities Program, and the Cover All Kids healthcare initiative. These are just a few of the more prominent disparities between the House and Senate budgets. </p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Working to Fix the Budget</b></span><br /><br />As Deputy Floor Leader, I worked with Leader Don Scott to improve the House version of the budget. Together, we had amendments drafted and introduced that would have addressed real issues facing our communities - issues that Virginians care deeply about, such as school funding, abortion access, gun violence prevention, and protecting our democracy. It was our hope that these amendments would help bridge the gap between the House and Senate budgets, ultimately leading to a more equitable and just budget that serves all Virginians. <br /><br />Specifically, our amendments would have kept the corporate tax rate at its current level and allocated the revenue to fully fund our school systems in Virginia. They also would have kept the top tax bracket the same as it is today and used the additional revenue to raise teacher pay to the national average - an 11% increase over what teachers in Virginia are paid today. <br /><br />None of these amendments were adopted, but it gave us an opportunity to showcase our priorities while forcing a vote on these important issues. Although I voted against this version of the budget, the process is far from over. There is still time to make changes as the House and Senate budget conferees will have to come together to close the budget gap, giving both Chambers another opportunity to vote on a better budget (we hope!). Either way, the General Assembly is constitutionally bound to create a balanced budget, which always makes the last few weeks of session interesting. </p><p><b><span style="color: #990000;">Weekend Update</span></b><br /><br />Last weekend while I was back in the district for a few days, I hosted office hours at Northside Social and greeted dozens of constituents who stopped by to say hello, lobby me for budget and legislative priorities, or simply thank me for serving. I look forward to scheduling a number of in-person post-session events to update you all and get your feedback on how session went. <br /><br />Finally, I wanted to take a moment to thank the Dranesville District Democratic Committee for hosting an amazing brunch and straw poll, which I was pleased to attend! <br /><br />I’m proud to announce that I received more overall votes than any other candidate in any race in the mostly-just-for-fun straw poll and outpaced my likely primary opponent with over 98% of the vote. <br /></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-1931045410449161062023-01-20T05:48:00.001-08:002023-02-01T05:53:56.877-08:00The 2023 Session Begins<p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;">January 11th marked the start of my 10th General Assembly Session. The day before session, on January 10th, Holly Seibold and Aaron Rouse won in the 35th House District and the 7th Senate District seat, respectively. Aaron Rouse’s victory expands the Democratic majority in the Senate and assures a majority of Senators who favor protecting abortion access in the Commonwealth. <br /><br />I’d love to be able to say session got off to a smooth and uneventful start, but reality was a bit different. <br /><br />I started feeling badly last Monday and tested positive for Covid-19 on the Tuesday morning before session started. Fortunately, under the leadership of former Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, we established procedures for remote participation in the House of Delegates. I was able to use Zoom for opening day and didn’t miss any votes on the Floor or in committee. <br /><br /><span style="color: firebrick;"><span><strong>Little Banned Book Library</strong></span></span> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I was out, I missed the kerfuffle that occurred outside my office in the Pocahontas Building over my Little Banned Book Library. <br /><br />In response to the growing and disturbing number of books being targeted by far-right MAGA activists around the Country and here in Virginia, I set up the library outside my office to give folks an opportunity to see and borrow some of the books that are being taken out of circulation and let them judge the books for themselves. <br /><br />Although we've had a lot of positive feedback about the library, not everyone is a fan. One group of red-clad visitors was so upset by the library that they took to pulling books off the shelf, waving them around and pressing the books up against my administrative assistant’s plexiglass protector. Fortunately, things settled down before the Capitol Police had to get involved. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: firebrick;"><span>2023 Legislative Agenda</span></span></strong><br /><br />My 2023 legislative agenda is a combination of constituent requests, City of Falls Church agenda items, and bills to make Virginia a better and more just place to be a worker, a parent, a consumer, or just someone who wants to be free to be themselves. <br /><br />My first bill prohibits candidates from raiding their campaign funds for personal use. I've introduced a version of this bill every year since I was first elected. Campaign finance reform is an important issue and I'll keep chipping away until this becomes law in Virginia. <br /><br />I’ve also introduced a bill to amend the charter of the City of Falls Church at the request of Council to allow any resident over the age of 18 to participate on appointed boards and commissions. <br /><br />Another bill requested by the City would allow public schools to provide childcare for students on non-instructional and early release days without having a separate license as a daycare provider. <br /><br />Dyslexia is the most common of the language-based learning disabilities in the country. I've introduced a resolution designating October as Dyslexia Awareness Month at the request of a constituent who lives with Dyslexia and is an advocate for raising awareness. The resolution acknowledges educators specializing in effective teaching strategies and celebrates the many achievements of kids, students, and adults with dyslexia. <br /><br />This summer, I was approached by a constituent with a familiar and frustrating problem. She was drowning in different health forms and digging for different bits of information to enroll her children in various summer programs. So, at her request, I have introduced a resolution directing the Department of Health and the Department of Education to study the medical forms and information collected by children's summer camps and similar programs in order to make the process more efficient. <br /><br />Finally, two of my bills are “ripped from the headlines”, inspired by real newsworthy events here in the Commonwealth. The first repeals the Code Section that allowed a Virginia Beach resident to sue books for being alleged to be obscene in an effort to prevent their sale at private bookstores. The Court held the statute unconstitutional, and I agree. It’s time to take it out of our Code. <br /><br />The second requires anyone who possesses a firearm in a residence, where children are present, to store it unloaded in a locked container and to store all ammunition in a separate locked container. This aims to prevent tragedies like the 6-year-old who recently took a gun to school in Newport News and shot his teacher. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: firebrick;"><span>My Budget Amendments</span></span></strong><br />You may have read last month when the Governor introduced his budget that he included the money necessary to pay the costs of incarcerating women and their doctors for violating his proposed abortion ban. I’ve introduced a budget amendment to remove that language, and to assure that anyone who needs to terminate a pregnancy due to a severe fetal abnormality, but can’t afford it, can access Medicaid funds to do so. <br /><br />And we’re just getting started! <br /></span></span></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-35378691110047016512022-12-15T11:47:00.001-08:002023-01-03T11:53:04.408-08:00Running for Re-Election in 2023<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I am thrilled to announce that <strong>I am running for re-election and will be seeking the Democratic nomination in the</strong> <a data-form-type="" href="https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-13/district/"><span style="color: mediumblue;">newly drawn 13<sup>th</sup> House District</span></a> in 2023.</span></span>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Over
the last decade, I have worked hard to be the best possible
representative for the values and shared interests of our Falls Church
community. I’ve been fortunate to be able to make a real and meaningful
difference on some of the most pressing issues facing our Commonwealth,
particularly in our two years in the majority with a Democratic
Governor.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Education</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">As
a member of leadership in the House Democratic Caucus (Deputy Floor
Leader), I recently participated in a panel for the Virginia Press
Association on the issue of Education and parental rights. I had the
opportunity to highlight the real issue behind recent headlines - a
desire to undermine public education.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I
am committed to protecting public education in our Commonwealth. I
believe that every student should have access to a high-quality
education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life. I
have supported legislation to increase funding for public schools,
reduce class sizes, and improve teacher pay and working conditions. I
have also advocated for policies that expand access to early childhood
education, support students with special needs, and provide
opportunities for students to learn technical and vocational skills. I
will continue to prioritize public education and ensure that every
student has the support they need to succeed.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Gun Violence Prevention</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I am proud of my strong record on gun violence prevention.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I
will continue working to stop the tragic mass shootings that have
devastated communities across our country. I have supported legislation
to strengthen background checks, restore Virginia’s one handgun a month
limit, give localities the ability to restrict firearms in public
places, and budget items that invest in programs to prevent gun
violence. I will continue to be a vocal advocate for common-sense gun
laws that keep our community safe.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Abortion Access</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I
have also been a steadfast supporter of protecting abortion access in
Virginia, making us a sanctuary state in the south. I believe that every
individual has the right to make their own reproductive choices, and I
will never stop fighting to defend this fundamental right. I will
continue to support legislation that ensures access to comprehensive
reproductive healthcare services, including contraception and abortion.</span></span></p>
<p>
<strong><span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Climate Change</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I
am committed to addressing the climate crisis and protecting our
environment. I recognize that the health of our planet is at risk, and I
have supported legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote
renewable energy, and protect our natural resources. I will continue to
prioritize the health of our planet and the well-being of future
generations.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Equality</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">As
Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee in 2020, I helped to pass the
Virginia Values Act. I believe that every individual has the right to
live their lives without fear of discrimination based on their sexual
orientation or gender identity. The Virginia Values Act bans
discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based
on sexual orientation and gender identity. I will continue to fight for
the rights of LGBTQ individuals and for a society that is free from
discrimination and prejudice.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><strong>Criminal Justice Reform</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">As
a member of the Public Safety & Courts of Justice Committees, I
have been committed to advocating for criminal justice reform. I believe
that our justice system should be fair, equitable, and focused on
rehabilitation rather than punishment. I have supported legislation to
reduce the prison population, improve conditions in correctional
facilities, and provide support for individuals returning to their
communities after serving their sentences. I have also advocated for
better mental health resources for individuals involved in the justice
system, as well as for programs to help them find employment and housing
upon release. I will continue to work towards a criminal justice system
that prioritizes justice and rehabilitation over punishment.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><strong>A Living Wage</strong></span></span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Lastly,
I am proud of my efforts to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
This is a critical step to ensure that all workers in our community can
earn a fair and livable wage. I have supported legislation to gradually
increase the minimum wage, and I will continue to push for policies that
support working families and reduce income inequality.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">As I seek re-election, <strong>I am committed to continuing this work and addressing the challenges facing our community</strong>. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I hope to earn your support and trust for another term.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><i>Please note that the new districts don't take effect until after the
November 2023 election. Until then, I'll be representing the current
53rd House District.</i></span></span></span></span></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-58024519983676432622022-11-17T11:44:00.001-08:002023-01-03T11:47:28.374-08:00Three Holidays in November<p>Virginians now celebrate three Holidays in November. Election Day (a State Holiday since 2021), Veterans Day, and next week, Thanksgiving. <br /><br />First, a couple of quick take aways from last week’s election. <br /><br />The modern electorate is nearly impossible to poll accurately, so it’s time we all spent less energy focusing on data models and polling averages and more time thinking about the issues. <br /><br />Young people showed up and voted in record numbers across Virginia and the Country. Many of them are what I call “unpollable” because they don’t have landlines and don’t pick up the phone for unknown numbers. As any parent of young people can tell you, sometimes they don’t even pick up for mom & dad or even return our texts. <br /><br />We also learned that voters are a lot smarter than some pundits give them credit for. They understand that inflation is a global phenomenon, they know when politicians are trying to divide them with provocative misleading allegations about social issues, and they know that an individual’s right to control their own body is now a legislative issue that they care deeply about. <br /><br />As a result, the “red wave” election many expected never materialized. Democrats will continue to hold a majority in the US Senate and may even increase it. <br /><br />Locally, Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Abigail Spanberger, and Jennifer Wexton all won re-election. <br /><br />Across the country, the biggest wins may actually be at the state-level. Democrats held every state chamber they had, flipped the Michigan state legislature blue, plus the Minnesota Senate and Pennsylvania House. A series of state ballot measures aimed at banning abortion failed and ones that aimed to protect abortion access were successful. <br /><br />And now let’s talk about the losers. <br /><br />They usually reveal themselves by their finger pointing over whose fault it was. <br /><br />That’s how you know the biggest losers of the 2022 Election are both Governor Youngkin, and former President Trump. Our Governor spent the last ten months campaigning across the country for extremist candidates, the vast majority of whom lost their elections. <br /><br />In all three competitive congressional races here in Virginia, Democrats greatly increased their margins over 2021 results. Loudoun County, for instance, increased its Democratic performance fifty percent, going from D+10 to D+15. We saw similar gains for Democrats in Prince William and Virginia Beach. <br /><br />Clearly with the benefit of a year of seeing the Governor in action, suburban voters in particular are disappointed in what they’ve seen. Voters who thought they were getting a nice guy in a goofy vest are abandoning GOP candidates and the Governor in droves because of his controversial policies to ban books, threaten our democracy by questioning the integrity of our elections, reduce abortion access, and use buzz words like “CRT” to weaken our education system or divisive tip-lines to harass our teachers. <br /><br />In the aftermath of their disappointing showing, some Virginia Republicans, including the Lieutenant Governor, have started distancing themselves from Trump, citing their losses as evidence that his time has passed and that perhaps his MAGA mantra isn’t such a winning strategy. Meanwhile, former President Trump has pushed back on Virginia’s statewide politicians on Truth Social. <br /><br />You’ll forgive me if I smell like fresh popcorn next time you see me. <br /><br /><b>Veterans Day </b><br /><br />I was so pleased to be able to join members of the Falls Church City Council and community leaders at a special ceremony on Veteran’s Day to recognize our military residents in the Little City. We also revealed a new plaque honoring high school graduates who went on to serve their Country abroad and lost their lives in the process. <br /><br />Thank you, Veterans, and all who currently serve in the armed forces. You are an important and integral part of our greater Falls Church Community, and it is my great honor to serve you in the Virginia House of Delegates. <b> </b></p><p><b>Thanksgiving </b></p><p><b> </b><br />Speaking of giving thanks, we have a lot of reasons to feel gratitude here in Greater Falls Church. This year I am particularly grateful for a renewed focus on the importance of state legislatures. Whether they meant to or not, the Supreme Court has motivated a new generation of voters to protect abortion access, increase gun violence prevention, expand voting rights, and enact climate change initiatives at the state and local level. <br /><br />I am thankful to everyone who participated in our great Democracy, thankful that it seems to be resilient and lasting, and thankful to represent all of you in the House of Delegates. <br /></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-73937286255199558212022-10-20T11:41:00.001-07:002023-01-03T11:44:35.800-08:00Just Say No to the Commanders Stadium<p>At the beginning of the year, it seemed inevitable that Virginia would pass legislation to create a special Stadium Authority, allowing the NFL and its Washington Franchise to issue debt to build a new stadium in one of the DC exurbs. Taxpayer money (albeit money generated arguably only because the stadium was there) would then be used to pay the debt back. <br /><br />The only question was how sweet the deal would be for the owner, and how high the tab might be for Virginia taxpayers. <br /><br />The Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Richard Saslaw carried the broader version of the bill in the State Senate. House Appropriations Chair, Republican Barry Knight of Virginia Beach carried a bill narrower version in the House of Delegates. The bill even got a nod of approval from newly elected Governor Youngkin in his inaugural and State of The Commonwealth addresses. <br /><br />Having this momentum, the bill cruised through the committee process in the House (keeping in mind the Appropriations Chair was the sponsor) and landed on the House Floor a few weeks into session. <br /><br />Meanwhile, I was getting nothing but negative constituent feedback about a taxpayer-funded stadium. There was no organized opposition, but plenty of e-mails, commentors at town halls, and people pulling me aside at the grocery store all saying the same thing: <br /><br />“I’m against this.” <br /><br />So, when the bill got to the floor, I was looking for ways to slow down the momentum of the train that was barreling down the tracks toward either Dumfries or Loudoun. I decided to throw up a signal light.</p><p><br />Some constituents I heard from were concerned about traffic implications and others about the rate of return on stadium investments. And still others thought it was a bad land use decision. Most of the complaints I heard were that the primary beneficiary of the plan would be someone who had shown himself to be wholly undeserving of it: Daniel Snyder. <br /><br />Some disapproved of the way the team had performed during his tenure as owner, but most felt like he was (based on press accounts and investigations swirling around him) a bit of a creep. Certainly not someone they’d want to be in business with. <br /><br />So that was my angle of attack. When the bill came up for a vote on the floor, I introduced an amendment that tied the creation of the Stadium Authority to the NFL and the Washington Franchise agreeing to release the results of attorney Beth Wilkinson’s investigation into the toxic team culture, including allegations of sexual harassment and assault by team employees. Unless and until that report was released, as the U.S. House Government Oversight Committee had requested, the Stadium Authority legislation would not take effect. <br /><br />Although the amendment was rejected with all 52 House Republican’s votes, it changed the conversation about the bill and its trajectory. <br /><br />Eventually both the House and Senate plans passed in different forms, but without language tying the release of the report to the creation of the Authority. The bill no longer seemed quite so inevitable. <br /><br />The Senate version of the bill needed to be corrected to avoid giving the team access to billions in tax revenue related to all the business adjacent to the new hypothetical stadium. A Super bowl was played in February in a stadium funded entirely by its owner with no taxpayer help. <br /><br />When the bill conferees working couldn’t come to an agreement on the size and scope, it became clear that there were no longer the votes for any bill. It was allowed die a quiet death. <br /><br />Last week, ESPN Magazine reported that Mr. Snyder’s inability to secure public financing for a new stadium, and his inability to take on the debt to build one without government help, was contributing to increasing noise that his fellow owners might force him to sell the team. <br /><br />This goes to show that sometimes even when the numbers are stacked against you in the legislature, it’s worth putting an idea on the table and making people vote on it – making a statement even when it has no chance of passing. <br /><br />My constituents didn’t want to pay for an NFL Stadium, they didn’t want it in Virginia, and they didn’t want Dan Snyder to reap the benefits of the deal. <br /><br />I took their concerns to Richmond and made them heard. <br /><br />If you’d like to share anything with me about the upcoming 2023 Session, the best way to reach me is via e-mail at <a href="mailto:delmsimon@house.virginia.gov">delmsimon@house.virginia.gov</a> or at 571-327-0053. <br /></p>Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974491994099266519.post-3219455110148577032022-08-18T11:38:00.001-07:002023-01-03T11:40:51.616-08:00Abortion is HealthcareProtecting rights to abortion care is the reason I am in the General Assembly today. <br /><br />That’s how I opened my May column, when we only had a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion indicating that, in spite of their assurances to the contrary, recently confirmed justices were prepared to overturn Roe vs. Wade. <br /><br />Just a few weeks later, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, stripping women of the constitutional right to an abortion, effectively giving each state legislature control over the future of abortion access. <br /><br />Thirteen states already had “trigger bans” on the books, ready to kick in soon after Roe v. Wade became obsolete. Since the June 24th Dobbs v. Jackson decision, ten states have banned nearly all abortions, with little but mostly no exceptions for rape or incest. You can bet that in the coming months, there will be more attempts to limit or outright ban abortion access across the country, including in Virginia. <br /><br />Although Virginia’s Governor was seemingly non-committal on the campaign trail about his stance on abortion, he gave a clear signal of his intentions earlier this summer, encouraging members of the Virginia GOP to legislate an abortion ban as soon as possible and announcing a small group of legislators had been tasked with drafting a bill. <br /><br />With the General Assembly set to resume the 2022 Special Session 1 on September 7th, rumors are swirling that such a bill (or bills) will be introduced next month, in an effort to stir things up before the mid-term congressional election. <br /><br />With the Republican Majority in the House and the Democrats’ thin hold on the Senate, things aren’t looking good. The Governor has made it clear that he will sign any bill restricting access to abortion that reaches his desk. He has said he is looking for a 15-week ban but will settle for a 20-week ban – and that he thinks he can get some Democrats to go along and make such a ban “bi-partisan.” <br /><br />Given that we are in Special Session only, we are only scheduled to be back in Richmond for a day, the prospects for navigating the procedural hurdles necessary to pass such a bill this fall seem dim. Actually passing it may not be the goal, though. <br /><br />The Governor may want the bill floating out there during the mid-terms to increase his personal profile and score him some hits on Fox News. <br /><br />Regardless of whether he tries to pull such a stunt in September or not, or how much traction he gains from it, we can expect to see a wide variety of anti-abortion bills introduced and debated during the upcoming 2023 legislative session. Some may even pass the GOP controlled House of Delegates. <br /><br />For our part, I expect Democrats to introduce a Constitutional Amendment to codify the right to an abortion during the 2023 Session. Given the makeup of the General Assembly and the Governor's push for a 15-week ban, it will be an uphill battle to get this passed in the House and the Senate. If it did pass, then it would have to pass the General Assembly again during the 2024 General Assembly Session. After passing this second time, then it would be on the ballot in November 2024, so that voters could decide if it would be included in the Virginia Constitution. <br /><br />Recently, Kansas voters defeated a Constitutional Amendment that would have ended the right to an abortion in the state. And the margin wasn’t small either, in fact, 58% of voters voted “No” on the banning of abortions in Kansas. That is a whopping 165,000 more voters than the other side received. <br /><br />I am hopeful that what happened in Kansas foreshadows how hard folks are willing to fight to protect their rights in other states, including Virginia. With states once again on the front line of this issue, I am even more committed to protecting abortion access in Virginia. <br /><br />I am often asked what folks can do in the meantime. Voting for like-minded elected officials who support your shared values, including the right to abortion access, is crucial. But also talking with your friends, family, and neighbors about these issues goes a long way - we must have these honest conversations. Beyond this, donating and volunteering with organizations that promote or provide abortion access delivers direct aid to those who need it right here in Virginia. Aside from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, there is the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, Hampton Roads Reproductive Justice League, and the New River Abortion Access Fund. <br />Delegate Marcus Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18029918992001545613noreply@blogger.com