Showing posts with label General Assembly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Assembly. Show all posts

Friday, October 10, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Statement on U.S. District Court’s Redistricting Ruling

English: The state seal of Virginia. Српски / ...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s decision declaring Virginia’s congressional map unconstitutional:

“Today’s ruling demonstrates the need to get partisan politics out of how Virginia draws its legislative boundaries.

“The court’s order to redraw our congressional map is an opportunity to emerge with a map that reflects the best interests of Virginia families, not the political interests of the people drawing the lines.

“I hope my friends in the General Assembly will join me in taking this opportunity to draw districts that are more compact, contiguous, and reflective of the shared interests that unite many of our communities.”

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Statement on Upcoming Special Session

Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement today on this week’s special session of the General Assembly to consider proposals to expand access to health care for Virginians:

“As legislators prepare to come back to Richmond to consider proposals to expand access to health care for Virginians who need it, I hope they will join me in moving past the partisan division that has characterized this debate so far. To that end, Delegate Tom Rust has introduced a conservative compromise proposal that will get Virginians the care that they are already paying for, without exposing our Commonwealth to undue fiscal risk. I hope the General Assembly will pass the Rust bill this week so that I can sign it right away.

“This special session is an opportunity to continue to prove to Virginians that Republicans and Democrats can work together on common sense solutions to make their lives better. I am ready to negotiate and sign any proposal that brings our taxpayer dollars home to expand access to care, and I invite my friends in both parties to join me at the table.

“Virginia families, businesses and hospitals will be watching the actions that we take here this week. We owe it to them to bring our tax dollars home to expand health care access, create jobs and bring savings to our budget. We cannot afford to fall short of that goal.”




Virginia Leaders Announce Comprehensive Budget Deal

English: Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe spea...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Bipartisan Agreement Targets $2.4 Billion Budget Shortfall While Protecting K-12 in FY’15

Richmond, Virginia
 – Today, Governor Terry McAuliffe, Speaker Bill Howell, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Chris Jones, Senate Finance Co-Chairman Chuck Colgan and leaders from the General Assembly money committees announced they had reached a bipartisan agreement on how to tackle Virginia’s budget shortfall. The agreement will close $346 million this fiscal year and will address the $536 million gap for Fiscal Year (FY) 16.
“Virginia stands at an economic crossroads and the decisions we make today will affect the Commonwealth for years to come,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe. “I am pleased we were able to come together in a bipartisan way and make the tough decisions that will help ensure Virginia remains fiscally strong and provide much-needed certainty to the bond rating agencies on Wall Street. While the budget shortfall is forcing us to tighten our belts, I am proud that we were able to protect many of our core democratic priorities, including health care and K-12 funding for this fiscal year. The plan also prioritizes higher education by reducing the average budget reduction for public colleges and universities from an expected 5 percent to 3.3 percent for FY15. As we move forward, it is my hope that we can find other constructive ways to work together to build a new Virginia economy.” 
Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford)
“Addressing Virginia’s budget shortfall sooner rather than later is the fiscally responsible thing to do. By acting now, we can create certainty for Virginia’s economy, give state agencies and local governments flexibility, and most importantly send a strong signal to the bond rating agencies that Virginia is serious about protecting its AAA -bond rating. We have once again proven just how big a difference 90 miles can make. While Washington continues to kick the can down the road, Virginia is demonstrating that elected leaders can work together, make tough decisions, and find ways for government to live within its means.”
House Appropriations Chairman Chris Jones (R-Suffolk)
“As House Appropriations Committee Chairman, I have a fiduciary obligation to the people of the Commonwealth. I take pride in our responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, especially during tough economic times. The actions taken today, and the bipartisan manner in which we have taken them, speak clearly to Virginia’s reputation as one of the nation’s best-managed states.”
Senate Finance Co-Chairman Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William)
"This bipartisan agreement is a good first step toward dealing with our budget shortfall and working together on Governor McAuliffe's vision for a new Virginia economy. The Governor and both parties in the General Assembly came to the table to broker a responsible bipartisan compromise that will balance the budget and put core priorities like education and health care first."
The agreement will close the budget gap by:
  • Appropriating transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Fund, estimated at $470 million in FY15 and $235 million in FY16;

  • Establishing reduction adjustment targets for state agencies, higher education and local governments to address the shortfall, including:

    • State agencies are slated for $92.4 million in FY15 and $100 million in FY16
    • Higher education is set at $45 million per year during the biennium
    • Aid to localities is included at $30 million a year for the biennium
  • Setting the stage for $272 million in other actions in FY16 to be achieved through measures that the Governor will address when he introduces his budget amendments in December.

  • Allowing flexibility in capturing savings from available unexpected balances so that important priority items, especially in the areas of health care and economic development, are kept in place.

President Pro tempore, Senate Finance Co-Chairman, Senator Walter Stosch (R-Henrico)
“A major responsibility of the legislature and Governor is to protect and improve on the financial integrity of the Commonwealth.  I am pleased we were able to work as a team to bring our collective and creative solutions together to respond to the further expected revenue shortfall.  Virginia’s financial standing with Wall Street and with our citizens will benefit from our proposed action to responsibly address this matter now.”
Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr, (R-James City)
“Virginia is once again serving as a model on how government should address fiscal challenges.  Today’s announcement is the result of collaboration and cooperation between the Executive and Legislature, the House and the Senate, and Democrats and Republicans.  The hard work of Chairmen Jones and Stosch, Governor McAuliffe, and Secretary Brown has resulted in the Commonwealth quickly taking the steps necessary to preserve its hard-won reputation as America’s best fiscally managed state.”
Senate Democratic Leader Senator Dick Saslaw (D–Fairfax)
"Virginians elect us to work together to solve problems, and this agreement is proof that we can still honor that responsibility. Cutting the budget is never easy, but Governor McAuliffe's leadership has resulted in a balanced process that prioritizes core services like education and health care."
Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan T. McDougle (R-Hanover)
“When legislators act to approve this measure on Thursday, they will be voting for the sound fiscal management of the Commonwealth.  When this challenge was identified over the course of the summer, Virginia acted urgently to ensure its budget would remain balanced, its taxpayers protected, and its AAA-bond rating preserved.  That’s precisely what the people who have entrusted us to represent them expect of their leaders.”
House Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights)
“Today’s agreement proves once again that it is not impossible for elected leaders to work together in order to address fiscal challenges, despite Washington’s best attempts to prove otherwise. This agreement is about protecting the financial integrity of Virginia and preserving Virginia’s reputation for sound fiscal management. This agreement cuts spending, but protects core functions of government like K-12 education and provides local governments with the flexibility they need to address this shortfall. Most importantly, we are not raising taxes or fees. We are setting priorities and making tough decisions just like Virginia families and businesses have to do.” ​
House Democratic Leader David Toscano (D- Charlottesville)
"Governor McAuliffe promised to bring Republicans and Democrats together to build a new Virginia economy, and that begins with balancing our budget responsibly. We cannot grow an economy without investing in public education, health care and other core services, and this budget deal protects those priorities first. I applaud the Governor and the General Assembly leadership for coming together and getting this important agreement done."
Barry Duval, President & CEO Virginia Chamber of Commerce
"A bipartisan approach to balancing the budget is in the long term best interest of the Commonwealth.  I commend the Governor and members of the General Assembly for protecting Virginia's reputation as the best managed state."
Brett A. Vassey, President and CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association:
"VMA is encouraged that Governor McAuliffe and General Assembly leaders have been able to work together to balance priorities and the budget."
Chris Saxman, Executive Director, Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education (FREE)
"Thank you to Governor McAuliffe, Speaker Howell, Chairmen Jones, Colgan and Stosch for working together to balance Virginia's biennial budget. This bipartisan effort sends a strong signal to the business community and the citizens of the Commonwealth that maintaining our strong fiscal position is essential to economic development and growth."

(It just reeks of socialism to the hilt.  All the socialist buzz words are used throughout.)



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Second Round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund Grants

P-51 Mustang in flight during an air show at L...
P-51 Mustang in flight during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, in Virginia (USA). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the recipients of the second round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund grants.
The FACT fund was officially established in the 2012 General Assembly Session, to help Virginia counter actions taken by the federal government that may adversely impact the citizens and economy of Virginia. A first round of FACT Fund grants were announced on December 2, 2013. 
On July 21, 2014, Governor McAuliffe refined the application criteria by announcing that Virginia localities that have had or have pending identifiable or measurable negative impacts caused by encroachment upon military or security installations were eligible to apply for these grant funds.  The amount available for this second round of grants from the FACT Fund totaled $4,361,600.
“Virginia’s military bases and installations are a key asset to our economy, and we have a responsibility to protect them,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I am pleased that we were able to keep this FACT Fund money in the budget, and award it to communities so that they can guard against encroachment and preserve our Commonwealth’s strong relationship with the Department of Defense. As we work to build a new Virginia economy, we must continue to be the most military-friendly state in the nation. These grants will help us achieve that goal.”
In 2012, the General Assembly created the FACT Fund Advisory Commission (the “Commission”), composed of General Assembly members, to assist in the review of the FACT Fund requests.
The current Advisory Commission is composed of five members from the Senate Finance Committee: Chairman Walter A. Stosch, Senators Janet D. Howell, L. Louise Lucas, Frank W. Wagner, and John C. Watkins. The Advisory Commission is also composed of five members of the House Appropriations Committee: Chairman S. Chris Jones, Delegates L. Scott Lingamfelter, Rosalyn R. Dance, Edward T. Scott and Barry D. Knight. 
Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Harvey, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel serve as FACT Fund advisors to the Governor.  On August 15, 2014, FACT Fund applicants presented to the FACT Fund Commission in Richmond.
Funding for the FACT Fund was made possible by Governor McAuliffe’s veto of language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, which had the effect of restoring the General Assembly’s elimination of the existing balance to the FACT Fund and making it available for this round of grants.

FACT Fund Grant Recipients (Related Military Installation)
Recipient: City of Hampton (Langley AFB)
Award: $1,260,000
Summary: Langley Air Force Base (LAFB) is the only Air Force Base in the Commonwealth of Virginia and serves as a joint base.  The City of Hampton submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. The City will use the funds from this grant to purchase both developed and undeveloped properties in designated clear zones.  The purchase of these properties prevents the loss of life and property in the event of aborted takeoffs or landings.  The City of Hampton will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

"I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for this grant, which will help Hampton protect the enormous value that Langley Air Force Base," said Hampton Mayor George Wallace. "The Governor fought to keep this FACT Funding in the state budget, and we are grateful that he used some of it to help us make Hampton the best home in the world for Langley and the men and women who serve there."

Recipient: City of Virginia Beach (NAS Oceana)
Award: $1,830,000
Summary: Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is a master jet base for the U.S. Atlantic Naval Fleet and following a BRAC Order from 2005 has had a long-standing program to combat high density encroachment. Since inception nine years ago, the City indicates the program has invested over $122 million to buy properties or buy down density to assist with the encroachment issues surrounding the two runways.  The City of Virginia Beach submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. Funding from this grant will continue to address priority purchases such as vacant land in accident potential zones with residential zoning and any property in clear zones. The City of Virginia Beach will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Will Sessoms, Mayor of Virginia Beach, said, "On behalf of the people of Virginia Beach, I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for investing in our ongoing effort to keep NAS Oceana here in Hampton Roads, and for restoring this critical funding. Virginia Beach’s partnership with the Navy is a national model, and the FACT Fund is a valuable weapon as we continue to fight encroachment and work to create the best possible environment for the bases and installations that are essential to our Commonwealth’s economy.”

Recipient: City of Chesapeake (NALF Fentress)
Award: $1,000,000
Summary: The Navy Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress serves as the outlying training facility to (NAS) Oceana.  The City of Chesapeake submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for by approval by the Commission.  Funds from this grant will be used by the City to begin purchasing properties under the recently established Fentress Encroachment Protection Acquisition Program.  Acquisitions are targeted in the highest priority areas of properties in the Fentress Overlay District.  The City of Chesapeake will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Speaking about the award, Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said, “This grant will help the City of Chesapeake continue to battle encroachment so that the Navy can operate effectively in our city, and our residents can continue to enjoy the high quality of life we offer. I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for acting to restore this funding in the state budget, and for helping to fund this important work here in Chesapeake.”


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Second Round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund Grants

English: US Navy F/A-18C Hornet Fighter Aircra...
English: US Navy F/A-18C Hornet Fighter Aircraft. Photo by Scott Dunham, April 25, 2009, at Airpower Over Hampton Roads, Langley AFB, Virginia, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the recipients of the second round of Federal Action Contingency Trust (FACT) Fund grants.
The FACT fund was officially established in the 2012 General Assembly Session, to help Virginia counter actions taken by the federal government that may adversely impact the citizens and economy of Virginia. A first round of FACT Fund grants were announced on December 2, 2013. 
On July 21, 2014, Governor McAuliffe refined the application criteria by announcing that Virginia localities that have had or have pending identifiable or measurable negative impacts caused by encroachment upon military or security installations were eligible to apply for these grant funds.  The amount available for this second round of grants from the FACT Fund totaled $4,361,600.
“Virginia’s military bases and installations are a key asset to our economy, and we have a responsibility to protect them,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I am pleased that we were able to keep this FACT Fund money in the budget, and award it to communities so that they can guard against encroachment and preserve our Commonwealth’s strong relationship with the Department of Defense. As we work to build a new Virginia economy, we must continue to be the most military-friendly state in the nation. These grants will help us achieve that goal.”
In 2012, the General Assembly created the FACT Fund Advisory Commission (the “Commission”), composed of General Assembly members, to assist in the review of the FACT Fund requests.
The current Advisory Commission is composed of five members from the Senate Finance Committee: Chairman Walter A. Stosch, Senators Janet D. Howell, L. Louise Lucas, Frank W. Wagner, and John C. Watkins. The Advisory Commission is also composed of five members of the House Appropriations Committee: Chairman S. Chris Jones, Delegates L. Scott Lingamfelter, Rosalyn R. Dance, Edward T. Scott and Barry D. Knight. 
Secretary of Finance Ric Brown, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John Harvey, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel serve as FACT Fund advisors to the Governor.  On August 15, 2014, FACT Fund applicants presented to the FACT Fund Commission in Richmond.
Funding for the FACT Fund was made possible by Governor McAuliffe’s veto of language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, which had the effect of restoring the General Assembly’s elimination of the existing balance to the FACT Fund and making it available for this round of grants.

FACT Fund Grant Recipients (Related Military Installation)
Recipient: City of Hampton (Langley AFB)
Award: $1,260,000
Summary: Langley Air Force Base (LAFB) is the only Air Force Base in the Commonwealth of Virginia and serves as a joint base.  The City of Hampton submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. The City will use the funds from this grant to purchase both developed and undeveloped properties in designated clear zones.  The purchase of these properties prevents the loss of life and property in the event of aborted takeoffs or landings.  The City of Hampton will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

"I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for this grant, which will help Hampton protect the enormous value that Langley Air Force Base," said Hampton Mayor George Wallace. "The Governor fought to keep this FACT Funding in the state budget, and we are grateful that he used some of it to help us make Hampton the best home in the world for Langley and the men and women who serve there."

Recipient: City of Virginia Beach (NAS Oceana)
Award: $1,830,000
Summary: Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is a master jet base for the U.S. Atlantic Naval Fleet and following a BRAC Order from 2005 has had a long-standing program to combat high density encroachment. Since inception nine years ago, the City indicates the program has invested over $122 million to buy properties or buy down density to assist with the encroachment issues surrounding the two runways.  The City of Virginia Beach submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for approval by the Commission. Funding from this grant will continue to address priority purchases such as vacant land in accident potential zones with residential zoning and any property in clear zones. The City of Virginia Beach will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Will Sessoms, Mayor of Virginia Beach, said, "On behalf of the people of Virginia Beach, I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for investing in our ongoing effort to keep NAS Oceana here in Hampton Roads, and for restoring this critical funding. Virginia Beach’s partnership with the Navy is a national model, and the FACT Fund is a valuable weapon as we continue to fight encroachment and work to create the best possible environment for the bases and installations that are essential to our Commonwealth’s economy.”

Recipient: City of Chesapeake (NALF Fentress)
Award: $1,453,867
Summary: The Navy Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress serves as the outlying training facility to (NAS) Oceana.  The City of Chesapeake submitted an appropriate application for funds to battle the threat of development encroachment and was recommended for by approval by the Commission.  Funds from this grant will be used by the City to begin purchasing properties under the recently established Fentress Encroachment Protection Acquisition Program.  Acquisitions are targeted in the highest priority areas of properties in the Fentress Overlay District.  The City of Chesapeake will match the FACT Fund grant 1:1.

Speaking about the award, Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff said, “This grant will help the City of Chesapeake continue to battle encroachment so that the Navy can operate effectively in our city, and our residents can continue to enjoy the high quality of life we offer. I want to thank Governor McAuliffe for acting to restore this funding in the state budget, and for helping to fund this important work here in Chesapeake.”



Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Virginia Agriculture and Conservation Leaders Applaud Virginia’s New Resource Management Plan

The seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia
The seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Leaders from the agriculture and environmental communities across the Commonwealth released the following statements today following the Governor’s visit to Weyers Cave to tout the Commonwealth’s new Resource Management Plan. Governor McAuliffe attended the event today and witnessed some of the best practices at work in the farming community. The Resource Management Plan will help build a new Virginia economy by expanding best practices on Virginia farms that make operations more efficient and cost effective while reducing impacts on Virginia waters, including the Chesapeake Bay.


Wayne Pryor, president, Virginia Farm Bureau:

“The RMP program is an opportunity for all Virginia farmers, regardless of the scale of their operations or the commodities they produce, to voluntarily consult with certified professionals on the entire scale of conservation BMPs they could employ; to develop a customized plan; and to enter into a nine-year agreement that is subject to compliance review. Those plans and agreements will assure them that, for the life of the agreements, they are in compliance with state and local water quality standards. The Virginia Farm Bureau applauds Governor McAuliffe for his leadership and support for this important program.”


Katie Frazier, president, Virginia Agribusiness Council:

“The Virginia Agribusiness Council applauds the launch of Resource Management Plans as a voluntary mechanism to achieve both water quality goals and provide farmers with regulatory certainty. Since the General Assembly approved the program in 2011 with our support, we have been anxiously awaiting the implementation of this exciting new approach to conservation. The Council looks forward to continuing to work with the Governor, DCR, DEQ, VDACS, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts as the RMP program fully launches in late 2014.”


William C. Baker, president, Chesapeake Bay Foundation:

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has long supported farm conservation practices like those called for by Virginia’s Resource Management Plan Program, especially fencing livestock out of local streams and rivers. We support Governor McAuliffe’s call for farmers across Virginia to embrace these conservation practices by participating in the RMP program. That would mean cleaner water, more productive farms, a healthier Bay, and a more robust economy.”    


William C. “Sparky” Crossman, president, Virginia Grain Producers Association:

“The Virginia Grain Producers Association supports these plans not only because of their direct benefit to our farmers and the environment, but because participation in the program is voluntary and the program is flexible. It gives the farmer the ability to select the mix of practices best suited to their farm in order to meet necessary standards. The RMP program is critical to ensuring our farms can feed a growing population while keeping the promises we made to protect and restore our local environment and the Chesapeake Bay.”


Eric Paulson, president, Virginia State Dairymen’s Association:

"The Virginia State Dairymen's Association commends the Governor on signing the Resource Management Plan (RMP) into law. This program will provide farmers with another tool to track and implement conservation practices with a level of certainty. This voluntary program will allow farmers to account for the many conservation practices they have already implemented on their farm. "

Kendall Tyree, executive director, Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts:

"The potential value of the RMP program to water quality is significant, in which we expect Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts to play a vital role. We applaud the Governor for his effort and continued support of voluntary conservation efforts.”

           
Jason Carter, executive director, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association:
"The Virginia Cattlemen's Association membership is certainly supportive of sound environmental management to ensure preservation of the resources so vital to our businesses and industry.  We are appreciative of the Governor's desire to maintain, and add to, a suite of voluntary and cost shared best management conservation practice options for our producers to choose from within the management of their cattle operations."


Hobey Bauhan, president, Virginia Poultry Federation:

“Poultry farmers have a proven commitment to conservation practices for improving water quality.  While a state regulatory program already governs poultry litter management, many poultry farms have other farming activities which could be covered under a voluntary Resource Management Plan.  I commend the Governor for his leadership on this program and encourage farmers to take a close look at participating.”

Please Re elect US Senator Mark Warner so he can finish the job.
(No People)
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