Anderson Lauds Inclusive Budget Process

The following was taken from letter distributed to constituents:

As of [Friday], we have a proposed budget once again! The House adjourned at 3 p.m. [Friday] and concluded our eighth week of the 2012 legislative session of the General Assembly—and we did so with bi-partisan approval of House Bill (HB) 1301, the proposed two-year $85 billion budget that runs from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014.

[Last] week was filled with budgetary action after Senate Democrats killed both the House and Senate budgets last week for the next two Fiscal Years. Floor amendments on HB 1301 were flying fast and furious all afternoon today, but House Republicans and Democrats settled on a bipartisan state budget with an impressive vote of 75-22. Like the House budget killed last week by the Senate, this new House budget is fiscally responsible and fully balanced.

During Floor debate [Friday] afternoon, House Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) and House Minority Leader David Toscano (D-Charlottesville) publicly thanked each other’s Caucus for an inclusive process and for having the opportunity to participate fully. There is a lot to like in the House budget for both sides of the aisle.

Our proposed budget that now goes to the Senate for a “re-do” is a structurally balanced document that contains targeted funding increases in core areas of government, to include job growth, education, public safety, and health care—all without raising taxes or fees. In the end, one third of the House Democrats joined with House Republicans in supporting the House Budget that passed by a whopping three-to-one margin.

And that’s the latest regarding the Virginia biennial budget—more to follow next week! Regarding.

As I’ve said before, I need and value your input on issues before the General Assembly. We’ve posted an on-line survey to our House website, and I invite you to click here and provide us with your views. We’ve received a large amount of feedback, which I found to be invaluable to my decisions when called upon to vote on legislation before the House.

I hope to also hear your thoughts via email, phone calls, a telephone town hall in the coming weeks, in-person town halls when we return home in mid-March, and your visits to our Capitol office here in Richmond (we are in Room 406 of the General Assembly Building).

During the week, you may reach me and Ryan M. Galloway (my legislative assistant) in Richmond at 804-698-1051.

If you have an urgent need on the weekend, please call me at home (703-730-1380) and I will be happy to assist you or even meet you in person. My direct email address [email protected], and Ryan’s email [email protected]. Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you around the 51st House District in the coming weeks and months!

Warmest regards,

Rich Anderson
Delegate, 51st House District
Virginia General Assembly