Archive for June, 2006 Page 2 of 3
Prior to the House of Delegates convening in Richmond today, Governor Tim Kaine signed David’s first bill into law, strengthening local control for the people of Arlington.
House Bill 1002 will bring more power and local control back to the 45th District by giving the citizens of Arlington the same power as in every other county in Virginia to control the salaries of their county board members. Until now, Arlington was the only county that had to beg permission from the General Assembly to change county board salaries, giving legislators from the far reaches of Virginia, who know nothing about Arlington’s unique needs and circumstances, power over a fundamentally local issue.
“I’m happy to have made a small difference,” said David. “I believe strongly in local control of local issues, and this bill is one more step in that direction for my constituents.”
Since this bill targets a single locality, it was “special legislation” that required a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate to pass.
“Because of the nature of the issue, the process for this piece of legislation was more complex than the norm, but I enjoyed the challenge,” said David.
David spent the morning at Mount Eagle Elementary School in the Fairfax part of the 45th District today talking with students about their state government as part of the school’s Career Day.
The third and fourth grade students asked questions about what it is like to serve in the House of Delegates, how our state legislature works, and how they might be able to serve in elected office some day.
David asked the students what kinds of laws they would try to pass if they were Delegates. Answers ranged from laws against teasing other people to laws against smoking and unsafe driving.
“It was terrific to spend some time with such lively students,” said David. “I was impressed by how aware many of them are of current affairs, and some of their questions and comments showed surprising insight. A couple of them even asked what the General Assembly is doing to reduce traffic congestion!”
David encouraged the students to work hard in school and to find ways to give something back to our community.
“Congratulations to the students, teachers, and staff at Mount Eagle for a wonderful Career Day!” said David.
David presented certificates of commendation yesterday evening on behalf of the House of Delegates to two students who tied as valedictorians of the T.C. Williams High School class of 2006.
Todd Bernhard and Barbara Stoddard both earned the same grade point average at the very top of their graduating class. John Porter, principal of T.C. Williams High School, said that it is extremely rare to have two valedictorians.
“Congratulations to Todd and Barbara and to all of the young men and women who earned awards this year,” said David. “And special thanks to the parents, teachers, staff members, and coaches who work so hard every day to give our students the opportunity to achieve great things.”
Dozens of students were honored during yesterday’s ceremony, during which a wide range of awards and scholarships were presented.
David and Shayna’s home once again vibrated with grassroots energy yesterday for the return of Volunteer Night. The overflow crowd included a pride of Team Englin stalwarts as well as eight new volunteers, including four members of the one family!
The crew plowed well into the night, assembling mailings to more than 2,500 new voters to give them important information about the constituent services David’s office can provide. Team Englin members also worked the phones recruiting still more volunteers for Alexandrians Against the Amendment — the local effort to defeat the discriminatory constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot this November.
“I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone who continues to believe and is willing to work so hard to help me serve our community,” said David. “I especially want to thank all of our first-time volunteers: Sarah, Paul, Liz, John, and the Swansons — Lindsey, Katey, Mimi, and Terry. Every time I help solve a problem for a constituent or stand up for our community in Richmond, I know that I wouldn’t be able to do it without friends like you standing with me.”
Team Englin will be holding regular Volunteer Nights all year long, so if you are interested in becoming part of the grassroots efforts to fight for progress, click here and sign up to volunteer.
In the middle of the evening, David took some time out from Volunteer Night to attend the annual meeting of the Belle View Condo Association, which packed the cafeteria at Belle View Elementary School in the Fairfax part of the 45th District.
“I appreciated the opportunity to update my Belle View friends on the budget impasse and the legislative session, and to listen to their thoughts and concerns,” said David, who fielded questions on transportation, the budget, the death penalty, and other issues.
ALEXANDRIA — Virginia’s premier pro-choice advocacy group recognized Delegate David Englin (D-45) yesterday for his leadership as a defender of reproductive freedom, acknowledging his 100 percent pro-choice voting record during his freshman General Assembly session.
“David Englin not only votes completely pro-choice — he is also an outspoken leader on these issues for Virginia families. It’s great to have him as an ally in Richmond,” said Ann O’Hanlon, president of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia.
“As a husband and father, I know that reproductive decisions are among the most personal choices anyone can make, and I am proud to defend our freedom to make them without big-government intruding our bedrooms, our kitchen tables, and our doctors offices,” said Englin.
“I was proud to stand with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia to defend comprehensive family-life education programs that give young people the knowledge they will need throughout their lives to protect their health and safety and to prevent unintended pregnancy,” said Englin. “I was proud to stand with them against attempts to shut down nearly every abortion provider in Virginia, which would risk women’s lives and health by denying them access to safe, legal abortions. While I was proud to support legislation to make adoption an easier choice for women and couples to make, preventing an unintended pregnancy is the one and only surefire way to prevent an abortion, so I especially commend NARAL and my fellow pro-choice legislators for standing up to ideologues who would make birth control a thing of the past.”
Yesterday’s reception at the McLean home of Margaret Vanderhye brought together and acknowledged pro-choice members of the General Assembly, including a number of Englin’s General Assembly colleagues from Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax.
Englin is currently serving his first term in the Virginia General Assembly, representing the 45th District in the House of Delegates. The district includes parts of the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Arlington County.
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