Archive for February, 2007 Page 2 of 3
David hosted visitors from the 2007 class of Leadership Arlington today as they visited the General Assembly to learn firsthand about legislative process. Early in the day, David welcomed the full group and updated them on some of his legislative initiatives. Later, a smaller group stopped by David’s office to practice lobbying him on model legislation. They used the opportunity to ask a variety of questions about the ins and outs of subcommittee and committee negotiations, and David shared with them some of his experiences and lessons learned from the legislative session.
“Leadership Arlington is a terrific program that develops community leaders from all walks of life,” said David. “I enjoyed the chance to spend some time with this year’s class and to support their visit to Richmond.”
RICHMOND – The House of Delegates yesterday voted 99 to 0 to approve House Bill 2740, sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria), to close a campaign finance disclosure loophole that in May allowed a political action committee to influence Alexandria’s city elections without disclosing the identity of the group’s officers or backers.
“Virginia’s campaign finance system is built on one core principle — public disclosure. This loophole allows a new PAC to form right before an election and spend money to influence that election without disclosing information about the purpose of the PAC or who is behind it,” said Englin. “This legislation will close that loophole and shine sunlight on new PACs formed right before an election so voters have all of the information they need to make informed decisions on election day.”
This bill was part of the City of Alexandria’s legislative package for 2007. Now that the House has approved the bill, the Virginia Senate must also approve the measure before it goes to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to sign into law.
David welcomed members of the League of Women Voters from the 45th District to his office in Richmond today. They shared their legislative priorities with David, including support for reproductive freedom, efforts to create nonpartisan redistricting reform, and supporting transportation while protecting the general fund.
“I always enjoy visiting with my friends from the League of Women Voters,” said David. “Whenever we sit down and discuss the various issues facing our community, we always realize very quickly that their agenda is my agenda, and my agenda is their agenda.”
David updated them on the status of various bills and shared his perspective on the ongoing effort to create a long-term funding mechanism for transportation.
RICHMOND – The House of Delegates today voted 99 to 0 to approve House Bill 2727, sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria), to provide a much-needed tool to preserve affordable housing for elderly and disabled renters.
Current Virginia law gives certain elderly or disabled renters the right of first refusal to purchase their apartments during condominium conversions, but the vast majority of them cannot afford to take advantage of that right. Englin’s bill allows those renters to assign that purchasing right to a government agency, housing authority, or certified non-profit housing organization, such as the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation or Wesley Housing Development Corporation. The agency must then rent the unit back to the individual at an affordable rate.
“Affordable housing is a critical issue in our high-cost community, and this bill will give us a key tool to help keep many elderly and disabled members of our community in their homes,” said Englin. “This is a win-win policy that will help strengthen our economically and socially diverse community.”
Now that the House has approved the bill, the Virginia Senate must also approve the measure before it goes to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to sign into law.
RICHMOND – The House of Delegates today voted 97 to 0 to approve House Bill 2730, sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria), to protect the right of hospital patients to allow anyone they choose to visit them, without regard to family status, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.
Current Virginia law gives hospitals complete discretion in setting visitation policies, in some cases resulting in patients being denied visits from loved ones who are not related to them by blood or marriage.
“While hospitals rarely have formal policies denying visitation, there have been far too many cases in Virginia where parents refuse to let their gay son or daughter’s partner visit, or where the grown children of a divorced or widowed patient refuse to let the patient’s new significant other visit,” said Englin. “I even know of one case where two elderly widows — best friends for life — shared a house together, but when one was hospitalized and on her death bed, the other wasn’t allowed to visit because she wasn’t related. This bill will prevent those kinds of tragedies by requiring hospitals to let the patient — and only the patient — have the final say.”
Now that the House has approved the bill, the Virginia Senate must also approve the measure before it goes to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to sign into law.
-30-
