Archive for July, 2007
Virginia’s second “back-to-school” sales tax holiday is set for Friday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 5. During the three-day event, customers will not be charged the 5 percent state and local retail sales tax on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, or on articles of clothing, including footwear, costing $100 or less each.
“As a parent, I know how expensive getting ready for school can be,” said David. “I was proud to join my General Assembly colleagues last year in approving this annual holiday to lend a hand to families preparing for the upcoming school year. What better opportunity to invite your friends in D.C. and Maryland to come and enjoy a weekend of shopping in our community?”
Note that all shoppers will avoid the sales tax when buying exempt items in Virginia during the tax holiday, and there is no requirement that the purchases be made for a student or for school purposes. In addition, retailers may also voluntarily “absorb” the sales tax on any other items in their stores for these three days. Retailers who “absorb” the sales tax on non-exempt items must pay the sales tax themselves to the Tax Department.
The Virginia Department of Taxation is extending its customer service hours to answer questions. Customer service representatives will be prepared to answer questions about the sales tax holiday until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The number to call is 804-367-8037. The department will be closed on Sunday. For further details about the “holiday,” check the agency’s special sales tax holiday Web site, http://www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday, which includes an all-inclusive list of school supplies and a representative list of clothing qualifying for the exemption.
The “holiday” is expected to save shoppers about $3.8 million in retail sales tax. The three-day “holiday” takes place each year beginning on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday.
The following op-ed by David about the controversial new traffic violation abuser fees appeared in several local papers this week:
A Modest Proposal to Repeal “Civil Remedial Fees”
by Delegate David Englin, 45th District
As one of the minority of legislators who voted against the new “Civil Remedial Fees” every single time we had a chance to vote on them as a stand-alone issue, I can’t help but feel a small sense of vindication over the growing public outcry to repeal the fees. More than 134,000 people so far have signed the petition demanding immediate repeal, and I’ve heard from more constituents on this one issue than on any other single issue since I was elected. These fees illustrate what happens in Richmond when hidebound ideology stands in the way of fair, practical, mainstream solutions. The good news is that a fair and simple solution exists — if the General Assembly can find the will to act.
Continue reading ‘A Modest Proposal to Repeal “Civil Remedial Fees”’
ALEXANDRIA – The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV), the statewide nonpartisan political action arm of Virginia’s conservation community, announced that it endorses Del. David Englin (D-45) for re-election to the House of Delegates in this year’s November election.
“I appreciate this vote of confidence from Virginia’s advocates for conservation and environmental protection,” said Englin. “I want my son to be able to breathe clean air, drink clean water, eat the fish he catches, and grow up healthy and strong in a world free from the threat of global warming and destructive climate change. Policies that protect clean air and clean water, conserve natural resources and habitats, and promote clean, renewable energy sources are critical investments in the future health and safety of our communities and our country.”
Following his first General Assembly session, VALCV named Englin a “Legislative Hero” because of his strong environmental record.
“Our Legislative Heroes show special dedication to conservation priorities,” said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the VALCV. “These legislators deserve a special show of support for their hard work and dedication to the environment.”
The mission of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters is to preserve and enhance the quality of life of all Virginians by making conservation a top priority with Virginia’s elected officials, political candidates, and voters.
Many thanks to the overflow crowd of Team Englin volunteers who turned out for tonight’s Volunteer Night! More than two dozen volunteers packed Campaign Central stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, and doing the grassroots work necessary to re-elect David this November and to help build a Democratic majority in the General Assembly.
“After spending the evening out knocking on doors and talking with voters, it was amazing to come home and see how many friends and neighbors decided to give up an evening in the middle of the summer to contribute their energy to our fight for progress,” said David. 
“Thanks to your hard work, we got out an important mailing and made hundreds of calls both for me and to elect Margi Vanderhye in a district currently held by a Republican. With friends like you, I’m confident that together we will win in November and help change the 
balance of power in Richmond so we can deliver the common-sense, progressive legislation that the people of the 45th District demand and deserve.”
Do you want to join David’s grassroots army of volunteers? Join us on August 9 for the next Volunteer Night!
David joined Alexandria activists outside of Pat Troy’s “Ireland’s Own” restaurant today to launch a rally to keep pressure on state environmental quality officials to clean up and rein in the Mirant Plant — the dirty, old coal-fired power plant on the Old Town waterfront.
David has sponsored several pieces of legislation targeting the plant, and has made cleaning up the plan his top environmental priority. He called on the activists to work to broaden the fight against the plant.
“This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue,” said David. “No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your beliefs, every human being has a fundamental right to breathe clean air. We have to make sure the decision makers in Richmond, from the Governor’s office to the Department of Environmental Quality, to the General Assembly — don’t just see this as an Alexandria issue. Each of us needs to reach out to our friends and acquaintances in other parts of Northern Virginia, the D.C.-metro region, and the rest of the state to educate them about our effort and get them involved. After all, if it can happen to us, it can happen to them.”
Today’s rally was organized by Ernie Lehmann, Dick Moose, and other clean air activists in Alexandria to keep pressure on decision makers who are considering the plant’s request to merge its smokestacks, which ultimately would allow the plant to increase the amount of pollutants it releases over the City and the region.
A month ago, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality informed the City of Alexandria of its intent to reverse course and approve the smokestack merger. However, after a series of calls with David, his legislative colleagues, and City officials and activists, Governor Kaine’s office brokered a delay in the decision. Since then, the state’s Air Pollution Control Board has agreed to weigh in on the decision, giving the community a reprieve until this Fall.
“I hope DEQ will use this new opportunity to work with the community and with the Air Pollution Control Board so that any permitting decision is based on the best possible science and not merely on what is economically convenient for the plant,” said David.
Click here for more information about David’s environmental agenda.
