One of just five Delegates to vote against the initial House budget because of the Republican plan to restructure funding for public education, David exposed this plan on the House floor yesterday, explaining how it would force communities either to raise real estate taxes or lower the quality of public schools.

David met today with students and faculty from the Alexandria campus of the Northern Virginia Community College as a part of their “Everyday is Community College Day” program.  The students brought their concerns about budget cuts to the community college system proposed in this year’s budget.

After their meeting with David, the students and faculty viewed the day’s session from the House Gallery, where David introduced the group during the morning hour.

Last Thursday, the House and Senate each went through the initial round of votes on the state’s $78-billion biennial budget. A few days earlier, the Appropriations Committee released the House version of the budget, so I immersed myself in briefings and work groups to understand the details and differences between what the House, the Senate, and the Governor have placed before us. The current $2-billion revenue shortfall makes this an especially challenging year to come up with a budget that balances important competing needs in areas like education, health care, public safety, transportation, and the environment.

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RICHMOND – The General Assembly today passed House Bill 805, sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-45), to establish a statewide registry for living wills and advanced medical directives so medical professionals and emergency responders can access these documents when they are needed most.

“This legislation will be an instrument to provide equal legal protection to all Virginians, including gay and lesbian couples, during medical emergencies,” said Englin. “While all Virginians can benefit from this registry, in particular it will enable gay and lesbian Virginians to designate their partners as the people to make medical decisions on their behalf — a legal power married couples enjoy by default.”

House Bill 805 passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 95 to 4 on Feb. 12, and it passed the Senate unanimously today. For more information on Englin and his legislative agenda, visit http://www.DavidEnglin.org.

RICHMOND – The General Assembly passed two bills Friday sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-45) that will strengthen the democratic process by improving Virginia election law.

House Bill 798 will allow military and overseas voters to receive absentee balloting materials electronically, making it easier for them to exercise their right to vote while deployed to far-flung locations around the world.

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Taking advantage of the President’s Day school holiday, Shayna and Caleb visited David in Richmond today — their first visit to the Capitol while the General Assembly was in session.

David showed Caleb his desk in the chamber of the House of Delegates, where later in the week David would defend Caleb’s public elementary school by voting against the budget proposed by House Republicans that would gut state money for public education in future years.

RICHMOND – The General Assembly today passed House Bill 806, sponsored by Del. David Englin (D-45) to require rapid reporting to the Department of Health of infectious disease outbreaks at assisted living residences, adult day care centers, child care centers, and certain licensed group homes.

“This bill will save lives,” said Englin. “By forcing facilities to bring in the Department of Health as soon as an outbreak occurs, we will get public health professionals on the scene as quickly as possible to contain an outbreak and protect our most vulnerable citizens.”
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Last week was the deadline by which a bill must have passed the House and crossed over to the Senate (or visa-versa) to remain alive. I am pleased to report that several of my bills made it through “crossover” and have moved forward.

My bills to add WaterSense products to the Energy Star sales tax holiday, to better proliferate the autism training available to law enforcement personnel, and to correct a problem that delayed vote tallies in Fairfax County each moved forward after being combined with similar bills. Five of my bills passed the House of Delegates outright and are now being considered by the Virginia Senate:

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RICHMOND – Delegate David Englin today released an update on the status of his 2008 legislative package, noting that his top priority for this year’s General Assembly session has already been achieved.

“My top legislative priority this year was defeating the effort to dismantle the Air Pollution Control Board so we can continue working with the board to rein in pollution from the Mirant Plant. I’m pleased to report that we have won that fight,” said Englin. “Beyond that, I put forward an ambitious agenda of new ideas to strengthen our community, defend our progressive values, and invest in our future, and many of those bills have moved forward.”

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Noting overwhelming public support for the proposals, David yesterday urged the House Republican leadership to allow the various smoke-free restaurant and workplace bills to receive a full, fair, and open hearing and a vote on the House floor. House Republicans continue to kill these bills in subcommittee with no recorded vote. Here is video of David’s remarks: