Archive for February, 2008
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.
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.
