Due to a communications error, Delegate Englin’s 2008 Legislative Session update newsletter incorrectly stated that: “Computer-related items priced at $1,500 or less are now included among the items for which no sales tax will be charged.”  School computer supplies may not be purchased free of tax.  The exemption applies to school supplies with a selling price of $20 or less each, as well as each article of clothing or footwear with a selling price of $100 or less each. 

There is no limit on the number of tax-exempt items a consumer may buy.  There is also no requirement that the items be purchased for school purposes.  Anyone who buys these items during the three-day sales tax holiday will not pay the sales tax.

“School supply,” means an item that is commonly used by a student in a course of study.  For purposes of the sales tax holiday, the term includes, “school art supply,” “school instructional material,” and “school music supply.”

“Clothing” means any article of wearing apparel and typical footwear intended to be worn on or about the human body.  Clothing does not include sporting equipment or footwear designed primarily for athletic activity or protective use and not usually considered appropriate for everyday wear.  These items may not be purchased free of the tax.

A complete list of which items qualify for the 2008 Back to School Sales Tax Holiday can be found online at www.tax.virginia.gov.  This includes policy guidelines for the tax holiday, a list of frequently asked questions, an all-inclusive list of eligible school supplies, a representative list of eligible clothing, and a PowerPoint presentation.

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If you’re not up for knocking on doors, we also have several mailings to get out so we can continue building the grassroots and growing the circle of support to deliver Virginia for Barack Obama and Mark Warner this November.

Here are the details: 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, 1505 Wayne St, Alexandria, VA. (Click here for directions — we’re just a short walk from the Braddock Rd Metro.) We provide the pizza, drinks, and camaraderie — you bring your commitment to progress!

Let us know you’re coming at info@davidenglin.org or 703-549-3203.

“This was a consensus bill that would have delivered significant transportation funds while simultaneously cutting the food tax to help families struggling to make ends meet,” said Delegate David Englin (D-Alexandria).  “It’s very disappointing that House Republicans decided to derail these infrastructure investments, which would have improved the quality of life and business for so many Virginians.

Virginia’s business community, including statewide and regional Chambers of Commerce, consistently call for action on critical infrastructure needs essential to a strong economy.  The people of Virginia are clear in their call for relief from crippling traffic congestion in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.  House Republicans have opposed every single transportation solution.

“This package was essential to building a strong business climate and getting Virginia moving again.  I can’t believe they opposed a plan that would have created 35,000 new jobs in Virginia in this struggling economy,” said Brian Moran, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.  “People will continue to be stuck in traffic and families will travel on unsafe bridges because of this abdication of leadership.”

The amendment offered today addressed the statewide maintenance deficit, regional congestion in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, and reduced the sales tax on food by 20%.  The amended transportation plan would generate approximately $5.5 billion over the next 7 years - nearly 80% of the plan’s original revenue.

“The Republicans never offered a comprehensive plan of their own.  They said ‘no’ to the Governor’s plan.  They said ‘no’ to compromise.  Now, they’ve said ‘no’ to any solution at all.  Virginia deserves real leadership not this Republican game playing.  They continuously obstruct, oppose and delay,” said House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong.

Demand for transportation is outstripping supply: 9% of Virginia’s road miles have been built in the last 20 years.  In the same time, Virginians are traveling 80% more, own 61% more cars and there are 36% more drivers.

“When I called the special session, I asked that the legislature work together to find a solution to our transportation funding challenges,” said Governor Tim Kaine.  “The House and Senate Democrats rose to the challenge and came together to move Virginia closer to a meaningful transportation solution.  But House Republican leadership, once again, stood in the way, rejecting legislation that originated in the Senate.  The citizens of Virginia deserved better.”

“The House Republicans killed a plan that brought us one step closer to a transportation solution yet failed, for years, to come up with a comprehensive plan of their own,” said Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw.

“For years they have failed to act and for years our traffic congestion has gotten worse,” said Mary Margaret Whipple, Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Here are the bills David successfully passed during the 2008 General Assembly session that become law today:

Advanced Medical Directives Registry: Requires the Department of Health to establish a statewide registry for living wills and advanced medical directives to help all Virginians — including same-sex couples — specify who may make medical decisions for them if they are incapacitated. (Note: The Department of Health has 270 days from today to implement this program.)

Infectious Disease Response: Requires 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, saving lives by bringing in public health experts as soon as an outbreak occurs.

Pedestrian-Friendly Development: Prevents the Virginia Department of Transportation from denying construction permits after the fact for otherwise permissible pedestrian improvements that already have been negotiated between developers and local governments.

Military Absentee Voting: Allows 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.

Special Elections: Prevents confusion and delay for voters by ensuring that election laws will not change midstream during a special election, solving a problem that occurred during a special City Council election in Alexandria.

Here are the details:

• Register Online: You can renew your registration online at www.dmvNOW.com.  In addition to avoiding the $5 fee, you will also receive an additional $1 discount.
• Register by Mail: Customers who are due for renewal will receive a notice by mail and will receive their decal within 15 days.
• Register by Phone: DMV’s automated phone service is available at 1-888-337-4782.
• Visit a DMV Select office: DMV has 50 offices statewide that perform vehicle registrations without the long lines of regular service centers.  You can find a list of local DMV Select Centers here.

If you need to visit a DMV Customer Service Center to complete a transaction that cannot be completed online (such as applying for an original driver’s license) you can renew your vehicle registration while you are there and avoid the $5 fee.

DMV is also offering a $2 discount to customers who renew their vehicle registrations for two years.  For more information, visit DMV’s Website or call toll-free at 1-866-DMVLINE (1-866-368-5463).

“Shayna and I were both truly inspired to see so many friends and neighbors coming together in our home to work for change and progress,” said David.

Thanks to the hard work of our Team Englin volunteers, we got out thousands of pieces of mail, including our monthly welcome letter to newly-registered voters, a massive mailing to local businesses soliciting input for a new economic development initiative, and fundraising letters to raise the resources to keep up our grassroots push to deliver Virginia for Democrats this November.

Click here to join our team, and mark your calendar for our next Volunteer Night on July 23.

The online survey, released this week at www.DavidEnglin.org/survey, outlines a number of potential statewide and regional funding options, including how much money each option would raise. The survey asks respondents to identify which options they support and to suggest their own ideas, while also giving Englin’s constituents an opportunity to share their views on a number of other issues facing the General Assembly.

“It’s imperative to the strength of our economy, our quality of life, and to public safety that we come up with the money necessary to maintain our roads and bridges, invest in rail and transit, and improve our transportation infrastructure,” said Englin. “I’m blessed to represent some of the most educated and engaged constituents in the country, and their advice and feedback through this survey will be immensely helpful as we work together towards a solution.”

Residents of the 45th District, which includes parts of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County, are encouraged to visit www.DavidEnglin.org/survey to complete the survey before the start of the special session on June 23.

“Our Legislative Heroes show special dedication to conservation priorities,” said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League. “These legislators deserve a special show of support for their hard work and dedication to environment.

“It’s an honor to stand with Virginia’s advocates for conservation and environmental protection,” said Englin. “While we achieved a key victory this year by preserving the power of the Air Pollution Control Board and Virginia’s other citizen environmental boards, we must keep fighting for progress in other areas — particularly climate change.”

Englin was a key leader in the successful fight to defeat an effort to dismantle the citizen environmental boards during this year’s General Assembly session. He also sponsored several pieces of legislation to address the growing threat of climate change, but House Republicans defeated these bills in committee.

Englin was among 41 legislators awarded this recognition this year.

For more information about Englin’s agenda and legislative efforts, visit www.DavidEnglin.org/issues.

“This will be an important opportunity to ensure that local governments have the tools they need to work with the private sector — and especially with small businesses — to create jobs and promote economic development,” said Englin.  “Small businesses are integral to the very fabric of our community here in the 45th District, so I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work with my colleagues on this new subcommittee to strengthen our community and our economy by strengthening small businesses.”

The purpose of the committee is to examine the economic development incentives that localities are permitted to provide to private businesses, with a particular eye toward evaluating the impact on small businesses.

For more information on the Joint Subcommittee on Local Incentives to Private Businesses for Economic Development, contact Englin’s office at DelDEnglin@house.state.va.us or 703-549-3203.

“What an amazing evening!” said David. “This is the kind of grassroots energy that will deliver the kind of change and progress all Virginians deserve. Shayna and I are incredibly lucky to have friends like you working with us for change.”

Click here to sign up and become part of Team Englin’s fight for change and progress for the future.

“In addition to providing a measure of help to people trying to be ready for emergencies in these tough economic times, I hope this holiday will highlight the need for people to be ready and plan for emergencies,” said David.

The General Assembly of Virginia approved the tax holiday during the 2008 Legislative Session. The following items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the tax holiday (as long as the item is priced less than $60):

• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice
• Batteries (excluding automobile or boat batteries), including
  • AAA cell
  • AA cell
  • C cell
  • D cell
  • 6 volt
  • 9 volt
  • Cell phone batteries
• Any portable self-powered light sources including
  • Flashlights
  • Lanterns
  • Glow sticks
• Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Bungee cords, rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Gas or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers
• Nonelectric food storage coolers
• Bottled water
• Manual can openers
• Portable self-powered radios (including self-powered radios with electrical power capability)
• Two-way radios
• Weather band radios and NOAA weather radios
• Storm shutter devices
• Cell phone chargers
• First Aid Kits

In addition, the following items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the tax holiday (as long as the item is priced less than $1,000):

• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables

The Virginia Department of Taxation’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines and Rules are available online at http://www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday.

For additional information on hurricane preparation, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at http://www.vaemergency.com.

Each year beginning in 1988, the City of Alexandria has sponsored a civic ceremony observing the Days of Remembrance of the Holocaust.

When: Saturday, June 7, 2008, 8:00am (start time)
Where: George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301
Registration: Available online through June 4th; Mail-in through May 31st; Day of race 6:45 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.
Register online for the race here.

“I’m so incredibly grateful that you would give your time and energy on a beautiful spring evening to help me reach out to constituents and supporters,” said David in a thank you note to volunteers.  “So many people came out on Thursday that volunteers were stuffing envelopes on blankets on the front lawn!”

Over the course of the two evenings, volunteers stuffed thousands of envelopes to update 45th District constituents on this year’s General Assembly session and to welcome newly registered voters.  Perhaps most significant, more than 20 people were first-time Team Englin volunteers — despite the fact that David is not on the ballot until November 2009.

“One of my goals continues to be building the grassroots and empowering people to make change,” said David.  “Therefore, it’s immensely gratifying to see so many new people getting involved for the first time.  Whatever good I am able to accomplish as your delegate is only possible because I have friends like you willing to do the grassroots work necessary to make change.”

Click here to send us your email so we can let you know about future opportunities to get involved!

“When we ensure access to contraception and accurate sex education, we empower women socially and economically and we reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, which is the best way to reduce abortions,” said David.  “I’m proud to work hand-in-hand with NARAL to promote prevention and contraception and to defend the right of every person to determine his or her own reproductive destiny.”

Click here for a copy of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia’s 2008 legislative scorecard, which rates legislators based on their votes on critical legislation affecting reproductive health care issues.

“I always enjoy meeting with constituents, hearing what they have to say, and sharing my thoughts on the legislative session,” said David.  “This was a tough year in terms of the budget, but we still managed to make progress on some fronts, and I was pleased to deliver several pieces of legislation that will strengthen our community, defend our community’s progressive values, and invest in our future.”

Click here for David’s overview of the 2008 General Assembly session.

“Campaigning or not, Englin has support”
by David Sachs, Alexandria Times, April 18, 2008

Del. David Englin (D-45) is not on any ballot, and likely won’t be, until he is up for reelection in 2009. But that did not stop dozens of volunteers from stuffing several thousand envelopes at the delegate’s campaign headquarters — his Del Ray home.

Such early support among Englin’s followers indicates a different kind of politician and a distinctive approach to constituents than a traditional delegate, according to volunteers who attended the casual envelope-stuffing event over a few beers last [Thursday].

“He’s constantly seeking input from us about issues,” said volunteer Wally Sinaiko, who began his political volunteer career working for Harry Truman’s cause. “He tells you what he’s doing, and he keeps people informed.”

Mailings were sent out to area constituents informing the Commonwealth’s citizens about the 2008 General Assembly session, at which 889 bills were passed. Volunteers said that Englin’s transparency and straightforwardness drew them to his causes and “progressive” demeanor.

A neighbor and Englin volunteer, Tania Blagrove said that lending some help was an easy decision because she’d attended a mass-stuffing event before. But this time, she brought her 13 year-old daughter, Nadia. She did not have to drag her by the heels, either.

“My daughter said to me, ‘Oh, can I come?’” Blagrove said. “They’re just really progressive kids.”

Nadia brought a group of friends, too. And though stuffing envelopes may not be the typical [Thursday] night hangout for 13 year-olds, Englin doesn’t seem to be the typical politician.

“To have so many people sitting on blankets on my front lawn, it’s great,” Englin said. “I think that one of my goals in 2005 was to empower people to produce change, and these efforts have made great grassroots supporters from the community.”

It’s not only the politician himself that make Englin unique, but also the issues he deems important, volunteers said. Supporters repeatedly noted civil rights and the environment as pertinent issues for them, and said that Englin understands his community in a way that surges these issues to the forefront in Richmond.

During the 2008 General Assembly session, Englin was the major patron of a law that hindered discriminatory housing practices, and worked to maintain a study on the effect of high-carbon-emitting generation facilities.

“Being involved with progressive issues has been a life-long thing for me,” Blagrove said. A long time activist, Blagrove added that civil rights and the environment are just two issues on her personal docket.

Sinaiko said that while he does not necessarily agree with all of Englin’s stances, his approach is well organized and locally oriented. “The first time I met him, he walked by my home and knocked on my door,” Sinaiko said. “He just made a lot of sense. I was impressed.”

“This was one of our best turnouts ever,” Englin said. “Especially without campaigning.”

[Note: While the original article reported that the Volunteer Night was on Friday evening, it was actually on Thursday evening; the Englins cannot participate in Friday evening events because of their observance of Shabbat.]

The Free File Alliance is a voluntary coalition of tax software preparation companies that partner with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free tax preparation services to millions of Americans. Through the Free File Alliance, 70 percent of taxpayers can file online for free in 2008, including all 95 million taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $54,000 or less.

The Virginia Department of Taxation’s iFile program provides free online filing of state income taxes.  You can prepare and file your state taxes, request an extension, and and make payments online.  Answers to frequently asked questions about the iFile program can be found here.

While his opponents either equivocated or expressed support for something short of complete marriage equality, David was strong and clear: “Calling it ‘marriage’ does make a difference.”

David also noted that he is the only candidate who has faced personal risk — not merely political risk — to defend gay and lesbian rights. As a military officer stationed at George Bush’s Pentagon and while deployed to combat zones overseas, David spoke out for gay rights to both peers and far more senior officers.

David was also clear that the only way to see real progress on a range of Democratic issues will be to build a new Democratic majority in Virginia.

“I’m doing that every day through my campaign. This is a grassroots movement, not just a campaign for the House of Delegates,” said David. “My son, Caleb, is in kindergarten, and my ambition is to make sure that when he graduates from high school, he graduates into a Democratic Virginia.”

Late yesterday evening, the 2008 session of the General Assembly officially adjourned. While it took a few extra days to hammer out the details, we made some tough choices in the face of a $2-billion revenue shortfall driven by the national economic downturn, and we ultimately passed a two-year $77-billion budget that will: protect public education; reign in college tuition; make significant investments in the mental health system and in community-based services for the intellectually disabled; fund “Alicia’s Law” to crack down on internet predators targeting children; overturn an effort to deny state money to Planned Parenthood; expand prenatal care for poor women; and support a modest expansion of pre-kindergarten for poor children.

We will return to Richmond on April 23 to consider the Governor’s vetoes and amendments and for (hopefully brief) special sessions to address the transportation plan that was invalidated by the recent Virginia Supreme Court decision and to finalize the $1.2-billion bond package I am co-sponsoring to fund higher education construction projects, mental health facilities, and parks projects. However, now that the regular session is over, here is a summary of my work on your behalf during the first couple of months of my second term serving the people of the 45th District:

Defended public education - Halfway through the legislative session, House Republicans slipped language into the budget to restructure the way the state funds public education in future years. One of just five Delegates to vote against the initial House budget because of this language, I was one of the first legislators to expose this plan on the House floor and show how it would force communities either to raise real estate taxes or lower the quality of public schools. Under mounting pressure from Democrats and other public education advocates, House Republicans eventually abandoned their plan, clearing the way for me to support last night’s final negotiated budget.

Preserved the Air Pollution Control Board - Going into this session, my top priority 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. The original bill would have gutted the board’s permitting authority. After weeks of intensive lobbying and negotiations, we turned the initial, objectionable bill into legislation that preserves the board’s full power and authority and strengthens financial conflict of interest rules for board members. This is a significant victory in our fight against the Mirant Plant that could not have been achieved without the hard work of local officials and citizens working together.

Passed legislation to establish statewide Advanced Medical Directives Registry - House Bill 805 will 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. 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.

Strengthened response to infectious disease outbreaks - House Bill 806 requires 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 by forcing facilities to bring in the Department of Health as soon as an outbreak occurs. Last year a serious outbreak of norovirus at an assisted living facility in Arlington County went unreported for nine days, resulting in 85 elderly people getting sick when they otherwise might have been protected.

Passed election reform legislation - House Bill 798 allows 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. House Bill 800 prevents election rules from
changing midstream during a special election — a problem that occurred during last summer’s special election for Alexandria City Council.

Made progress for special needs children - House Bill 808 was a preemptive move against a proposed change to existing regulations that require parental consent for changes to special education services. The bill was carried over until next year to give the Board of Education an opportunity to preserve parental consent without legislation. Because of this legislation, hundreds of parents have contacted the Board of Education, and Governor Kaine has publicly committed to preserving the parental consent requirement. Additionally, my legislation to better proliferate training to help law enforcement officials better understand and appropriately interact with autistic and developmentally disabled children and adults was combined with Del. Shannon Valentine’s more broad autism study and passed unanimously.

Repealed abusive driver fees, reformed payday lending industry - I was pleased to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to repeal the misguided abusive driver fees that passed last year over my objection. I also supported the successful bipartisan effort to reform the payday lending industry by capping interest rates on these short-term loans at 36 percent, limiting the number of loans an individual can take out per year, and creating additional rules to prevent people in already tenuous financial situations from falling into a spiral of debt from which they will never recover.

Disappointments included smoke-free legislation, rental assistance pilot project — As one of the chief advocates of legislation to create smoke-free restaurants and workplaces, I was disappointed that a House subcommittee once again killed every one of these bills without so much as a recorded vote. The good news is that the overwhelming majority of Virginians support these efforts, so it’s only a matter of time before the people’s elected representatives heed the will of their constituents. For the second year in a row, the Housing Subcommittee and General Laws Committee unanimously approved my legislation to create a rental assistance pilot project to help move people from homelessness to work-based financial independence. However, given the extremely tight budget situation, there was no money for the Appropriations Committee to move forward with the program. Rest assured that I will continue to fight for these important measures in the future.

As always, thank you for your advice and support and for giving me the honor of serving our community in the General Assembly. I especially want to thank the many friends who have stepped in to lend Shayna a hand juggling Caleb and work in my absence. Whatever good I am able to accomplish for our community in Richmond is only possible because of the friends, volunteers, constituents, and supporters who continue to stand with me. Thank you!