Legislative Update; May 5, 2006
Again this week I report that the state has yet to adopt a budget for Fiscal Years 2006-2008. The budget deliberations are beginning to remind me of the pink bunny, on the commercials, beating the drum, “they just keep going and going and going…” This week there have been some actions taken towards finalizing the budget.
First the House Finance Committee heard four Senate Bills that addressed regional and statewide transportation funding. SB 5013 – Funding Transportation in the Commonwealth, SB 5014 – Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, SB 5105 – Interstate 81 Transportation Authorities and SB 5016 Supplemental Transportation Funding for Northern Virginia. These bills were tabled until August of this year. The House Finance Committee reasoned in their decision to table that the House budget bill which calls for funding all of the other elements of government except transportation and proposes the General Assembly return in September would be the quicker way to resolve the transportation funding issue .
This would allow local and state government to move forward with budgets and to work out the intricacies of transportation funding in September. Similar action was taken in 1986 when Governor Baliles sought to solve a similar transportation funding issue. So, in order to have their actions coincide with the House budget bill the Finance Committee voted unanimously to table the Senate revenue bills until August.
The Senate and House budget negotiators have made some progress on the “caboose” budget bill. This bill finishes the budget for the remaining portion of fiscal year 05-06, ending June 30, 2006. It appropriates the additional funds that have come into the state budget since the 2005 General Assembly. This bill is critical to make year ending adjustments to state funding for the completion of the current budget year. It is my hope that this negotiation will be successful and that it will lead to productive discussion on the budget for the coming biennium 2007-2008. The House will reconvene Wednesday May 10th to take up this bill if the budget conferees successfully resolve the “caboose” budget and submit their recommendations to the House and Senate.
I have also kept myself busy within the district. Last weekend I found myself out of breath from bouncing from one event to the next. On Saturday, April 29th, I started my morning with Delegates Orrock and Peace and Senator McDougle in Caroline County at a GOP breakfast. From there I joined with Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and local government officials, Supervisor Woody Hinson and Mayor Pete Bone, at James Monroe’s birthplace for a Celebration of his Birthday.
After that the fun and games really began, literally. I headed to opening day of the Northumberland County Little League. Throwing the first pitch of the season was a thrill that was quickly surpassed by the look of excitement and anticipation in the eyes of all the Little Leaguers.
Afterwards, I headed back to Westmoreland to join with the others from the community to honor the service of Tuskegee Airman Charles Bernard Smith. Smith was a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in World War II, whose courageousness can only partially be symbolized by the road marker dedicated to him that day.
At the end of the day my wife, Kathryn, and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for the Westmoreland/Richmond County branch of Habitat for Humanity. We were happy to do what we could for such a great organization, which provides so much to our communities. While I was there I learned that one of the problems the organization is facing is a lack of volunteers. I would like to urge any individuals who could contribute their time and effort to this organization to contact them at 804-493-1500.
I would also like to urge you to contact me if I can ever be of assistance. I can be reached by phone at 804-493-0508, or email at robwittman@verizon.net.
First the House Finance Committee heard four Senate Bills that addressed regional and statewide transportation funding. SB 5013 – Funding Transportation in the Commonwealth, SB 5014 – Hampton Roads Transportation Authority, SB 5105 – Interstate 81 Transportation Authorities and SB 5016 Supplemental Transportation Funding for Northern Virginia. These bills were tabled until August of this year. The House Finance Committee reasoned in their decision to table that the House budget bill which calls for funding all of the other elements of government except transportation and proposes the General Assembly return in September would be the quicker way to resolve the transportation funding issue .
This would allow local and state government to move forward with budgets and to work out the intricacies of transportation funding in September. Similar action was taken in 1986 when Governor Baliles sought to solve a similar transportation funding issue. So, in order to have their actions coincide with the House budget bill the Finance Committee voted unanimously to table the Senate revenue bills until August.
The Senate and House budget negotiators have made some progress on the “caboose” budget bill. This bill finishes the budget for the remaining portion of fiscal year 05-06, ending June 30, 2006. It appropriates the additional funds that have come into the state budget since the 2005 General Assembly. This bill is critical to make year ending adjustments to state funding for the completion of the current budget year. It is my hope that this negotiation will be successful and that it will lead to productive discussion on the budget for the coming biennium 2007-2008. The House will reconvene Wednesday May 10th to take up this bill if the budget conferees successfully resolve the “caboose” budget and submit their recommendations to the House and Senate.
I have also kept myself busy within the district. Last weekend I found myself out of breath from bouncing from one event to the next. On Saturday, April 29th, I started my morning with Delegates Orrock and Peace and Senator McDougle in Caroline County at a GOP breakfast. From there I joined with Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and local government officials, Supervisor Woody Hinson and Mayor Pete Bone, at James Monroe’s birthplace for a Celebration of his Birthday.
After that the fun and games really began, literally. I headed to opening day of the Northumberland County Little League. Throwing the first pitch of the season was a thrill that was quickly surpassed by the look of excitement and anticipation in the eyes of all the Little Leaguers.
Afterwards, I headed back to Westmoreland to join with the others from the community to honor the service of Tuskegee Airman Charles Bernard Smith. Smith was a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in World War II, whose courageousness can only partially be symbolized by the road marker dedicated to him that day.
At the end of the day my wife, Kathryn, and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for the Westmoreland/Richmond County branch of Habitat for Humanity. We were happy to do what we could for such a great organization, which provides so much to our communities. While I was there I learned that one of the problems the organization is facing is a lack of volunteers. I would like to urge any individuals who could contribute their time and effort to this organization to contact them at 804-493-1500.
I would also like to urge you to contact me if I can ever be of assistance. I can be reached by phone at 804-493-0508, or email at robwittman@verizon.net.
posted by Blake Hite at 2:05 PM
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