Blog

In the Virginia General Assembly, this was known as crossover week. Crossover is the day that the House of Delegates must complete its work on the nearly 1,300 House Bills introduced this session.

A great deal has been accomplished in the five weeks since the start of Session with over 400 bills, covering a wide range of issues, having passed the House. As a member of four committees (Transportation, Education, Commerce & Labor, and Science & Technology) and chair of two subcommittees (Transportation and Higher Education), I stayed busy keeping up-to-date on the bills before me. I also introduced 20 bills and eight resolutions with many of them advancing to the State Senate.

Over one-third of the bills the House has passed relate to my core focus of the session — helping businesses create jobs, expanding education opportunities, initiating transportation improvements, keeping our communities safe, and making our government more efficient and effective. These areas of focus will also be addressed in the budget, which is scheduled to be voted on by the House of Delegates in the coming weeks.

I enjoy meeting with residents from our communities in Herndon, Sterling, Oak Hill, Chantilly, and Fox Mill who visit me in Richmond.  I also receive many emails, letters, and phone calls from resident’s expressing their ideas and thoughts on the legislation before us. I use this information in these correspondences to evaluate bills and ask questions.

Thank you for your advice and allowing me to represent you during this General Assembly Session.

WINTER WEATHER REMINDER

I want to remind you that with predicted weather event this weekend, you have the ability to track the progress of snowplows in your neighborhood and the status of roads in your area (please remember that this is not activated until 2 inches of snow is on the ground).  You can check it out at this link:  http://novasnowplowing.virginiagov.  Should you need to report a problem to VDOT that needs immediate attention, you can call 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).

I received great news this week from VDOT:  You will now have the ability to view and be able to find out whether crews are plowing, have plowed or have not started plowing your area once 2 inches of snow has accumulated.  Once you enter an address, a color-coded snow map (one of over 600) will indicate the plowing status in that area.  You can view a video on how to use the new site at http://youtu.be/HMRaItZLgyo.  To visit the Snow Map website, visit http://novasnowplowing.virginia.gov. Please note that the website only tracks VDOT maintained neighborhoods and that the website is only active when two or more inches of snow have fallen.  Of course, now all that is needed is the snow (or not!)

UPDATE ON THE VIRGINIA ECONOMY and STATE BUDGET

Governor Bob McDonnell met this week with leadership from the Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees to discuss the mid-session review of the official revenue forecast used to develop his proposed 2012-2014 Biennial Budget. Virginia remains in a slow-growth scenario, with no significant change in real gross domestic product, rate of employment growth, or wages and salaries from estimates used in November to draft the governor’s proposed budget. The mid-session review of revenue involves updated economic information on the national and state economies and a review of data on actual revenue collections for the first seven months of the fiscal year.

The Governor noted that the largest source of revenue, personal income tax, which makes up about two-thirds of the general fund, was running about one percent behind the official revenue forecast. Sales and corporate income taxes, which make up about one-quarter of the general fund, were slightly ahead of the forecast. The total general fund revenue collections have increased by 4 percent through January, slightly behind the official revenue forecast of 4.6 percent growth. The State Lottery Board chairman indicated that Lottery profits could be increased by $7 million for a total of $461.4 million during fiscal year 2012.

This Sunday, February 19th, the Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees are due to report out their respective versions of the budget bill.

VDOT Meets or Exceeds All Project Completion and Budget Goals for the First Time in Two Years

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) met its goals for completing all construction and maintenance projects both on time and on budget during the period of October through December 2011- the second quarter of its 2012 fiscal year-the first time the agency has met all of these goals since FY 2010. VDOT released these results in its most recent quarterly report card during the monthly meeting of the Commonwealth Transportation Board this Wednesday.

Following an investment in transportation made during last year’s General Assembly session, advancing more than 900 projects, VDOT had 340 maintenance and construction projects due for completion during the quarter that ended Dec. 31, 2011. Of those contracts, 262, or 77.1 percent, were completed both on time and within budget. The target was 77 percent.

VDOT completed 87 percent of its construction projects (47 out of 54) on time, surpassing its 75 percent target for the quarter. The agency completed 79.7 percent of its maintenance projects (or 228 out of 286) on time, exceeding the 77 percent goal.

Of the 51 construction projects completed by the end of the second quarter of FY 2012, VDOT completed 50, or 98 percent, within budget, exceeding its target of 82 percent. VDOT completed 93 percent of its maintenance contracts within budget, or 252 out of 270, exceeding the target of 90 percent.

The construction quality rating for the quarter was 90.4 percent, which came in just under the 91 percent target. This measurement tracks VDOT’s commitment to building quality roads and bridges while seeking opportunity for continuous improvement.

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This was the busiest week at the General Assembly so far.  17 of my bills were heard in either subcommittee, committee, or on the floor of the House of Delegates.  I am happy to report that most of my bills are still active, so I am looking forward to another busy week next week.  You can check the status of my bills by visiting the General Assembly website.

At this point I have only had 3 of my bills defeated.  HB874 would have moved using your handheld personal communication device (phone) to text, from a secondary offense to a primary offense.  There were some 7-8 bills of the same type on this issue and I was asked to ‘take the lead’ and present my bill which incorporated the others.  Even after my presentation of extensive facts in support of HB874 and testimony of many groups in support, the bill (and all others) was defeated in subcommittee by a vote of 3-1.  Basically rural legislators voted ‘no’ and the urban/suburban legislator’s voted ‘yes’.  I am commenting on this bill specifically because so many of you have contacted me or discussed with me how important this issue is to you.  This is an annual issue at the General Assembly and I will continue to work on it.

Skype Session

Earlier today, I had the privilege of ‘skyping’ with a fourth grade class at Forest Grove Elementary School in Sterling.  Isn’t technology a wonderful tool!  I had the opportunity to tell the students what I was doing at the General Assembly and they had the opportunity to ask me questions about the bills I am working on.  We had a great discussion and they asked inquisitive questions.  One student asked “What is the hardest thing you have voted on in the House of Delegates?”  I responded that the budget is always difficult because it has so many components.  I am looking forward to visiting their class in person later this year and continuing our discussion.

Transportation Legislation

The Governor has asked me to be the floor leader for his transportation funding bill, HB1248, so I want to take this opportunity to review with you the various details of the bill.  HB1248 provides for construction, operation and maintenance, and funding by:

• Creating transportation construction districts and the Transportation Improvement District Fund to identify, construct, and fund certain transportation projects, including the authority to issue revenue bonds
• Creating the Virginia Toll Road Authority to fund transportation projects through tolls and other charges
• Increasing the dedicated transportation allocation of the existing sales and use tax from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, phased in over eight years, with the additional revenue dedicated for highway maintenance and operation
• Increasing transportation’s share of year-end surpluses from 66 percent to 75 percent
• Dedicating a portion of revenue growth in the General Fund each year to transportation
• Requiring localities to create transportation plans as part of comprehensive planning.
• Authorizing the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to name highways, bridges, interchanges, and other transportation facilities for private entities if an annual naming rights fee is paid, with the revenue dedicated to highway maintenance and operation.
• Granting the CTB greater responsibilities involving integration of land use and transportation planning and authorizes the CTB to withhold federal and state funds for certain local or regional capital improvement projects if those projects are inconsistent with the Statewide Transportation Plan or the Six-Year Improvement Program.
• Providing special allocations by the CTB for bridge reconstruction, high priority highway projects, and reconstruction of highways with particularly deteriorated pavements.
• Providing the performance of maintenance projects directly by VDOT when it can be demonstrated to the Commissioner or the CTB that VDOT can do it at lesser cost than an outside contractor.

The Governor’s funding package will provide $180 million to fund high priority projects (those that will reduce congestion, increase safety, create jobs, or increase economic development) in the FY13 through FY18 SYIP.  Some of the key projects that have been identified in the Northern Virginia District include the redesign of I-66 and Route 28 interchange, intersection improvements at Route 28 and Piper Lane, Purcell Road improvements, and Balls Ford Road improvements.

The other major transportation bill which I am chief patron of is HB864 which, if passed, would change the composition of the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to give more representation to the urban areas.

I welcome your comments on these bills as they will both begin the hearing/committee process next week.

A Little Bit of History

Did you know that the Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuously sitting legislative body in the western hemisphere!  Last weekend I had the honor of representing the 86^th District at the 25^th Joint Commemorative General Assembly session in Williamsburg.  This unique event only happens once every four years and it reminded me of Virginia’s rich heritage.  As you may know, Richmond is actually the third capital of Virginia; the first being Jamestown and the second being Williamsburg.

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While much of my week was spent in committee meetings or on the floor of the House, my staff and I continue to meet with individuals and organizations regarding legislation pending before the House.  This week we had visitors from several universities, public schools, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Humane Society, Jewish Community Relations Council, Virginia Regional Transit, Virginia Space Grant Consortium, and Virginia Tourism to name a few.

I invite you to visit the General Assembly website to review the proposed legislation that the General Assembly will be voting on, to view the General Assembly sessions live each day beginning at noon, and take a virtual tour of the Capitol, among many other things. Of course, you are always invited to visit me in Richmond to see the legislative process first hand!

I welcome you to contact me during the session to voice your opinions on legislation that is before the General Assembly; I can be reached by phone at 804-698-1086 or by email at DelTRust@house.virginia.gov. You can also ‘like’ me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate – it is truly an honor.

This has been an extremely busy week for me because many of my bills were heard in committee and many people have met with me and my staff.  For a complete listing of my bills and their status, please visit the Virginia General Assembly website.  This week the Rust Report will focus on education. Let me start off by saying that I noticed several parallels in regards to education between the State of the Union address by President Obama and the State of the Commonwealth address by Governor McDonnell.  Issues such as better pay for better teachers, keeping college tuition down, and recognizing great teachers are important ways to insure academic success.  Quality education is a non-partisan issue and we will continue to emphasize the importance of a great education in the Commonwealth.

Opportunity to Learn

Governor McDonnell’s “Opportunity to Learn” K-12 education agenda focuses on raising standards for schools and teachers, reducing mandates on local school divisions, expanding educational options for Virginia students, enhancing teacher quality, and funding for critical education and training programs.

Raise Standards – College and Workforce Readiness:

• Streamline diploma requirements
• Establish a positive youth development academy pilot program
• Allow dual enrollment for high school students (see next article)
• Advance literacy by revising the Standards of Quality

Reduce Mandates on local school divisions:

• Repeal the requirement that schools must begin after Labor Day unless a waiver is granted (I am patron of the bill)

Expand educational options for Virginia students:

• Provide structured support for innovative learning, such as with charter schools, college partnership laboratory schools and virtual schools
• Establish new regulations for virtual schools and virtual school teachers.
• College Partnership Laboratory School enhancements
• Educational Improvement Scholarship

Enhance Teacher Quality

• Establish an annual contract and evaluation process

Funding

• Increase K-12 public education funding by 3.5% ($195 million) in FY13 and by 4.4% ($243 million) in FY14 from the 2012 budget.
• Invest an additional $302.8 million to strengthen the VA Retirement System for school employees.
• Increasing the Standards of Quality rebenchmarking costs
• Update the composite index formula (I have a bill which would lower the Composite Index for the benefit of Fairfax, Loudoun and other areas.)
• Increase funding dedicated to K-12 from sales tax and the Lottery

If you want to learn more about this, you can read the Governor’s “Opportunity to Learn” agenda at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2012/jan09_gov.shtml.

Bill Highlight

One of the bills that I am honored to carry for the Governor, HB1184, will allow students to complete an associate’s degree or a one year Uniform Certificate of General Studies from a Virginia Community College concurrent with a high school diploma. This dual enrollment legislation initiative would:

• Provide opportunities for high school students to earn college credit.
• Specify pathways and curricula concurrent with a high school diploma.
• Reduce post-secondary education costs by reducing time spent in college.
• Fast track students into college and workforce readiness.

Approximately 75% of Virginia public high schools offer dual enrollment, and this initiative would increase the likelihood of students enrolling in college and obtaining a college degree.  You can read the bill in its entirety here.

Where are the Snow Plows?

I received great news this week from VDOT:  You will now have the ability to view and be able to find out whether crews are plowing, have plowed or have not started plowing your area once 2 inches of snow has accumulated.  Once you enter an address, a color-coded snow map (one of over 600) will indicate the plowing status in that area.  You can view a video on how to use the new site at http://youtu.be/HMRaItZLgyo.  To visit the Snow Map website, visit http://novasnowplowing.virginia.gov. Please note that the website only tracks VDOT maintained neighborhoods and that the website is only active when two or more inches of snow have fallen.  Of course, now all that is needed is the snow (or not!)

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Thank you for reading another issue of the Rust Report from Richmond.  As I mentioned, my office has been busy meeting with people who represent the following organizations: NoVa Family Service, No Va Aging Network, Fx Co Chamber of Commerce, Lo Co Public Schools, Fx Co Public Schools, No Va Association of Realtors, Arts Council of Fx Co, Fx Co Retired Teachers, Arlington Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Charities, Virginia Society for Human Life, Southern Environmental Law Center, Wolf Trap Education, American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Tobacco Commission, The College Board, Virginia Education Association, Piedmont Environmental Council, Virginia Wilderness, Virginia Lottery, AARP, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Virginia Association of Museums, Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, Medical Society of Virginia, Virginia Dental Hygienists Association, Virginians for the Arts, The Virtual Library of Virginia, Virginia Horse Council and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

I invite you to visit the General Assembly website to review the proposed legislation that the General Assembly will be voting on, to view the General Assembly sessions live each day beginning at noon, and take a virtual tour of the Capitol, among many other things. Of course, you are always invited to visit me in Richmond to see the legislative process first hand!

I welcome you to contact me during the session; I can be reached by phone at 804-698-1086 or by email at DelTRust@house.virginia.gov. You can also ‘like’ me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate – it is truly an honor.

Thank you to those constituents who attended one of my three Town Hall meetings last weekend and participated in my teletown hall on Wednesday.  I enjoy the opportunity to have dialogue with residents about issues that are facing the Commonwealth.  These venues help me to better understand and represent the views of the residents.

This has been the first full week of the 2012 session, so I have been busy attending committee/subcommittee meetings, as well as meeting with people on bills which will come before me.  One of the ‘perks’ of being a legislator is that I learn a lot of things on a variety of subjects.  I try to look objectively at each piece of legislation before me and ask the ‘tough’ questions in order to discern the viability of a bill.  Some of the groups that have visited our offices this week include the Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools, Sierra Club, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Reston Interfaith and Northern Virginia Family Services.

Governor’s Budget

As promised in the last Rust Report, I wanted to take the opportunity to brief you on the Governor’s proposed budget.  During the next two months, the legislature will debate the proposed budget and make their recommendations.  A motto heard in the legislature is that the Governor proposes and the Legislature disposes! The debate will go on throughout the Session with the final budget being adopted the last three or four days of the session.

This is the largest budget in the history of the Commonwealth – $85 billion over two years!  The budget is composed of the General Fund (which comprises primarily the funds spent on education, health, human services and public safety; the legislature has the most control over this portion) and the Non-General Fund (which are dedicated revenues that the legislature has very little control over).  An alarming trend show that the General Fund portion of the budget has fallen to 41% (from about 50% 10 years ago when I was first elected), and the Non-General Fund has risen to 59%.

Where does the money come from?

• Income Tax (66%)
• Sale Tax (20%)
• Corporate Tax (5%)
• Miscellaneous (9%)

Where does the money go?

• Education ($32.5 B)
• Health & Human Resources ($25.5 B)
• Transportation ($9.8 B)
• Public Safety ($5.4 B)

The budget is built on several assumptions including:

• Employment growth of 1.5% (normally we experience 5-6%)
• Personal Income Growth of 3.7%
• An average salary increase of 2.6%
• No ‘Double Dip’ recession

In addition, Governor McDonnell has put $50M in a set aside fund which will be used if

necessary, to offset Federal cuts that may go into effect that will be devastating to Northern Virginia. The 2013-2014 budget also receives approximately $546 million in surplus which will carry over from the 2010/12 budget.

The ‘new’ spending in the 2012-14 budget includes the following major items.

•  Medicaid Utilization plus inflation – $651 M
•  Update costs of K-12 Standards of Quality -$378 M
• VA Retirement Fund – $342 M
• Rainy Day Fund – $300 M
• Higher Education $204 M
• Water  Quality Improvement Fund – $50 M

The total ‘new’ spending is $2.79 B

We are fortunate that Virginia continues to outperform most of the rest of the nation in economic development and job growth.  All this being said, the budget will undergo the scrutiny of the Appropriations Committee, and they will propose changes to the budget.  At the end of the session, a budget will be passed by the General Assembly and then the Governor will act.

Higher Education

As you may know, improving Higher Education in Virginia is very important to me; I serve as Chairman of the Higher Education subcommittee and on the Governor’s Higher Education Commission.  This week representatives from Virginia Tech, James Madison,  Northern Virginia Community College, William & Mary, The George Washington University and Randolph-Macon College came to visit me.  Their common theme was concern for adequate funding for higher education opportunities.

In the next Rust Report, I will review in some detail spending proposals and policy changes proposed for education.

I invite you to visit the General Assembly website to review the proposed legislation that the General Assembly will be voting on, to view the General Assembly sessions live each day beginning at noon, and take a virtual tour of the Capitol, among many other things. Of course, you are always invited to visit me in Richmond to see the legislative process first hand.

Again, please do not hesitate to contact me; I can be reached by phone at 804-698-1086 or by email at DelTRust@house.virginia.gov. You can also ‘like’ me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate – it is truly an honor.

The 2012 General Assembly Session convened January 11^th, for a 60-day session concluding in mid-March.  Each year when I am sworn in, I am reminded of the people who have stood on the floor of the House of Delegates and taken the same oath since 1619. I am humbled by this honor.  During the next 60 days, the Rust Report will be issued each Friday with a legislative update.

Communication is Key!

For the past ten years, I have conducted Town Hall Meetings at the beginning of the General Assembly session to discuss with you the important issues that will be decided by the General Assembly and give you the opportunity to ask questions.  I hope you will take the opportunity to attend one.  If you are not able to attend, please know that I am always available by email (delTRust@house.virginia.gov) or phone (804-698-1086).

WHAT:   86^th District Town Hall (joint meeting with Senator Mark Herring)

WHEN:   Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  Ingram Council Chambers

765 Lynn Street, Herndon

WHAT:   86^th District Town Hall

WHEN:   Saturday, January 14 at 1 p.m.

WHERE:  Fox Mill Elementary School Cafeteria

2611 Viking Drive, Herndon

WHAT:   86^th District Town Hall (joint meeting with Senator Mark Herring)

WHEN:   Saturday, January 14 at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Sterling Library

120 Enterprise Street, Sterling

I also invite you to complete my 2012 Legislative Survey online.

My Bills and Committees

This year I have introduced eighteen bills and several resolutions to date.  All of the legislation I have proposed can be found here on the General Assembly’s website, legis.state.va.us.  My legislation covers an array of topics, including transportation, education, the environment, and insurance.  The Speaker of the House has also assigned me to four committees:  Transportation (Chairman of Ad Hoc Transportation subcommittee), Education (Chairman of Higher Education subcommittee), Science & Technology (Vice Chairman), and Commerce & Labor.  I look forward to serving on these committees.

State of the Commonwealth

Wednesday night Governor McDonnell gave his State of the Commonwealth address.  His budget reflects his continuing efforts to create a more efficient and effective government.  By focusing on job creation, education, transportation, and government reform this will encourage economic development and spur private sector growth throughout the Commonwealth. Key investments include $2.2 billion in state and local contributions to VRS, $438 million for K-12 public education, $230 million for higher education and $100 million for economic development.  In addition, the budget includes various measures to preserve Virginia’s AAA bond rating.  During these difficult economic times, efficient and effective government will be important to ‘weathering the storm.’

Transportation is a core function of government and, as such, Governor McDonnell has proposed:

1. Increasing transportation’s share of the year-end undesignated general fund surplus to 75 percent.

2. Increasing the dedicated transportation allocation of the existing state sales tax from .5 percent to .75 percent over the next 8 years.  The introduced budget starts that process by increasing the dedicated sales tax percentage to .55 percent, generating over $110 million in new transportation maintenance dollars.

3. Dedicate the first one percent in general fund revenue growth above five percent to transportation.

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The next Rust Report will focus in more detail on some of the proposals in the Governor’s introduced Budget. As you are aware, The Governor proposes the budget but it the General Assembly which acts on it, as such, the final budget decisions will not be made until the end of the Session which will be mid-March.

I invite you to visit the General Assembly website (http://legis.virginia.gov) to review the proposed legislation that the General Assembly will be voting on, to view the General Assembly sessions live each day beginning at noon, and take a virtual tour of the Capitol, among many other things.  Of course, you are always invited to visit me in Richmond to see the legislative process first hand.

Again, please do not hesitate to contact me; I can be reached by phone at 804-698-1086 or by email at DelTRust@house.virginia.gov. You can also ‘like’ me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.  Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Delegate – it is truly an honor.