News

We are approaching the mid-point of the 2012 session, also known as “cross-over”, at which point the House will consider only legislation that has been passed through the Senate and vice versa.  Only those bills passed by both the House and Senate will go to the Governor for his action.  To date almost 1300 bills have been reviewed by the House of Delegates, with less than half passed onto the Senate for their action.  I continue to work hard voting for legislation that creates jobs, improves education, and funds transportation.

Town of Herndon visits Richmond

This week I had the pleasure of meeting with the mayor, several members of the town council, the town attorney, and town manager.  At their request, I carried three bills which are briefly described below:

HB861:  This bill would allow the town to remove trailers for outstanding parking violations.  It passed in committee unanimously and I anticipate that it will pass in the House and proceed to the Senate for their action.

HB862:  This bill would establish a state income tax deduction for the tolls paid on publicly owned and operated roads in Virginia. This bill was continued until 2013, which means that it will not be acted on this session.

HB863:  This bill would establish that a lien against real property shall exist for each penalty levied for a scheduled violation of a locality’s zoning ordinance.  The lien would not be enforced until all appeal procedures have been exhausted.  This bill was heard in subcommittee yesterday and was not acted on.

Bill Status Update

I want to take this opportunity to update you on the status of my bills.

HB657:  This bill would adjust the mix of energy sources that qualify for satisfying the requirements of the renewable energy portfolio standard program.  Status: Dominion Power and the environmental community brought me this bill and after considerable work, they decided to continue working on the bill language and hope to reintroduce it next year.

HB860:  This bill would allow localities in Northern Virginia to require towing companies that tow trespassing vehicles from one locality to another to submit to inspection of their facilities by the locality from which such vehicles are towed.  Status:  Passed the House and has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee for their action.

HB861, HB861, and HB863:  See Town of Herndon above.

HB864:  This bill would change the composition of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to give more representation to the urban areas.  Status:  This bill was debated today and will be voted on next week.

HB865:  This bill would disallow localities from reducing the number of taxicabs that are permitted/authorized under the local ordinance, unless there is non-use or cause.  Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and passed unanimously in the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday.

HB866:  This bill would allow for staggered elections of the Fairfax County School Board.  Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB867:  This bill would prohibit any person from modifying certificates of insurance.

Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB868:  This bill would allow plug-in electric vehicles to park free of charge in certain parking spaces when recharging.  Status:  This bill was passed by indefinitely by the Transportation Committee and will not be acted upon during this session.

HB869:  This bill would allow for optional Urban Development Areas.  Status:  This bill passed the House and is in the Senate.

HB870:  This bill would exempt repairable vehicles, which are repaired by an insurance company, from provisions of salvage vehicles.  Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and Senate Transportation committee.

HB871:  This bill changes the definition of a limited burial insurance authority.  Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB872:  This bill provides for SCC licensing and regulation of public adjusters.  Status:  Passed unanimously in Committee and will be voted on by the House next week.

HB873:  This bill would lower the Composite Index rate, which would benefit schools in Northern Virginia in the future.  Status:  The bill was ‘laid on the table’ in subcommittee and will not be acted upon this session.

HB874:  This bill would allow officers to issue citations to drivers who text or email while driving, without having to stop a driver for another violation.  Status:  The bill was defeated in subcommittee.

HB875:  This bill would place time limits on appeal to DMV for suspension of driver’s license.  Status:  This bill passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB876:  This bill would transfer administration and collection of the motor vehicle fuel sales tax to DMV.  Status: Passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB1184:  This bill would allow dual enrollment for high school students.  Status:  Passed unanimously in the House and is in the Senate.

HB1206:  This bill would eliminate the requirement of an annual adjustment for preneed insurance.  Status:   The bill was ‘laid on the table’ in subcommittee and will not be acted upon this session.

Repealing the “Kings Dominion” Law

I am happy to report that the “Kings Dominion” bill (HB1063), which would repeal the state law requiring public schools to open after Labor Day, passed in the House of Delegates with my support. I received many emails in support of this bill and I believe each school board should determine the best start date for their schools.  Currently 77 of 134 school districts in Virginia have been granted waivers to allow schools to begin before Labor Day.  The remaining schools must wait until after Labor Day to begin school; however standardized tests must be taken at the same time.  The bill is now in the Senate Education and Health Committee for their action.  I encourage you to contact your Senator with your views on this bill.

“Right to Work” legislation Update

Legislation that would allow for fair and open competition in government contracting passed the House of Delegates with my support.  This bill prohibits mandatory project labor agreements and guarantees full and open competition in bidding on public contracts.  It is estimated that a mandated project labor agreement can raise the cost of a project by ten to twenty percent, so prohibiting these mandatory agreements will help ensure Virginia gets the most out of our taxpayer dollars on infrastructure projects.  This legislation also ensures that all of Virginia’s qualified contractors and their skilled workforces, regardless of labor affiliation, can compete on a level playing field for Virginia projects.

Northern Virginia Regional Commission

I was pleased to be invited by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to be the speaker at their annual trip to Richmond.  The NVRC is a Commission composed of elected officials from all the jurisdictions in Northern Virginia.  We spent an hour discussing bills in the General Assembly with emphasis on funding for transportation, human services and education.  Their input and ideas are always helpful to me.

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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 Fairfax County Public Schools CTE (?), 4-H Club, NASA, AAA of Virginia, Virginia 21, Virginia Credit Union, VA 529 College Savings Plan, VA Breast Cancer Foundation, VA Association of Counties, and the VA Municipal League.

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.

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

• 10:00 AM Herndon: Ingram Town Council Chambers 765 Lynn Street, Herndon
• 1:00 PM Oak Hill/Fox Mill: Fox Mill Elementary School-2611 Viking Drive, Herndon
• 3:00 PM Sterling: Sterling Library-120 Enterprise Street, Sterling

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings, to hear an update of the 2012 General Assembly session, to provide comments, and ask questions.

Delegate Rust would like your thoughts on the issues affecting Virginia. Click on the link below to take Delegate Rust’s Legislative survey.

 Delegate Thomas Davis Rust, PE, AICP received the 2011 Legislator of the Year award by the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-VA) for his work on behalf of the citizens of Virginia while recognizing and promoting planning as a positive force on the development of communities throughout the Commonwealth.  The award was presented at their annual conference.
 
“It is a real honor to be recognized by your peers in the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association for contributions to society not only in your professional life, but also in your public life,” said Del. Rust.  “Planning is an integral part of what makes Virginia a great state and I am privileged to be a part of the organization that contributes so much to the state.”

Delegate Rust carried HB1965 during the 2011 General Assembly session, which adds lifecycle costs of capital projects to the items to be considered by planning commissions in developing capital improvement programs.  The bill passed all subcommittees, committees and both houses unanimously and was signed into law by Governor McDonnell.

Delegate Rust has a diversified engineering and planning background as well as an extensive community and civic involvement.  He is employed by Patton Harris Rust and Associates, a Pennoni company.  Mr. Rust is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pennoni Associates.  The firm is a multi-disciplined engineering-planning firm with offices from Virginia to New England.

The incumbent said, if re-elected, he intends to hit the ground running to continue building on plans to beef up Virginia’s higher education system through more accountability. Legislators, he said, are working on a funding package that will be tied to the number of students graduating with science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees and the percentage of graduating freshmen.

To read more of what I said in this article click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2010

CONTACT: CAROL SINCLAIR (804)-698-1086

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Richmond – The end of session is steadily nearing as March 13th marks Sine Die. While the details of the budget amendments are being debated, the House and Senate continue to review and act on bills. “The 2010 General Assembly has focused on the economy and the budget; notwithstanding that focus, I have been very pleased with my legislative initiatives with 13 out of my 18 bills having passed the House” said Delegate Tom Rust who represents Herndon, Sterling, and Oak Hill.

Both the House and Senate budgets will be moving on with plans in place to adjust the State’s Local Composite Index (LCI). The LCI is a formula that has been in place for nearly 40 years and is used to state educational funding throughout cities and counties in the Commonwealth. Governor McDonnell unfroze the LCI after much urging from the Northern Virginia Delegation, of which Delegate Tom Rust is co-chair.

The House Appropriations Committee voted to increase funding for jobs in Virginia by $46 million over the biennium during a meeting held on Sunday, February 21, 2010. The committee also passed an Economic Development Package to jump-start incentive programs and bolster existing programs that have proven to be effective. Included in the Economic Development Package is increased funding for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Marketing and Sales Promotion, both which will attract jobs and businesses to Virginia by offering economic incentives and promoting Virginia in the business world.

Two bills that are patroned by Delegate Rust at the request of the Town of Herndon, have successfully made their way to the Senate. One of the bills impounds the vehicle of those who are found guilty of driving without a license, suspended license, or revoked license, more than once; while the other will exempt Herndon from any increase in transient occupancy tax proposed by Fairfax County.

Another bill proposed by Delegate Rust but was carried over until the 2011 session was a Lyme disease on prescribing antibiotics longer than 4 weeks. Although the bill did not pass, there may now be an opportunity to form a study group that will explore ways to promote legislation to help those affected by Lyme disease.

Delegate Rust is also chief co-patron of a bill that will stiffen penalties for precious metals dealers by revoking their dealers permit if they violate any laws pertaining to the dealing of precious metals. The bill has passed both the House and the Senate and is awaiting approval by the Governor. Northern Virginia police have noticed a sharp rise in the number of burglaries where gold jewelry was take from homes and this bill will help address this issue by holding the precious metals dealers more accountable to dealer protocol.

Another bill Delegate Rust co-patroned will require all agencies of the Commonwealth and localities to enroll in E-Verify and to use E-Verify on every new employee hired. E-Verify is an internet-based system which is run by the federal government and allows an employer, using information reported on an employee’s Form I-9, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States.

A bill, which was patroned by Delegate Rust, will provide a blueprint for a livable community for those who are aging or disabled, has passed both Houses and will is on its way to be signed by the Governor. Another bill of Delegate Rust’s that is awaiting the Governors signature is a bill that will allow courts to order violations to non-residential buildings that are not in accordance with the Uniform State-wide Building Code. Currently the Uniform State-wide Building Code only applies to residential buildings.

Within the next two weeks the budget will take shape as each house takes steps towards approving what will soon be the final version. The goal with this year’s budget will be to minimally impact core services. It strikes a balance between meeting core commitments and the burden placed on the taxpayers who must pay the bill.

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- FFX Chamber, NOVA Technology Council and VA Farm Bureau Endorse Incumbent for Re-election -

(Herndon, VA) The office of Delegate Tom Rust announced his endorsements by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Virginia Farm Bureau.

“I’m proud to have support as diverse as Virginia’s economy,” Rust said. “The small and family businesses that make up both the ‘Old Dominion’ and ‘Silicon Dominion’ are both vital to protecting our local jobs. I will continue to work with them to improve Northern Virginia’s economy.”

Dendy Young, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Technology Council TechPAC said, “NVTC TechPAC, the Northern Virginia technology community’s Political Action Committee, is pleased to endorse Delegate Tom Rust’s re-election campaign for the House of Delegates. Throughout his legislative career, he has distinguished himself as a champion of technology business and a leading advocate for addressing our transportation funding crisis.

“Delegate Rust has demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs of agriculture and Farm Bureau issues while in the Virginia General Assembly,” said Wayne F. Pryor, chairman of Virginia AgPAC and VFBF president.

Fran Fisher, Chairperson of NOVABizPAC, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee said, “The trustees chose to endorse Tom because of his consistent efforts to support the policy agenda published by the Chamber and the business issues that are important to our members. Over the years, he has been a great friend and has championed some of our highest priorities, such as the 2008 transportation plan. We appreciate his hard work for our community and look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Tom Rust has represented Herndon, Sterling, and Oak Hill in the House of Delegates since 2002. Prior public service includes serving as the mayor of Herndon for 19 years.

Delegate Tom Rust
86th House District

For Immediate Release – Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Contact: Mick Bransfield (703) 437-1871

Northern Virginia Realtors Endorse Rust

(Herndon, VA) The Northern Virginia/Realtors Political Action Committee endorsed Delegate Tom Rust for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates in the 86th District.

“The Northern Virginia/Realtors Political Action Committee is pleased to endorse Delegate Tom Rust for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates,” said Dan Daniels, Chairman, NV/RPAC. “Tom is a conscientious and dedicated legislator who works with others, regardless of political party, to best represent his constituents and to keep Virginia a strong and desirable state in which to live and work. Tom is effective in Richmond; an elected official who looks for solutions to the problems we face, whether it’s transportation gridlock, providing educational opportunities or combating the lack of affordable housing.”

“I’m grateful for the support of the Northern Virginia Realtors and look forward to working with them to strengthen our local housing market,” said Rust. “Real estate is an integral part of our local economy and vital to attracting jobs to our region.”

Tom Rust has represented Herndon, Sterling, and Oak Hill in the House of Delegates since 2002. Prior public service includes serving as the Mayor of Herndon for 19 years.

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(Dulles, VA) The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce recognized Delegate Tom Rust at their annual luncheon with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service.

“I’m honored to have been chosen for this award among the many hard working public servants in this area,” Rust said. “Given the current state of the economy and unemployment, the Dulles Chamber of Commerce is a vital organization for supporting our local businesses. I will keep working with our local leaders to keep the our region attractive to businesses.”

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, situated in the Dulles and Route 28 Corridors, serves businesses in western Fairfax and eastern Loudoun Counties, including the Town of Herndon, the area around Dulles Airport, Sterling, Chantilly, Centreville and South Riding. The Chamber serves one of the nation’s foremost high-tech corridors and acts as a resource, public affairs advocate and community partner for 1,000 businesses and affiliates. Underneath the Dulles Chamber’s umbrella organization, we also do business as the Herndon Chamber of Commerce and the Chantilly-Centreville Chamber of Commerce.

Del. Tom Rust (R-86) announced a “Back to School Supplies” collection drive for students and teachers at McNair Elementary School. Rust’s office in Herndon will be collecting supplies for students and teachers through Sept. 4.

McNair contains among the highest ratio of students with free or reduced-cost lunches in the area.

“Because of the economy, many families have had to cut back on spending for back to school supplies this year,” Rust said. “If you have a few dollars to spare in your budget, please buy some school supplies for a child in need.”

The items requested by McNair Elementary include: boxes of tissues, bottles of hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, glue sticks, pocket folders, reams of card stock (white, green, yellow, blue, pink).

To find a list of other needed items, go to http://www.fcps.edu/McNairES.

Rust’s office is located in Herndon’s Old Town Hall at 730 Elden St, Herndon. For more information, contact Carol Sinclair at 703-437-1871.

Oak Hill Community Meeting
Thursday, July 30
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
McNair Farms Community Center
2491 McNair Farms Drive
Herndon, VA 20171

Representatives from the Fairfax County Police Department and the Reston District Police Station will discuss the recent home burglaries in the Oak Hill area. Please join me to learn more about how to protect ourselves against crime and what steps law enforcement are taking to solve the crimes and protect the citizens of Fairfax County.

Warm regards,
Thomas Davis Rust