The 2004 session of the Virginia General Assembly is underway and during the course of the next eight weeks we will dispatch 3,000 + bills and resolutions dealing with everything from tax reform to commending noteworthy Virginians.

The first week brings the State of the Commonwealth address from the Governor and the election and opening words of the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Each provides a harbinger of the weeks and work ahead. The Governor used the opportunity to lay out his plans and arguments for tax reform including an increase in the sales tax and an emphasis on stewardship for the future. The Speaker spoke candidly about his opposition to any tax increase and his belief that our current situation does not merit changes or revenue hikes. The Senate President Pro Tempore outlined his own tax package that goes beyond the increases initiated by the Governor. The statements of the leadership make it crystal clear that the primary issue facing the General Assembly will be taxes, and the significant differences between the Administration, the Senate and the House further attest that there is arduous work ahead to carve out an equitable and realistic budget.

At first glance it would appear the struggle will be highly partisan, which is always discouraging because it obstructs the purpose and spirit that bring us to Richmond. But it is also clear that there is much dissension within the parties and between the majority in the Senate and the House of Delegates. It appears that the tax fight will be waged on the several battlefields and from several different vantage points.

The Governor has provided an important first step in initiating a serious and overdue debate about budget strategies. I certainly endorse his call to look toward the future and reinforce the programs and vision that will put us back on a path of fiscal responsibility and progress. We have been, during the last two years, playing catch-up with out-of-alignment budget figures and serious deficits. We have made unprecedented cuts to state government and, in my judgment, potentially jeopardized critical programs and lost valuable personnel.

Governor Warner's budget and the proposal of Republican Senator John Chichester, both acknowledge that the Commonwealth can no longer meet even its basic responsibilities without additional revenues. Unless we take steps to close our budget shortfall, it is virtually certain that Virginia will lose its coveted AAA bond rating—a critical seal of approval from the financial rating agencies on Wall Street. The AAA bond rating saves Virginia taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Loss of the rating means further jeopardizing already strapped localities that have little recourse other than raising property taxes.

We have now been given a wake-up call and this will be a watershed year to determine the direction for the state. It is incumbent upon the legislature to act with forethought.

My agenda will include education funding, shoring up depleted local revenue and finding ways to equalize our tax structure that will judiciously prepare us for our known and unknown future needs. We have too long underfunded our colleges and universities, our local schools, and our teachers.

As usual, I hope if you have questions or concerns about legislation mentioned in this column, or any legislative matter, you will not hesitate to contact me at any of the following addresses. And again, I invite you to visit me in Richmond to discuss local or legislative issues of importance to you.