It is not a surprise to anyone that the legislative matters which receive the most media attention generally address issues that attract arguments between proponents and opponents from extremes of the spectrum. Abortion, gun control or immigration initiatives serve as examples of recurrent topics that generate heated debate wherever they surface. I can be fairly assured that I will receive a significant increase in correspondence when a hot-button issue appears in the news, on websites, bulletins or before a legislative committee. Nor should it surprise you that those volatile subjects actually represent a small measure of our work here in Richmond, yet receive significant vocal attention. Many of the issues raised during the General Assembly session involve the exacting challenge of forging compromise between competing groups.

I know compromise is not always a respected choice, especially when related to emotional issues, but it is, in my view, a key legislative tool that structures the opportunity for flexibility which then allows action to move forward. The legislative setting is specifically attuned to insist that warring factions work it out much as a parent would intervene with squabbling children. It’s the “Don’t make me have to. . . ” threat that encourages the cooperation and concession required.

The anticipated fight between Virginia cable and telephone companies over providing video service is a case in point. Armed with big guns poised prior to the first gavel of the General Assembly session, each side introduced opposing legislation solely beneficial to their position. Conflicting proposals like that create a serious logjam as legislators try to sift through complex, contradictory language to determine an outcome. The parties were “encouraged” to work out general provisions, and meetings between legislators and cable and telephone representatives resulted in a unified bill that doesn’t totally please either side but produces an effective method for delivering a choice of video service to telephone and cable consumers. This once contentious issue will navigate through the legislative process with little discord.

It wasn’t quite so smooth for another technology issue because the opposing factions were legislators themselves—urban versus rural representatives. The measure, which passed the House this week, eliminates what is arguably a convoluted system of state and local telecommunication taxes and replaced it with a statewide 5% levy on all communications services, including telephone, cellular, satellite and cable use. Virginia’s average telephone tax is the highest in the nation and in some urban areas twice the national average. The tax was initiated prior to the avalanche of cell phones and enhanced network and cable services and most Delegates agree the current assessment structure is out of date.

The dispute arises because in ways similar to the car tax—frugally taxed rural areas potentially end up on the short end of the taxation equation. The bill has built-in safeguards to protect funds returning to localities, but the measure that passed the House will create heartburn for some taxpayers in remote areas whose communication expenses will increase. While I am satisfied that there is a better way than our existing system, I suspect when the Senate begins debate on this issue they will look to find a compromise.

Neither of these bills pressed any of the buttons that generate heated rhetoric, but how we as a government address our increasingly entangled technology policy sets a path and a standard for the future, and our choices now will directly effect every Virginia family. They are the kind of complicated issues that, I believe, demonstrate the significant and humbling role each legislator brings to process.

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