Jim Shuler’s Legislative Report
1/24/2003
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It is easy and understandable during the legislative session
to focus on the bills that receive the most attention, especially in the
media; but the vast majority of legislation addresses smaller, local issues.
This year we are considering close to 2600 bills and resolutions and most
are voted up or down well below the radar screen of the press. For example I am the chief patron for several bills requested by local governments in my district. Blacksburg is asking for a change in their Charter to ensure that Town Council elections will remain non-partisan. Joyce Lewis, longtime town council member and current President of the statewide Virginia Municipal League provided testimony during a subcommittee where the bill received unanimous approval. Bath County, struggling with ways to improve neighborhoods and enhance economic development prospects, initiated a legislative measure designed to provide greater authority to the county in controlling blighted areas. The General Assembly tends to oppose legislation that changes the balance of power between local jurisdiction and state authority, but we arrived at a compromise that will allow Bath County to impose civil fines up to $1,000. Montgomery County has added its name to the list of localities that can use vehicle license fees for the voluntary support county athletic programs. Not all of my legislation is locally centered. I am carrying bills that could have major statewide implications for our future. In a response to the increasing level of partisan politics that has dominated the redistricting process, I have introduced a measure that would place authority for drawing district boundaries in the hands of a non-partisan commission. I was first elected in 1993 and I missed the shenanigans of party politics and incumbency-protection during the process in 1991. But I was here in 2001 when districts were cut in a blatantly partisan manner that split localities like Montgomery County into three districts, set up districts that take 2 ½ hours to drive across and forced people on the Eastern Shore to pay a $13.00 toll (one way) every time they drive to meet with their delegate. My resolution is a constitutional amendment patterned after two states that have successfully restructured their redistricting process—Iowa and New Jersey. It places the choice for the change in the hands of the voters. I am also carrying legislation with fiscal impact. First, I am chief patron on the Virginia Educational Quality Act of 2003, which declares funding for public education will be the 1st budget priority of the Commonwealth. Our schools and our children must never again fall victim to poor fiscal policy at the state level or be wounded during an economic downturn. Virginia must be in the vanguard of protecting educational programs that preserve and enhance our future. The VEQ Act will raise the state sales and use tax from 3.5% to 4.5%, with revenue dedicated to public education. It further provides authorization to the Virginia Public School Authority to issue bonds for school construction grants and finally, it requires the Governor to report to the General Assembly on the status of educational funding in relation to the levels mandated by the Virginia Constitution. Localities, and ultimately our children, have systematically been increasingly short-changed each year. School buildings and operational costs reflect that neglect--even though our Constitution includes a strict funding formula that the state is required to meet. I want that level to be respected and reached, and when it isn’t, this bill requires the Governor to reveal the discrepancy. In addition, I have introduced legislation to hold the car tax refund level to 50%. I voted for the initial repeal of the car tax and I am well aware that the public was and is supportive of the elimination of the car tax. But what many citizens have forgotten or didn’t know is that the measure passed by the General Assembly and enacted into law, contained a provision that stated if state revenues fell below a certain level the car tax rebate would cease until such time that state budget projections advanced. The previous administration did not follow that restriction and went forward with rebates as the state coffers dramatically declined. While the car tax refund cannot be blamed for the entire budget shortfall, it has made and continues to make a massive budgetary difference—almost $900 million this year alone. Adding to the travesty is the fact that the majority of the refund money has ended up in Northern Virginia because they have the highest taxes and buy the most expensive cars. Localities in rural areas like my own 12th distinct have labored to keep taxes low and thus ended up sending what was once local dollars to the wealthier counties of the urban areas. 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. |
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| Jim Shuler’s Legislative telephone | 804-698-1012 |
| Jim Shuler’s Legislative fax | 804-786-6310 |
| Constituent Hotline | 800-889-0229 |
| Richmond e-mail address | Del_Shuler@house.state.va.us |
| Richmond Mailing address | P.O. Box 406, 23218 |
| Richmond Office | #822, General Assembly Building |
| 9th & Broad Streets, Richmond |
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