This is one of the more fun weeks in the General Assembly, as the House and the Senate take one look at each other’s hard work and dump it into the nearest trash bin. A few bills warrant a little bit of watching.
HB1579 This is Glenn Oder’s bill to make economic development projects help fund the roads they need, (for example, port growth pays for new roads). It’s so popular this year that many House Democrats ended up voting for it, even though they opposed it every step of the way (cough, Joe Bouchard, cough Bobby Mathieson, cough Ward Armstrong)
HB 2672 is Del. Herring’s only contribution to bills this session, changing the “Department of Minority Business Enterprise” to the “Department of Supplier Diversity and Procurement Advocacy” – Wow, I couldn’t have made it through life without this one. It passed the House, proving that it was important to fill Brian Moran’s seat as soon as possible. After all, we can’t have names of Departments staying the same.
SJ 273 This is Yvonne Miller’s “Get Rapists to the polls” act to help felons vote for Democrats. It actually passed the Senate, but I love popping some popcorn and watching the House P&E kill Miller’s dumb ideas.
HB 2041 Sal Iaquinto thinks that DUI convicts should spend 6 months with an ignition interlock on their cars. 90 other delegates agreed. The Senate loved bills restricting sober drivers. I’m curious if they’ll hold drunks to a lower standard.
SB 1421 Louise Lucas’ bill tacks on 10% to hotel guests’ ordering movies in a hotel room, with half the money used to fund filmmaking incentives. House Finance killed the House version of this, but because Democrats voted no.
SB 1105 Word on the smoking ban is that Howell is sticking to his agreement with Kaine and will strip most of the House amendments to the bill, rather than defend the House version of the bill. That means the smoking ban should pass. We’ll see. Cosgrove’s 1703 is still hanging out in the Senate, too.
HB 2104 Those mean-spirited Democrats in the House voted against tuition assistance for children with Autism. Democrats don’t put bills like this on their campaign literature while they call Republicans mean, nasty and rotten. But they do go to Richmond and vote mean, nasty and rotten. Let’s see if the Democratic Senate will match the House Democrats in making the world tougher for families with autistic children.
The Senate budget – There is none! That’s right, the Democratic Senate failed to pass a budget on time. The Senate can substitute their budget for the House one, but that’s not the same thing. The media who blasted Republicans when they punted their budgetary duties are whistling in the back of the room and not reporting it (i know, I’m shocked too)
HJ 620 Yes, kids, it’s the lock box for the Transportation trust fund that Senators say they support at election time but never seem to pass anytime else. House passed it as usual. Maybe this time.
Those are some I’m watching. What are some of yours?
