Dear Friends, Neighbors, and citizens of Fairfax:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the age of reason. It was the age of foolishness.
It was the 2010 Assembly session.
There's much to say, but awards speak louder than commentary. With that in mind, and consistent with our Governor's support for the Virginia motion picture industry, here are my nominations for the Best of 2010:
Best Low Budget Production (Virginia): The Assembly again found a way this year to meet all our constitutional obligations using grappling hooks, baling wire and some fee increases. Here is my review of the final state budget. I'm especially proud of the hard work of the Senate to protect our local schools. It made a difference.
Most Noteworthy Moment (in a national drama): On February 1, the Senateapproved the principle that no Virginian could be forced to buy health insurance. As a legal matter, the bill carried the force of a wet napkin. Nevertheless, it was front page news around the U.S. and especially in Washington, D.C.
Most Unpredictable New Star (Scary Movie): Within the past month, our Attorney General filed suit against the EPA challenging the causes of climate change and against our universities on their ability to enact anti-discrimination policies. Let's see what the next month brings ...
Best Performance (in a local drama): On March 3, the Senate successfully preserved the air quality rules for northern Virginia. On the final vote, Senator Patsy Ticer (D-Alexandria) voted for Edd Houck (D-Spotsylvania) who was missing from his seat. When challenged by the Republicans, we located Senator Houck in the Members' Lounge which is part of the Senate floor. The vote stood.
Best Performance (in a Caucus drama): The Senate Democrats, after many discussions, decided against proposing a general tax increase during this recession. This decision, while contested, was the right one in my opinion.
Best Performance (in a Budget drama): The December proposal to "freeze the LCI" divested $120M in school funding from Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. By uniting to reverse the freeze, northern Virginia lawmakers crossed party lines to avoid a baseless change in state policy.
Most Questionable Performance (in a Budget Drama): The decision to limit state contributions to VRS essentially saved Virginia from a tax increase or more dramatic budget cuts. This action is not free. Benefits for future state employees will be much different than the current system.
Most Inspirational Perfornance (Lifetime Award): Our President Pro Tem Chuck Colgan (D-Prince William) overcame multiple obstacles to chair the Finance Commitee and lead the Senate conferees. It was his 19th session as a budget conferee. That's an incredible record.
It was a tough session with a lot of tough votes. By and large, we did the best with what we had.
As an epitaph for 2010, I will simply note the timely words of my great friend Ward Armstrong (D-Henry):
Legislating is easy. Comedy is hard.
We'll be back in April for the veto session.
JCP Notes: We are back in Fairfax as of Monday, March 15. You can reach us by phone at 703-349-3361 or by email at kathy@fairfaxsenator.com.
As of Monday, we can receive contributions again at www.fairfaxsenator.com to help defray our costs from the session. The first donation of $50 or more gets a free lunch with me at Main Street Subway in Fairfax City. Just name the date.
I am still posting as fast as I can at www.oxroadsouth.com. Feel free to leave comments, either positive or negative. The continued feedback is so important.
Let us know how we can represent you better.
Sincerely,
Chap Petersen
