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>> "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
DIGNITY MEMORIAL, CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WITH A NETWORK OF
FUNERAL HOMES AND CEMETERIES IN VIRGINIA AND THROUGHOUT NORTH
AMERICA. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DIGNITY
MEMORIAL'S PROVIDERS IS ON-LINE AT DIGNITYMEMORIAL.COM.
ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES, AN ENERGY COMPANY DEDICATED TO
RESPECTING THE LAND. ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES: WE
POWER THE WORLD THROUGH THE ENERGY OF OUR PEOPLE.
HALEY BUICK GMC, THE PLACE FOR A NEW VERANO OR TERRAIN DELANI, IN
RICHMOND AND ON-LINE AT HALEYBUICKGMC.COM.
EVERYWHERE THERE ARE LIGHTING POLES, THERE'S ONE MORE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY. INTELLIGENT ILLUMINATIONS
PROVIDES COST-EFFECTIVE WIRELESS LIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR ROADWAY
OR AREA OUTDOOR LIGHTS. KANAWHA VALLEY ARENA, VIRGINIA'S
COWBOY TOWN, HOSTING AN ARRAY OF EVENTS FROM CIVIL WAR
RE-ENACTMENTS TO DIESEL TRUCK PULLS.
MORE INFORMATION ON-LINE AT VIRGINIARODEO.COM.
THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE VOICE OF THE
VIRGINIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORKING IN LEGISLATIVE,
REGULATORY, AND POLITICAL ARENAS TO PROMOTE THE FREE ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM. SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
CAREERS MAKING EVERYTHING FROM CLEAN ENERGY TO LIFE-SAVING
MEDICINE IS AVAILABLE AT DREAMITDOITVIRGINIA.COM.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THESE SPONSORS.[MUSIC]
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS.
THANK YOU. [MUSIC]
>> WELCOME TO "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND", AND I WELCOME TWO
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
THERE ARE 15 OF YOU IN THE HOUSE, SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE,
DELEGATE LaROCK, DELEGATE LEFTWICH, CHESAPEAKE AND LOUDOUN
COUNTIES, TWO FAST-GROWING AREAS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING ON AND TALKING TO OUR VIEWERS AROUND
THE STATE ABOUT ISSUES THAT YOU'RE CARRYING, BILLS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND PEOPLE AROUND
THE STATE, TOO. DELEGATE LaROCK, LET'S START
WITH YOU. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.
I GUESS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, I'LL JUST LAUNCH IN.
>> YES. >> WELL, JEFF AND I, BETWEEN THE
TWO OF US, HAVE MAYBE SIX WEEKS' EXPERIENCE, SO WE'RE OLD HANDS
AT THIS NOW. I'M A BUSINESSMAN FROM LOUDOUN
COUNTY, MY HOME. THE DISTRICT ALSO INCLUDES A
GOOD PORTION OF CLARK COUNTY AND FREDERICK COUNTY OUT TOWARD
WINCHESTER, SO BEAUTIFUL PART OF VIRGINIA.
ALMOST THE NORTHERNMOST PART OF THE STATE.
I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE TIP OF FREDERICK COUNTY IN THE
NEIGHBORING DISTRICT THAT GOES A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH, BUT
BEAUTIFUL RURAL COUNTRYSIDE, WINERIES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
COMMUTING INTO WASHINGTON, D.C. GREAT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE COMMON-SENSE DECISION-MAKING, AND GET GOOD
THINGS DONE WHILE WE'RE HERE. >> WELL, I GUESS TWO OF THE
BIGGEST ISSUES FOR MY JURISDICTION, WHICH IS
CHESAPEAKE, AND I'M PERHAPS ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS THAT'S
WHOLLY CONTAINED WITHIN ONE CITY, BUT HAMPTON ROADS, THOUGH
I'M FROM CHESAPEAKE, I REPRESENT ALL HAMPTON ROADS, AND
TRANSPORTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA, YOU HAVE TO PASS A BODY OF WATER TO GO
WEST, YOU KNOW, OR NORTH, AND YOU CAN'T GO EAST BECAUSE THAT'S
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL MEASURES I'M PURSUING THIS SESSION IS FUNDING FOR THE
HIGH-RISE BRIDGE AND CHESAPEAKE WHICH CROSSES THE ELIZABETH
RIVER. THAT WILL HELP US CONSIDER THE
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND ENGINEERING TO HOPEFULLY ADD TO
THE TRAFFIC CAPACITY OF THAT BRIDGE.
AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND FROM BEING UP HERE IS
YOU'RE SO BUSY WITH YOUR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS THAT YOU
TEND TO START HAVING THIS FEELING THAT THAT'S THE ONLY
THING THAT'S HAPPENING UP HERE. SO I VIEW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
RICHMOND FROM MY COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, AND WHEN I GO TO
ANOTHER COMMITTEE TO PRESENT A BILL, I REALIZE SO MUCH MORE IS
HAPPENING. SO TO SOME DEGREE, EDUCATION,
K-12 REFORM -- I'LL GIVE DAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO TALK,
BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CHANGING THE FACE OF K-12
EDUCATION, AS WE KNOW IT, WITH S.O.L.s AND SOME OF THE NEW
TESTING THAT WE'RE EXPLORING. >> WHAT ABOUT THE COMMITTEES
THAT YOU'RE ON AND THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON THERE, THE PART
THAT YOU FOCUS ON IN THE COMMITTEES?
>> WELL, I'M GLAD I WAS APPOINTED TO TRANSPORTATION.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY KEY FOCUSES AS WELL.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BODIES OF WATER TO CONTEND WITH, BUT
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF EAST/WEST TRAFFIC.
IN THE CAMPAIGN, EVEN BEFORE THAT, I PUT A LOT OF FOCUS ON
SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION SPENDING.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE'S A MOVEMENT TOWARD
PERFORMANCE-BASED SPENDING, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SOLID
RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE REVENUES THAT ARE COMING IN
LARGELY AS A RESULT OF THE PASSAGE OF 2313.
WE MADE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC INITIATIVES.
ONE IS TO KIND OF MANAGE -- WELL, I'D SAY COMPEL THE
METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO GET A LITTLE MORE
SKIN IN THE GAME. THEY'RE MANAGING THE SILVER LINE
CONSTRUCTION AND THE DULLES TOLL ROAD.
THE TOLLS ON THAT ARE GOING UP PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO PEOPLE FROM THE 33RD DISTRICT HAVE NOW ABOUT A $17 ROUND-TRIP
COMMUTE IF THEY TAKE THE GREENWAY AND THE DULLES TOLL
ROAD. I'M HOPING TO CONVINCE SECRETARY
LANE -- HE HAS BEEN VERY ATTENTIVE, AND MET WITH THE
SECRETARY VIC DONAHUE THIS MORNING, AND THEY'RE AWARE OF
THE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THEY'VE GOT A LOT TO DEAL
WITH. THEY'RE IN START-UP MODE, BUT
HOPEFULLY BY MAKING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWN, WE'LL GET
SOME PROGRESS GOING, ALONG WITH THE OTHER GOOD INITIATIVES THAT
ARE MOVING THAT DIRECTION, AND ALSO ON THE EFFORTS TOWARD
EDUCATION REFORM. GLAD TO SAY THAT THOSE ARE
PRIORITIES THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE OVERALL IN
PARTICULAR AND THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, VERY HIGH PRIORITIES,
S.O.L. REFORMS, SO VERY GOOD STUFF GOING ON.
>> SO WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COMMITTEES AND GET OUT ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, YOU HAVE ANOTHER WHOLE VIEW OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> HOW'S THE PERSPECTIVE BEEN OF THE SESSIONS ON THE FLOOR?
>> WELL, I'VE HAD -- AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'VE TOLD A LOT OF
STUDENTS THAT HAVE VISITED MY OFFICE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT, SINCE I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH
SCHOOL, MAJORED IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, PARALEGAL MINOR, WENT
TO LAW SCHOOL, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH
GOVERNMENT, HAVE SERVED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR 12 YEARS,
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED WHEN I CAME UP HERE IS
THE FACT THAT ON THE FLOOR YOU HAVE A FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD
READING. FOR A WHILE, I KIND OF
QUESTIONED WHY THAT WAS, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH COMING AT YOU AT
ONE TIME, AND, AGAIN, YOU ARE SO FOCUSED ON THE COMMITTEES AND
LEGISLATION THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF MINUTIA,
DETAILS, THAT THE FIRST READING REALLY SERVES NOTICE THAT, HEY,
THIS BILL HAS MADE ITS WAY THROUGH A COMMITTEE AND A
SUBCOMMITTEE, SO YOU'D BETTER GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE ON THOSE
OTHER AREAS THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FOCUSED ON.
OF COURSE THE SECOND READING IS WHEN THE PATRON DEFENDS IT AND
DEBATE HAPPENS, AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER DAY OR TWO TO
DECIDE, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU
VOTE ON IT, ON THE THIRD READING TO ME THE FLOOR EXPERIENCE WOULD
BE JUST THAT: LEARNING THAT PROCESS AND LEARNING HOW TO
MANEUVER YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS TO THE BILLS THAT ARE
PROCESSED THROUGH THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE
LEVEL. >> YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A BUILDER,
IS THAT HELPING YOU BUILD SOME EFFORTS TO GET SOMETHING GOOD
DONE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS? >> THERE'S SOME COMMON GROUND
THERE. I MEAN, CERTAINLY, THERE HAS TO
BE SOME PRAGMATISM, YOU HAVE TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS, AND CUT SOME
DEALS, BUT I TRY TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THERE'S BOUNDARIES,
AND CERTAIN PRINCIPLES ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE, SO WITHIN THOSE
PARAMETERS, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET THINGS DONE.
ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING WHAT JEFF'S SAYING, I THINK THERE ARE
2,200 OR HOWEVER MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION, YOU WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SYSTEM IS LOOKING AT THINGS VERY CLOSELY, AND I'M
VERY IMPRESSED. THREE READINGS ON THE FLOOR,
SUBCOMMITTEE, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, AND OFTEN THE SAME
BILLS ARE SENT TO A DIFFERENT COMMITTEE OR RECONSIDERED BY A
COMMITTEE MORE THAN ONCE, AND THAT'S A GOOD PROCESS.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD ARGUE THAT WE NEED 22 NEW PIECES OF
LEGISLATURE EACH YEAR, BUT IF YOU CALL OUT THE ONES THAT WOULD
BE BENEFICIAL OVERALL, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE JOB AS WELL.
>> I'VE HEARD COLLEAGUES OF YOURS IN PREVIOUS YEARS SAY IT'S
SO MUCH EASIER TO HAVE A BILL DIE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IT TO DIE, THAN IT IS TO HAVE IT PASS,
BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH ALL THOSE STEPS, THROUGH YOUR
CHAMBER AND THEN CROSS OVER AND DO THE SAME IN THE OTHER CHAMBER
BEFORE IT ACTUALLY HAS THE POTENTIAL THEN OF BEING SEEN BY
THE GOVERNOR. IT IS A PROCESS THAT HAS SOME
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IT TO BE MODIFIED OR DERAILED OR EVEN TO
DIE. >> RIGHT.
>> BUT I VIEW IT AS A MATURATION PROCESS FOR LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE SOME PIECES IN ONE YEAR, GET THROUGH THAT YEAR,
PERHAPS THERE'S A TECHNICAL CHANGE OR HELPS TWEAK PRIOR
LEGISLATION, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN EDUCATIONAL
LEGISLATION, AND THE BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED TO SORT OF REWORK
THE S.O.L.s, THAT'S REALLY BEEN IN THE PROCESS, AND A LOT OF
HEAVY LIFTING HAS BEEN DONE BY MORE THAN ONE DELEGATE TO GET
THAT IN A SHAPE THAT CAN GET THROUGH COMMITTEE AND PASS THE
FLOOR, BUT HOPEFULLY THROUGH THE SENATE.
SO THAT PROCESS OF BEING INTRODUCED, DYING, BEING
REFERRED TO PROBABLY APPROPRIATIONS MORE THAN ANY
OTHER COMMITTEE, AND THEN DYING, THAT MAY DISCOURAGE SOME PEOPLE,
BUT IT'S REALLY A PROCESS OF, LIKE DAVE WAS SAYING, OF CALLING
THAT -- OR CULTIVATING THAT LEGISLATION TO A BILL THAT MAKES
SENSE AND WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
>> BEFORE OUR TIME RUNS OUT, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR BILL EITHER
OF YOU, EACH OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO OUR VIEWERS THAT
YOU THINK MAY BE, IN A SENSE, A SLEEPER, NOT THE ONES MAKING THE
HEADLINES BUT A BILL THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT?
ANYTHING YOU'VE -- >> WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS I
SAID EARLIER, YOU TEND TO VIEW WHAT'S HAPPENING THROUGH YOUR
OWN COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. I CAN'T -- I'M ON SOME
COMMITTEES THAT, IN MY OPINION, HANDLING SOME FAIRLY
HIGH-PROFILE LEGISLATION, ETHICS OF REFORM, THE S.O.L. REFORM,
AND MENTAL HEALTH REFORM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE -- MY
SUBCOMMITTEES HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE.
I WOULDN'T CALL THOSE SLEEPERS. >> MAJOR.
>> THEY'RE OUT IN FRONT AND CENTER.
SO -- BUT IT'S -- IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON
THOSE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY, AND
THEY'RE ADDRESSING A REAL NEED THAT THE COMMONWEALTH IS FACING.
>> I'LL PROBABLY EMBARRASS MYSELF IF I CAN'T RATTLE OFF A
BILL NUMBER. >> DON'T NEED THE NUMBERS.
>> A COUPLE OF SPECIFICS, FOCUSED PROPERTY RIGHTS, ONES
THAT SHIFT SOME OF THE WEIGHT TOWARD -- FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO
THE INDIVIDUAL, MEANING THAT IF THERE ARE CHARGES BROUGHT FORTH
AND COSTS INCURRED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT THERE'S SOME
OPPORTUNITY TO RECOUP THE COST OF LITIGATING, AND I THINK
THAT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE. IT'S A LITTLE TOUGH FOR SOMEONE
TO BE, I THINK, BROUGHT INTO A LEGAL CHALLENGE WHEN A
MUNICIPALITY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS PRETTY EXTENSIVE RESOURCES, AND
ONE COULD PREVAIL, AND I THINK IT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL
TO BALANCE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
SO THAT'S ONE THAT'S CAUGHT MY ATTENTION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, COULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC. >> ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP AN
EYE ON THAT AS WELL AS THE OTHER ISSUES, AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING ON THIS WEEK. [MUSIC]
THIS IS THE FIRST -- ON "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND", AND THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
CONVERSATIONS DURING YOUR TWO-YEAR TERM.
THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING US IN.
APPRECIATE THAT. >> IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME
ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2014, DELEGATE CHAFIN.
WHEN WE WERE GETTING MIC'D UP AND READY, I COMMENTED THAT, OF
ALL THE PEOPLE RUNNING THIS PAST YEAR IN OPEN SEATS, YOU WERE THE
ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A BATTLE FOR THE NOMINATION, AND
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, NO BATTLE FOR THE ELECTION.
SO THE FOLKS IN RUSSELL COUNTY AND THE REST OF THAT DISTRICT,
THAT INCLUDES SOME OTHER COUNTIES IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST
PART OF THE STATE OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT YOU WERE A GOOD
CANDIDATE, AND SO WE WELCOME YOU TO "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND", AND
WELCOME HERE TO THE CAPITOL. >> THANK YOU, DAVID.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND TO APPEAR WITH YOU.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO RUN UNOPPOSED IN A SEAT THAT HAD
BEEN HELD BY JOE JOHNSON FOR 24 YEARS STRAIGHT, AND MY
CONSTITUENTS AGREED, I THINK, WITH MY MESSAGE, AND I'M VERY
FORTUNATE. IT'S BEEN A FASCINATING PROCESS.
>> WELL, AND OUR VIEWERS IN OTHER PART -- YOUR CONSTITUENTS,
FOLKS IN SOUTHWEST, I'LL TELL OUR VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE
THAT JOE JOHNSON WAS WHAT I WOULD CALL A MODERATE DEMOCRAT
FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE.
YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, BUT THE SHIFT WAS MADE -- AND AGAIN, AS
YOU SAID, UNOPPOSED. SO, AGAIN, A GOOD -- KUDOS TO
YOU AND TO YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. YES, DELEGATE JOHNSON IS A VERY
MODERATE TO CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT, AND HIS VIEWS AGREED
WITH THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WHO SHARE A
CONSERVATIVE VIEW WITH REGARD TO THE ENERGY ISSUES, AND WE HAVE A
LOT OF AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY, AND BUSINESS ISSUES IN SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA THAT ARE QUITE UNIQUE TO THE REST OF THE STATE.
THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, DISTRICT 4, IS COMPOSED OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A PORTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, INCLUDING
THE TOWN OF ABINGDON, RUSSELL AND A PORTION OF WISE COUNTY AND
DICKENSON COUNTY. >> SO IN YOUR SHORT TIME HERE
ALREADY, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU REALLY FOCUSING ON AND WORKING
ON THIS FIRST SESSION? >> I HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES
THAT ARE BEING LED AND GUIDED BY THE APPOINTMENTS THAT THE
SPEAKER GAVE ME IN MY COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
AND I'VE BEEN PLACED ON COURTS AND THE CIVIL SUBCOMMITTEE, ALSO
THE MENTAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE, AND ALSO THE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH A LOT OF NEGATIVE ENERGY POLICY THAT
IS HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR COAL INDUSTRY, AND I HAVE
TRIED TO INTRODUCE SOME BILLS THAT WOULD HELP THE COAL SECTOR.
I HAVE A SAFETY BILL IN THAT WOULD PERHAPS MAKE DOUBLE
REGULATION BY DIFFERENT AGENCIES BETWEEN TWO STATES -- WOULD
ALLOW A MORE SHARING OF THAT AUTHORITY WITHOUT THERE BEING
TWO PARTIES TO ANSWER TO, AND THEN ALSO HAVE A CO-2, PART OF
THE VIRGINIA ENERGY BILL, THERE IS PART OF A CARBON DIOXIDE BILL
IN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO COMPARISON OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS DURING GOVERNOR McAULIFFE'S ADMINISTRATION TO
THE BENEFITS AS WELL AS THE DOWN SIDE OF EPA REGULATIONS ON CO-2
ISSUES. >> A CHALLENGE, TOO, THAT I'M
SURE THAT YOU'LL BE WORKING ON THIS, IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT, THAT
ISSUE AND BEYOND THE COAL INDUSTRY OF JUST TRYING TO GET
OTHER BUSINESSES TO MOVE INTO THE SOUTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IN -- OF
INITIATIVES THERE IN OUR DISTRICT, AND ONE OF THE MATTERS
THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS GETTING A 4G WIRELESS SYSTEM
THROUGHOUT THE SEVEN COUNTIES OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, AND WE'RE
ABOUT 90% COMPLETE ON ACHIEVING THAT INITIATIVE.
IT USES AND UTILIZES THE BROADBAND THAT WAS BROUGHT THERE
THROUGH THE INITIATIVES OF THE TOBACCO COMMISSION TO BRING
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA INTO A HIGH-TECH TYPE CORRIDOR,
THEREBY, IN EFFECT, KIND OF LEVELING THE MOUNTAINTOPS.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT OUR VIEWERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TO YOUR
DISTRICT, WHO DON'T KNOW THOSE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS, WHO HAVEN'T
BEEN TO ABINGDON HAVE MISSED A BEAUTIFUL PART OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA. ABINGDON IS A TREASURE.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TOWN WITH A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND
A PLACE THAT ANYONE WHO HASN'T BEEN THERE SHOULD VISIT THERE,
THEY SHOULD GO TO THE STATE THEATER THERE, THE BARTER
THEATER, AND TAKE IN A NICE DINNER, AND THERE IS NICE
LODGING IN ABINGDON. ABINGDON AND WASHINGTON COUNTY
LARGELY HAS MADE THE MOST OF THEIR RECREATION AND TOURISM
INDUSTRY, AND THEY HAVE A REALLY BOOMING TOURISM INDUSTRY THERE,
AND WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE OTHER OUTLYING COUNTIES AND
BRING TOURISM AND RECREATION TO THOSE COUNTIES AS WELL, BECAUSE
THAT'S ONE INDUSTRY, AS IT GROWS, THAT CAN'T BE EXPORTED OR
TAKEN OFFSHORE TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY.
>> WELL, I WILL HAVE TO CONFESS TO OUR VIEWERS THAT PART OF MY
LOVE FOR ABINGDON GOES BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD, GOES BACK TO MY
FATHER BEING A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND THE
CHILDHOOD VISITS WE HAD TO ABINGDON, BUT OVER THE YEARS,
IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE IT BECOME A MECCA FOR TOURISM AND
BEAUTIFUL PLACE. SO WE WANT OUR VIEWERS TO MAKE
SURE THEY GET OUT THERE AND TO THE REST OF THE GREAT SOUTHWEST,
TOO. >> WELL, I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE
A MOTHER WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, WHICH IS
WHERE ABINGDON IS THE COUNTY SEAT OF, AND MY FATHER WAS A
NATIVE OF RUSSELL COUNTY, SO THAT FIT WELL WITHIN THE
DISTRICT, AND I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN BOTH COUNTIES, AND
THEN AS A LAWYER, OVER MY ALMOST 30 YEARS AS AN ATTORNEY, I'VE
TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THOSE COUNTIES AND MADE A LOT OF
FRIENDS AND CONTACTS THAT I'M INDEED CALLING ON NOW TO
REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT. >> NOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT
YOU'RE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE, THE COURTS, AND
CLEARLY, FOR MANY REASONS BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE TRAGEDY THAT
OCCURRED IN THE DEEDS FAMILY, MENTAL HEALTH IS HIGH UP ON THE
AGENDA. ARE YOU SEEING HERE, AS WE'RE
GETTING NEAR THE MIDWAY OF THE SESSION, SOME PROGRESS BEING
MADE ON YOUR COMMITTEES AND OTHERS ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?
>> I REALLY AM. WE HAD TWO REALLY LONG EVENINGS
IN COMMITTEE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, AND ONE OF THEM WAS ON A FRIDAY
EVENING, AND I HAD HOPED TO GO HOME THAT WEEKEND, BUT THAT
IMPORTANT HEARING PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL HOME,
AND WE HEARD FROM PROFESSIONALS, FROM COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS,
WE HEARD FROM PROFESSIONALS, FROM HOSPITALS IN THE MENTAL
HEALTH FIELD, AND WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD REAL-LIFE STORIES
OF ALL THE ISSUES THEY HAD PERSONALLY DEALT WITH IN ALL
KINDS OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS, AND IT WAS VERY HELPFUL AS WE LOOKED
AT LATER AT THE DIFFERENT BILLS THAT HAD BEEN FILED, WE WERE
ABLE TO TAKE, IN COMMITTEE, TAKE WHAT WE FELT LIKE WERE THE BEST
PORTIONS OF THOSE BILLS AND ROLL THEM INTO OTHER BILLS THROUGH
AMENDMENTS AND SUBSTITUTES AND COME OUT OF THERE WITH SOME
BILLS THAT PASSED THROUGH COURTS, THROUGH THE FULL
COMMITTEE, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOOD BOLSTERING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP OUR MENTAL HEALTH -- WILL HELP OUR
MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR. IT'S A TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED OF
IMMENSE PROPORTION, AND EVERY PERSON I'VE TALKED TO WANTS TO
MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD.
>> WELL, FROM YOUR COMMITTEE AND FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND OVER
IN THE SENATE AS WELL, THAT CERTAINLY IS ONE OF THE BIG
FOCUSES OF THIS SESSION, AND SO I THINK THAT WE ALL ARE
OPTIMISTIC THAT SOME GOOD WILL COME OUT OF IT.
>> WE ARE, TOO. WE WANTED TO PUT IN ALL THE TIME
THAT IT TOOK, AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE FINISHED DEALING WITH IT.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF -- WHEN CROSSOVER COMES, THERE WILL BE,
OF COURSE, BILLS FROM THE SENATE AND BILLS FROM THE HOUSE
CROSSING OVER, AND WE EXPECT THAT THE SENATE HAS GOOD IDEAS
AS WELL AS THE HOUSE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK
BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES AND GET SOME POSITIVE LEGISLATION THAT
APPROACHED OUR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN VIRGINIA IN A
COMMON-SENSE SORT OF WAY. >> DELEGATE CHAFIN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING ON "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND", AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS I SAID, IT'S AN HONOR.
[MUSIC] CAPTIONED BY FEATURE SUBTITLING
& TRANSLATION WWW.FEATURESUBTITLING.COM.
>> "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
DIGNITY MEMORIAL, CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WITH A NETWORK OF
FUNERAL HOMES AND CEMETERIES IN VIRGINIA AND THROUGHOUT NORTH
AMERICA. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DIGNITY
MEMORIAL'S PROVIDERS IS ON-LINE AT DIGNITYMEMORIAL.COM.
ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES, AN ENERGY COMPANY DEDICATED TO
RESPECTING THE LAND. ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES: WE
POWER THE WORLD THROUGH THE ENERGY OF OUR PEOPLE.
HALEY BUICK GMC, THE PLACE FOR A NEW VERANO OR TERRAIN DENALI, IN
RICHMOND AND ON-LINE AT HALEYBUICKGMC.COM.
EVERYWHERE THERE ARE LIGHTING POLES, THERE'S ONE MORE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY. INTELLIGENT ILLUMINATIONS
PROVIDES COST-EFFECTIVE WIRELESS LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, FOR ROADWAY
OR AREA OUTDOOR LIGHTS. KANAWHA VALLEY ARENA, VIRGINIA'S
COWBOY TOWN, HOSTING AN ARRAY OF EVENTS FROM CIVIL WAR
RE-ENACTMENTS TO DIESEL TRUCK PULLS.
MORE INFORMATION ON-LINE AT VIRGINIARODEO.COM.
THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE VOICE OF THE
VIRGINIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORKING IN LEGISLATIVE,
REGULATORY, AND POLITICAL ARENAS TO PROMOTE THE FREE-ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM. SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
CAREERS MAKING EVERYTHING FROM CLEAN ENERGY TO LIFE-SAVING
MEDICINE AVAILABLE AT DREAMITDOITVIRGINIA.COM.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THESE SPONSORS. [MUSIC]
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS.
THANK YOU.