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>> "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALPHA
NATURAL RESOURCES, AN ENERGY COMPANY DEDICATED TO RESPECTING
THE LAND. ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES. WE POWER THE WORLD
THROUGH THE ENERGY OF OUR PEOPLE.
THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE VOICE OF THE
VIRGINIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PROMOTING THE FREE ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THESE SPONSORS.
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC TELEVISION
STATION. THANK YOU.
>>[MUSIC] >> WELCOME TO 'THIS WEEK IN
RICHMOND'. AND WELCOME BACK TWO MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, THE THIRD TIME OVER THE YEARS TO
HAVE YOU ON TOGETHER. JENNIFER MCCLELLAN FROM
RICHMOND AND CHRIS PEACE. BOTH BEGAN SERVING IN THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2006 AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU
HERE. LETS START WITH ONE ISSUE ON
THE WAR OF 1812 AND I'M TURNING TO CHRIS' DIRECTION ONT THAT
SINCE YOU SHARE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE WAR OF THE
1812 COMMISSION. TELL OUR VIEWERS A BIT ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN 2012 AND WHAT'S COMING UP.
>> RIGHT. IT IS KNOWN AS THE "FORGOTTEN
WAR," DAVID. WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO REVERSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO EDUCATE AS MANY PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE
WAR, WHAT ITS LEGACIES ARE, AND IT HAS BEEN A REAL EXCITING
PROCESS. I THINK A LOT OF VIRGINIANS ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE ACTIVITIES, JUST THE 150th YEAR
ANNIVERSARY. BUT NOT AS MANY ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE WAR OF 1812 OR THAT WE'RE IN A BICENTENNIAL YEAR
THIS YEAR WE'VE CREATED A HERITAGE TRIAL AND
SYSTEMATICALLY PUTTING UPSTATE MARKERS AROUND THE STATE,
IDENTIFYING KEY PLACES WHETHER OF CONFLICT OR OF PERSONALITY.
AND WE HAVE ALSO CREATED A DMV LICENSE PLATO YOU CAN SHOW YOUR
WAR OF 1812 PRIDE ON YOUR VEHICLE AND THE PROCEEDS FROM
THAT LICENSE PLATE WILL GO TOWARDS OUR COMMISSION
ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THE THINGS ON OUR
COMMISSION WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS WE'VE DONE IT WITH LIMITED
INVEST. AND RAISED A LOT OF PRIVATE
FUNDS. WE'VE HELD A KICKOFF AT THE
SYMPHONY WITH THE WAR OF THE 1812 OVERTURE AND WE'RE
PLANNING ON SYMPOSIUM ACTIVITIES IN 2014 TO CLOSE THE
BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FOR TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND THIS SUMMER WAS OURMARK OF THAT AND WE WERE JUST SO HAPPY
WITH THE TURNOUT FOR THAT EVENT.
>> THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE AND WE'LL STAY TUNED.
THIRTEENTH AND 14th ON THIS EVENT.
JENNIFER I'M GOING TO TURN TO YOU TO START CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND THE TWO OF
YOU BEING HERE TOGETHER, AS WE SAID BEFORE THE SHOW, A
DEMOCRAT AND A REPUBLICAN, WE CAN IS CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THE
UPCOMING ELECTION IF YOU LIKE. SO WHY DON'T WE START THERE,
WITH YOUR PERRIVES-- PERSPECTIVES ON THAT.
>> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN THE
MIDDLE OF DEBATES, CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES, FESTIVALS, DURING
THE LAST FEW DAYS FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ON THE BALLOT CHRIS AND I ARE PRETTY
BUSY DURING THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON.
>> AND MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY SENT A NICE NOT TO BE ON THE
BALLOT UNIT. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
SOMETIMES IT IS A LOT EASIER THAN JUST FOCUSING ON PEOPLE
GETTING ELECTED. >> THIS IS CRUNCH TIME.
VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY.
VIRGINIA IS AT BATTLE GROUND STATE, WHATEVER TERM YOU WANT
TO GIVE US, PURPLE STATE, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE NATIONAL
INFLUENCE HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, WHICH, I THINK,
IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY HERE IN VIRGINIA, BECAUSE THEY'RE
SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO TURN OUT THE VOTE.
BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR VOTE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
AND WE NEED TO SHOW PEOPLE HERE, THE BIRTHPLACE OF
DEMOCRACY, THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE BIRTHPLACE OF OUR COUNTY.
JIM WEBB HAS SERVED ADMIRABLY OVER LAST FEW YEARS AND WE ALSO
HAVE ISSUES PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, ONE FOR AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS.
AND THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER ONE ON THE BALLOT.
SO IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE U.S. PRESIDENT, SENATOR,
CONGRESSMAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT LOT REASONS TO VOTE.
>> THAT'S THAT'S NOT ENOUGH WE HAVE LOCAL RACES HERE IN
RICHMOND, THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL SCHOOL BOARD, OTHER
LOCALITIES THAT HAVE RACES, SO LOTS OF THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO
PAY ATTENTION TO AND COME OUT AND VOTE.
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT WE CHANGED THE VOTER I.D.
REQUIREMENT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
EDUCATING EVERYBODY WHAT THEY NEED TO BRING TO THE POLLS AND
WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IF THEY DON'T.
>> EVERYONE REGISTERED SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NEW VOTER
REGISTRATION CARDER AND I THINK WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO
HASN'T RECEIVED THAT CARD TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR
REGISTRY. >> CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION
STATUS. WE HAVE HEARD A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE BUT HAS BEEN
MOVED TO INACTIVE STATUS. GO TO THE STATE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS WEBSITE, THERE'S A CHECK MY STATUS BUTTON.
CLICK THAT. MAKE SURE YOU'RE REGISTERED AND
KNOW WHERE YOU'RE VOTING, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE'S PLACES
MAY HAVE CHANGED. >> IT SEEMS LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO
THE VOTER-TURNOUT IN VIRGINIA WAS CLOSE TO 80% OF REGISTERED
VOTERS; WHY IN THE WORLD THE OTHER 20% DOESN'T VOTE BAFFLES
ME. >> RIGHT.
>> WELL YOU SHOULD SEE IT WHEN WE'RE ON THE BALLOT.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
BUT, YOU BE, IT IS CERTAINLY A PIVOTABLE TIME.
AND WITH ALL NEW PROCEDURES IN PLACE I RECOMMEND PEOPLE MAY BE
TAKE A 10-15 MINUTES EXTRA IN THEIR PLANNING WHEN THEY GO TO
POLLS, IF THERE ARE LONG LINES BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
THEY SHOULD GET YOU EFFICIENTLY, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME BE PREPARED FOR THAT. >> AND THE PEOPLE KNOW IN
ADVANCE IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO GET TO THE
POLLS THEY CAN ALREADY BE CHECKING ON GETTING AN ABSENTEE
BALLED. >> OR VOTING IN PERSON.
>> I'VE NOTICED ON THE SCREEN NATIONALLY, WHICH TALKS ABOUT
THE STATES WHERE THERE'S ALREADY VOTING GOING ON, IOWA
HAS ALREADY STARTED TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.
>> ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS, OR SHOULD WE JUST
THINK ABOUT ISSUES THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE HOT IN THIS
UPCOMING SESSION? >> WELL JENNIFER, WE MAY CANCEL
OUR VOTES HERE. [LAUGHS]
>> YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT. >> GOOD TO HAVE THE TWO OF YOU
ON. AND WITH THE DIFFERENCES YOU
MAY HAVE ON ISSUES, THE GORGAL AGREEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN
DISCUSSING THEM. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD
A LOT ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN WASHINGTON IS THE
FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN'T SEEM TO EVEN
TALK TO EACH OTHER. AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE'RE NOT
LIKE THAT HERE IN VIRGINIA, ALTHOUGH, I THINK THERE ARE
MOMENTS WHEN WE'RE TESTY WITH EACH OTHER.
FOR THE MOST PART WE STAY CORDIAL AND LISTEN TO EACH
OTHER. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY HERE IN
VIRGINIA WE'RE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE A LITTLE FASTER
THAN WASHINGTON. WITH EXCEPTIONS.
>> RIGHT. AND AS AN OBSERVER I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. UNFORTUNATELY WHAT PEOPLE SAY
ON THE 15 SECOND OR 30 SECOND SOUND BYTES ON THE NEWS, IT IS
MORE INTERESTING TO WATCH, I THINK, BUT IT IS NOT THE
MAJORITY OF WHAT WE DO. >> RIGHT.
>> SO WE'RE JUST THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ARE THERE ISSUES YOU HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON PERSONALLY, OR WHAT YOUR COLLEGES ARE WORKING ON IN
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS? >> ABSOLUTELY.
JENNIFER AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE VIRGINIA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON
HEALTHCARE REFORM AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, VIRGINIA NOW WILL HAVE TO MAKE A
DECISION ON WHETHER TO RETURN ITS OWN EXCHANGE OR HYBRID
VERSION OR FEDERAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM HERE IN VIRGINIA FOR
HEALTH INSURANCE, AS WELL AS WHETHER TO EXPAND MEDICAID
COVERAGE TO A LARM PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVET-- POVERTY.
VIRGINIA IS VERY LEAN RIGHT NOW AND SERVES CERTAIN GROUPS OF
INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPANDING THAT
COVERAGE TO MORE PEOPLE, PRIMARILY SINGLE ADULTS.
RIGHT NOW THE ECONOMY IS BETTER IN VIRGINIA THAN IT IS IN A LOT
OF OTHER STATES. WE'RE STILL IN THE TOP FIVE
STATES FOR BUSINESS, BEST STATE TO EARN A LIVING AND RAISE A
FAMILY; HOWEVER, STILL NOT WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BEING THE LOWEST IN THE SOUTHEAST IS VERY
GOOD FOR THE FEATURE, EVEN IN THE SHORT-TERM AND ALSO SHOWS
THAT OUR REVENUES ARE WE STILL FACE THE TERMS OF
REVENUE WHETHER HEALTHCARE, MEDICAID, AID TO LOCALITIES,
EDUCATIONAL FUNDING AND PROBABLY WHAT WILL BE THE
SECOND BIGGEST ISSUE OTHER THAN HEALTHCARE IN THE SESSION IS
FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION. THIS HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL ISSUE
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF IDEAS ON THE TABLE AND SOME ADOPTED.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN SOME-AIR ODDS IN FUNDING WITH
THE BOND PACKAGE WE FUNDED TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT THERE'S STILL A NEED, PARTICULARLY ON THE MAINTENANCE
SIDE. ENOUGH YOU'RE IN NORTHERN
VIRGINIA OR HAMPTON ROADS CONGESTION IS IS STILL THERE
AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS ON
THAT. >> CRISS IS IS PROBABLY GOING
TO BE MORE ACTIVE ON THE RESPONSE FOR APPROPRIATIONS AND
HWI, BUT I'VE BEEN PRETTY INVOLVE WOULD THE HEALTHCARE
EXCHANGE ISSUE. WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME ACTION
THERE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTHCARE REFORM COMMISSION.
THEY HAD PUT FORWARD THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THEY
SHOULD DO LAST YEAR RECOMMENDING AN ADOPT EXCHANGE.
I PUT FORWARD ONE OF SIX BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN
SOME WAY, FORM OR FASHION ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE
CERTAIN DEADLINES WE RUN THE RISK OF MISSING.
THE FIRST WOULD BE THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE IF
YOU APPLY FOR IT BY A CERTAIN DATE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY THE STATE IS IS TAKING STEPS TO IMPLEMENT
THE EXCHANGE AND THE EXCHANGE HAS TO BE UP AND RUNNING, I
BELIEVE, JANUARY 1, 2015. 14:09:17:27 WE MIGHT ALREADY BE A LITTLE
BEHIND AND WHILE WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FRAMEWORK
WE'VE SEEN PPARTICULARLY IN THIS LAST SESSION IF WE RUSH ON
VARIOUS COMPLICATED ISSUES WE MAKE MISTAKES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES TO MAKE
SURE WE DON'T RUSH TO DEFAULT ON A FEDERAL EXCHANGE.
IT IS NOT DEFINITE ON HAMPTON AND VIRGINIA ROADS THAT WE NEED
TO ADDRESS. CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WESTERN
VIRGINIA TEND TO GET LOST. BUT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STARTING
TO SEE SOME OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE LACK OF
FUNDING WE HAVE. YOU CAN JUST DRIVE DOWN THE
STREET AND SEE THE GRASS IS PRETTY TALL.
THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THIS IS
THE YEAR WE SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE AN
ELECTION YEAR AND A CHALLENGE TO COMPLETELY SOLVE IT.
SOME OTHER ISSUES WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE GOVERNORS HAS SAID THIS
IS HIS K-12 REFORM YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS
YET. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEARS HAS
SOME SORT OF K-12 REFORM, BUT WE'RE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN. AND ANOTHER AREA I'M WORKING ON
IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND A REPORT RECENTLY CAME OUT
THAT SHOWS VIRGINIA IS TOO HIGH ON THE LIST OF STATES WHERE THE
MOST WOMEN ARE KILLED BY THROUGH VIOLENCE.
AND I'VE PUT FORWARD A BILL EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN
ELECTED TO INCREASE-- STALKING AND EVERY YEAR IT PASS SAID THE
COURSE COMMITTEE. EVERY YEAR IT DOESN'T MAKE IT
OUT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT QUITE THE
PRIORITY. AND SINCE THEN THERE ARE THREE
HIGH-PROFILE MURDERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THAT
BILL WAS IN PLAY. THAT ISSUE WILL BE BACK THIS
SESSION. AND IT IS A BUDGET INVESTMENT
YEAR. SO I'M SURE ONCE WE GET THE NEW
BUDGET FORECAST THERE WILL BE TWEAKING AROUND THE EDGES.
>> WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE WEARING THEIR PURPLE PINS AND RIBBONS
IT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS.
THE GOVERNOR, BACK ON THE HEALTH ISSUE, HAS TO SUBMIT A
BLUE PRINT ON EXCHANGE BY NOV 15, WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BETTER
INDICATION OF WHERE GOVERNOR IS ON THAT ISSUE AS WELL AS THE
FIRST PART OF DECEMBER IS WHEN THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS
BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT JENNIFER REFERRED TO AND THAT'S AGAIN, A
GOOD ROAD MAP, AND OBVIOUSLY AS CO-EQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WILL WEIGH IN.
>> NOVEMBER ELECTION EFFECTS THE HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE OF
VIRGINIA OR NOT? >> THAT DEADLINE THAT I
REFERRED TO IS A HARD DEADLINE. AND SECRETARY HAZEL SHOULD BE
COMMENDED. HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB
MARSHALING RESOURCES AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON
IN TERMS OF FEDERAL REFORM AND HOW IT EFFECTS VIRGINIA.
I CAN HE'LL HAVE A VERY WELL PINFORMED REASON FOR THE
GOVERNOR. IT IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN
LIGHTLY. JENNIFER REFERRED TO DEFAULTING
TO THE FEDERAL EXCHANGE, THERE ARE A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND THAT'S WHERE ONE OF THE
POINTS OF DEBATE WILL COME, WHETHER VIRGINIA SHOULD RUN OR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD RUN.
PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE FEDERAL CAREACT AND WANT TO
REPEL SO-CALLED OBAMA CARE BELIEVE THAT IF ENOUGH STATES
DEFAULT INTO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOT READY AND CAPABLE OF PROCESSING AND
HANDLING THAT AMOUNT AND VOLUME, SO IT IT WILL BE
SOMEWHAT OF A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM AND STALL THINGS FROM
BEING IMPLEMENTED. THAT'S ONE STRATEGY BEING PUT
OUT THERE AND AGAIN, THE POLITICS OF HEALTH PCARE ARE
CERTAINLY RIGHT BELOW THE SERVICE IN TERMS OF THE POLICY
AS WELL, AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH SOME OF THOSE
POINTS. >> ONE OF MY BIGGEST
FRUSTRATIONS HAS BEEN THAT THE POLICY BEHIND THE EXCHANGE HAS
BEEN SORT OF BURIED IN THE POLITICS OVER HOW YOU FEEL
ABOUT OBAMA CARE, BUT WHAT I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE IS THAT
THE EXCHANGES EXISTED BEFORE CONGRESS EVERT STARTED TO
DEBATE OBAMA CARE. THE FIRST WAS ESTABLISHED FROM
GOVERNOR ROMNEY, THE SECOND IN UTAH.
AND EVEN AS EARLY AS A COUPLE MONTH AGO IT WAS OUTLINED HOW
EXCHANGES ARE A GOOD IDEA. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
MARKET POWER TO NEGOTIATE THE BIG, YOU KNOW, DISCOUNTS ON
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES, IT GIVES THEM A MARKET PLACE
WHERE THEY CAN GO AND GET A BETTER DEAL.
AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT HEALTHCARE IS AVAILABLE TO
THEM. SO IF YOU PARTICULARLY IF YOU
DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING MEDICAID AND
EXPANDING MORE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH INSURANCE YOU SHOULD
LOVE EXCHANGES, EXCHANGES OPENS THE MARKET FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
GET HEALTH INSURANCE FROM THE MARKET PLACE.
MOST OF THE DEBATES HAVE NOT BEENED HELD BECAUSE TOO MANY
PEOPLE ARE WOUND UP IN WHETHER OR NOT OBAMA CARE SHOULD BE
REPEALED. I'M HOPING THAT ONCE THE
NOVEMBER 15th ARRIVES WE'LL START TO LOOK AT THE POLICY AND
SAY IS THIS A GOOD IDEA THAT WILL HELP VIRGINIA GET MORE
ACCESS TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE. >> YOU'VE HEARD COMPANIES SAY
THEY JUST BANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE AND SO MUCH OF THE
RULE MAKING HAS NOT OCCURRED YET.
THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE STILL HAS HUNDREDS OF RULES ON POINT
AND THEY'RE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF EXISTING IN A FRAMEWORK ONCE
THEY KNOW THE RULES OF THE GAME.
THE HOSPITALS HAS BEEN FAIRLY SUPPORTIVE OF EXCHANGE THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, IN PART BECAUSE OF WHAT JENNIFER
MENTIONED BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO IN TERMS OF CHARITY CARE.
AND PEOPLE COMING TO THE HOSPITALS OR THE ER AND BEING
SERVED AND TREATED CARED WITHOUT AT A VERY HIGH COST,
THE HOSPITALS ARE SEEING IT AS A VERY BENEFICIAL THING.
WE'RE GOING PUT ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER AND TRY TO COME UP
WITH THE BEST SOLUTION FOR EVERYBODY.
>> THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR A SHORT SESSION.
>> BIG CHALLENGE WITH THE SESSION BEING JUST A 46-DAY
SESSION THAT'S SCHEDULED. AND TRANSPORTATION AND PERHAPS
URANIAN TALK AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES.
ALTHOUGH THINGS WORK SO MUCH QUICKER HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL
THAN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT IS HARD TO SEE ALL OF THOSE
ISSUES GETTING AMPLE TIME FOR DISCUSSION IN 46 DAYS.
>> WHEN YOU START TO ADD UP MAJOR SUBJECT MATTERS OF
HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION, K-12, AND NATCH RESOURCES, YOU
BASICALLY HAVE ONE MAJOR ISSUE A WEEK.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.
THAT CAN BE A NEGATIVE, BUT I THINK IT ALSO WORKS IN OUR
FAVOR BECAUSE WE CAN WEED OUT SOME THINGS QUICKLY THAT AREN'T
BENEFICIAL AND COME TO SOME RECONCILIATION.
AND GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. >> AND BACK TO THAT WHAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS WORK ON THESE ISSUES DOES NOT BEGIN
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION. WE WORK YEAR-ROUND THROUGH OUR
COMMISSION, THROUGH INTERACTIONS THROUGH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR VIEWERS THAT IF
YOU HAVE OPINIONS ON THESE ISSUES DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE
SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY TO CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR AND LET THEM
KNOW. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY THE
BILL IS HEARD IN COMMITTEE. YOU SHOULD REALLY CALL OR
E-MAIL OR WRITE THEM NOW. BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
GIVING OUR BILLS DRAFTED. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING
UP OUR MINDS ON THESE ISSUES AND A LOT OF TIMES BY THE TIME
WE WALK INTO THE COMMITTEE MEETING WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED
HOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE. START RIGHT NOW.
>> GO THOOTHE WEBSITE, LEGIS.VIRGINIA.GOV.
LOOK UP MEETING SCHEDULES, OFF SESSION AND ON, THAT'S A GREAT
TOOL AND RESOURCE FOR YOUR VIEWERS.
>> LEGIS.VIRGINIA.GOV. >> AND SOME OTHER ISSUES, MAY
BE NOT THESE HIGH-PROFILE ISSUES, BUT IF THEY WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ONE OF YOU THEY SHOULD REALLY BE HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION NOW TOO. >> THEY SHOULD.
A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO THINK THE ONLY
WAY TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM IS A BILL AND OFTEN WE REALIZE
THERE'S ALREADY A PROCESS IN PLACE TO FIX IT AND WE'D RATHER
FIGURE THAT OUT NOW THAN IN JANUARY.
>> RIGHT: ANY CLOSING WORDS JENNIFER, CHRIS?
>> I THANK YOU, AND YOUR VIEWERS AND BLUERIDGE PBS AND
JUST REMIND YOU SOMETIMES WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF ELECTIONS,
WE HAVE AN ELECTION EVERY YEAR, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR
YOU TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS. WE'RE GOVERNMENT BY OF AND FOR
THE PEOPLE SO GOVERNMENT IS ONLY GOOD AS THE PEOPLE'S
PARTICIPATION. AND WE HEAR OFTEN A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO EITHER PRAISE OR COMPLAIN ABOUT GOVERNMENT IT IS
ONLY GOING TO BE AS GOOD AS YOU LET IT BE-- THROUGH YOUR
PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO OUR
VIEWERS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> [MUSIC]
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC
WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM
>> "THIS WEEK IN RICHMOND" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALPHA
NATURAL RESOURCES, AN ENERGY COMPANY DEDICATED TO RESPECTING
THE LAND. ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES. WE POWER THE WORLD
THROUGH THE ENERGY OF OUR PEOPLE.
THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE VOICE OF THE
VIRGINIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PROMOTING THE FREE ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THESE SPONSORS.
[MUSIC] AND BY THE MEMBERS OF
VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS, THANK YOU.