Weekly Column: Week #2: A New Governor, Bills Moving & Budget Amendments For SD36

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Prince William Times, The Fort Hunt Herald, and Potomac Local in the week of January 24, 2022.

Week #2: A New Governor, Bills Moving & Budget Amendments For SD36 

In the second week of this year’s General Assembly, Governor Youngkin gave his State of the Commonwealth speech to a joint session of the House of Delegates and Senate and we began serious work on over 2,000 bills. 

               While I was pleased that Governor Youngkin said he wants all Virginians to get vaccinated for COVID-19, supports a Chesapeake Bay cleanup and ending raw sewage discharges into the James River, he also advocated for many policies that many people of the 36^th Senate District do not support, policies like charter schools and funding cuts to schools and our transportation. 

Senate committees advanced several of my bills recently. 

Weekly Column: A New Day in Richmond and Many Challenges

The following is my column that will appear in the Mt. Vernon Gazette, Springfield Connection, The Prince William Times, The Fort Hunt Herald, and Potomac Local in the week of January 15, 2021.

A New Day in Richmond and Many Challenges

               As the Virginia General Assembly begins its 2022 session, my 13^th, I look forward to working with Governor Glenn Youngkin, the new House of Delegates leadership and other legislators to reach a consensus on the best direction for our state.

              While I did not support them, I attended Governor Youngkin’s inauguration and  swearing in, along with the swearing in of Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares.

Budgets Reflect Priorities

               No matter what happens with other bills, one thing we are required to accomplish this session is to pass a budget.  Thanks to federal pandemic funds, Virginia has significant excess revenues in our two-year budget cycle that ends on June 30, 2022.  A little over half of those revenues will be appropriated to the “Rainy Day Fund” and to mandatory water quality improvement. 

Winter Storm Watch: What you need to know

UPDATE: 8:00 AM, 1/17/2022

VDOT Update

There is no longer a Winter Weather advisory in effect, however continue to proceed with caution.

• Crews continue to treat roads for icy spots. Treat anything that looks wet as if it could be ice, especially bridges and overpasses. If there is snow or ice on roadways, travel is hazardous.

• Continue to avoid or delay trips if possible to give trucks room to work and treat icy areas. Temperatures will remain around freezing most of the day, causing potential icy conditions especially on ramps, bridges, overpasses and other elevated surfaces.

Winter Storm Warning: What you need to know

UPDATE: 11:00 PM, 1/6/22

VDOT, VA Dept. Of Emergency Management, Natl. Weather Service Update

VDOT and other agencies provided an update earlier today on the storm moving through the Commonwealth tonight. Here are a few highlights:

• There's a 10-40% chance that Fairfax and PWC get 6+ inches
• This is going to be a very cold and gusty event which means there will be snow drifting and piling up but it won't be heavy so hopefully not as many trees down.
• Snow will be over by 8 am tomorrow morning.
• Interstate system is clear of snow now. Primary roads are between clear and minor blockages. Secondary streets are mostly clear or moderately snowy. Fredericksburg still has some severely blocked roads.
• We have over 1 million cubic yards of debris down on the roads hampering recovery effort. NoVA has over 200,000 cubic yards - mostly trees. The big ice storm last year only produced 500,000 statewide.
• VDOT is working to clear trees tangled in power lines and coordinating with power companies.
• This storm tomorrow is going to be different from Monday's. It's going to start as snow which means VDOT can pre-treat roads this time. All interstates are pre-treated. Most arterials are, too. 
• Pavement temps are above freezing so we shouldn't see as much ice at the outset.

School Closures

Fairfax County School buildings will be closed tomorrow with no virtual learning.

Click Here For Fairfax School Closures

Prince William County Schools are closed Code Green.

Click Here for PWCS School Closures

UPDATE: 10 PM, 1/5/22

VDOT Update

VDOT crews are ready for snowfall and wintry precipitation forecast across northern Virginia tomorrow evening.

As always, residents are asked to track the latest forecasts, plan ahead to avoid nonessential travel during winter weather, and to be aware of the potential for black ice and nightly refreeze as temperatures remain low.