5 things to know about the State Legislature Which Opens Today
Republicans are in control
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Pdfs
The Virginia State legislature opens today in Richmond
1. Republicans control the governor's office, the House of Delegates and the State Senate for only the second time since the Civil War. The State legislature consists of 40 members in the Senate and 100 in the House.
2. Expect fireworks in the state Senate which has 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican, presides over the Senate and therefore casts deciding votes on issues including committee assignments --- but not the state budget.
2. Also for the first time you can actually track bills, at least in the House thanks to two local representatives -- Del. Mark Keam and Del. Jim LeMunyon. Keam represents a sliver of McLean.
Previously, the only way Virginians could check the voting record of a delegate was by piecing looking at each bill to see who voted for it. Dels. LeMunyon, R-Chantilly, and Mark Keam, D-Vienna succeeded last year in getting the Republican-controlled House of Delegates to approve a bill to make individual voting records available to the public.
Starting with the 2012 session, Virginians will be able to go online and see each delegate's voting record. The Democratic-controlled Senate is still obfuscating its voting records.
3. One of the most important issues --- changing the boundary lines for the states 11 congressional districts. Virginia neither gained nor lost seats in the U.S. Congress based on the 2010 U.S. Census. But no changes in the size of a delegation never stopped politicians from changing political boundaries.
4. How to contact your McLean representatives. Printout this list and put it on the fridge.
State Senate:
Barbara Favola: Capitol Office
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Email: district31@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 698-7531
Fax: (804) 698-7651
Room No: 322
Legislative Assistant: Arlene Spinelli
District Office
2319 18th Street North
Arlington, VA 22201-3506
Email: district31@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: (703) 835-4845
Fax:
Legislative Assistant: Arlene Spinella
Janet Howell: Capitol Office
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Email: district32@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 698-7532
Fax: (804) 698-7651
Room No: 321
Legislative Assistant: Karol Straub
District Office
P.O. Box 2608
Reston, VA 20195-0608
Email: SenHowell@gmail.com
Phone: (703) 709-8283
Fax: (703) 435-1995
Legislative Assistant: Karol Straub
House of Delegates
| Capitol Office | District Office | |
| General Assembly Building P.O. Box 406 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Phone: (804) 698-1034 Fax: (804) 698-6734 Email: DelBComstock@house.virginia.gov Room Number: 407 Legislative Assistant: Elise Marsh Secretary During Session: Becky Barrett |
P.O. Box 6156 McLean, VA 22106 Phone: (703) 772-7168 Email: DelBComstock@house.virginia.gov Additional Web Resources |
| Capitol Office | District Office | |
| General Assembly Building P.O. Box 406 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Phone: (804) 698-1035 Fax: (804) 698-6735 Email: DelMKeam@house.virginia.gov Room Number: 706 Legislative Assistant: Julia Kim and Robert Abbot Secretary During Session: Marilyn Glazebrook |
P.O. Box 1134 Vienna, VA 22183-1134 Phone: (703) 350-3911 Email: DelMKeam@house.virginia.gov Additional Web Resources |
| Capitol Office | District Office | |
| General Assembly Building P.O. Box 406 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Phone: (804) 698-1048 Fax: (804) 698-6748 Email: DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov Room Number: 711 Legislative Assistant: Daniel Broder Secretary During Session: Joan Keene |
P.O. Box 7668 Arlington, VA 22207 Phone: (703) 531-1048 Fax: (703)531-0595 Email: DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov |
It's easy to keep up with the latest doings in Richmond by following your representatives on their blogs, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds; the House also has its own Twitter account: http://twitter.com/vahouse, as does the Senate: http://twitter.com/vasenate
Interested in visiting the Capitol during the session? To arrange a visit or tour of the Capitol, contact your local representative. There are public galleries in the House and Senate chambers; generally the House and Senate convene at 12 noon during the 60-day session.
