5 things to know about the State Legislature Which Opens Today

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

Del. Barbara Comstock

Del. Mark Keam

Del. Robert Brink

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.