2018 General Assembly Q&A

State legislators have returned to Richmond for a 60-day session of the General Assembly, with many new faces in place following the November elections that saw Democrats sweep the state’s three top elected offices and nearly pull even with Republicans in the House of Delegates. There are four new delegates in Henrico’s delegation alone.

The Henrico Citizen invited each delegate and state senator whose district encompasses a portion of Henrico to provide their thoughts about the 2018 session. The answers of those who responded appear below.

1. What is the most important issue facing the General Assembly this year? Why?

Dunnavant – This year, the General Assembly will pass a new biennial budget, which will be an important focus of the session. This is an opportunity to make sure we are adequately funding key areas like education and transportation, while also making tough decisions to keep spending under control and our budget balanced. Additionally, we must address healthcare in Virginia to curb rising costs and ensure that those who are sick have access to care.

McClellan – The most important issue facing the General Assembly this year is the budget, as it will set the priorities for Virginia government for the next two years. Key elements of the proposed budget include expanding Virginia's Medicaid program; combating the opioid epidemic and improving behavioral health treatment; improving K-12 education and increasing education programs for at-risk children; keeping higher education affordable; expanding food access and spark economic development in food deserts; expanding broadband funding for rural Virginia; raising state-employees and teachers pay by 2 percent and covering insurance premium increases; increasing workforce development initiative funding; and supporting the development of the solar industry in Virginia.

Adams – The most important issue facing the General Assembly this year is undoubtedly the need to expand Medicaid coverage to 400,000 Virginians that currently fall in the Medicaid coverage gap. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Virginia has surrendered more than $10 billion of its federal tax dollars to 31 other states that elected to expand coverage. On top of that, we’ve left hundreds of thousands of low-income Virginians, including those who are elderly, disabled, and veterans of foreign wars, without invaluable health coverage that would have been granted to them had the General Assembly elected to expand coverage years ago. Approximately 1,400 of these individuals live in the 68th District.

Bagby – Education reform remains a top priority for me this year. Across the commonwealth, students face several struggles, ranging from outdated textbooks, teacher shortages and school infrastructure problems. As delegates, we must act to ensure that all students receive a quality education. Also, high on my priority list will be the issue of juvenile justice reform. Virginia leads the nation in juvenile arrests and we must continuously explore alternatives to incarcerating children. I remain optimistic that with Governor Ralph Northam and our historic hard-working group of delegates, we can work towards solving these issues, among others, to create a better Virginia.

McGuire – The most important issue we are facing this year is trying to balance the budget. As a legislature, it is our main responsibility. Our commonwealth faces rising demand for resources every year, and it's our responsibly to make sure that we continue to use our citizens’ hard earned money responsibly.

Rodman – Medicaid expansion is still the most important issue facing the General Assembly. I heard countless stories while knocking on doors in my district, and I believe no one should have to choose between eligibility and making more than $8,000 per year. Medicaid expansion would allow 240,000 people in Virginia to enroll in a system more efficient than the private sector (according to nonpartisan organization The Commonwealth Institute – thecommonwealthinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/chartbook_2017_print1.pdf). This coverage for families would impact 4,000 of our friends and neighbors in the 73rd District alone.

VanValkenburg – Medicaid expansion is the number one most crucial issue this session. Governor Northam ran on accepting Medicaid expansion, as did all of the Democratic members of the House. Expansion would give coverage to approximately 240,000 people who currently fall into the coverage gap, approximately 2,300 of whom live in my district. Not only that, but the federal funds and economic effects of expansion would save the state budget more than $400 million.

2. What legislation do you plan to introduce during this year’s session?

Dunnavant – During this year’s session, I am advancing legislation addressing various issues facing my constituents, with an emphasis on higher education and healthcare:

• VCCS Reform – We need to refresh our approach to enrollment into our two-year and four-year colleges to better serve our students by streamlining degrees and enrollment in the systems. The legislation I proposed would help reduce costs for families, better prepare high school students for higher education and reduce the time it takes to get a degree. Now, students will be access one portal to enroll in any community college in the state, and, when they do, know that the credits from the core curriculum classes they are taking will transfer to a four-year school in Virginia. Our ultimate goal is to make it easier to enroll in higher education classes in Virginia, and to set students on a path to success.

• Richmond CSO – The James River is a great asset to the Richmond region - it’s important to our outdoor community, tourism, and economic development - and we need to do more to keep the river clean and preserve this waterway. One environmental issue I’m working on is addressing the bacteria levels in the James River. If passed, the legislation will require the City of Richmond to give an assessment of the discharges from each of its Combined Sewer Outfalls by 2020.

• Aligning healthcare and justice data to combat opioid crisis – Over the past two years, I’ve encountered frustrations and inconveniences from stakeholders and constituents regarding healthcare and our justice system, with information being too siloed between agencies. We have an opportunity this session to align healthcare and justice data to combat the opioid crisis. Legislation I plan to advance will allow both our health agencies and our public safety officials to share information and data to better identify, treat, and screen those suffering from the opioid crisis plaguing our state.

McClellan – I have introduced over twenty bills this session covering issues such as criminal justice reform, education, health care, public safety, driving and transportation. For more information, visit the "My Legislation" page at www.jennifermcclellan.com.

Adams – Throughout my campaign, I consistently expressed my belief in the importance of building healthier communities through better policy. As a key component of that vision, it’s important that we start substantive conversations with stakeholders surrounding the most pressing issues facing our commonwealth and seek their expert council regarding the best ways to make progress. To that end, I’ve introduced bills, HB711 and HB954, which would establish a Commission for Education Parity and a Commission for a Healthy Virginia, respectively. I’ve introduced legislation to initiate a voter referendum to determine whether an independent commission should be established for the practice of re-districting to end partisan gerrymandering. I’ve also introduced bills to curb Virginia’s carbon dioxide emissions, increase security of pensions, provide protections for dogs in the care of commercial dog breeders, and stymie the influence of private corporations in state and local politics.

Bagby – I have introduced a compulsory attendance bill that clarifies the current law that each parent of a school-age child in the commonwealth is required to cause their child to attend rather than such parent just enrolling their child at school. To expand voting rights throughout the commonwealth, I am carrying a bill to provide automatic voter registration, which automatically registers all eligible Virginians to vote when they obtain or renew a driver’s license or special identification card. Additionally, I have introduced legislation that expands the definitions of hate crimes that can be investigated and prosecuted by a multi-jurisdictional grand jury. This bill will strengthen the partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and Commonwealth Attorneys and provide the tools necessary to ensure that every Virginian has the right to be free from hatred and discrimination.

McGuire – This session I'm proud to be sponsoring legislation that supports our law enforcement, helps our veterans, and continues to help foster non-traditional curriculum that will allow Virginians to be first in line for computer and cyber security jobs in the commonwealth. Additionally, my first bills will work on fixing everyday, common- sense issues through practical means.
Rodman – Several bills I proposed this session are based on concerns from voters in our district on education, access to the polls, and the future of the commonwealth, including:

• HB230, which will allow localities to conduct some or all elections by mail. Virginians should not have to come up with an excuse days or weeks ahead of time as to why they may have a difficult time participating in democracy.

• Senator Wexton, Delegate Filler-Corn and I are working to pass Erin’s Law. HB1223 teaches students in grades K-12 about sexual abuse prevention. Our kids deserve age-appropriate language to communicate abuse. This has helped victims come forward and stop their abuse in thirty other states – it is past time to implement this in Virginia.

• HB980 would cut the number of mandated SOL tests. Standards of Learning are shackling our teachers instead of creating reasonable benchmarks, as intended. Lowering the number of tests to the federal minimum will ease the burden of “teaching to the test” and allow for more accurate forms of assessment to be put in place.

I am also putting forward legislation to study our current Standards of Quality for Virginia public schools. What would it take to properly support the current Standards of Quality in order to make sure all Virginia children have access to a high-quality education? HJ112 would direct this study to be completed by January of 2019.

VanValkenburg – Among the bills I’m chief patron of, I’m particularly proud of a bill which would create voter registration opportunities in high schools and universities and a bill which would prevent the revocation of state issued licenses for unpaid student debt. As a civics teacher, I know it is important for schools to at least provide a way for students to register without making it mandatory – providing a registration opportunity while students are learning about government, politics, and society can help create a sense of civic responsibility and, therefore, active citizenship. Similarly, nurses and other licensed professions are desperately in demand in Virginia, and the state should not have the power to remove their ability to pay off student debt by taking away their ability to work.

3. Do you support the expansion of Medicaid in Virginia? Why or why not?

Dunnavant – I support using Medicaid to reach the individuals in our state that are most needy, including anybody with a moderate mental illness which as of now is not covered. I also would like to expand the gap waivers and use provider contributions to fully fund priority one waivers for citizens with a disability, and treat moderate mental illness and substance use disorders. In conversations with constituents in my district, there is broad consensus that we need to cover those that most need medical services.

McClellan – Yes. All Virginians deserve access to affordable, quality healthcare. However, too many working Virginians are only one illness or injury away from economic devastation because they lack health insurance. Since passage of the Affordable Care Act, Virginia has forfeited $10 billion in federal tax dollars. Medicaid expansion would extend health care coverage to 240,000 uninsured Virginians, 10,800 of them in Henrico County alone as estimated by the Commonwealth Institute. In addition, Medicaid expansion is estimated to create 30,000 jobs and save our state budget over $400 million.

Adams – Absolutely. As previously stated, I believe this is the most important issue facing the General Assembly this session for the reasons stated above.

Bagby – I fully support efforts to expand Medicaid within the commonwealth. Expansion will create opportunities for hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians to be covered. Medicaid expansion will also create jobs for Virginia in the health care sector, in turn creating an economically viable future for Virginians.

McGuire – I will continue to oppose the expansion of Medicaid in Virginia. The soaring cost of this program would have a crushing effect on Virginia's economic environment. The existing program is broken, and while we will continue to look for cost reform solutions, the promise of "free" or "guaranteed" money from the Federal Government as a way to pay for it has proven to be untrue. Expansion of the program at this stage would only take away services and accessibility from those who are truly in need of assistance.

VanValkenburg – Absolutely – access to medical care through Medicaid expansion was core to my campaign and it’s a commitment I’ll follow through on. It expands our economy, aids in solving other problems like veteran’s care, employment, and the opioid crisis, and, most importantly, it provides medical care to hundreds of thousands of suffering Virginians.

4. There are several proposed bills that would implement or strengthen gun control laws. Do you support such efforts? If so, which ones and why? If not, why not?

Dunnavant – Overall I don’t believe that gun control laws alone reduce gun violence and I think that we need to do more to address what is causing this violence, including socioeconomic and educational opportunity. To that end I am seeking a HUD waiver allowing the state to take over management of all of our Section 8 housing and quickly transition to mixed use housing where people get the support needed to keep them from resorting to gun violence. I do believe we must ban bumpstocks – something I didn’t even know existed prior to the horrible tragedy in Las Vegas.

McClellan – Yes. I am carrying two such bills. SB 288 requires lost or stolen guns (excluding antiques) to be reported to local law-enforcement or State Police within 24 hours. SB 360 allows local governments to prohibit the possession or carrying of firearms, ammunition, or its components in public spaces during a permitted event, or events that should require a permit based on local permitting processes. This bill is a recommendation from Governor McAuliffe’s Task Force on Public Safety Preparedness and Response to Civil Unrest, which was established after the violent civil unrest that occurred in Charlottesville when neo-Nazis and white supremacists from 35 states descended upon the city. Large gatherings with the potential for violence pose significant threats to public safety, which can be exacerbated by the presence of firearms. When a pro-Confederate rally occurred in Richmond a month later, the commonwealth could ban firearms for any permit granted for demonstrations at the Robert E. Lee Statue on Monument Avenue because it is state property. But the City of Richmond was powerless to do so anywhere else along Monument Avenue or elsewhere.

Adams – I support responsible, common-sense gun control initiatives that seek to increase public safety without outright infringing upon the rights granted by the Second Amendment of the U.S Constitution. As a member of the Militia, Police, and Public Safety committee, I’ll have the opportunity to hear bills concerning gun control and my research has identified a few bills that I believe I would support. Delegate John Bell has introduced a bill (HB91) that would remove the option for concealed carry applicants to simply watch a firearms safety video as a demonstration of competence. Additionally, bills allowing localities to prohibit the possession of firearms in public libraries and requiring criminal history checks for firearms transfers could also earn my support. Finally, I support implementing universal background checks and closing the gun show loophole.

Bagby – I am supporting several measures aimed at requiring background checks for firearm purchases and prohibiting possession of firearms in public libraries. I am also in support of legislation to ban the sale and possession of bump stocks and other devices that increase a firearm’s the rate of fire.

McGuire – As a former Navy SEAL, I understand the importance of the Second Amendment and the need for law-abiding citizens to be able to protect their family and property. Some people forget that criminals don’t follow the law regardless of what laws we pass. Sometimes those that seek to change gun laws use talking points that move our emotions but don’t substantively address the issue the proponent claims to do. I will look at these bills carefully with an open mind but ensure the bills don’t infringe on our Constitutional rights.

Rodman – I am concerned with gun violence prevention. I applaud our new governor’s views on background checks and I stand by him in these common-sense positions.

VanValkenburg – I support careful reforms that balance common sense safety with Second Amendment rights. For example, I support HB 43, which would require people to report stolen or lost weapons – a clear aid to local police departments in protecting people from gun crimes. I also support HB 261, which allows localities to regulate the possession of firearms in government buildings (currently they are not able to), a level of flexibility they need to deal with local conditions.

5. What steps, if any, will you personally take to promote bipartisanship during this year's session? What specific issues do you believe will have the most bipartisan appeal this year?

Dunnavant – I regularly work with members of the other party in both the House and Senate. I will use the same respect and regard for other people's dignity and opinions that I have used in my two prior sessions, which has facilitated me successfully working with people on both sides of the aisle.

McClellan – As a member of the minority party my entire 12 years in the legislature, I have had to work across the aisle to pass any legislation. I will continue to work to find common ground where I can by listening and seeking to understand different points of view. Most legislation addressed by the General Assembly is not partisan, with disagreements falling more along regional lines. Yet through listening and patience, even on those issues where the parties disagree, we can and should seek to find common ground to address the issues facing our constituents.

Adams – It’s my personal mission to promote the spirit of bipartisanship in the General Assembly by establishing relationships with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and beginning thoughtful dialogues on how we can find compromise and best meet the needs of the citizens of Virginia. One of the most important initiatives that has garnered bi-partisan support is that to establish an independent, non-partisan commission for the purposes of re-districting. Ending partisan gerrymandering would fundamentally strengthen democracy in the Commonwealth of Virginia and ensure that our representation in the General Assembly is truly reflective of the communities we represent.

Bagby – I will continue to encourage my colleagues to listen to each other. Legislators from both sides of the aisle know that I won’t always agree with them but I’m always willing to listen. I am confident that we will work together to combat the opioid epidemic. I am also hopeful that we will be able to work together to provide additional funding to schools that will result in less suspensions and help with the recruitment and retention of good teachers. I’m not giving up hope that we will reach a bipartisan agreement to significantly impact the number of Virginians that have quality healthcare coverage.

McGuire – I believe that the first step promoting a truly bipartisan effort in our General Assembly is to establish a real relationship with each of the other members. As a freshman legislator, I want to listen more than I talk and take this opportunity to learn from my peers. With a more diverse House than we have ever had before, there is a real opportunity to start understanding issues from a different perspective. There are two issues where I think we will all be able to come together, and that's on trying to attack the heroin/opioid epidemic and expanding broadband access to our more rural areas. The substance abuse crisis in Virginia is killing our fellow citizens at an alarming rate, and the approach to stopping that will have to be multifaceted and require working together. Additionally, our rural areas are at a pivotal moment of development. As a legislature, we have a responsibility to help bring those areas without broadband the tools they need to continue making every corner of our commonwealth competitive with our neighboring states.

Rodman – I am enjoying my time getting to know Republican House members and discussing how we will improve our schools, healthcare and elections. I can’t wait to get to work—with all my colleagues.

VanValkenburg – Bipartisanship is not just about compromises reached on specific bills, but also about dialogue, respect, and trying to find common ground. As a delegate, I will focus on those interpersonal elements of bipartisanship and keep Virginia’s reputation for pragmatic and respectful state politics intact. I will also focus, especially in the small settings of committees, to find details we can agree on to address the concerns of both sides of the aisle as we assess the actual specific content of legislation. For example, we all agree that ending the opioid crisis is crucial, and can use that mutual determination as a starting point to hammer out details in committee. Similarly, education issues around career and technical education and standardized testing already have a great deal of bipartisan appeal stemming from mutual dissatisfaction with the current SOL and graduation requirements, so there will be room to work with both parties on those bills.