WHAT:  Reception for Sen. George Barker
WHEN:  Saturday, September 24th, 4-6 pm
WHERE: Home of Susie Warner (6229 Edison Drive, Alexandria, VA 22310; map, click here)

$50/person, other contribution levels appreciated. RSVP / tickets online, click here. Questions or information contact finance director Kim Howard at (703) 831-7336 or kim@senatorbarker.com.

With less than seven weeks left until people head to the polls on November 8th, the campaign efforts are ramping up. Voters are beginning to pay attention to the critical issues at stake, and volunteers are reaching out each day on the phones and doors.

But we still have work to do.

George is up against an opponent who has already dumped $75,000 of his own money into this race, and his top contributor in last week’s finance report was the right-wing, out-of-touch Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Please join your friends at a fundraising reception this Saturday to ensure that George has the resources he needs to prevent the extreme budget cuts and right-wing legislation that a GOP Senate would bring.

Please join Senator George Barker for a backyard cookout. We’ll have some good food and a great chance to talk about the issues facing our community today. RSVP  to Joanna Paul at (773) 315-3812 or Joanna.SenatorBarker@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 11th  2-4 pm
At the home of Maureen Healey
6778 Edge Cliff Drive
Alexandria, VA 22315 (map)

Suggested contributions: Supporter: $50, Friend: $100, Host: $250.

Kingstowne: at the Thompson Center (6090 Kingstowne Village Pkwy, Alexandria, VA 22315; map, click here).
Saturday, June 18th – 10 am to noon

Since the General Assembly legislative session and redistricting are both now complete, you are invited to a town hall meeting this month. For some people, this will be the first time to meet your “new” Senator and / or Delegate since legislative districts were re-drawn a few weeks ago. The event is free and open to the public.

The 2011 Virginia General Assembly session convened Wednesday, January 12th, and adjourned Sunday, February 27th.

• Regular Session
  The General Assembly meets annually, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days.
• Special Sessions
  The Governor may call a special session when it is deemed necessary or advisable, and must do so when petitioned by two-thirds of the members of both houses.
• Reconvened Sessions
  A reconvened session is held on the sixth Wednesday after adjournment of each regular or special session for the purpose of considering governor’s recommendations and vetoed legislation.

Lee District is represented in the General Assembly by four Delegates (Englin, Sickles, Surovell and Watts) and three Senators (Barker, Puller and Ticer). Each has done a tremendous job during this term, and here are their reports:

• Virginia House Democratic Caucus
  • Del. David Englin
  • Del. Mark Sickles
  • Del. Scott Surovell
  • Del. Vivian Watts
• Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus
  • Sen. George Barker
  • Sen. Toddy Puller
  • Sen. Patsy Ticer

Did You Know

from the VA General Assembly Visitor’s Guide

The Virginia General Assembly dates from the establishment of the House of Burgesses at Jamestown in 1619. It is heralded by Virginians as the “oldest continuous law-making body in the New World.”

The 1776 Virginia Constitution confirmed our bicameral legislature, which consists of the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia. The present state Constitution, adopted in 1970, provides that the House of Delegates shall consist of 90 to 100 members and the Senate shall consist of 33 to 40 members. All members of the General Assembly are elected by qualified voters within their respective House and Senate districts. The terms of office are two years for members of the House and four years for members of the Senate. Members may not hold any other public office during their term of office.

The General Assembly’s chief responsibilities are to represent citizens in the formulation of public policy, enact laws of the Commonwealth, approve the budget, levy taxes, elect judges and confirm appointments by the Governor.

About House Members

from about the House, General Information

The House of Delegates consists of 100 members. Each member represents approximately 71,000 citizens. The term of office for a member of the House of Delegates is two years. Each member receives an annual salary of $17,640.

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House and is elected by the House in even-numbered years for a two-year term. The Speaker’s duties are dictated by the Rules of the House. Among these duties are the assigning of bills to committee and appointing the membership of the 14 House standing committees.

The Clerk of the House is elected by the House in even-numbered years and continues in office until another is chosen. The Clerk is responsible for the administration of the House under the direction of the Speaker.

About Senate Members

from about the Senate, General Information

The Senate of Virginia consists of 40 members. Each member is elected for a term of four years and receives an annual salary of $18,000. A Senator represents approximately 176,000 citizens of the Commonwealth.

The Lieutenant Governor is the presiding officer of the Senate and is elected in a statewide election for a four-year term. In the event of his absence, the President pro tempore carries out the duties of the presiding officer. The President pro tempore is elected by the Senate for a term of four years.

The Clerk of the Senate is elected by the Senate. The Clerk’s duties are overseeing the daily operations of the Senate, maintaining all Senate records, keeping the daily Journal, and referring bills to committees.

One of the most challenging issues the General Assembly faces during the coming weeks is maintaining funds for K-12 education as well as additional cuts to Medicaid, including a five percent reduction in the already low payment rates to physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and assistants to those with disabilities. In the past, I have strongly supported funding for education and health care and will continue to do so.

Economic development and job creation continue to be a high priority during this session. While the economic climate has improved, we need to keep doing what we can to promote job development opportunities. This session, I am sponsoring two bills that will promote job expansion.

Governor McDonnell’s plan to privatize ABC liquor stores will also be considered this year. My constituents are overwhelmingly opposed to any plan that reduces revenue for the Commonwealth of Virginia. I serve on the committee that will consider that proposal first.

I will be carrying several bills this session from making texting while driving a primary offense to extending voting hours in emergency situations. However, much focus will be placed on four issues:

• Implementing Constitutional Amendments
  Last year, I proposed two constitutions amendments. One would give counties and cities complete flexibility in implementing property tax relief for elderly and disabled citizens and another would increase the maximum size of the Rainy Day Fund from 10 to 15 percent of annual tax revenue. I was pleased to see both of these approved by Virginians last November and will be working this session to ensure that they are implemented.
• Protective Orders
  Extending access to protective orders, to include dating partners, is another priority. Currently, protective orders can only be obtained by couples that are married, divorced, share a child, are family members or those who have lived together for over a year. A recent study by the Red Flag Campaign, a domestic violence advocacy group, showed that approximately 1 in 4 women on college campuses had been a victim of rape or attempted rape. Clearly, those in dating relationships should be able to protect themselves. A study by the Crime Commission concluded that these protections should be extended.
• Economic Development
  While I am proud of the rising employment rate in Virginia, there is more that can be done to bring jobs to our district, particularly Prince William County. I will be proposing a bill that expand grants or loans awarded from the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund encouraging businesses to open in or move to our area. Another bill I am carrying would use sales tax exemptions for the purchase or lease of computer equipment by data centers. The more jobs we have within our counties and cities, the the fewer people will have to commute long distances.
• Education Benefits for Current and Retired Military
  I also am proposing legislation that would allow members of the National Guard to still receive in-state tuition rates at Virginia’s public higher education institutions even if they are called to active duty from a Guard unit in another state. Another bill I am carrying would permit certain veterans who establish Virginia as their permanent residence for to receive in-state tuition immediately rather than having to wait for the customary one-year period.

I am looking forward to working with others to continue the strides Virginia has made within the past year.

Below is a link to the Virginia General Assembly. I encourage you to visit the site to stay informed about your state government: http://leg6.state.va.us/lis.htm.

I welcome you to stop by my office in Richmond. I am on the third floor of the General Assembly Building in room 316. My door is always open to visitors and constituents. Furthermore, I encourage you contact me via e-mail me at senatorbarker@gmail.com, or by calling my office at (804) 698-7539.

I look forward to representing you this session.

Sincerely,

Please Join Senator George Barker For a Summer Solstice Celebration

With special guests

• Senator Dick Saslaw
• Senator Patsy Ticer
• Senator Toddy Puller
• Delegate Mark Sickles

Saturday, June 19th
4 pm – 6 pm
At the Home of Susie Warner (6229 Edison Drive, Alexandria, VA 22310; map: http://tinyurl.com/warner-home).

Sponsor levels: Platinum Sponsor: $1000 (Includes 2 tickets and special recognition at event); Silver Sponsor: $500 (ticket and special recognition at event); Bronze Sponsor: $250; Supporter: $100; Friend: $50; Young Democrats Price: $35

Please send checks to ‘Barker for Senate’, PO Box 10527, Alexandria, VA 22310.

Paid for and authorized by Barker for Senate.

Delegate Sickles Town Hall Meeting

Saturday, January 30th  10:00 am to noon
Snyder Center
  6450 S Van Dorn St., Alexandria, VA 22315
  map, click here

Delegate Mark Sickles will be holding a town hall meeting in the 43rd district to discuss ongoing state issues, the budget, and the winter legislative session. Guests joining him will be State Senator George Barker and Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay.

Lee District Open House

Saturday, January 30th, 1-3 pm
Franconia Governmental Center
6121 Franconia Rd
Alexandria, VA 22310
  map: http://tinyurl.com/franconia-gc

Come meet Supervisor Jeff McKay and his Lee District Staff. Also enjoy the annual Springfield Art Guild Show. Light refreshments will be served.

LeeDems Volunteer Appreciation Party

Sunday, January 31st 4-6 pm
Thompson Center
6090 Kingstowne Village Parkway
Alexandria, VA 22315
map: http://tinyurl.com/thompson-center

Join Lee District Democrats for a volunteer thank you and appreciation party for all the hard work done over the last year. Food, fun, Dems. This is not a fundraiser.

• When: July 4. Assemble at 3:30 pm. The parade begins at 4 pm
• Where: Meet at the corner of Main St & Dell Ave, Clifton, VA 20124 (map: http://tinyurl.com/July4th-Clifton)
• Questions? Contact CliftonWomenDems@aol.com

Because Virginia’s annual legislative sessions are short, alternating between 45 and 60 days, we rely on a number of committees and commissions that meet in the interim to tackle the complex issues facing the Commonwealth.  With the legislative session rapidly approaching, my work on these commissions is wrapping up, and we are making our recommendations to the General Assembly. I hope you will take a look at some of the work we have done.

In This Issue  

• Rapid Transit  
• Health Insurance  
• Joint Commission on Health Care  
• Immigration Commission  
• Joint Subcommittee on a Regional Rapid Transportation Network

Bus Rapid Transit

The Joint Subcommittee on a Regional Rapid Transportation Network, which I have been elected to chair, is charged with exploring improvements to rapid transportation options and to integration of the various transit systems that exist in greater Northern Virginia, extending from the District of Columbia out through the Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and Winchester areas.
 
Northern Virginians have demonstrated that when transit is convenient and fast, we will use it. Local transit ridership has been increasing steadily for many years. With gas prices skyrocketing, transit use rose very rapidly this year. Once these additional people got comfortable with transit, they found it worked for them, and there has not been a decrease in transit use this fall even though gas prices have plummeted. Many others, however, do not have reasonable transit options for commuting or other major trips. It is vital, therefore, that we enhance transit service in Northern Virginia and improve coordination among the many transit systems.
 
Most Northern Virginians have some familiarity with Metro and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Less well known are the numerous bus systems that operate throughout the region. In addition to some Metrobus service, nearly every city and county has its own bus service. Some buses operate just within a city or county, not always meeting the needs of residents who may need to get to a job or other place a short distance outside that jurisdiction. Other buses, particularly commuter buses, travel outside the local county to specific locations, with Omni buses from Prince William going to locations such as the Franconia-Springfield Metro station, the District of Columbia, the Pentagon, Tysons Corner, or Old Town Alexandria. Those buses are variations of what is known as bus rapid transit, or BRT.
 
The Rapid Transit Action Committee and the Breakthrough Technologies Institute gave the subcommittee a presentation about the potential for an expanded Regional Rapid Bus Network serving Northern Virginia.  Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, has many positive features. It can avoid some traffic congestion. It runs with higher frequency and reliability than traditional bus systems, which will encourage ridership. It also offers riders access to new technologies such as Wifi and Real-time passenger information systems. An appealing feature of this option is that short-term, low cost developments can be quickly implemented that are flexible and lay the groundwork for larger, more comprehensive projects down the road.
 
We also have looked at other options, including Metro extensions into Prince William and other jurisdictions, and VRE enhancement. I am confident that this subcommittee will offer valuable insights to the General Assembly regarding innovative transportation solutions. The final meeting of this subcommittee will be held on December 18th in Woodbridge.  If you are interested in attending this meeting or would like more information, please contact my office.

 
Health Insurance: Small Business Commission and Mandated Benefits Commission

Two commissions on which I serve are the Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits and the Small Business Commission. These two commissions are struggling with the same issues: how to get more people insured, how to make the insurance work for families and individuals, and how to keep it affordable.
 
At the request of the business community, the Small Business Commission has focused solely on health insurance this year. Small and medium-sized businesses have indicated that they want to provide health insurance coverage for their employees but often have difficulty doing so because of the costs. The number of such Virginia businesses providing health insurance coverage has dropped in recent years from 67 percent to 59 percent. We are considering some proposals that may help but will not fully resolve these issues.
 
One of the issues that has gained widespread attention recently is the extent to which health insurance policies should be required to cover specific services and treatments. Virginia now requires general insurance to cover many such things. Some argue that these mandates drive up costs, making health insurance coverage unaffordable for some businesses and individuals. In addition, because of restrictions in Federal law and that fact that many Virginians do not have private health insurance, such mandates affect only a third or less of all who need services. At the same time, many of the mandates now are services that likely would be demanded by businesses and individuals even if not required. In some instances, mandates can help make coverage of needed services standard. By standardizing benefits, it also can get around the problem of “adverse selection.” “Adverse selection” occurs when businesses and insurance companies avoid offering coverage for treatments not commonly covered because they fear that doing so would provide those requiring the treatment an incentive to get the plan with that coverage, disproportionately driving up the cost for those companies.
 
The Mandated Benefits Commission this year considered four categories of expanded benefits, recommending only one of the four. The Commission supported adding a mandate for autism treatments. In our first meeting of the Mandated Benefits Commission, we heard testimony from Delegate Marshall and Delegate Poisson, patrons of a bill that would require such coverage, and from medical professionals who treat autistic children. Many parents of children with autism also spoke about the extreme financial burden of obtaining the care they need for their children. While schools, Early Intervention, and Medicaid’s developmental delay waiver program provide some services for autistic children, there is still a considerable gap between what is provided and what some of these children require. Some states require health insurance to help bridge this gap.
 
I strongly believe that we need to develop a comprehensive approach to insure that all children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders receive the care they need. It is critical that the care be started early, often by age 2 or 3, and that the services be comprehensive in order for the children to maximize their potential. There are still important concerns that need to be addressed regarding this legislation and this issue, and I will continue to work with Delegate Marshall and others to develop consensus on how we can meet the needs of all Virginia children and families affected by autism spectrum disorders.  
Joint Commission on Health Care
 
Last week the Joint Commission on Health Care voted on a number of policy options that had been discussed at prior meetings. Because of the thorough research that staff conducts, and the Commission’s bipartisan and thoughtful approach to the significant health care issues the Commonwealth is facing, the General Assembly typically takes the JCHC recommendations seriously and implements many of its recommendations. Mindful of Virginia’s severe budget shortfall, the JCHC considered policy options that would not have budget implications in the upcoming fiscal year. The Commission voted to recommend the following:

• Introduce legislation to address the hosting of underage drinking parties.
• Request by letter of the JCHC Chairman that the Secretary of Health and Human Resources ensure the development of a comprehensive plan for the delivery of behavioral health care services for children, adolescents and their families prior to the 2010 General Assembly Session. The letter would include the request for the plan to be submitted to the Joint Commission by October 1, 2009.
• Strive to increase awareness of Section 125 plans, which enable employees to purchase health insurance policies with pretax dollars, through the following actions:
  • Request by letter of the JCHC Chairman that the Department of Human Resources Management in consultation with the Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) create detailed electronic document highlighting Section 125 benefits; requirements for adoption; COBRA, ERISA, and HIPPA implications; and a simple Section 125 Plan form to post on the VDBA website and on Virginia’s business portal website.
  • Request by letter of the JCHC Chairman that the Virginia Chamber of Commerce inform its membership of Section 125 Plans and associated benefits through its newsletter.
  • Request by letter of the JCHC Chairman that the National Federation of Independent Businesses/Virginia include information on Section 125 Plans as part of the Federation’s Area Action Council meetings with small businesses.
  • Include in the 2009 workplan that the Joint Commission convene a workgroup to compile information needed for an informational website on health insurers to be hosted by Virginia Health Information (VHI) with appropriate linkages on other state websites and address other health insurance issues as appropriate.
• Seek to address critical shortages of health care professionals through the following actions:
  • Request by letter of the JCHC Chairman that the Virginia Board of Medicine save an electronic archive copy of the Doctor’s Profile Database annually.
  • Authorize JCHC staff to conduct joint research with VCOM’s National Center for the Analysis of Healthcare Data in completing the workforce pipeline study (to be reported to JCHC by November 2009).
• Continue study for one additional year to research options for improving “aging at home” services and support for culture change initiatives in Virginia.
• Restore funding for Virginia Caregivers Grant when budget allows.
• Assist local Chambers of Commerce in educating Virginia business owners about caregiver workforce issues and encourage owners to provide caregiver support programs.

I plan to continue to advocate for these and other health related issues during the upcoming legislative session. I look forward to continuing my work on this Commission next year.
 
Governor’s Commission on Immigration
 
As a member of the Governor’s Commission on Immigration, I had the opportunity to hear about how immigration affects the Commonwealth of Virginia from a wide range of perspectives. The Commission’s membership was bicameral and bipartisan, and also included a number of citizen members. Throughout my service on the Commission, I weighed how the Commission’s recommendations would affect individuals and the Commonwealth as a whole. We considered policy options that dealt with the effects of immigration in the areas of employment, health care, and education. We also examined issues surrounding the transition of immigrants into society and the collection of data relating to immigration. The following are some of the recommendations we made to the General Assembly:

• Pass resolutions encouraging the Federal government to
  • Require the Department of Labor to be more responsive to reported SSN discrepancies
  • Increase the number of specific Visas allotted each year in order to help fill shortages in certain occupations.
• Support the use of E-Verify, an online system that allows employers to check the work status of new hires, when it is fully functional and properly funded.
• Remove 40 quarters of employment or connection to military requirements for qualifying Legal Permanent Residents to obtain Medicaid after the five year ban period. There are currently only nine states, including Virginia, that require Legal Permanent Residents to work for 10 years before receiving Medicaid benefits. Adopting this proposal would result in a cost savings to the state, because currently medical costs of these individuals are paid for out of the indigent care fund, which is funded entirely by the State. Under this plan, Medicaid, half of which is funded by the federal government, would pick up these costs.
• Provide additional funding for free clinics and closer partnerships between hospitals and free clinics to divert individuals who are going to emergency departments for non-emergent care.
• Partner with private ESL providers to make English classes more available.
• Require public schools to indicate to the postal service not to forward mailed items, thus preventing false residency claims.
• Offer in-state tuition to students who meet specific requirements that have been vetted by the Attorney General’s Office
• Create an Office of Immigrant Assistance Services within the Department of Social Services to provide assistance to immigrants in obtaining proper documentation.
• Improve data collection by the Department of Corrections regarding country of birth and citizenship of inmates.

As always, I value your input and suggestions, and my staff and I are eager to work with you to address any issues you may have. It is a pleasure representing you, and I hope that you will bring your concerns to my attention throughout the year. Please contact me at 703-303-1426 or senatorbarker@gmail.com. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

George Barker
Senator, 39th District
 
Please contact me, I want to hear from you! My staff and I will do everything we can to help you with problems you may have.  
 
senatorbarker@gmail.com
703-303-1426
PO Box 10527
Alexandria, VA 22310
www.senatorbarker.com

DATE: November 15th
TIME: 11:30 am
LOCATION: Woodbridge High School, Rm. 1309
3001 Old Bridge Rd
Woodbridge, VA 22192
map: http://tinyurl.com/woodbridge-hs

QUESTIONS: Please call 703-303-1426.

www.SenatorBarker.com