Are you watching what our legislator is doing in the General Assembly? You should be and it’s easy to do on Richmond Sunlight. While you’re at it, have a look at how he gets his money … and from whom, and from where.
Update: From Delegate Landes’ newsletter:
“Delegate Steve Landes’ Newsletter: Week of January 13, 2011
Dear Friends,
We are back in Richmond in full swing! The 2012 Session officially opened on Wednesday, January 11 and we are already busy as ever.
I was reappointed by Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, to serve on the House Appropriations, Education, Rules, and Privileges and Elections Committees. I am looking forward to continuing to serve on these committees.
I have also submitted several pieces of legislation for this session and I am looking forward to working hard to see that they are passed. Some of the legislation that I have submitted are outlined below.
2012 Legislation
House Bill 766 creates the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which establishes an economic development grant program targeted specifically at agricultural and forestry operations. Grants will be awarded to support localities’ efforts to attract value-added or processing facilities using Virginia-grown products. Under the program, localities will apply for grants after having established a relationship with a new or expanding business.
House Bill 767 provides updates to the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund, which was created in 2010 through House Bill 943. HB 767 requires a small business to be organized under Virginia law or maintain a principal place of business in Virginia in order to qualify for a grant under the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund. It also requires that a new full-time position must employ a Virginia resident in order to qualify for the grant. The bill also includes provisions that prohibit receiving more than one grant for the same position, require the employee to be employed in the new full-time position for at least 90 days prior to the award of the grant, and require the small business to submit a taxpayer identification number and certification Form W-9 with each grant application.
House Bill 768 codifies the Virginia Jobs Investment Program administered by the Department of Business Assistance and changes the name to the Virginia Jobs Investment Plan, which is comprised of the Virginia New Jobs Program, the Workforce Retraining Program, and the Small Business New Jobs Program. The bill establishes general eligibility requirements for obtaining assistance under the Plan and requirements for the component programs under the Plan.
House Bill 776 creates the Federal Oversight Commission, consisting of seven legislative members representing the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. The Commission will meet twice a year with the United States Senate members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation and to communicate with Virginia’s members of the United States House of Representatives. The purpose of the Commission will be to address public policy issues for which both federal and state policy makers have responsibility.
House Joint Resolution 108 directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct a two-year study on the cost efficiency of the Commonwealth’s institutions of higher education and to identify opportunities to reduce the cost of public higher education in Virginia.
House Joint Resolution 109 memorializes Congress to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to impose a balanced budget requirement. This resolution relates to Delegate Landes’ work as Co-Chairman of the Virginia Chapter of Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment.
Contact and Visit Us!
As always, my legislative aide, Judy Wyatt, and I are here to serve you. Please use the contact information below to reach us in the Richmond Office by phone, fax or email. Our Richmond Fax number is 804.698.6725. Our Richmond Address is Post Office Box 406, Richmond, Virginia 23218.
If you are in Richmond, be sure to stop by and visit! I am located in Room 515 of the General Assembly Building, located on the corner of 9th and Broad Streets.
Sincerely,
Steve Landes”
