BACKGROUND
So, the General Assembly is in session. To most everyone in Virginia that is a rather abstract notion. The government is in session. Big deal. To local government guys it is a huge deal. I’m going to spare you another of my vitriolic diatribes and simply say that a single bill in the GA can radically alter how you do business. It can (as the M&T bill will) raise taxes or impose unfunded mandates (water quality, etc). I’ve been in office for 4 years but it is the first time that I’ve ever gone to Richmond when the Assembly was actually in session. This was another of these Virginia Municipal League (VML) events.
VML looks out for local governments. They employ lobbyists and do a lot of analysis on proposals coming out of Richmond to see what kind of impact they might have. They also help to educate both newly elected folks as well as people that have been around for awhile as to the ways that things work and/or the changes that are coming. There was a big change in eminent domain a couple of years ago that VML did a lot of work around. They’re very handy as many of the issues are rather esoteric and they do the legwork. After all, just because you are “on Council” doesn’t mean that you’re a dam safety expert or an economist (a limitation state and federal reps don’t seem to have…:) and you depend on someone to figure it out so that the Council can take a position if need be.
The First Half: VML put on a program where they trotted out their experts on many of the bills that are pending before the Assembly. Some bills they wanted us to support and some they wanted us to lobby against. There was pretty decent analysis around each position. In addition to their program, our lobbiest was there so we could meet with him. He explained what was going on with the M&T bill. The governor was running late so they did a Q&A session. The governor got there, gave his stock presentation (covered in previous post) and the Manassas contingent blew outta there to meet with our legislators.
General Assembly Office Building: The Mayor and Mrs. Bass went with me (along with Sarah and Erin) to the GA Office building. We went up to see
Jackson Miller but he was still on the floor as the House was still in session. His LA, Jessica kindly took our picture in her office! (I took her picture first but promised not to put it online). My impression of that place is that it is intensely busy.
Every single thing happening in the GA Office bldg revolves around what is happening in the Capitol building. Everyone in the GA Office building is watching the proceedings via video. The space is nice and comfortable and there are tons of people streaming in and out. It’s pretty easy to seperate staff from lobyists from locals like me (who mainly appear lost…:). Security is minimal – a metal detector. It is very visitor-friendly. After our visit with Jessica we got back on the elevator to go up to visit Senator Colgan. The decor on that floor, which also houses the office of the Speaker of the house, is clearly on a different level. It isn’t as cluttered and from what I could see the walls might be paneled. However, as we were preparing to walk through the fancy smoked-glass doors the damn fire alarm went off and we had to head down 6 flights of stairs to the ground floor. As soon as we got to the ground floor, the alarm stopped but I had seen enough. My back was killing me so we headed across the street to the Capitol building.
The Capitol Building: The Capitol building is pretty incredible. It appears that over the past couple of years they have built an underground visitors center that lets you get into the building from Bank street but without going through the front door. It’s nice and must’ve cost a fortune but it is elegant. The process to get into the building is very easy but there are Troopers all over the place. The staff is always accomodating and friendly (I really can’t say enough good things about the staff in both places). Getting to the gallery is very easy and the view is great. I understand that the gallery is frequently full but we were there 
in the late afternoon so there was room.
When we were there they were debating part of the transportation bill. The debate was heated from time to time but it didn’t appear that many of the delegates were paying attention to what the various speakers were saying. That was kinda disappointing. More citizens need to come and watch their delegates. However, I will say that we saw Jackson down on the floor and he was paying attention to what was going on. He saw us and waved, sent me a text. I sent him an M&T text back…:) The only other person I recognized was Bob Marshall and he was wandering around taking pictures of everything. That didn’t make much sense to me as he is a delegate, not a photographer but someone explained that this is his thing. He takes pictures the whole time and then prints them and passes out action shots to the other delegates. I guess if that’s your thing, that’s cool.
Overall it was very enlightening. Politics at that level aren’t my cup of tea so I probably won’t go lobby again but I will pay attention to what’s going on and hold those in that building responsible for their vote. If you have the opportunity to visit when the GA is in session, Do It. It’s easy to do and the people there make it easy.
February 5, 2011 at 8:40 am
Glad to see you recognize the power of both presence and a well-timed text!
Did you see any spitoons?
February 5, 2011 at 9:25 am
No, no spitoons…
February 5, 2011 at 2:25 pm
hmmm, get Cindy to expand the story into a screen play, and I smell an Indie Film spectacular here!!!
February 5, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Thank goodness Gov. McDonnell hasn’t cut the annual screenwriting competition.
There’s no entry fee, your work is judged in 2 rounds by industry professionals and there’s a $1,000 prize. Entries accepted March through May:
http://www.film.virginia.org/for_virginians/screenwriting_comp.aspx
February 7, 2011 at 9:29 pm
That sounds like such an interesting voyage for you and the Mayor. In your exchanges on this fantastic voyage, did it ever cross the mind(s) of either of you that the rank and file of public safety and public service employees in your jurisdiction are making less money than those in surrounding areas?
Have you taken any anonymous surveys to see what percentage of the above employees would leave (ASAP) if given the opportunity in a surrounding area?
What will prevent our competitors from plucking the best and brightest from our City by offering a better deal?
February 8, 2011 at 12:09 am
Black & Blue,
Andy is on record more than once of trying to get the Council to approve a Pay & Classification Study for all City Employees. He has crashed & burned on getting it through, but please be aware the points you raise are big concerns for him.
Don’t have to look far in the City to see where the best & brightest have left, or just left for more pay….take a look at MCPD. Even with the new 9 Officers, our Chief is still understaffed; a good chunck of our Officers are 2 or less years on the force, and then there is a gap before you hit the officers who have stayed 8+ years.
Our Chief is very much aware of the issue, and is working to resolve it. An uphill battle considering a trained officer can jump over to Dept. of Defense Police and start at $56K a year – and our Chief has said it is tough for a young officer who wants to get married, have a house, etc. on our starting salaries.
The “line jumping” occurs with a lot of the folks who have multiple certifications in specialties. That’s why the aforementioned study is needed. Just not enough of us voicing it at Citizens Time to make it happen.
February 8, 2011 at 8:49 am
Two free events at GMU’s PW campus tonight.
At 6:30 pm screening of film “Bullied” @ Verizon auditorium w/light reception & facilitated talk afterwards. Invitations went out to all school board members & admins of the 3 local jurisdictions.
At 7 pm @ Hylton Performing Arts Center there’s a free (but ticketed, call the box office) Vision Series lecture with Professor David Weisburd on “Hot Spots of Crime & Crime Prevention.” There’s usually a Q&A afterwards and coffee in the lobby – good pace to discuss the issues. The City police chief is promoting this to the neighborhoods.
Which to go to…..
February 8, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Professor Weisburd is the way (have two tickets for tonight as son and I are going over). His presentation – I hope – will be attended by some of our MCPD folks, and City Council Members.
My son studied parts of his research while working on the BS degree in Crime, Law & Society at GMU. Prof. Weisburd disallows the concept of “secondary affects” by countering with real research.
February 9, 2011 at 11:02 am
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/traud/wb/276012
If Virginia’s GA is the “parent” of local governments,
then they are are guilty of major child abuse.
February 9, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Del. Putney made an interesting choice of words: “some are more equal than others”.
Animal Farm, anyone?
I have one for her – “how easily totalitarian propaganda can control the enlightened people in democratic countries.” George Orwell wrote that in an opinion piece on Animal Farm…and I think she owes him some bucks for misquoting him!
February 13, 2011 at 9:42 am
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/276878
Have been there on the closing day of a session –
a real “Animal Farm”.