Richmond can often seem a lot further away than the 100 miles it actually is from Arlington and McLean.  My reports these past weeks on the contentious and ideological issues being debated in the General Assembly make that distance very real to me daily.  However, being able to spend time here in Richmond with both my constituents and the organizations whose work for the Commonwealth is important  helps me stay focused on the needs and interests of the people I serve. The Sierra Club reminded me of the precious natural resources we must protect.  The Arlington County Board and the School Board, the Commissioner of the Revenue and the Arlington County Sheriff  have all spent time with me discussing what they see as the issues that must addressed in order to meet the needs of our constituents.  The presidents of local universities and people who themselves, their families or service providers will be affected  by increases or decreases in health care services funding bring expertise and literally put a human face on the issues.  I particularly enjoyed meeting with the Leadership Arlington delegation who came to find out what the General Assembly does!  Listen to my fifth weekly report from Richmond with details on the work still to be accomplished.

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On the first day of the 2012 General Assembly session, Governor Bob McDonnell urged his Republican colleagues in the House and Senate not to overreach and abuse their power. This week, we saw evidence of just that kind of overreach as we debated bills limiting voting rights and striking down common-sense limits on gun purchases in Virginia. Please take a look at my fourth weekly Report from Richmond for more details on this past week’s activities.

On a positive note – Happy Birthday College of William & Mary! At the 319th Charter Day, February 3, 2012, former Defense Sec Robert Gates was installed as Chancellor (his modern predecessors: Warren Burger, Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, Sandra Day O’Connor).

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During the 60 days of the legislative session in Richmond, you can find me somewhere between the Capitol and the General Assembly Building. For up to 12 hours a day (with most weekends off for good behavior), my office in Room 711 of the GAB is where the progress of legislation is planned and tracked, advocates for and against bills are heard out, visitors from Arlington and McLean are greeted, and floor statements and position papers are drafted.  Room 711 is also where I record my weekly report from Richmond (Richmond Report #3).   Because a big chunk of my time is spent on the floor or in committee meetings, my two staff people are the ones who keep the wheels turning.

Daniel Broder is serving as my Legislative Assistant for this year’s session. He was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut and is a 2011 graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a double minor in English and Political Science. Since moving to Arlington last year, Daniel has become heavily involved in the Arlington County Democratic Committee.

Paul Tindall is my Legislative Analyst for the session. Paul is currently a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University here in Richmond, where he is earning a degree in Political Science. He is part of the Virginia Capital Semester program run by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, and I chose him from a pool of highly qualified applicants to intern in my office this session. He helps me put out my weekly Report from Richmond, which can be found on YouTube every Friday, and assists Dan in the daily tasks around the General Assembly building.

My GAB neighbors are Arlington colleague Patrick Hope and Charnielle Herring of Alexandria. Our corner of the 7th floor has been brightened this session by a display of artwork from Yorktown High School students:

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This Wednesday at noon the House and Senate convened for the General Assembly’s 2012 session. This is our 60-day “Long Session.” Between now and the projected adjournment date of March 10, our main order of business will be to craft a state budget for the next two years.

Governor McDonnell presented his budget proposal last month and touched on its highlights in his State of the Commonwealth Address Wednesday night. Now the House and Senate will analyze and rework the Governor’s proposal and come up with a final product. On the House side, this will be the job of the Appropriations Committee, to which I was reappointed this week.

You can follow the session’s highlights (and occasional “lowlights”) from my perspective in a variety of ways:

– Blog posts here.
– My “Delegate Bob Brink” Facebook page
– @delbrink on Twitter
– A weekly YouTube Report from Richmond (you can see the first one here)

Most important, I want to know what you think about the issues we’re tackling in Richmond. Let me hear from you by email at delegatebrink@gmail.com or by phone at 804-698-1048.

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Best wishes for a happy holiday season with your family and friends. As you look back on the past year, I hope that, along with the challenges posed by the current economy and job market, the months were filled with memorable events and pleasurable occasions.

The 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly will start at noon on Wednesday, January 11 and will run through the beginning of March. As the session progresses, I’m planning to produce a weekly email newsletter, giving the highlights (and occasional “lowlights”) of the week’s events in Richmond. Through this forum, I will keep you informed about legislative matters affecting our region and Virginia.  I hope you will sign up to receive the newsletter!

While the Federal government’s presence in the area has spared us the harshest effects of the national economic downturn, the continuing effects of the Great Recession, along with the uncertain future of Federal spending, will dominate the 2012 Session as we tackle the main item on our agenda – writing a budget for the Commonwealth’s next two fiscal years.

Once again, have a great holiday. I look forward to staying in touch!

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