My contributions to the 2023 Staunton Legislative Program

Staunton's Legislative Program for 2023 is an annual document that represents Staunton’s list of priorities for the Virginia General Assembly session beginning in January 2023.  This formal document is sent to our Virginia General Assembly members to help guide them in proposing and voting for legislation.

I sent the following comments to the Staunton City Council in preparation for the public City Council Meeting for consideration and approval of the document. 

I used the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program as a guide.  

First Responders

I support this section as detailed in the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program except: also specifically include the 2018 Legislation link and include Police as a First Responder.

Plastics Recycling Facility

I support this section from the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program except that the term “Plastic Recycling Facility” needs to be defined.  It is unclear if that term means a plastic collection center (like the Gypsy Hill Park center) or a plant that further sorts, washes, shreds or otherwise converts the plastic into another form and is meant to be a regional processing center.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

I support this section of the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program

Planning District Commissions

I support this section of the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program.  Affordable housing is a worsening factor in poverty and financial stability for many low and some middle income individuals and families.  Expansion of affordable housing and related services (such as public transportation) are vital to the welfare of individuals, families and the community.

Sales Tax on Food for Home Consumption

I support this section of the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program.  With the reduction of this tax to 1% starting 1/1/23, progress is being made towards the goal of eliminating it.  Please urge the 2023 General Assembly to eliminate the tax starting 1/1/24 or earlier.

Protecting the legal right to an abortion

I oppose any change in the Virginia abortion law that further restricts access to abortion as detailed in - https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title18.2/chapter4/article9/ 

Reproductive and Women's Health Care

I oppose any restrictions in prescribing medications such as birth control pills, IUDs, other reproductive methods since they are also used as therapeutic treatments for other non-reproductive health conditions.  As a healthcare provider, the patient, family and I are the best people to decide the appropriate treatment for any patient's health conditions and the interference of politicians that do not have the training and a license to practice medicine is unethical and unwarranted. 

Solar Tax Incentives

Change name to “Energy and Climate” - see details below

Energy and Climate

• Solar Tax Incentives - I agree with Section I - Solar Tax Incentives - in the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program.  In addition, Staunton should ask for a city wide assessment of possible solar panel installation and to assist home and property owners to decide on individual solar feasibility for their situation.  
• Urban Forests - ask for funds to do a city wide assessment of the feasibility and benefits of planting trees.  It is well known that “urban forests” reduce air and water pollution, alter heating and cooling costs, increase real estate values, improve physical and mental health, strengthen social connections and are associated with reduced crime and increased active living and neighborhood pride.  See this article from the USDA/US Forest Service - https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/urban-forests and this from the EPA on using trees and vegetation to reduce heat islands https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands .  Also in line with Staunton’s DEI Commission there is this EPA article on “Heat Islands and Equity”  https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/heat-islands-and-equity .
• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Assistance Office - ask for funds to establish an office that can:
• Assist home and property owners to connect with businesses that can assess homes and properties for energy upgrades and apply for IRA tax incentives or rebates.
• Provide city wide education to residents, home and property owners about the IRA incentives.  

Education

I agree with the Section A - Education - from the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program except:

• My suggested changes to Section A-5 - all HVAC and other renovations should be upgraded to use HVAC and water heating systems that are high efficiency and compliant with the recommendations from the Inflation Reduction Act.  These may include heat pumps for heating and air conditioning, heat pump water heaters.  Geothermal systems are also a good option.

Remove Prohibitions to Marry

• Removing Article 1, Section 15-A of the Virginia Constitution and codifying the affirmative right to marry regardless of the sex or gender of the parties.  I support SJ 5 of the 2022 session titled “SJ 5 Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, same-sex marriage prohibition”.
• “SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
• Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and agents to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage”.

Repeal Right to Work Laws 

• I support the 2021 House of Delegates session bill - “HB 1755 Right to work; repeals provisions of Code that refers to denial or abridgement”.    
• “SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
• Right to work. Repeals the provisions of the Code of Virginia that, among other things, prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise”.

Fair Elections

I agree with Section K of the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program with the following additions:

• The General Assembly should condemn the establishment of Governor Youngkin’s establishment of the Election Integrity Unit.  There has been NO significant election fraud that would warrant the establishment of this expensive office with 20 + lawyers and staff.  It is a complete waste of taxpayer money and it is simply a political stunt meant to perpetuate an information fraud.
• I oppose any degradation of Automatic Voter Registration as outlined in https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+HB235 .
• I oppose lessening the time period for early voting and vote by mail
• I oppose any restrictions in methods of registering to vote including online, local voter registration office hours of operation or decrease in personnel, locations to obtain voter registration forms.
• I oppose restricting the types of approved voter ID
• I support moving to same day registration and elimination of a deadline for voter registration.
• I oppose massive voter purging
• I support a ban on “voter caging” to prevent challenges to voter eligibility by individuals who are not election officials unless the challenge is accompanied by an oath under penalty of perjury that the challenger has a good faith factual basis to believe the person is ineligible to vote or register to vote.
• I support a state holiday for each November election day to allow voting by working individuals.
• I support HR 1 For the People Act of 2021.

Single use bag tax

• I support a single use bag tax across all cities and counties in Virginia.  
• The Virginia Tax website shows the following:
• Any city or county in Virginia may impose a 5₵ tax on each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The city or county needs to pass an ordinance to begin applying this tax.
• The store collects the tax at the time of the sale. Money raised by this tax goes to support environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, or environmental education efforts, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits.      ……
• Change to:

• Any All city cities and or counties county in Virginia shall may impose a 5₵ tax on each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The city or county needs to pass an ordinance to begin applying this tax.  The store collects the tax at the time of the sale. Money raised by this tax goes to support environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, or environmental education efforts, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits.      ……