Session Overview
The question of what to do with a projected billion-dollar state budget
surplus dominated the 1999 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. Proposals
to extend the politically-popular path of tax cuts begun in the 1998 session,
which saw the adoption of then-newly-elected Governor Jim Gilmore's plan
to dismantle the hated personal property tax on personally-owned cars and
trucks, were numerous. Democrats rallied under the flag of repeal of the
sales tax on food, championed unsuccessfully by Sen. Madison Mayre (D-Montgomery)
in the 1998 session; the Gilmore Administration and Republican legislative
leadership countered with a plan of their own gradually to reduce this tax
in what they termed a more responsible fashion. Other targeted tax breaks
were proposed to benefit a bewildering array of Virginians ñ from
enlisted military personnel, to corporations with multistate operations,
to expanding businesses.
Legislators ( no doubt influenced both by the surplus and the prospect
of a fall election in which all 140 legislative seats are up for grabs )
once again introduced record numbers of bills and resolutions. To the 598
measures carried over from the 1998 Session were added a mind-boggling 1,954
new bills and 741 new joint resolutions. Perhaps election-year charity to
fellow legislators had an impact; legislators forwarded 1,062 bills to the
Governor for action, and passed another 644 joint resolutions that require
no gubernatorial action. Governor Gilmore set a modern record for vetoes,
refusing to assent to 23 measures passed by both houses, and exercising
his budgetary line-item veto thirteen times in attempts to excise spending
on arts and cultural institutions and capital projects. A rancorous Reconvened
("Veto") Session saw a surprising number of gubernatorial amendments
rejected and vetoes overridden.
For constitutional officers, 1999 became a great year because of great
advocacy. Among our most important accomplishments were:
Obtaining a 6.25% increase in compensation for principal officers
and deputies, to take effect December 1, 1999.
Successful enactment of legislation mandating a health insurance credit
for retired constitutional officers.
Provision for all constitutional officers and employees of immunity
from lawsuits claiming 'Year 2000'-related liability.
Of particular note was VALECO's stunning victory in persuading Governor
Gilmore to revive a bill to extend the retiree health insurance credit to
retired constitutional officers. Delegate Lacey Putney's measure, House
Bill 1843, had cleared the House handily, but was effectively killed by
the Senate Finance Committee in the waning hours of the session. VALECO,
with Delegate Putney's support, asked the Governor to revive the bill by
sending down an amendment at the Reconvened ("Veto") Session.
The Governor did so, and VALECO lobbied furiously until the moment of the
final vote. As a result, retired officers became eligible for the credit
on July 1.
As always, your calls and letters helped make these important achievements
possible. VALECO has grown enormously in its effectiveness precisely because
constitutional officers have made one-on-one advocacy with their home legislators
a priority. Thank you!
Further Information
Alan Albert: 757/624-3055 (Norfolk), 804/697-1368 (Richmond)
E-mail: aalbert@maysval.com
Anne Leigh Kerr: 804/697-1465
E-mail: alkerr@maysval.com
© 1999 Virginia Association of Local Elected Constitutional Officers.
This report may not be reproduced without the written permission of the
copyright holder.
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