Key assembly themes have been noted

Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison
Published: March 3, 2008

With the General Assembly in its last scheduled week, it appears that several themes of the session are emerging.

Clearly, the 2008 assembly session will be noted for new mental health policies and funding that emerged following last spring's tragedy at Virginia Tech. At this writing, the final bills have not been approved, but it appears that significant reform of payday lending in Virginia may occur. Finally, our budget work will be noted for the challenges of prioritizing funding in the face of revenues that did not meet expectations.

Last week on the floor of the House of Delegates, another defining moment of the session occurred. As changes in party control in the Senate and the House evolve, it becomes apparent that House Republicans are the last line of defense against the weakening of Virginia's Right-to-Work law. Senate Bill 161, which would have permitted a union to negotiate to establish a totally separate workers compensation system for employees of unionized construction shops, was defeated on a party line vote.

Currently, Virginia has a workers' compensation dispute resolution system that is part of a process carefully designed to balance the interests of employees and employers when dealing with worker injuries. By authorizing a special deal for unionized construction workers, Senate Bill 161 would have begun to unravel this system in a manner that violates the existing sense of fairness for all workers.

Earlier this session, House Republicans defeated House Bill 852 allowing collective bargaining by government employees while most House Democrats refused to take a stand on the merits of the measure. The disposition of these bills is a clear sign that House Republicans are a significant safeguard against the erosion of pro-business policies that have served Virginia well.

For two years in a row, Virginia has been named the best state in the nation for business. Members of both parties and leaders of the legislative and executive branch have touted this ranking. But simply speaking about it does not mean that the ranking will be retained in the future.

On its  Web site, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership touts Virginia's economy and business climate, including the Right-to-Work law as critical reasons why corporations should relocate to or expand in Virginia. In 2007, the Economic Development Partnership made 315 an-nouncements of over 16,800 jobs and more than $3 billion in new investment. At a time when parts of our economy are slowing, it is critical that the proper conditions for economic growth be maintained.
 I remain committed to economic development that improves the quality of life for the citizens of the 30th District.

Del. Ed Scott, R-Madison, represents Culpeper in the General Assembly's House of Delegates. E-mail delescott@ house.state.va.us