By a rare unanimous vote of 99-0, the House of Delegates this past week adopted adjustments for the 2006-2008 budget that expires in June and also adopted a $77 billion budget for 2008-2010. The Senate concurred, though in each instance by votes of 26-14.

With these actions, the 2008 Session was adjourned. Both chambers will reconvene on April 23 to consider any amendments or actual vetoes proposed by the Governor. Also on the agenda of that one-day Assembly will be action on a bond package, transportation funding, and vacant judgeships. The bond package is of enormous importance to the 65th District, for the House proposal would approve issuance of bonds for development of a state park in Powhatan. I remain cautiously optimistic that we will emerge with a bond proposal that will be warmly welcomed by Powhatan and Chesterfield residents.

How the legislature will address transportation funding is less predictable, though I am confident that a worthy bill will emerge. There is widespread support in northern Virginia for a proposal advanced by Delegate Dave Albo of Fairfax. Less certain is the fate of a different approach for addressing transportation needs in Hampton Roads. Our area should fare well, especially considering the weakening national--and statewide--economy.

All told, the 2007 Session was productive, and there were relatively few deeply controversial bills. For example, the budget crafted by House Appropriations Chairman Lacey Putney of Bedford was approved in its first draft by a remarkable margin of 93-5. Despite the economic downtown, the House, notably, increased funding for mental health programs, for public education, and for higher education. In each instance the House authorized more spending in these crucial areas than advocated by either the Senate or the Governor. The final budget okayed this week also included--at House insistence--pay raises in each year of the biennium for state employees and, in the second year, for public school teachers.

In fact, having voted against some budgets over the past decade that authorized increases in both taxes and spending well beyond the private-sector economy’s growth rate, I can report that the 2008 budget is one of the best for many years. We increased funds for core services, scaled back new programs advocated by the Governor, and eliminated funding for programs that lacked proven worth. All of this was accomplished with no general tax increases.

The legislature restricted funding for the pre-kindergarten initiative proposed by the Governor to a modest few millions that will be devoted to assisting only children who qualify for free-lunch assistance. In other words, the state will fund pre-kindergarten only for children who are demonstrably “at-risk” for learning well once they enter elementary school.

A final word on the bond issue, transportation funding, and judicial appointments will be reported after the ‘Veto Session’ on April 23.

Lee Ware represents the 65th District consisting of all of Powhatan County and thirteen precincts in western Chesterfield. During Session his office number is (804) 698-1065. Email address is