Delegate Matt Fariss

The 2016 General Assembly session opened on Wednesday, January 13, and got off to a quick start. We have a lot to get done in our 60 day session to make life better for you and your neighbors.  The first week of session was very organizational, spending time working on legislation. A lot of work can be done on legislation before it is presented and I was able to spend some time on mine and others’ legislation. I am very interested to see what is submitted by the January 22^nd  deadline.

Good Morning,

Today is the first day of the 2016 Virginia General Assembly session. I wanted to send you a quick email about my legislative priorities for the year and how you can be involved.

The 2016 Virginia General Assembly Session begins in a just a few days. I forecast that this session will be spending some time on the Governor’s budget and Medicaid expansion. It is unfortunate that Governor McAuliffe included Medicaid expansion in his budget again, after nearly leading the state to its first government shutdown in history. The Governor has also made incorrect assumptions about Medicaid spending that will make it more difficult to complete the budget on time this year. There is a better way to expand access to healthcare. Instead of expanding government-run entitlement programs, we should strengthen our health care safety net to care for the truly needy. The House of Delegates has invested over $175 million in the safety net over the last two years, including significant funding for mental health coverage and funding for free clinics and community health centers.

I am saddened to hear that Congressman Robert Hurt will be retiring after three terms as he has announced he will not run for re-election in 2016. Robert Hurt has done right by his constituents in the 5^th district during his time served. His mainstream conservatism aligned with his district’s preferences. Our part of the state is an improved place because of Robert Hurt. He has been a strong voice in Washington for his constituents and we wish him and his family well in the next phase of his life. I want to thank Robert Hurt for his nearly 15 years of service to the Commonwealth.  From his time in the Virginia General Assembly to the U.S. House of Representatives, Robert was always an untiring advocate for his constituents.  He epitomizes a true public servant. We salute him but wish he had decided otherwise. Virginia needs more like him.

On Thursday of last week, the Governor released his proposed biennial budget. The centerpiece of McAuliffe's proposed budget is a $1 billion increase in K-12 and higher education spending. The governor is proposing the state spend $139.1 million to help Virginia school districts hire 2,500 new teachers. He also wants the state to spend $50 million more to increase the number of in-state students receiving degrees and roughly $48.2 million for in-state financial aid. In addition to the education spending increase from the state's General Fund, McAuliffe is proposing the state sell bonds to pay for more than $1 billion in construction at the state's public universities and community colleges.

On Friday, the Governor announced a package of budget proposals that will provide nearly $13 million in services for veterans, including education and workforce programs and improved access to health and financial supports. Virginia is home to nearly 800,000 veterans and their families, and I agree that the state has a responsibility to honor their service and empower them to lead successful civilian lives. I am looking forward to seeing this outline in the Governor’s two-year budget on December 17^th.

Gearing up for the 2016 General Assembly Session, the first few weeks of December are always filled with meetings from area county supervisors, area chambers of commerce, and other offices to discuss opportunities for improvement, legislation and funding  for various issues and entities in the district. On Monday, I met with the Campbell County Board of Supervisors.  On Wednesday I had the opportunity to meet with the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce for the annual Pancakes and Politics Breakfast held at Randolph College. I also travelled to the General Assembly Building on Wednesday and held a few meetings on Wednesday and Thursday to work on a few resolutions and bills I am looking at introducing this year.

Last Tuesday, the Governor announced that he would veto any attempt by the General Assembly to block Syrian refugees from coming to the state of Virginia. Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates have called for a two-year moratorium on accepting Syrian refugees as a temporary measure to insure that terrorists with ties to the Islamic State are not able to travel by posing as refugees fleeing Syria’s civil war. House Republicans plan to introduce legislation in the upcoming 2016 General Assembly session to bar state agencies from assisting in the refugee process. As stated before, I plan to fully support this legislation. The state has taken just a few dozen Syrian refugees since the nation’s civil war began in 2011. According to the Governor’s administration, no refugees are set to come to Virginia in the immediate future.

On the first day Virginia state lawmakers can file bills for the 2016 General Assembly session,  Republicans in the House of Delegates introduced legislation that would ban tolls on Interstate 66 inside the D.C. Beltway and require the state to get approval from the legislature before implementing the federal Clean Power Plan.

Thank you so much for allowing me to continue to serve you as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 59th District. It's an honor to represent the people of Albemarle, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell and Nelson Counties. This community means so much to my family, and I am grateful to serve. I look forward to getting back to Richmond soon to work on the issues that matter to the people of this district: creating a better pro-business economic situation, protecting our 2nd amendment rights, strengthening our children's education systems, and keeping our district safe. Again, Crystal and I want to thank you for your support, it means the world to us.