Richmond- Delegate Christopher K. Peace, R-Mechanicsville, announced the results today of his inaugural piece of legislation as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Delegate Peace successfully co-patroned and helped to pass House Bill 1052 on Monday January 30th. The vote of the House of Delegates was 64-33.
House Bill 1052 requires that all new tax bills passed by the legislature that add new taxes or new rate increases have sunset clauses requiring an end date on all new taxes. Currently, taxes are only taken off the books only by a special act of the General Assembly.
“With record surpluses and the budget growing by leaps and bounds, new taxes are clearly not necessary. If new taxes are ever to be levied against the citizens of our Commonwealth, they should be periodically reviewed as to their continuing necessity†said Delegate Peace. “If anyone doubts whether this bill is really necessary, they need only look north to Washington and see that we are still, in 2006, paying a tax to finance the Spanish American War. In Virginia even, the Business Professional and Occupational Licensing (BPOL) Tax was initially passed to raise revenue to fight the War of 1812 and small businesses are still shouldering the burden.â€
Although Delegate Peace did not take office before the filing deadline and therefore is prevented from submitting legislation, he is however permitted by rule to Co-Patron legislation. Peace helped shepherd this important measure through the legislature alongside his colleague from Henrico Del. Jack Reid (R).
“I am hitting the ground running. On my first day of session I carefully reviewed pending legislation and signed-on to help my fellow Delegates do not only what is in Virginia’s best interest but also what will help the 97th District. I will keep my promises to my neighbors in the 97th District to keep taxes low, to fight for better health care and to always work to assist constituents through the bureaucracy of government.†Peace has signed on to these notable items of legislation that will benefit the citizens of the 97th House District:
• HB 40 Full Repeal of the Death Tax; conformity of state and federal statutes. • HB 94, 1278 Restricting Eminent domain abuse by definition of public uses and defines that public uses shall not include taking of private property for tax revenue; • HB 262 Prohibition of illegal aliens for admission to public Higher Education institutions; • HB 570 Internet Filters on Public library computers to protect children from sexual predators; • HB 757, 758, 759 Medicaid Reform including the development of public-private long-term care partnership program; • HB 786 State income tax credit for purchase of long-term care insurance; • HB 846 “Safe Kids Initiative†which includes mandatory minimum term of confinement for sex crimes against children; • HB 1012 Sex Offender & Crimes Against Minors Registry; includes person who uses communication system; • HB 1104 Highway improvements; expands present revenue-sharing fund program; • HB 1150 Creating a Chesapeake Bay Clean-up Authority and Chesapeake Bay Clean-up Revolving Fund; • HB 1272 Establishes the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependants Education Program to expand the eligibility of the program to include spouses of military members killed and disabled. • HB 1521 Reconnecting Virginia through sensible growth reform that asks localities to include road and transportation improvements when preparing the comprehensive plan.
You may find links to these bills at http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+mbr+H194S.
Delegate Peace was elected January 24, 2006 in a special election to represent the 97th District in the Virginia House of Delegates which includes portions of Caroline, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, and Spotsylvania Counties and all of New Kent County.
Delegate Peace may be reached by phone at (804) 698-1097 and by email at DelCPeace@house.state.va.us. His Capitol office is Room 715 of the General Assembly Building which is found on the corner of 9th and Broad Streets in Richmond, Virginia.