Yesterday, in the House Committee on Rules, the “apple bill” (HB 1837) was tabled. And I was fine with that.

As I presented the bill, I showed the members of the Committee the tremendous work that the students in Kate Norton’s fourth grade class had done. And while the Committee did not agree with the students’ recommendation, they did not ignore it.

In fact, in a display of extraordinary graciousness, the Speaker wrote a letter to the students thanking them for their hard work and encouraging them to stay involved to make our Commonwealth and our country a better place.

That is much more important than any legislation.

Just a quick post today — we have been so busy actually legislating (I have SEVEN bills up today) that we haven’t had time to blog. The site was getting a little stale.

One of the best innovations in our legislative life is the Coffee Co-op. Bob and I started it when there was just one Starbuck’s in Richmond (a Carytown branch that was nearly a 20-minute drive each way). We noticed that we kept showing up in the latte line at the same time.

Finally, it dawned on us: we could share the work. Thus was the Coffee Co-op born. Today, we are four members (four being the magic number that fits into a carrying tray). Bob and I (both venti skim lattes), Jenn McClellan (tall skim light whip pumpkin spice latte–whew!), and Jay O’Brien (venti carmel macchiato). Jay makes us bipartisan and bicameral.

We have also branched out a bit. Bob sometimes goes to Captain Buzzy’s, and Jenn says she’s going to introduce us to World Cup. Still, on days when very little is going your way, it’s great to have a cup of hot coffee delivered to your office.

Who says legislators can’t work together to solve important problems?

Last November, voters in a half-dozen localities across Virginia received telephone calls that were supposedly from the “Virginia Elections Commission.” They were told–falsely–that their voting places had changed.

At least one Northern Virginia voter received a call, again from the fictional “Virginia Elections Commission,” telling him that since he was registered to vote in New York, he would be “charged criminally” if he voted in Virginia.

There is, of course, no Virginia Elections Commission. Readers of this blog know that any information from a local, state, or federal official will always be in writing, and will always clearly identify the official source.

But voters–especially less-educated voters, or those who do not customarily interact with government–do not always know that. These stories should cause us all concern. Virginia has a tradition of well-run elections, and we must respond quickly when there are challenges to our most important right.

HB 1835, which was heard in a subcommittee today, will make it illegal for anyone to communicate false information to a voter with the intention of impeding his or her voting. I’m pleased to say that with a little (welcome) rewording, the subcommittee seems to support the idea.

We in Virginia have not yet seen the abuses that occurred in other states. Passing HB 1835 will keep it that way.

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the first edition of my General Assembly Newsletter for the 2007 Session. Between now and our (scheduled) adjournment date of February 24, I’ll try to give you a weekly update on how the session is going and where it may be headed.

I’ve done this every year since 2003 (you can read previous sessions’ letters). This time, I’m posting them as entries on 7 West, so I can include pictures and occasional sound bites and – most important – so you can submit comments, tell me what you think, and we can talk about it. I want your feedback!

So let’s begin where it all began . . .

JOURNEY TO JAMESTOWN

On May 13, 1607, three small ships carrying 104 men and boys arrived at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Last Wednesday, five buses, ten police cars and eight motorcycle policemen transported nearly 140 members of the General Assembly and 40 or so guests from Richmond to this historic site to kick off the 2007 Session and launch the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown landing.

The Jamestown settlement’s first governing body was an exercise in privatization: established by the Virginia Company (a “venture capitalist” group selling shares of stock at 10 pounds 8 shillings a share to finance their hunt for gold, a route to the Orient, etc.), a Council headed by John Smith governed from 1607 to 1609. In 1619, the Virginia Company decided to try a new system with the creation of a legislative assembly consisting of “two Burgesses from each Plantation freely to be elected by the inhabitants thereof.” The Governor and the Governor’s council was still appointed by the Virginia Company, who also maintained veto rights… limited, but a first step towards democracy. The newly elected body, believed to be 23 men, met for the first time on July 30, 1619 in the Jamestown Church, as it was the only structure large enough to hold them. The foundations of the original Statehouse lie beneath Jamestown’s Archaearium, the site’s archeological museum.

Through four churches and five fires, today’s church tower is the only 17th century structure that has survived. The current church, now attached to that tower, was built in 1909 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Jamestown, using materials and the foundation of the church destroyed by fire in 1676 as part of Bacon’s Rebellion. It was here that we assembled to hear an address by Vice President Cheney.

The 140 members of our General Assembly did not fit as well as the original 23 council members; however, in the unheated sanctuary we appreciated being packed in tight. The Vice President’s remark that Virginia had an established government before anyone set foot on Plymouth Rock delighted his chauvinist audience.

Following the Vice President’s presentation, members were on their own to explore the archaeological digs, the Archaearium, and the statues of John Smith and Pocahontas. It was very much like a fifth grade field trip, but without the adult leadership.

STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH

The day in Jamestown concluded with Governor Kaine’s State of the Commonwealth address. He began with a tribute to the 400 year old settlement where the roots of our fundamental principles of governance were established. Over the next thirty minutes, he used various combinations of the words “to work together” twenty-five times. He began by citing the accomplishments of the 2006 Session where cooperation produced meaningful results on many issues, including water quality improvements, expanded access to children’s health services, and investments in job creation. Along with the 800-pound gorilla issue of transportation, he focused on several economic priorities that will demand our attention during the 2007 Session: increasing the minimum wage, protecting families and businesses from dramatic increases in utility bills, and removing thousands of low income Virginians from the state income tax rolls, among others.

MEANWHILE —

For Senator Janet Howell and me, our week began on Monday with a news conference unveiling a bill to help combat the fast-growing crime of identity fraud. It would require companies and state government agencies to notify Virginians if their information has been lost or stolen. This seems like a pretty reasonable proposal to most of us, but the Commonwealth has not followed the lead of 34 other states in requiring this important notification. The people of Virginia deserve protection and notification if the information that they entrust to others is lost or stolen. I’ll let you know how the bill turns out.

On Friday, the most important item of business during our brief floor session was Delegate Ken Plum’s proposed amendment to the Rules of the House which would require recorded votes in subcommittees. Last session the majority changed the rules to give committee chairs virtually unlimited latitude in assigning bills to subcommittees, where they could be disposed of (often in meetings scheduled for way early in the morning or way late at night) by as few as two members — without a recorded vote. Last year, of approximately 2000 bills considered, nearly 1/3 of them met their demise under these shadowy circumstances.

As always, words from home are welcome, so keep in touch using the tried and true methods listed below or through the “Comments” feature below. Until next week —

How to Reach Me:

Voice: 804-698-1048
FAX: 804-643-0976
Session E-Mail: delrbrink@house.state.va.us

I am taking a lot of good-natured ribbing (it is good-natured, right?) about my HB 1837, which would name the Ginger Gold the official state fruit. Here’s how it came about.

Last year, students from Kathleen Norton’s fourth grade class at Waynewood Elementary School wanted to meet with Sen. Toddy Puller and me. They were very clear about their expectations. They had read that citizens could come to elected officials with good ideas, and that’s what they were doing.

Why, they wondered, did Virginia have a state flower, a state bird, and even a state bat–but no state fruit?

We didn’t know. But the children had a good idea. They had done their research and proposed two possibilities for us: the cantaloupe or the Ginger Gold apple. They had researched the economic impact of the various fruits on the Virginia economy. They had learned about the nutritional contributions of the fruits to a healthy diet. They had even found a way to bring in Thomas Jefferson when we presented the bill to committee!

After some consideration, we decided that we could carry a bill naming the Ginger Gold apple as the official state fruit. I don’t know if it will pass–today’s news clippings brings a story of some apple growers who oppose the selection of this particular apple.

I’m going to do all I can–and in the meantime, I plan to stay in touch with this year’s fourth grade class. The most important lesson I can teach these children is not about the history of the apple or about Virginia’s official emblems. It’s that anyone–even a fourth grader–can make a difference.

Last year, I was working in my office late one afternoon when I received a call from a constituent. Laurie is a physical therapist, and she wanted information about a bill that was important to her profession. She knew the bill had been considered that day, and she wanted to know how the vote turned out. But when she went to the Legislative Information System, there was no information on how any individual committee member had voted.

Laurie was troubled. “I have three small children,” she said. “I can’t come to Richmond. But I certainly could take the time to contact people to express my concern about their vote–if only I could find out how they voted.”

Laurie is not alone. In 2006, nearly 2000 bills were considered by the House of Delegates. But of that number, 615–more than 30 percent–show no recorded vote on their disposition. In contrast, in 2005, before House rules were changed to allow bills to be killed in subcommittee without a recorded vote, just 9 bills failed without a recorded vote in 2005 (roughly half of one percent).

Today, our colleague Ken Plum introduced House Resolution 48. It would simply change the House rules by requiring a recorded vote in subcommittee.

Given the number of bills we must consider in a session, giving subcommittees power to dispose of bills that lack much support is probably here to stay. But it is essential that all of us remain accountable for our votes.

I urge everyone to contact Delegates about the importance of supporting HR 48. The vote will be held next Thursday.

Friends:

As we look forward to tomorrow’s General Assembly opening day festivities, Kris and I want to thank our loyal readership (which we estimate numbers in the high single digits) for indulging us over the past months. We appreciate your giving us a chance to share some perspectives on the legislative process as practiced in Richmond, and to brag about our  Midwestern roots, while exposing to public view our peculiar musical tastes.

As they used to say in the Vegematic commercials, “But wait — there’s more!” This will be the year of the Value-Added 7 West. Along with the occasional useful insights  from us that you’ve come to expect, we’re planning to invite each of our neighbors — Kilgore, Carrico, Moran, Sickles, Ebbin, Englin, Miller, Gear, Marshall, Reid, Jones, and Hamilton: the whole crew — to grab the 7 West tiller for a turn as Guest Blogger for a day. And we’re going to ramp up our weekly General Assembly constituent e-newsletters (you can read my previous years’ editions here) by posting them as 7 West blog entries, complete with images, sounds, and a chance for you to comment. We promise this, with a minimum of snark and a great deal of affection for the institution in which we serve, all at one low, low price.

Today is moving day at our office. Heading down to the General Assembly is sorta like getting a kid ready for college … except you’re the kid. And while they do have stores in Richmond, we’re never available at a time when they are open. So here’s my list of the 5 things I am trying NOT to forget this year:

1. The nametag holder that goes on a chain around my neck. That way, I won’t have a big ugly adhesive mark on my suede jackets.

2. The phone book. I don’t care what young aides say about white pages.com. I still use the Verizon book to find phone numbers that aren’t in my Palm Pilot.

3. The charger for my iPod. Squeezing in exercise is a must with all those receptions and all that sitting. Otherwise, we’re all squeezing into our clothes by the end of the session!

4. A box of the special felt-tip pens I love. (They’re actually available at any Staples, but there’s that Hours of Operation problem).

5. Some Frango Mint tea. Bob Brink got me hooked on the stuff a few years ago–this and Starbucks constitute my major life addictions.

Democracy is not a spectator sport–but far too many young voters are sitting on the sidelines. That’s why I have worked hard to involve young people in the legislative process since I was first elected.

This year I will again be hosting a Young Leaders Institute. We’ve selected six fabulous students, all of whom either live or go to school in my district. And what a group. They’re smart (average GPA of 3.9). They’re involved–everything from coaching little kids in soccer to participating in the Model UN.

The six students are:

Christina Johnson, a Mount Vernon High School senior. She manages the school’s swim team, serves as vice president of the English Honor Society, and volunteers at United Community Ministries.

Herberth Cisneros, a Mount Vernon High School senior, who plans to study law and become an advocate for the Hispanic community. He is taking the school’s most demanding International Baccalaureate curriculum and maintains a 4.02 GPA.

William Klein, a West Potomac High School senior, who is captain of the school’s swim team and an active member of the soccer team. He is treasurer of the school’s Amnesty International club.

Devon Cain, a West Potomac High School senior, who is captain of the soccer team and coaches an under-10 team. Last summer, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Girls’ State.

Andrea Schwarz, a Bishop Ireton High School senior, who is a member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. She volunteers for New Hope housing and has organized pro-life activities at her school.

Dalia Deak, a junior at the Islamic Saudi Academy, who is a member of the school’s “It’s Academic” team and a winner of numerous awards in Model UN activities. She is the first participant from her school selected for the Young Leaders Institute.

Wow. I can’t wait to get to know them better. They will be in Richmond from January 24-26, meeting with government leaders and observing the General Assembly. Next week, I’ll write about another effort to reach out to democracy’s next generation.

OK, so I am going to post more on substantive issues. But you just gotta see this movie.

Filmed on location in the Forbidden City, the movie piles gorgeous scene on gorgeous scene. And Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat, cast as the unhappy imperial couple, shoot more daggers with their eyes than all the ninja warriors.

Do not miss it.