9th & Broad in RVA 1-23-14

[David]

9th & Broad Street Richmond (Virginia General Assembly) Thursday January 23, 2014 12:30

This is a repeat of an enjoyable and surprisingly successful run to advance Virginia paddlers’ navigation rights early in 2013. Then we were able to get 18 Virginia state senators, representing 3,600,000 citizens, to vote in favor of clarifying the right to paddle in the Commonwealth.

An essential part of that success was the appearance of a half dozen or more paddlers at each meeting of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee (Senate Ag.) The senators were not just taking the word of one or two of us but had a chance to meet and hear from some of the quality folks who make up the river running community.

Will you come out Thursday for the hearing on SB629, the newest bill to advance paddler navigation rights? We can meet at 12:30 at the lobby of the Library of Virginia, diagonally across the corner of 9th and Broad from the Virginia General Assembly Office Building. You can grab a light lunch there. Parking is a challenge downtown. Only free place I know is the takeout at 14th Street, a mile walk. Two blocks north of the Library is the Richmond City Municipal Lot, not too expensive.

Please consider taking the time to advocate in person for SB629. Dress is typically business casual, but a full suit or a neat jacket and sweater with no tie works fine too. Possibly you can visit your own Senator and Delegate and maybe the offices of Senate Ag members. You may have an opportunity to speak to Senate Ag but do not have to.

Please post or PM. SB629 may be voted on tomorrow, or the vote may be delayed until next week. Either way your presence is a huge help.

David Bernard, Coastals Conservation Chair

[hotBOATERchick]

When and where does the Senate Ag. committee meet?

[allwet]

Good tip for the committee meeting tomorrow. Out of town, would love to attend.

I am calling today!

Chris

[David]

Here is the link to the info on Senate Ag - members, docket, schedule, etc.

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+com+S1

It meets Thursday in Senate Room B (which is on the first floor of General assembly Office Building, corner of 9th and Broad) 1/2 hour after adjournment (of full Senate.) Senate adjournment time can vary. Today it was early, about 1. Full Senate sessions get longer later as more and more bills come out of committee.

Here is the link to Legislative Information Services:

http://lis.virginia.gov/

It is a comprehensive and easy to use website. Work it a little and you will see.

The way a law is made:

1. A member of the General Assembly (GA) writes a bill. With help from professional Legislative Services staff to word and place it in existing Virginia Code (of Laws,) it is "dropped," entered for consideration by the GA.

2. The bill is assigned to a committee in the House or Senate, depending on whether the legislator was a House Delegate or State Senator.

3. The bill may go to a subcommittee. Either way, it needs to pass the full committee.

4. If so, the bill goes to the full House or Senate for a vote.

5. If it gets a majority vote, at "crossover" (about Feb. 7) it goes to a committee in the "other body."

6. It has to pass the new committee and the full "other body" as well. If it has been amended, a committee of House and Senate members reconciles the two versions, which must be voted on again.

7. The bill then goes to the governor for signature or veto, or the governor can send it back with amendments that will need to be voted on.

If I am the only one there tomorrow when the bill is considered I will be lonely and the senators will be less impressed. Today I spent the afternoon visiting the offices of all Senate Ag members. I met Senators Black and Petersen. Several secretaries said they were getting many calls. The senators like to hear from their constituents more than from people who can not vote for them.