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Thoughts on Metro
July 7, 2017Blog PostA major problem facing 43rd district residents is the declining use of Metrorail and the consequent increase in single passenger cars on the road. For all those who depend on Metro for their daily commute, and for those like myself who use Metro several times a week, we have a lot at stake in turning WMATA around.
Read moreThe Future of Medicaid
April 10, 2017Blog PostMedicaid is a federal-state partnership that covers health care for poorer children, the blind, aged and disabled. It has grown because fewer employers provide coverage, increased assistance for the severely disabled, and aging baby boomers--Medicaid covers two-thirds of our nursing home population. In Virginia, Medicaid is a 50-50 match and, at 22 percent, is the second largest spending category in the State budget after K-12 education. Despite this growth, Virginia is ranked 47th in the nation in Medicaid spending.
Read moreDelegate Mark Sickles Files for Re-Election
March 31, 2017Press ReleaseALEXANDRIA, VA. – Yesterday, Delegate Mark Sickles (D-43) completed filing for re-election for the Virginia House of Delegates’ 43rd District seat. Delegate Sickles has served in the House of Delegates for more than 13 years and is seeking his 8th term in office.
Read moreYour guide to riding the Blue Line during SafeTrack's 12th surge
February 12, 2017News ClipFebruary 11, 2017 1:20 PM EST - The 12th surge in Metro’s long-term maintenance overhaul known as SafeTrack runs Feb. 11-Feb.28 on the Blue Line. Take a look at how it will affect your commute. (Claritza Jimenez, Danielle Kunitz / The Washington Post)
Read more2/9/17 - Daily Update
February 10, 2017Blog PostToday the House of Delegates easily passed amendments to the two-year budget, closing a billion dollar hole caused by slower revenue growth than predicted. The House scraped together some fund balances, eliminated a few Governor McAuliffe initiatives, and borrowed well over $500 million from the rainy day fund. Under Virginia law, the General Assembly can borrow from the fund when certain assumed revenue measures are not realized. The Code section is complicated but there are strict rules about when the money has to be paid back.
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