Sep2

Extended Hours for DMV

For anyone that has tried to visit the DMV in the last week you may have noticed that there were unprecedented problems with the computer system causing a massive backlog of license applications. Due to this malfunction the DMV has just announced that it will be open this Sunday, the 12th and Labor Day, as well as extended hours on Friday and Saturday. See below for full details about the extended hours. 

 

Sep2

Governor McDonnell Declares State of Emergency as Precaution for Hurricane Earl

Hurricane Earl is expected to hit Hampton Roads on Friday, September 2nd. Please be advised if you have plans to travel that way for the weekend. For more information about the storm please visit www.ReadyVirginia.gov. 

Aug31

Delegate Mark Sickles appointed to Commission on Military and National Security Facilities

Delegate Mark Sickles (D-43) has been appointed by Governor McDonnell to serve on the Commission on Military and National Security Facilities. The commission was formed in order to advise the Governor on strategies to “retain and grow military and national security installations and activities in Virginia”.  The first meeting will take place on Friday, September 3rd in Richmond. 

Jul8

New Laws take Effect

On July 1st many new laws went into effect. Listed below are some of a few that may impact your daily life.

 

Jun15

Community Hours with Delegate Sickles on Saturday

Now that the regular legislative session and the reconvened veto session are both over -- and new laws are set to take effect on July 1st -- I am holding my regular community hours this weekend on Saturday, June 19th, at the Franconia Government Center (6121 Franconia Road) from 10 a.m. to noon.

Jun3

The Important Role of Attorney General

Virginia voters elect just three non-federal statewide officeholders every four years -- governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.  Unique to the Commonwealth is the fact that our governor cannot run for re-election after one single term.  Because lieutenant governor is largely a part-time ceremonial role, the attorney general -– who is allowed to stand for re-election -– has a potentially large stage from which to gain media coverage and advance an agenda.

May30

Biotechnology and the Budget

While the budget dominated the news during the regular and reconvened sessions this year, more progress was made on the biotechnology front. This has long been an area of great interest to me. In 2008 I chaired the Joint Subcommittee Studying Biosciences and Biotechnology, which laid the groundwork for advances made in 2009 and now 2010.

Mar14

End-of-Session Report From Richmond

The 2010 regular session is almost over, I think. As I write this, six senators and seven delegates, the "conferees," are trying to narrow the differences between two budgets that are both hard on K-12 education and healthcare for the disabled and elderly. These two broad categories together comprise more than 50 percent of state spending. While the end result will be disappointing, and sometimes even counter-productive in reducing out-year spending, I believe that reaching compromise is within reasonable striking distance given the severe resource constraints.