This session of the General Assembly was not especially productive, and that’s not so bad, said Del. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D-37). Times are pretty good, he said, and legislative activity might just confuse things.
The actions that were taken, he said, were generally needed. "I feel like we did some good things this year," Petersen said.
The state, he said, put almost $50 million toward its $1 billion obligation to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. While not a substantial portion, "That’s the best we’ve done since I’ve been here," Petersen said.
The assembly, he said, was also able to phase out the food tax earlier than it had anticipated, with the reductions scheduled to go into effect on July 1, a year earlier than expected.
OF COURSE, not everything went well. Like many Northern Virginia legislators, Petersen was disappointed to see the legislature allow the use of red light cameras to end. "I think it’s an illustration of a larger trend," he said.
Red light cameras illustrate a larger problem in Virginia where localities are permitted to enact only laws that have been specifically approved by the state — a practice known as the Dillon Rule.
While Petersen balked at removing the Dillon Rule completely, he noted that in a case like this, elected officials in each of the localities are accountable to their own voters and should be allowed to make these choices for themselves. "You don’t need Richmond to tell you what to do," Petersen said.
In personal victories, Petersen’s bill that will adjust the way that disability benefits are determined for state government retirees passed.
Under the new law, state employees will be able get a hearing to determine if they are eligible for benefits, where previously that determination had been made without any hearing. "Previously, the system had been pretty arbitrary and, in my opinion, unfair," he said.
With the session over, Petersen’s energies must shift. On March 5, his wife gave birth to their third child, Thomas Henry. In addition to having a new baby, he must continue his campaign for lieutenant governor. Petersen is also running to keep his House of Delegates seat. The primary for both offices is scheduled for June 14.
"I’ll be home for the next couple of weeks," he said, "then probably back out on the road."