Statement of Governor Warner on the Actions of the 2005 General Assembly at Its Reconvened Session

Statement of Governor Warner on the Actions of the 2005 General Assembly at Its Reconvened Session

Governor Mark R. Warner today issued the following statement on the work of the 2005 General Assembly at its Reconvened Session.

"Today, we have built on the good work of the 2005 Regular Session. This year, we have embarked on innovative new transportation solutions, with a sizeable investment. We have launched a higher education restructuring effort that has garnered national attention. We have secured funding and legislation that will help restore the Chesapeake Bay and other natural resources, making this the most significant year for the environment in a generation in Virginia. We have provided significant new enforcement tools to ensure care for older Virginians in our assisted living facilities. And perhaps most significantly, we have maintained a fiscally responsible approach to meeting our commitments in education, transportation, health care, public safety, and other core services.

"In this Reconvened Session, I commend the bipartisan efforts of the General Assembly to provide pay raises to our State Troopers, Capitol Police, and Sheriff's Deputies, life insurance coverage for our Virginia National Guard members who are deployed, new economic development approaches for rural and underserved areas of our Commonwealth, expanded school breakfast options to help our schoolchildren live healthier lives, and a host of other important one-time investments. In fact, significant investments in Richmond and Hampton Roads have helped land a major Philip Morris research facility, and position the Commonwealth for great success nationally in the military modeling and simulation industry.

"I want to thank legislators for sustaining my veto of off-shore drilling, while recognizing the need for a national energy policy. I am pleased that my amendments were accepted on 42 out of 44 of the pieces of legislation I amended, and that 28 of 30 budget amendments were accepted.

"This is the final legislative session of my term, and I am grateful to legislators in both parties for their service. While we may not have always agreed, we have accomplished much together, and I believe we will leave the Commonwealth in a stronger position than we found it."

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Apr05/0406.htm