2013

The Legislative Report Card

The Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support on initiatives that will help move Virginia forward, and additionally provides analysis of a legislators support for the business communitys priorities.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce annually develops a proactive Legislative Agenda outlining the priorities and expectations of Virginias business community. This agenda also provides legislators with a clear understanding of the business communitys legislative priorities. During the 2013 session, almost 2900 bills were introduced in the General Assembly. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce was active and involved in many bills, and provided legislators with a weekly Bills Were Watching report delineating the Chambers position on bills of interest to the business community. At the conclusion of the session, legislators voting records on these bills were recorded and calculated. The Legislative Report Card recognizes legislators for their support on initiatives that will help move Virginia forward, and additionally provides analysis of a legislators support for the business communitys priorities. With the help of Virginias pro-business legislators, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce was successful on 90% of its Legislative Priorities during the 2013 session and saved Virginia employers billions of dollars.

2013 Legislator of the

Year Award

The Virginia Chambers 2013 Legislator of the Year Award is the business communitys premier legislative award honoring the lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding leadership on probusiness issues. The award recognizes a leader for distinguished advocacy of the free enterprise system. After the 2013 legislative session, the Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Virginia House Speaker William Howell. During the General Assembly session, Speaker Howell led the fight to strengthen Virginias economy, establish predictability and stability with Virginias business climate and support private-sector job creation. Under Speaker Howells leadership, the House advanced a pro-business legislative agenda that will enhance Virginias competitiveness in the global economy. From tort reform and staving off a big increase in unemployment insurance taxes, to investments in transportation and education, Speaker Howell worked tirelessly in tackling the Commonwealths most pressing issues.

Speaker of the House William Howell

The Virginia Chamber applauds Speaker Howell for his commitment to free market principles and his willingness to take a stand for Virginia businesses.

2013 Legislative Report Card 1

Leadership in Energy Award

Delegate Terry Kilgore and Senator Dick Saslaw
Energy plays a tremendous role in the decisions companies make on expanding or relocating operations. Virginias overall competitiveness relies on long-term, comprehensive energy policies that provide for reliable, cost-effective energy sources to support economic growth. The Leadership in Energy Award recognizes legislators who advance policies that increase energy independence, promote the use of domestic energy sources and embrace the adoption and deployment of advanced, efficient technologies that further fuel source diversification through all energy sources. In the 2013 General Assembly, Senator Dick Saslaw and Delegate Terry Kilgore engineered a compromise between the consumers and the electric utility companies that is a positive force for continued economic growth and will benefit electric customers of all sizes. This compromise legislation contains new standards for earnings sharing among utilities and customers, revises the system of incentives and provides regulatory certainty needed to strengthen Virginias electric infrastructure and to provide reliable, cost-effective power. For their efforts in improving and advancing Virginias energy policies, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegate Terry Kilgore and Senator Dick Saslaw with the Leadership in Energy Award.

Del. Terry Kilgore

Sen. Dick Saslaw

Economic Competitiveness Award

Delegate S. Chris Jones, Delegate David Albo, Senator Frank Wagner and Senator Janet Howell
Virginias transportation infrastructure is vital to the Commonwealths economic competitiveness. The Commonwealths transportation system supports business, tourism and economic growth. With over 99 percent of the worlds consumers outside of the states borders, an effective transportation network that efficiently moves people and goods is essential to Virginias economic prosperity. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth faces many transportation challenges: increased demand for highway and passenger rail service; an aging transportation infrastructure; funding shortfalls that inhibit our ability to meet highway, transit and passenger rail maintenance, construction and operational needs; and congestion. While our transportation challenges are significant, the General Assembly took a major step forward in addressing the Commonwealths critical infrastructure needs by passing a landmark transportation funding package that will ensure longterm, dedicated and sustainable funding is available to meet Virginias vital highway, rail and transit needs. This years Economic Competitiveness Award recognizes the legislators who were instrumental in developing a bipartisan transportation bill that invested in an essential component of our economy the Commonwealths transportation system. For their efforts in supporting economic growth and development through key investments in Virginias transportation infrastructure, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegates David Albo and S. Chris Jones and Senators Janet Howell and Frank Wagner with the Economic Competitiveness Award.

Del. S. Chris Jones

Del. David Albo

Sen. Frank Wagner

Sen. Janet Howell

2 2013 Legislative Report Card

Legal Reform Advocate Award

Delegate Christopher Head, Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, Delegate Salvatore Iaquinto, Delegate Gregory Habeeb, Delegate Benjamin Cline, Delegate David Albo, Delegate Terry Kilgore, Senator Thomas Norment, Senator Richard Stuart and Senator Bryce Reeves
Del. Christopher Head Del. C. Todd Gilbert

Del. Salvatore Iaquinto

Del. Gregory Habeeb

Del. Benjamin Cline

Del. David Albo

Virginias legal climate is important to the Commonwealths economic competitiveness. A stable, predictable legal system that provides for a fair and efficient civil justice process, controls litigation costs, protects private property rights and eliminates lawsuit abuse is essential to promote economic growth and job creation. While Virginia has been recognized in national surveys as a top state for business, certain areas of the Commonwealths tort liability system lag well behind a number of states in fostering an environment in which businesses can thrive. With businesses still struggling to recover from one of the worst economic downturns in our nations history, improving the Commonwealths legal climate, which studies show, could save $453 million in legal costs and increase employment by as much as one percent in Virginia. The Advocate in Legal Reform Award recognizes legislators whose significant contributions to legal reforms are critical to lower the cost of litigation, improve the legal environment and encourage business confidence and investment in Virginia. For their efforts in improving Virginias legal system, the Advocates in Legal Reform Award goes to Delegates David Albo, Benjamin Cline, C. Todd Gilbert, Gregory Habeeb, Christopher Head, Salvatore Iaquinto and Terry Kilgore, and Senators Thomas Norment, Bryce Reeves and Richard Stuart.

Del. Terry Kilgore

Sen. Thomas Norment

Sen. Richard Stuart

Sen. Bryce Reeves

The Legislative Report Card allows us to recognize and honor legislators who uphold free market principles and support the interests of the business community. In addition, it provides analysis of a legislators support for the business communitys priorities.

Barry DuVal
President & CEO Virginia Chamber

2013 Legislative Report Card 3

Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award

Delegate Kirk Cox, Delegate David Yancey and Senator Harry Blevins
Virginias economic well-being is inextricably linked to the education and skills of its citizens. Many Virginia employers are faced with an insufficient supply of skilled and educated workers because of gaps in skills and training. It is imperative that the educational system, beginning with early childhood education programs and workforce training initiatives are aligned with the skill requirements and workforce needs of businesses. The Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award recognizes legislators who worked to improve education in Virginia. This year, Delegate Kirk Cox and Senator Harry Blevins sponsored multiple bills to improve teacher quality and provide early intervention services to students in kindergarten, first and second grades who demonstrate deficiencies in reading. Delegate David Yancey sponsored legislation to increase the amount of tax credit an employer can claim for worker retraining, specifically if the retraining involves a STEM or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Applied Mathematics) discipline. For their efforts in improving education in Virginia and better aligning education and workforce training programs with the needs of businesses, the Virginia Chamber recognizes Delegates Kirk Cox and David Yancey and Senator Harry Blevins with the Excellence in Education and Workforce Training Award.

Del. Kirk Cox

Del. David Yancey

Sen. Harry Blevins

Champions of Free Enterprise

Legislators who voted 100% for the Virginia Chambers 2013 Legislative Priorities.
Del. David Albo Del. John Cosgrove Del. Kirk Cox Del. Mark Dudenhefer

Del. Chris Head

Del.Gordon Helsel

Del. Keith Hodges

Del. William Bill Howell

Del. Salvatore Iaquinto

Del. Riley Ingram

Del. Terry Kilgore

Del. Barry Knight

Del. James LeMunyon

Del. Daniel Marshall

Del. Joe May

Del. Donald Merricks

Del. Randy Minchew

Del. Richard Morris

Del. John OBannon

Del. Robert Orrock

Del. Charles Poindexter

Del. Edward Scott

Del. Beverly Sherwood

Del. Christopher Stolle

Del. Robert Tata

Del. Ron Villanueva

Del. Michael Watson

Del. David Yancey

4 2013 Legislative Report Card

2013
Member Name

Senate Report Card

Party City/County D D R R R D D D D D R R D D D D D D R R Norfolk Alexandria Leesburg Chesapeake Grayson Manassas Bath Alexandria Roanoke Arlington Louisa Mount Solon Leesburg Reston Hampton Portsmouth Burke Richmond Chesterfield Mechanicsville % 75 75 91 91 94 79 78 73 66 78 94 92 77 80 75 76 78 77 95 92

Grade C C AAA C+ C+ C D C+ A AC+ BC C C+ C+ A A-

Kenneth C. Alexander George L. Barker Richard H. Black Harry B. Blevins Charles W. Carrico, Sr. Charles J. Colgan R. Creigh Deeds Adam P. Ebbin John S. Edwards Barbara A. Favola Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Mark R. Herring Janet D. Howell Mamie E. Locke L. Louise Lucas David W. Marsden Henry L. Marsh, III Stephen H. Martin Ryan T. McDougle

Received an A+ grade!

Received an A grade!

2013 Legislative Report Card 5

2013
Member Name

Senate Report Card

Party City/County D R D R R D R D D D R R D R R R R R R R Richmond Virginia Beach Newport News Forest Williamsburg Norfolk Harrisonburg Fairfax Tazewell Mount Vernon Spotsylvania Clarksville Springfield Roanoke Moneta Glen Allen Westmoreland Winchester Virginia Beach Midlothian % 79 95 78 92 97 78 95 70 77 78 94 94 81 91 87 95 88 89 97 92

Grade C+ A C+ A-

A. Donald McEachin Jeffrey L. McWaters John C. Miller Stephen D. Newman Thomas K. Norment, Jr. Ralph S. Northam Mark D. Obenshain J. Chapman Petersen Phillip P. Puckett Linda T. Puller Bryce E. Reeves Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Richard L. Saslaw Ralph K. Smith William M. Stanley, Jr. Walter A. Stosch Richard H. Stuart Jill Holtzman Vogel Frank W. Wagner John C. Watkins

A+
C+ A CC+ C+ A A BAB+ A B+ B+

A+
A-

Received an A+ grade!

Received an A grade!

6 2013 Legislative Report Card

2013
Member Name David B. Albo

House Report Card

Party City/County R R D R R D D R D R R R R R R R D R R R R D R R R R R R D D R D D R Springfield Woodbridge Newport News Staunton Charlottesville Arlington Fairfax Lynchburg Richmond Amherst Fredericksburg McLean Chesapeake Ashland Colonial Heights Wytheville Petersburg Stafford South Boston Rustburg Henrico Fairfax Station Lynchburg Woodstock Potomac Falls Salem Roanoke Poquoson Alexandria Norfolk Urbanna Arlington Norfolk Fredericksburg % 100 96 87 96 96 83 87 96 80 95 96 95 100 93 100 96 87 100 96 95 96 87 96 96 96 96 100 100 87 83 100 83 87 100

Grade

A+
A B+ A A B B+ A BA A A

Richard L. Anderson Mamye E. BaCote Richard P. Bell Robert B. Bell Robert H. Brink David L. Bulova Kathy J. Byron Betsy B. Carr Benjamin L. Cline Mark L. Cole Barbara J. Comstock John A. Cosgrove John A. Cox M. Kirkland Cox Anne B. Crockett-Stark Rosalyn R. Dance L. Mark Dudenhefer James E. Edmunds, II C. Matt Fariss Peter F. Farrell Eileen Filler-Corn T. Scott Garrett C. Todd Gilbert Thomas A. Greason Gregory D. Habeeb Chris T. Head Gordon C. Helsel, Jr. Charniele L. Herring Daun S. Hester M. Keith Hodges Patrick A. Hope Algie T. Howell, Jr. William J. Howell

A+
A

A+
A B+

A+
A A A B+ A A A A

A+ A+
B+ B

A+
B B+

A+

Received an A+ grade!

Received an A grade!

2013 Legislative Report Card 7

2013
Member Name Riley E. Ingram

House Report Card

Party City/County R R R D D D R D R R D D R R D R D R R R R R D D R R R R R D R R R R Centreville Virginia Beach Hopewell Portsmouth Portsmouth Abingdon Suffolk Vienna Gate City Virginia Beach Falls Church Alexandria Weyers Cave Oak Hill Accomac Woodbridge Arlington Richmond Manassas Danville Richmond Leesburg Richmond Richmond Danville Manassas Leesburg North Tazewell Carrollton Highland Springs Richmond Bristol Thornburg Mechanicsville % 95 100 100 84 82 93 96 87 100 100 82 87 96 100 93 93 83 98 96 100 96 100 78 83 100 95 100 87 100 83 100 96 100 96

Grade A

Timothy D. Hugo Salvatore R. Iaquinto

A+ A+
B BA A B+

Matthew James Johnny S. Joannou Joseph P. Johnson, Jr. S. Chris Jones Mark L. Keam Terry G. Kilgore Barry D. Knight Kaye Kory K. Robert Krupicka, Jr. R. Steven Landes James M. LeMunyon Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. L. Scott Lingamfelter Alfonso H. Lopez G. M. "Manoli" Loupassi Robert G. Marshall Daniel W. Marshall, III James P. Massie, III Joe T. May Jennifer L. McClellan Delores L. McQuinn Donald W. Merricks Jackson H. Miller J. Randy Minchew James W. Morefield Richard L. Morris Joseph D. Morrissey John M. O'Bannon, III Israel D. O'Quinn Robert D. Orrock, Sr. Christopher K. Peace

A+ A+
BB+ A

A+
A A B

A+
A

A+
A

A+
C+ B

A+
A

A+
B+

A+
B

A+
A

A+
A

Received an A+ grade!

Received an A grade!

8 2013 Legislative Report Card

2013
Member Name

House Report Card

Party City/County D R R R I R R R R R D R R D D R D R D D D R D R D R D R R R R R R R Reston Williamsburg Glade Hill Virginia Beach Bedford South Riding Kinsale Chesterfield Christiansburg Herndon Merrifield Culpeper Winchester Alexandria Chesapeake Virginia Beach Fairfax Virginia Beach Woodbridge Charlottesville Jarratt Virginia Beach Hampton Powhatan Roanoke Williamsburg Annandale Marshall Harrisonburg Victoria Newport News Thornburg Mechanicsville Blacksburg % 87 96 100 98 98 96 96 96 95 98 82 100 100 83 82 100 77 100 85 83 81 100 81 96 87 100 85 95 96 90 100 100 96 98

Grade B+ A

Kenneth R. Plum Brenda L. Pogge Charles D. Poindexter Harry R. Purkey Lacey E. Putney David I. Ramadan Margaret B. Ransone Roxann L. Robinson Nick Rush Thomas Davis Rust James M. Scott Edward T. Scott Beverly J. Sherwood Mark D. Sickles Lionell Spruill, Sr. Christopher P. Stolle Scott A. Surovell Robert Tata Luke E. Torian David J. Toscano Roslyn C. Tyler Ron A. Villanueva Jeion A. Ward R. Lee Ware, Jr. Onzlee Ware Michael B. Watson Vivian E. Watts Michael J. Webert Tony O. Wilt Thomas C. Wright, Jr. David E. Yancey Robert D. Orrock, Sr. Christopher K. Peace Joseph R. Yost

A+ A+ A+
A A A A

A+
B-

A+ A+
B B-

A+
C+

A+
B B B-

A+
BA B+

A+
B A A A-

A+ A+
A

A+

Received an A+ grade!

Received an A grade!

2013 Legislative Report Card 9

Grading Criteria
The weight of each vote was determined by dividing 100 by the total number of bills. Since legislators refrain from voting in cases of an ethical conflict, if a legislator ABSTAINED from a vote, this vote was not counted as part of legislators vote totals for purposes of scoring. Legislators were docked of a percentage point for not voting on a bill. For example, if a vote was worth two points, a legislator would be docked one point for a no vote.

Examples: If there were 50 bills total, each vote would be worth two points (100/50=2). If a legislator voted in support of the Virginia Chambers position on 45 of these bills and against the Virginia Chambers position on 5, their score would be a 90%, or a grade of an A. If a legislator abstained from voting on two of the bills, the weight of each vote would be determined as such: 100/48=2.08 points. If that legislator voted with the Virginia Chamber on 44 bills and against the Chamber on 4, their score would be a 91%, or grade of an A. If there were 50 bills and a legislator did not vote on two of the bills, but voted with the Virginia Chamber on every other bill, their score would be determined by dividing the weight of each vote (2 points) by two and subtracting that total from 100. That legislator would receive a score of 98% or grade of an A.

Grading Scale
A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D D+ F = = = = = = = = = = = = = 100-97 96-93 92-90 89-87 86-83 82-80 79-77 76-73 72-70 69-67 66-63 62-60 60 & below

919 East Main Street, Suite 900 Richmond, VA 23219 www.vachamber.com