Legislative Mistakes Found - Still Time to Fix!
Ferris Bueller 2x - Beatles Twist and Shout!
One day during my tenure in the House of Delegates, I was visited in my office by my congressman, Bob Goodlatte.
Bob served in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2019 and was one of the rare politicians that my Dad admired because Goodlatte was/is honest, hard working, and really listened to his constituents.
Normally, our meetings were in D.C. with Bob behind his desk listening to the concerns of his constituent. In this case, I was behind mine - which was kind of weird for me having volunteered on his campaigns.
Such is life and such is politics.
Congress was on a break that day and I had been told that Bob was thinking about running for governor. He would have been a good one. This was either in the 2005 or 2009 cycle. Can’t recall. Probably the 05 cycle…
Anyway, the conversation quickly started out with Goodlatte remarking how much work we get done in the General Assembly. He was truly amazed but we agreed that it was because of the Single Object Rule - where each bill has but one purpose.
Just one thing. That’s it. Boom. It makes for quick work, right?
Too quick in some cases.
One of the reasons there are so many bills each year is that mistakes are found in parts of the Code of Virginia and bills are written to “clean up” those mistakes. Occasionally there “technical updates” for simple keying errors that cross reference the wrong Code section. Oops.
Honest mistakes. They happen. We all make mistakes, right?
Such is life and such in politics.
Quoting Ferris Bueller:
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
(Ferris Bueller - the movie - is FORTY this year!)
* ShakesHead *
In reading two of the more controversial pieces of legislation this week, I happened upon language that hopefully will get cleared up before Sine Die - currently scheduled for March 14th.
If not, hopefully the governor can get these fixed as amendments to be considered at the Reconvened Session on April 22.
Senate Bill 2 - Paid Family Medical Leave
Line 327 reads:
“Covered individual” means any individual other than an employee of the Commonwealth who:
And Lines 349 and 350 read:
“Employer” has the same meaning as provided in § 60.2-210, except that, for the purposes of this chapter, “employer” does not include the Commonwealth.
They left out the Commonwealth and its employees! Oops.
Also Lines 853 and 854 read:
That the Virginia Employment Commission shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for implementation of this act by April 1, 2028.
I’m pretty sure that they meant * checks calendar * 2026, not 2028.
The Fiscal Impact Statement likely will need to be updated as well if they want to pass a balanced budget. Here is the current tab - also delayed.
Almost left out all state employees and forgot to start in 2026.
WHEW!
That was close.
House Bill 1263 Collective Bargaining for Public Employees
bill text here
HB 1263 appears to exempt some public employees which is clearly NOT the intent of the legislation.
Line 236 is a title line
40.1-57.7. Exemptions from article
Line 251 under that title reads:
7. Employees working for the General Assembly.
That can’t be right.
Why pass a bill for Collective Bargaining and leave out your own employees?
Uh oh… found another exemption!
Back up on lines 190-193.
Lines 190 through 193:
“State agency” means the Commonwealth or any agency, department, or institution thereof, including any independent political subdivision. “State agency” does not include any (i) public institution of higher education or (ii) health system authority that serves as the principal teaching and training hospital for undergraduate and graduate students of a public institution of higher education.
I'm sure that the 37,000 employees of higher education don’t want to be left out!
WHEW!
Another close one.
Thankfully there is enough time to get these two important pieces of legislation amended and funded.
Lyrics from Twist and Shout:
Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on, baby, now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
Well, work it on out, honey (work it on out)
You know you look so good (look so good)
You know you got me goin’ now (got me goin’)
Just like you knew you would (like I knew you would)
Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on, baby, now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
You know you twist, you little girl (twist little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you’re mine, woo
Ah-ah-ah-ah, wow
Baby, now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on, baby, now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
You know you twist, little girl (twist little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you’re mine (know you’re mine ooh)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Ah-ah-ah-ah




