This instructional video provides information on how to use this new tool, which will allow residents to view the status of plowing in our area once it snows at least two inches. Users will be able to view 600 “snow maps”, which are areas assigned to plow drivers. These maps will show whether crews are in the process of plowing, have finished or haven’t started a particular snow map. Progress is grouped by each map and does not have the capability to show street-by-street progress.

So, even though it’s 60 degrees and sunny today, keep this tool in mind if the weather decides to take a turn for the worse.  The tool can be found at http://novasnowplowing.virginia.gov.

Over the past ten years, the average number of people enrolled in the Virginia Medicaid program each month has increased by 68%. This increase is due to a growing number of citizens who have a disability, as well as an expansion in children’s enrollment. Over the past ten years, Virginia expenditures on Medicaid have gone up 300%! Despite this increase, Virginia still maintains some of the strictest requirements to enroll throughout the nation.  

In 2001, 666,855 citizens were enrolled in the Medicaid program. In 2011, that number has increased to 1,060,840, a 59% increase since 2001! While this enrollment increase definitely affects spending, economic changes (like health care cost inflation) and federally-mandated changes in the program have also forced us to increase spending.

What’s the bottom line? When it comes to Medicaid, there is just not enough money to pay for everything everyone wants. With a 300% increase in the last decade, it is obvious that our present course is mathematically unsustainable. However, we are doing our best and will try to limit cuts to Medicaid.

I-95 south traffic will be detoured to Exit 170B onto I-395 north and take Exit 2B, Edsall Road west, then follow the signs back to I-95 south.  The detour may add 15-20 minutes onto a trip during overnight hours.

At midnight a left lane on I-495 west, Inner Loop, before the Springfield Interchange will also be closed, and then following this at midnight, crews will close all lanes on I-495 west before the Springfield Interchange, for a temporary stoppage of up to 30 minutes in all lanes to install an overhead sign structure. All lanes will be reopened by 5 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25.

All this work is part of the 495 Express Lanes Project, and should be completed in late 2012.  Please keep these closures in mind tonight while traveling. If weather takes a turn for the worse, this work will be rescheduled for 9 p.m. January 25th.

More information can be found at www.vamegaprojects.com.

MWAA Vote

Last week, House Republicans pushed for the approval of House Bill 525, a bill that would increase Virginia’s representation on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in accordance with federal law. Virginia representation is critical at this time when the MWAA Board is currently making a number of important decisions regarding the $6 billion expansion of Dulles Metrorail.

HB 525 had an emergency clause attached to the bill due to the pressing need of granting Virginia the increased representation. The addition of the emergency clause meant that four-fifths of the House had to approve the legislation in order for the bill to pass. Unfortunately this number was not met due to the House Democrat’s decision to block such legislation. Governor McDonnell responded to the bill’s failure to pass stating, “The delay caused by the actions of the House Democrats today will reduce Virginia’s rightful, and congressionally approved, influence on this vital board.”

Uranium Mining

Last Thursday, Governor McDonnell announced that he will not seek legislation to lift the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia pending a comprehensive study of the issue by a newly-created multi-agency state workgroup. Uranium mining has been a major issue over the past year, but more time is needed to ensure the safety of a mining program. While uranium mining offers a potential positive economic impact for the entire state, the safety of all Virginians must come first. I agree that the most complete information on the subject must be obtained before we can make an educated decision on this matter.

Governor’s 2012 Public Safety Agenda

As your delegate, maintaining the safety of our community has always been a priority for me when I come to Richmond. Last week, the Governor also expressed his goals for Public Safety in a Press Confernce. Highlights of the Governor’s agenda include legislation to provide tough mandatory minimum sentences for repeat drug dealers, and life sentences for sex offenders who prey on children; further protect victims of crime; streamline procedures for Virginia’s asset forfeiture laws; and, strengthen the response to emergencies and ensure maximum protection for victims.

I also got a chance to speak at this press conference, sharing my support for the Governor’s agenda, which will be advancing some of my own legislation to crack down on drunk driving. My bills, House Bills 49 and 50, aim to increase the sentences on drunk drivers charged with involuntary manslaughter. Increasing the minimum sentences on these criminals should help take offenders off our streets, and keep our children, neighborhoods and homes safe.

Progress of My Bills

While almost all of my bills are still being reviewed in committees, one bill made its first introduction on the House floor last week.

The House Transportation committee passed my bill, House Bill 34, which works to ban advertising signs within highway right-of-ways. It was read on the House floor for the first time on Friday.

If you’d like to see all of the bills that I introduced this session, please visit my website www.davealbo.org and click on the icon “Link to Dave’s Bills”.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me while I’m in Richmond. You can reach me at our office number, (804) 698-1042, or at my house email, deldalbo@house.virginia.gov.

I have proposed a budget amendment to halt the Governor’s proposal and hopefully maintain Fairfax County’s level of funding. I will keep you updated on the status of this amendment, as the Appropriations Committee considers each aspect of the proposed budget.

Dave

Daytime work – Closures occur between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

• Fairfax County Pkwy. (Route 7100) south from Sydenstricker Rd. to Gambril Rd. – Single lane Monday – Friday for barrier work and overhead sign installation.
• Franconia Springfield Pkwy. (Route 7900) east from the Fairfax County Pkwy. (Route 7100) to Accotink Creek bridge – Single lane closed Monday – Friday for the addition for median construction and new exit ramp.
• Fairfax County Pkwy. (Route 7100) north and south from Barta Rd. to Franconia Springfield Pkwy. (Route 7900) – Single lane closed Monday – Friday for construction in median work.
• Hooes Rd. east and west at Barkers Ct. – Flagger operation Monday – Friday for construction entrance work.

For more information, visit http://www.vamegaprojects.com/

Every year I head out to Richmond to work for three long months. When people like Danielle Latif, a student from Sangster Elementary School, stop by to visit, it makes my day! Thank you Danielle for your beautiful artwork and the visit!

That’s why it pleases me to hear that a new Land Trust Alliance report revealed that land trusts in Virginia conserved more land between 2005 and 2010 than any other state in the Southeast! Between those years the Virginia Outdoors Foundation conserved 314,225 acres alone while private land trusts conserved another 78,678 acres. That works out to about seven acres preserved every hour!

These efforts are extremely important in the preservation of our nation’s land and I’m proud that Virginia can be a leader in these efforts!

Here is a link to this year’s Session Survey. It will take only a few minutes to complete and help me better understand our community!

Yours for good government,

Dave

Medicaid has been around for 46 years and cost state and federal governments nearly $400 billion in 2009. In virginia, Medicaid costs have increased three hundred percent over just ten years due to the rising costs of health care and the growing number of people eligible for the program. This is mathematically unsustainable. With federal health care reform, an additional 16 million are expected to enroll in the next three years, adding to the program’s costs.

Because of the huge dent this program makes in our budgets, states across the county are looking towards reforming the system to create “a less expensive, better, more ‘sustainable’ health care system for the poor and disabled”. However, states need more flexibility from the federal government in order to make these reforms. The article puts forth a few states that have attempted different approaches to the management of their Medicaid programs. All these options will need federal approval, but this can be a lengthy process. However, as federal health reform continues to threaten state budgets, the urgency for change will grow greater.

The rest of the article is worth the read because it contains important information on how Medicaid works and discusses some options on how to keep Medicaid costs down. To read the article in full, visit http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=23689.