January 11, 2008
January 11, 2008 |
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NVTC Board Approves 2008 Legislative Agenda Session Begins; NVTC Lobbying Team Heads to Richmond NVTC Previews Agenda for House Democratic Leaders Governor Kaine Upbeat on Virginia's Future NVTC Applauds Kaine Higher Ed Bond Package Democrats Announce Six to Chair Committees Speaker Howell Selects Delegates May, Albo, to Chair Committees Senator Whipple Added to Senate Finance Committee Maryland Targets Tech Industry for New Taxes NVTC Members: Join NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee NVTC Salutes TechPAC Board of Trustees 2008 VTA Legislative Reception: January 30
Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Center for Innovative Technology Technology and Computer Crimes Economic Development and Entrepreneurship E-government Electronic Medical Records Green Technology and Energy Homestead Exemption Immigration Transportation Trust Fund Safeguards Northern VA Transportation Funding Education Technology Privacy, Database Breach and Identity Theft Procurement and Outsourcing Real ID Research STEM Education (K-12 and Higher Ed) Technology Tax Policy Telework, Telecommunications and Broadband Transportation Funding Workforce |
Efforts to Commence in Richmond to Protect and Enhance Tech Interests
The NVTC Board of Directors has approved the 2008 NVTC Legislative Agenda for the Commonwealth of Virginia which contains NVTC's policy priorities for the 2008 Virginia General Assembly Session. Throughout the session, NVTC will be the voice of Northern Virginia's technology community in Richmond. To read the full story click here.
Meet Policymakers at the VTA Legislative Reception on January 30
The 2008 Virginia Technology Alliance (VTA) Legislative Reception provides technology leaders from across the state with an opportunity to meet Virginia policymakers. The VTA includes NVTC and Virginia's nine other technology councils. Join us! January 30, 2008 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 Cost: $50 Click here to register. To view the full story, click here. |
NVTC Public Policy Links
Public Policy Steering Committee Contact Committee Leadership Contact NVTC Lobbying Team 2008 Legislative Agenda NVTC TechPAC Legislative Links Who Are My Legislators State Senators State Delegates Governor of VA Lt Governor Attorney General Secretary of Technology You can also browse and/or locate specific bills and their status by visiting the Virginia General Assembly's Legislative Information System Web site at http://leg1.state.va.us/. |
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NVTC Board Approves 2008 Legislative Agenda—Efforts to Commence in Richmond to Protect and Enhance Tech InterestsThe NVTC Board of Directors has approved the 2008 NVTC Legislative Agenda for the Commonwealth of Virginia, which contains NVTC's policy priorities for the 2008 Virginia General Assembly Session. Throughout the session, NVTC will be the voice of Northern Virginia's technology community in Richmond to ensure that efforts will continue to address Northern Virginia's transportation crisis, take even greater initiative in keeping Virginia competitive in the increasingly global economy, boost funding for higher education in Northern Virginia, increase research funding at Virginia universities—especially those located in our community—and ensure the Commonwealth provides more highly skilled workers to power Virginia's technology economy.
"NVTC public policy advocacy efforts are among the most valuable and critical benefits of NVTC membership," said John C. Lee, IV, Chairman, NVTC, and Chairman & CEO, Lee Technologies. "NVTC has long provided strong, proactive advocacy on behalf of the region's tech industry—entrepreneurs, executives, employees and companies of all sizes—to ensure state policies and investments reflect our priorities and foster a pro-business environment supportive of the technology industry and statewide technology-based economic growth." The Legislative Agenda was developed after months of discussions and meetings among members of the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee, led by Co-chairs Duffy Mazan and Paul Liberty, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, GTSI. Learn more about the Public Policy Steering Committee. Review NVTC Chairman John Lee's 2008 message from the 2008 NVTC Legislative Agenda. - Back to top - 2008 Session Begins; NVTC Sends Lobbying Team to Richmond  Legislative proposals introduced so far of interest to NVTC member companies contemplate new database breach notification rules, changes to Virginia's computer crimes laws, tax incentives to boost energy efficiency and alternative energy production, new rules for computer and electronics recycling, and proposals to bolster STEM education throughout the Commonwealth. Next week's NVTC Advocate will include summaries and additional information about these and other technology-related bills. NVTC's lobbying team will maintain a full-time presence in the state capital throughout the session to promote the NVTC Legislative Agenda and serve as the voice of the technology community of Northern Virginia. The NVTC lobbying team wants to know your ideas, questions or concerns about any bills, budget items or legislative initiatives. E-mail Allison Glatfelter, NVTC Public Policy Manager, at publicpolicy@nvtc.org. Remember: through NVTC's policy efforts and NVTC TechPAC, we are working to bolster the success of our member companies, strengthen the technology industry in Northern Virginia and to positively impact the economic growth of the region. For more information click here. - Back to top - NVTC Lobbying Team Previews Agenda for House Democratic Leaders  - Back to top - Governor Upbeat on Virginia's Future  Governor Kaine delivered his State of the Commonwealth Address to the Joint Assembly on January 9, 2008 "No one person, no one region, no one party, holds all the right answers," Governor Kaine suggested to the newly convened 2008 session of the General Assembly in Richmond. "We should advance the best ideas, no matter where they originate." Governor Kaine highlighted the accolades from Forbes.com and CNBC that Virginia was the best state for business, Virginia's low unemployment rate and high wages and recent corporate investments. He noted that foreign companies in 2007 announced over $750 million of new investment in Virginia that will create over 2,000 new jobs. But he also pointed out the need to adjust to broader economic shocks and to take significant steps, particularly in education, to ensure Virginia remains a preferred place to invest. Included in his education package are expanded pre-school programs, a re-benchmarking of the K-12 Standards of Quality, a teacher pay raise of 3.5 percent and a $1.6 billion bond package for higher education centered on engineering, science, business and health professions.  Virginia Governor Tim Kaine addresses the NVTC Board of Directors at its meeting on November 13, 2007. (l-r) NVTC President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg; Governor Kaine; and NVTC Chairman of the Board John C. Lee IV, Chairman and CEO of Lee Technologies. The Governor acknowledged the differences on policy and budget priorities among members of the General Assembly on issues, such as dealing with undocumented aliens in Virginia. But he asked for balance in the legislature's response to avoid punishing law-abiding businesses that create jobs, building hostility toward New Americans or giving the world "the impression that Virginians are not willing to engage with people from other countries in global commerce." On transportation, Governor Kaine asked the Assembly to send him a bill fully repealing the abusive driver fees that were part of a 2007 transportation financing package, saying the fees had not increased revenues or highway safety. "The art of compromise and working together is not a weakness," Governor Kaine suggested to a House of Delegates with a Republican majority and a state Senate with a Democratic one. "It is a sign of our dedication to getting things done." - Back to top - NVTC Applauds Kaine Proposal for $1.65 Billion Higher Ed Bond Package Securing Legislative Approval for Bonds, Research Initiatives Will Be NVTC Lobbying Priority  Photo courtesy of George Mason University NVTC's 2008 Legislative Agenda calls for a higher education bond package with an emphasis on funding for research facilities and equipment to ensure Virginia schools have the capacity to attract cutting-edge researchers and the infrastructure to compete for high value research projects. The need for a higher education bond package was raised during the NVTC Board of Directors meeting with the Governor. "Passage of a higher education bond package is an NVTC priority for the 2008 legislative session," said NVTC President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg. "We look forward to working with Governor Kaine and the leaders in the Virginia House and Senate to ensure passage by the General Assembly and, ultimately, approval by the voters in the Commonwealth via referendum. The higher education bond package will provide desperately needed capital resources to Northern Virginia institutions of higher learning, George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College, while expanding Virginia's statewide capacity for research and innovation." NVTC also will be lobbying in support of the Governor's other research-related budget provisions including:
- Back to top - Senate Democrats Announce Six Northern Virginia Senators to Chair Committees 
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Speaker Bill Howell Selects Northern Virginia Delegates May, Albo to Chair Committees House Speaker Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg) has reappointed Northern Virginia Delegate Dave Albo (R-Springfield) as chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee and also has selected Delegate Joe May (R-Leesburg), who had served as chairman or co-chairman of the House and Science and Technology Committee since its creation in 1998, to serve as chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Other new chairman appointments include Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Lynchburg) for the House Science and Technology Committee and Delegate Lacey Putney (I-Bedford) for the House Appropriations Committee. Putney will replace retiring Northern Virginia Delegate Vince Callahan (R-McLean). Newly elected Northern Virginia Delegate Margaret "Margi" Vanderhye (D-McLean) was appointed to serve on the House Science and Technology Committee, and Delegate Ken Plum (D-Reston), who had served on that committee since its creation in 1998, was removed. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) has been added to the roster of the House Finance Committee. View a complete list of House Committee Chairmen. View the full roster of committee assignments in the House of Delegates. - Back to top - Northern Virginia Senator Mary Margaret Whipple Added to Senate Finance Committee Number of Committee Seats Increases from 15 to 16  Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington) Democrats will have a 9-7 majority on the committee. In other senate committee news, newly elected Northern Virginia Senators Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), George Barker (D-Fairfax) and Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester) are among those appointed to the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee. View the full Senate Finance Committee roster. View the full roster of committee assignments in the Senate. - Back to top - State of Maryland Targets Tech Industry for $200 Million in New Taxes 6 Percent Sales Tax Will Apply to Broad Array of Computer Services  "Given the strong business relationships between Northern Virginia and Maryland technology companies, NVTC is seriously concerned about the impact that this new computer services tax will have on regional commerce and efforts to brand the National Capital Region as a global technology center," said NVTC Chairman John C. Lee, IV, Chairman & CEO, Lee Technologies. "As Virginia's General Assembly convenes for its 2008 Legislative Session, legislation such as Maryland's SB 2 reinforces the importance of NVTC's strong public policy advocacy efforts to maintain and grow Virginia as a desired technology business location. It also validates the ongoing work of the NVTC TechPAC to identify and support strong pro-technology business candidates for legislative office who understand and value Northern Virginia's technology industry and our substantial contribution to the state economy. As the voice of Northern Virginia's technology community, NVTC will continue to maintain its full-time presence in Richmond during the 2 General Assembly Session and will oppose any effort by Virginia policymakers to follow Maryland's lead in levying new taxes specific to computer or technology services." To review the commentary "Computer Tax Will Hurt Md.," by Tom Loveland, Chief Executive, Mind Over Machines, and Co-founder of the Maryland Computer Services Association, published in the Monday, January 6, 2008, Washington Post Business Section click here. - Back to top - NVTC Members: NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Needs YOUR Participation, Ideas 
Help NVTC leverage its strong voice and full-time lobbying presence in Richmond to promote and protect the interests of NVTC member companies and Northern Virginia's technology community! Join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee today to lend your voice, views and perspectives to NVTC's advocacy efforts.The Steering Committee prioritizes the legislative issues and initiatives important to Northern Virginia's technology community to produce the NVTC Legislative Agenda and provides guidance to the NVTC Board of Directors in adopting more detailed organizational positions on issues of particular importance. The Committee also serves as an important resource to the NVTC staff lobbying team—providing advice, direction and feedback on legislative matters. To learn more about the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee visit NVTC's Web site or contact Allison Glatfelter, NVTC Public Policy Manager, at publicpolicy@nvtc.org. - Back to top -  Virginia Speaker of the House of Delegates Bill Howell met with the NVTC TechPAC Board of Trustees at a November 29, 2007, dinner hosted by TechPAC Trustee Cory Starr, PricewaterhouseCoopers. NVTC TechPAC is NVTC's state-level Political Action Committee. Tech Execs Kept Busy With Rigorous Schedule of Meetings with Legislators, Candidates in 2007 Review a Q&A on TechPAC with Chairman Dendy Young. Learn more about TechPAC and review their activities for the past year. "TechPAC is an important benefit of NVTC membership because it allows companies to speak with one voice and to pool financial resources to support General Assembly candidates who champion policies and priorities important to Northern Virginia's technology business community. TechPAC helps ensure that policymakers in Virginia recognize the importance of the region's technology economy, share NVTC's priorities and value our input as an industry. Trustees have spent the past year working on behalf of NVTC members to interview candidates for legislative office and to support pro-technology candidates across the state." — Dendy Young, Chairman, NVTC TechPAC - Back to top - The Virginia Technology Alliance (VTA) 2008 Legislative Reception: January 30  Sudhakar Shenoy, NVTC Chairman Emeritus, IMC Inc.; Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra; and Governor Tim Kaine at the 2007 VTA Legislative Reception. The reception will take place from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm at the Library of Virginia (diagonally across from the General Assembly Building). NVTC members are entitled to attend the event at the special member rate of $50. To register, click here. For more information about the VTA Legislative Reception, please visit the Legislative Reception page on the Greater Richmond Technology Council's Web site. - Back to top - |
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NVTC Business Partners AOL | Center for Innovative Technology | CGI Group Inc. | Deloitte | EDS | Ernst & Young | KPMG LLP | Lee Technologies | Microsoft | Northrop Grumman | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | SAIC | Sprint | Unisys |Venable LLP | ||||||
