Brian Moran - News

Brian Moran Pledges Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility

2008-08-18T19:56:00Z

Important Speech on responsibility, honesty and integrity in fiscal affairs

ROANOKE, Va. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran today outlined his approach to the Commonwealth’s fiscal affairs. Moran pledged a focus on responsibility, honesty and integrity in state spending. In remarks given to the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia and the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia, Moran highlighted the Commonwealth’s fiscal challenges and the recent revenue downturn. He explained how the values he learned as one of seven children in a struggling middle-class family encourage him to run a fiscally responsible government that pays its bills and meets its commitments.

“Growing up we didn’t have much, so my parents worked hard – and taught me and my brothers and sisters something in the process: You’ve got to be honest about your obligations. Slick financial tricks and accounting gimmicks won’t keep a roof over your head – they won’t pay the mortgage or send the kids to college,” Moran said. “And it is no different for our Commonwealth – bumper stickers and campaign slogans won’t make our schools better, our colleges more competitive, or build roads and bridges.”

Delegate Moran discussed Virginia’s 22,000 foreclosures this year and the fact that homes have been selling for less than the value of their mortgages. Governor Kaine shared these concerns with the General Assembly at a joint meeting of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on Monday. Moran pledged a steady, fiscally responsible hand to meet the commitments we have made during these difficult times. He also highlighted his own work as Chairman of Alexandria’s Budget and Fiscal Affairs committee during the real-estate downturn of the late 1980s.

As Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Moran was a chief legislative partner to Governor Warner when the legislature passed budget reform to fix the state’s structural imbalance and preserved its triple-A bond rating. “I’m proud to share this accomplishment with Governor Warner, but even more proud to share a common vision for fiscal responsibility,” Delegate Moran said.

He continued, “Governor Warner was a shining example of the type of balanced-budget, meet-your-obligations approach to government that I am proud to share and will strive to achieve. That’s why Virginia is the best managed state in the nation with an excellent credit rating.” Moran also praised Governor Kaine’s work to continue this fiscally responsible approach during the current downturn in revenue.

During the remarks, Delegate Moran also praised the work of local Treasurers and Commissioners of Revenue as the leaders at the forefront of balancing local government budgets. He highlighted some of their successful initiatives, including the non-arbitrage program that protects our bond funds, new DMV select offices across the Commonwealth, and the collection of overdue taxes from federal refunds.

Moran Gets Perfect Score from Conservation Voters

2008-07-30T16:06:00Z

Consistent record working for cleaner, more energy-efficient Virginia

RICHMOND -- House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran received a perfect score on the annual League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Score Card released Monday and was recognized at an annual LCV event as a "Legislative Hero." Moran authored initiatives to require a "Green Building" standard for state construction, tax credits to expand production of biofuels, and transportation solutions that emphasize approaches like mass transit and rail.

"I'm honored to receive this recognition from Virginia’s conservation voters," Delegate Moran said. "The next generation is depending on us to be responsible stewards of Virginia’s natural treasures. I’ve been proud to successfully partner with the conservation community, but we have more work to do."

According to the Sierra Club, the years between 1995 and 2006 rank among the twelve warmest recorded since 1850. The National Wildlife Federation recently estimated that global climate change will cause the loss of 58 percent of the beaches on the mid-Atlantic coast, while inundating 161,000 acres of marshes and 167,000 acres of dry land.

"We’re proud to recognize Delegate Moran as a legislative hero this year with a perfect score on conservation issues," said Virginia League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lisa Gutherie. "His work to build more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient buildings, expand access to alternative and renewable energy, and protect our coastline helps leave a cleaner, better world for the next generation."

Other legislators' scores are available online at the VALCV web site.

Statement on Minimum Wage Increase

2008-07-23T20:12:00Z

ALEXANDRIA – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement about tomorrow’s increase in the minimum wage to $6.55 per hour. Delegate Moran championed an increase in Virginia’s minimum wage in 2007 (HB 2849, 2007). Although the initiative was unsuccessful in Virginia, the federal government adopted a similar proposal, which Delegate Moran supported.

“Working full time and raising a family should never be a ticket to poverty,” House Democratic Caucus Chair Brian Moran said. “Hard work should be rewarded with fair pay. Increasing the minimum wage will help drive Virginia’s economy by putting money into the pockets of Americans who will spend it. Today is another step forward to ensuring a level economic playing field for all Virginians. In the face of the high price of gas and groceries, raising the minimum wage is a smart investment in the middle-class families that need it the most.”

This increase is the second of three provided by the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. A third minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour will become effective on July 24, 2009. Last year, on July 24, the minimum wage increased to $5.85 an hour.

Facts on the minimum wage:

A single parent earning minimum wage earns $12,100/year, $2,800 below the poverty line. Nearly 35 percent of minimum-wage workers are sole family earners and one in three Virginians earning the minimum wage are raising children.
Between 1998 and 2004, the job growth for small businesses in states with a minimum wage higher than the federal level was 6.2 percent compared to a 4.1 percent growth in states where the federal level prevailed.

Selected resources on Delegate Moran’s work regarding the minimum wage:
Democrats to Propose Minimum Wage Boost (Washington Post, December 2006)
Minimum Wage Hike Gets Pushed (Freelance Star, December 2006)
Democrats push minimum wage issue (Roanoke Times, December 2006)
Delegate Moran testifies to Commerce and Labor Subcommittee (January 2007)

VIRGINIA'S TRANSPORTATION CONUNDRUM

2008-07-23T14:39:00Z

This op-ed by Brian Moran originally appeared in the Washington Times

Earlier this month, our Regional Transportation Planning Board delayed or cancelled projects in every Northern Virginia jurisdiction, as well as for the Virginia Railway Express. That is because Virginia recently lost a significant opportunity to strengthen the economy of our commonwealth, solve the congestion crisis, fix failing bridges across the state and improve the quality of life for millions of our fellow citizens.

The demands on our transportation system continue to overwhelm the supply. Over the past 20 years, the capacity of our roadways has only grown 9 percent, while Virginians are traveling 80 percent more and own 61 percent more cars. Also, there are 36 percent more drivers than in 1988. Unfortunately, there are those in the Republican leadership who refuse to respond to this growing, critical need. They do not realize that transportation infrastructure is key to sustaining our quality of life and growing our economy.

Virginia is known as the best state in the nation to do business, a distinction of which we are rightly proud. We also retain one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Our businesses depend on a strong transportation network to move products and materials to customers, factories and stores. Business leaders in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are already feeling the pinch of aging infrastructure. Virginia's long-term economic future depends on strong transportation investment. That is why the Chamber of Commerce and business groups from across the commonwealth joined Democrats to support new revenue for transportation.

Investing in transportation now also would have meant an immediate infusion of new jobs and capital investment in a struggling economy. During the recent debate, the owner of a small bridge-building and construction firm approached me. He told me that he has had to lay off more than 50 employees in the Prince William area. Investing in transportation and infrastructure projects could have meant more contracts and more jobs for his company. A $1 billion transportation investment would have created 35,000 new jobs.

Of course, transportation issues affect more than jobs and the economy. A stronger transportation system means that Virginians don't have to spend hundreds of hours stuck in traffic. The average Virginian loses $1,000 a year in car repair costs and gas due to traffic. A transportation investment would mean that parents get home for dinner on time, or get a chance to make it to their kid's soccer game. And a stronger transportation system is also a smarter one - a system that uses more mass transit and gas-saving incentives to promote a cleaner environment. We can't solve this problem with roads alone or build our way out of it. We need 21st-century solutions.

With all of these benefits and opportunities, the actions of the Republican leadership in the House of Delegates remain a shocking statement of ideological gamesmanship and indifference to the needs of Virginia. Democrats put no less than four complete, comprehensive transportation solutions on the table, only to have them attacked and voted down by the Republican House majority.

During the special session, Democrats from the House and the Senate proposed a compromise package. It met statewide needs for new construction as well as maintenance. Our plan, which I was proud to support and vote for, contained no increase in the gas tax. The last thing Virginians need are higher costs at the pump. And it cut the tax on food, as rising costs have made it more difficult for families to put dinner on the table. Above all, our plan was a shot in the arm to Virginia's economy and a long-term investment in our business environment.

You can't be pro-business while being anti-government. Government has an important role to play in strengthening our infrastructure, developing our economy and creating new jobs. When inflexible ideologies get in the way of simple facts, we get gridlock and failure - exactly the kind of backward leadership we saw in Richmond last week. And it is increasingly clear that the people of Virginia are rejecting it.

As a Northern Virginia business owner and parent, I know firsthand the negative impact on hours of productivity lost to business, family baseball games missed, and late dinners because of our congestion crisis. I vow to work with Democrats and Republicans to develop solutions to the traffic we face and the infrastructure demands ahead of us. Virginians demand and deserve no less.

Moran Significantly Outraises Deeds, McDonnell

2008-07-15T18:00:00Z

ALEXANDRIA – Delegate Brian Moran outraised both Senator Creigh Deeds and sitting Attorney General Bob McDonnell during the first half of 2008, according to statements by the campaigns and press reports. Moran raised more than all other Virginia candidates for 2009 elections. McDonnell is his party’s unopposed nominee for Governor in 2009 and Deeds previously ran a statewide campaign.

Virginians for Brian Moran brought in $1.38 million this period, nearly double that of Senator Deeds and significantly more than Attorney General McDonnell. Moran has 42 percent more cash-on-hand than Senator Deeds.

Candidate	Raised 1H 08	Cash on Hand
Delegate Brian Moran	$ 1,380,364.82	$ 924,292.34
Senator Creigh Deeds	$ 782,586	$ 650,452
AG Robert McDonnell	$ 878,000	$1,200,000

Sources: Deeds’ Campaign statement and Washington Post.

“It is increasingly clear that Brian Moran is the Democrat who can beat with Bob McDonnell,” said Mame Reiley, Director of Virginians for Brian Moran. “This report shows that Brian has built a base of support that can meet the long-term needs of financing a successful gubernatorial campaign.”

The Moran campaign raised more during the first half of 2008 than either then-Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine and then-Attorney General Jerry Kilgore during the same period four years ago.

MORAN TO REPORT $1.38 MILLION IN FIRST REPORT OF 2009 RACE

2008-07-07T14:03:00Z

Fundraising outpaces Kaine and Kilgore in ’04

Most ever raised by new statewide candidate

ALEXANDRIA -- Virginians for Brian Moran will report brining in $1.38 million in the first reporting period of 2008, Committee Director Mame Reiley announced today. Moran’s fundraising exceeds the amount raised by then-Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore in the first half of 2004, the most recent comparable fundraising period. Moran’s $1.38 million sets the record for candidates without a previous statewide campaign. Delegate Moran was barred from raising funds between January 9 and March 13 because fundraising is restricted during the General Assembly session.

"Brian’s statewide support is impressive. He’s getting help from people across the entire Commonwealth because Democrats realize he has a strong record and the best chance to win in November of 2009," said Mame Reiley, Director of Virginians for Brian Moran. "Brian’s strong performance lays the groundwork for an impressive statewide finance effort and a successful campaign."

Moran’s fundraising efforts have included events in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia, highlighting his statewide support. Moran’s statewide support comes during a significant staff expansion, including hiring General Consultant Steve Jarding, Senior Advisor Jean Jensen, Outreach Consultant Del. Lionell Spruill, Sr., Political Director Dominic Gabello, and others. Virginians for Brian Moran has approximately $800,000 cash on hand as of July 1. Moran’s committees, in total, added over $1 million in new monies to it’s accounts this period.

"I am humbled and encouraged by this support and the generosity of my friends, both new and old," Delegate Moran said. "It has been a pleasure to get to know Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth -- citizens who truly care about the direction of our state. The response has been amazing."

For the past two-and-a-half years, Delegate Moran has secured his position as a dominant fundraiser in the contest for the Democratic nomination for Governor. From January 2006 through the first half of 2008, Delegate Moran has raised over $3.3 million.

Last year, Delegate Moran led the House Democratic Caucus to the largest gains in a generation and gave a total of $914,773 for Democratic candidates and campaign purposes.

Virginians for Brian Moran is Delegate Brian Moran’s gubernatorial candidate campaign committee. The final numbers may change slightly as the comptroller and accountant file the period report on July 15th.

MORAN DISCUSSES TOY SAFETY ON KOJO NNAMDI SHOW

2008-07-01T13:30:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran joined the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU yesterday afternoon to discuss his “Child Toy Safety Act” (HB1192). In response to growing concern about the safety of children’s toys sold at the nation’s stores, Delegate Moran proposed the act in December of 2007. It would ensure dangerous toys are removed from store shelves, enforce toy safety requirements in child daycare facilities, and penalize those selling recalled toys. This spring, the House of Delegates delayed action on the measure until December of 2008.

The audio of the interview is available here.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, last year 73,000 kids went to the emergency room because of toy-related injuries. The initiative has the support of The Virginia PTA, Voices for Virginia’s Children and the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians.

BRIAN MORAN’S STAFF JOINS RACE FOR THE CURE

2008-06-07T17:18:00Z

ALEXANDRIA – The staff of Virginians for Brian Moran participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, on Saturday. Over half of Delegate Moran’s staff joined “Team Moran” for the annual run/walk to help find a cure for breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 182,460 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2008 alone. This is the second year in a row that Moran’s staff has participated in the walk.

“We’re all very proud to work together and had a great, successful race,” said Rosemarie Clouston, Deputy Director of Virginians for Brian Moran and leader of the group that participated. “It was a wonderful showing of people from all across our region who share a commitment to this important cause, and we are very proud we were a part of it.”

Estimates show 122 new cases of invasive breast cancer for every 100,000 women in Virginia. Several Team Moran members participated because family or friends had been victims or survivors of breast cancer.

“I’m proud of the members of my staff who stepped forward to help,” said Delegate Moran. “Too many families are affected by breast cancer, and it’s going to take the private and public sectors working together to find the cure.”

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was launched in 1982 to fulfill of promise from Nancy Brinker to her dying sister Susan G. Komen. Today it is the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. Thanks to the Race for the Cure, they have invested $1 billion in the fight against breast cancer worldwide.

Alicia's Law Will Protect Virginia's Children

2008-05-20T16:00:00Z

~Moran’s leadership doubles capacity to catch online child sex predators ~

BEDFORD – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran joined Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown, TV Star Erik Estrada, and Alicia Kozakiewicz to announce that “Alicia’s Law” will double the capacity of law enforcement in Southern Virginia to arrest online child predators. The Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) recently arrested a Stuarts Draft, Virginia, man with dozens of images of child pornography and a local victim in his home.

In as many as 30 percent of cases, there will be a local child victim identified and saved. Materials seized often include hard-core pictures and videos of children as young as 18 months old.

“Alicia’s law is about arresting these predators and making sure that children don’t have to go through the same horrible experience that Alicia did,” Delegate Moran said. “By this time next year, there will be dozens more local police departments combating Internet predators. As a former prosecutor, I know that we must give law enforcement the tools to keep the streets safe – including the virtual streets on the Internet. These task forces will protect children from unspeakable crimes.”

Delegate Moran authored “Alicia’s Law” to create a stronger statewide network of highly trained law enforcement officers who will track down and arrest online child sex predators. He successfully secured an additional $1.5 million of new funding for the two regional ICAC forces. The initiative is named after Alicia Kozakiewicz – a 13-year-old girl who was abducted by an Internet predator, held hostage, and tortured in a Virginia basement.

"Delegate Brian Moran has moved the fight against the Internet sexual predators into overdrive with the passage of Alicia's Law,” Bedford Sheriff Mike Brown said. “His tenacious pursuit of this funding project sets the standard for future efforts in protecting our children from the sexual predators that use the Internet."

Over the past two years, the Department of Justice has identified half a million child pornographers nationwide and 20,000 computers containing child pornography in Virginia. However, local law enforcement only has the resources to investigate 2 percent of these cases. These new funds will be used to hire new investigators, purchase 21st century equipment and expand training programs for affiliated law enforcement officers.

"The majority of child protection legislation is named for children who are deceased and address those deficits that were so woefully inadequate in the hopes that others will be spared their tragic fate,” said Alicia Kozakiewicz, for whom the law is named. “Alicia's Law, however, applauds the excellence of the law enforcement task forces here in Virginia that saved my life and seeks only to ensure, through better funding, that each and every child will have that same quality of specialized intervention."

“Alicia's Law is a victory for human rights,” said Grier Weeks with the National Association to Protect Children. “It is the boldest state effort yet to fight back against the evil of child exploitation.”

A similar announcement was held in Northern Virginia with the leadership of the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes against Children Task Force.

Moran's One-Stop Business Portal Launched

2008-05-13T16:00:00Z

_{e-government solution to help start businesses, create jobs}

Alexandria, Va. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran is proud to announce the launch of the Business One Stop Portal, a single electronic clearinghouse of resources for starting a new business. The portal provides one-stop access to all of the information, advice and regulations that entrepreneurs need to have before starting a new business. Delegate Moran authored the Business One Stop program during the 2007 General Assembly Session (HB3164). The Business One Stop was launched as part of Business Appreciation Week 2008 by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk.

"It can take weeks to collect all of the information and paperwork to start a business in Virginia. We expect this system will cut that time in half," said Delegate Moran. "New businesses will form the foundation of our economic recovery, so I've worked hard to streamline government and make it easier for small businesses to get their start. Virginia is already the best state in the country for business – we need to keep it that way."

Small businesses are responsible for three quarters of all of this country's net new jobs. However, in April 2008 alone, the U.S. economy lost 20,000 jobs.

"This is one of the best resources the Commonwealth has ever produced for helping its new and existing small businesses," said Julia Ciarlo Hammond, Virginia Director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. "This new site will save countless hours of leg work for potential business owners and existing companies. Delegate Moran, members of the General Assembly and Governor Kaine are to be commended for putting together such a valuable tool for the Virginia business community."

Today's launch is the first step in a multi-phase program that will allow the system to expand to additional online services. The portal will be available to entrepreneurs "free of charge" for the first 90 days. For more information, please visit: business.virginia.gov.

"We believe this will keep Virginia competitive as a preferred place to start a business and help entrepreneurs reduce their transaction costs with government so they can instead focus on hiring talented employees, bringing their products to market and growing their bottom lines," said Bobbie Kilberg, President & CEO, Northern Virginia Technology Council. The NVTC was a strong supporter of the Business One Stop legislation. "We applaud Delegate Brian Moran for sponsoring the legislation and Governor Kaine for ensuring its successful implementation."

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance sponsored the project working with the Secretariat of Commerce and Trade, the Virginia Enterprise Applications Program, Virginia Information Technology Agency, State Corporation Commission, Virginia Employment Commission, DPOR and the Arlington and Franklin County local governments.

Brian Moran is Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a delegate representing Alexandria City and Fairfax County. He is a former Arlington County prosecutor. Moran has been named a "Friend of Business" by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and received the "Tech-10" award from the Northern Virginia Technology Council. He was recently named "Child Advocate of the Year" by the Virginia PTA.

Transportation proposals to get Virginia moving

2008-05-12T15:07:00Z

This op-ed originally ran in the Virginian Pilot on May 11

A 1-cent sales tax increase can pay for investments in our roads, mass transit and rail.

Virginia needs bold action on transportation infrastructure investment to provide for a strong economic future. We need a long-term vision and a plan for a 21st century transportation system that helps grow our economy, gets traffic moving, and makes sure we can repair our roads and bridges.

The investment we need to jump-start our economy won’t come from raising the state’s gas tax. Hitting folks with higher prices at the pump at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, putting the squeeze on middle-class families and those on a fixed income, is not the answer. Besides, soon Congress will increase fuel efficiency standards for our cars, and gas tax revenues will decline. The tax is not a sustainable revenue source on which to build our future transportation system.

More importantly, for too long this debate has been stalled in an ideological battle between proponents of the gas tax and those opposed to solutions. I’m offering another option that raises additional new funds for transportation without engaging in that old debate. First, we can get Virginia moving again by investing $1 billion in our statewide transportation system to ensure a bright economic future, strong job growth and a healthy economy. We can invest in our roads, mass transit and rail through a 1-cent sales tax increase. Estimates show that every $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure could create 35,000 new jobs. To raise that much with a gas tax, the tax would need to increase 20 cents per gallon.

And, unlike a regressive gas tax that would raise the price of getting food to the market, this sales tax proposal would exempt food and prescription drugs.

Importantly, this new sales tax will apply to all the out-of-state visitors, from shoppers at Potomac Mills to tourists in Virginia Beach, to truck drivers traveling down route I-81.

More than one-third of the funds from this sales tax should be dedicated to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for projects of regional significance, including new roadways, transit rail systems and our federal matching funds for Metro. This means the money will stay in Northern Virginia, and the decisions on how to use it will be made in Northern Virginia.

Nearly one-quarter of this investment should go directly to Hampton Roads for a series of major projects, many of which have already been identified through regional planning processes. This would relieve traffic congestion, ease cargo movement from the port and protect the ability for emergency evacuations.

The remaining funds -- nearly half -- should be invested in statewide road safety, repair and construction. We can fund vital new construction projects in every region of the commonwealth, including the Coalfields Expressway and I-73, as well as new rail and transit projects of statewide significance. A portion of the statewide funds should be earmarked for projects that will attract additional private dollars for transportation.

Second, it is clear that roads and rails alone won’t solve our transportation crisis. We have to break the gridlock where growth and development put more cars on the road and continue to require a larger road network. We need to plan high-density development along mass transit lines and link our land-use decisions to our transportation planning.

We can break this cycle by creating an Office of Responsible Growth that helps statewide transportation planning sync with local land-use decisions. A fixed percentage of the new funding should be dedicated to rail and transit improvements across the state to lessen dependence on our cars.

Third, for years Virginians have been worried that transportation funds are diverted to other areas of government. To address this problem, we need a constitutional amendment to lock our transportation trust fund and ensure that what we raise for transportation goes to improve that system.

If we do these three things, we will improve our quality of life by keeping folks in traffic less and at home with their families more. Additionally, companies will be more likely to locate here if we have the transportation infrastructure that meets their long-term needs.

More than 20 years ago, Gov. Baliles used the sales tax to invest in our transportation system. It’s time to do that again.

Moran Joins Warner for Senate Launch

2008-05-05T15:00:00Z

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after former Governor Mark Warner officially kicked off his campaign for the United States Senate. Delegate Moran will join Governor Warner at his announcement event on Monday evening at the Carlyle Club.

“Our nation faces as many challenges today as we have at any point in modern history. We have a war without an end in sight, a sluggish economy, and government run by the special interests. But, Virginia has faced these kinds of challenges before. And we changed direction and brought results for the people of Virginia. Now we need that in Washington.

Mark Warner’s leadership made Virginia the best managed state in the nation, the best state in which to do business and the best state for a child’s lifetime success.

Whether you’re a Democrat, an Independent, or even a Republican, you know we need a new direction in our nation’s capital. We have already seen that direction here in Virginia. We’ve seen an optimistic, hopeful vision of the future. We’ve worked with results-oriented leadership that gets things done.

We saw them in Mark Warner as our Governor. And now we need him to be our next US Senator. I will be doing all I can to help him make that happen.”

Warner was elected governor in 2001 and Delegate Moran was elected chairman of the House Democratic Caucus that December.

MORAN STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION BOND

2008-04-29T20:30:00Z

RICHMOND – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after the General Assembly approved the Higher Education Bond initiative that provides $1.5 billion in new capital construction to Virginia’s colleges and universities. Delegate Moran joined Governor Kaine and University Presidents at the announcement of this initiative on December 13, 2007 at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“This funding will be a great step in our efforts to compete in the 21st century global economy,” said Delegate Moran. “Last spring I traveled to India on the Governor’s Trade Mission and toured the Indian Institute of Technology. India and China produce as many engineers each year as we will produce this decade. If we want to compete and win, we have to invest in higher education so we have the capability to do groundbreaking research in the life sciences and nanotechnology and biotechnology.

“Today we’ve authorized the largest investment in construction at our colleges and universities in Virginia’s history. This will help jumpstart our construction industry while building capacity for our future. We have thousands of new graduates that want to go to Virginia’s public colleges and today’s effort will help make sure we have room for them.”

Moran Statement on Passage of Higher Education Bond

2008-04-23T13:56:00Z

RICHMOND – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after the General Assembly approved the Higher Education Bond initiative that provides $1.5 billion in new capital construction to Virginia’s colleges and universities. Delegate Moran joined Governor Kaine and University Presidents at the announcement of this initiative on December 13, 2007 at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Moran Supports Governor's Action on Green Buildings

2008-04-14T16:00:00Z

ALEXANDRIA - House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after Governor Kaine announced his amendment to the state budget to include only the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard for new construction of state buildings rather than lowering the standards by including “Green Globes”. The “Green Globes” standard does not include third party verification, mandatory energy consumption reductions and has been used by less than 10 percent of those who use the LEED standard. Delegate Moran asked the Governor to take this action in a letter dated March 19, 2008 (attached).

“I thank Governor Kaine for his responsible action to preserve our environment for the next generation and generations to come,” Delegate Moran said. “With the looming threat of global warming, we cannot afford to lower the environmental standards for state construction. Building ‘Green Buildings’ reduces energy usage, preserves the environment and lowers energy costs. Virginia ranks 38th in the nation for energy efficiency and conservation programs – we can do better.

As a father with two young children, I want them to be able to enjoy the same God-given natural treasures we have today. I urge my colleagues to accept this important, responsible and forward-looking amendment.”

Delegate Moran introduced “Green Buildings” legislation during the 2008 session of the General Assembly (HB1195). Today’s amendment makes the budget language consistent with that in Governor Kaine’s Executive Order 48.