Emmett Hanger addresses Senior Statesmen of Virginia

On May 14th, 2008, The Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosted Senator Emmett Hanger, a Republican who is in his third term representing the Shenandoah Valley and a section of Albemarle County. Hanger reviewed the recently concluded General Assembly session, and discussed Governor Tim Kaine’s plan to raise money for transportation.

Bio from the Senior Statesmen:

Emmett Hanger (Republican) is the senator for the 24th Senate District which includes a part of Albemarle, Rockbridge, and Rockingham, and all of Augusta, Greene, Highland, and the Cities of Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro.

Serving nine years in the House of Delegates and now in his third term in the Senate, Emmett has always been pro-business and as a Republican believes in the philosophy of limited government and fiscal conservatism. He values the protection of individual rights, coupled with a keen sense of individual responsibility. He chairs the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, and serves on the Senate Committees on Finance; Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Local Government; and Rules. He also is very involved with matters dealing with education, mental health, and the environment. Emmett co-chaired the Legislative Subcommittee, which he patroned, to reform Virginia’s Tax Code. In addition, Emmett chairs the Commonwealth Competition Council, which is a pro-business organization that helps state agencies and private businesses thrive, and he is the immediate past chairman and currently a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a multi-state commission. Emmett also is an active participant with the National Conference of State Legislatures; formerly serving on their Executive Committee, and now chairing the Budget and Revenues Committee.

Emmett holds numerous other leadership positions including chair of the Comprehensive Services Act Study Commission; chair of the Land Conservation and PDR Funding Joint Study; chair of the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind Advisory Commission; member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Rural Virginia and of the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation; co-chair of the Virginia General Assembly Sportsman Caucus; and a Board of Trustees member for the New College Institute in Martinsville, Virginia. In his spare time and for fun he chairs the State Song Committee. As a former Commissioner of the Revenue for Augusta County, Emmett is well-versed in key business-related issues on both the local and state levels. He is a graduate of James Madison University with an MBA in Accounting and a BS in Management and Economics. Born and raised in Augusta County, Emmett is married with five children and four grandchildren. Within his community, he is a Ruritan, teaches Sunday School, and is chairman emeritus and current member of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia Board of Trustees. He is the former Commander of the Harrisonburg National Guard and obtained the rank of Captain in the US Army as an Infantry Officer. He loves politics, country music, and basketball (not necessarily in that order).

This recording was made by Dan Daniels.

Delegates Bell and Toscano address Senior Statesmen of Virginia

On April 9th, 2008, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia hosted Charlottesville-area Delegates David Toscano and Rob Bell. The two reviewed this year’s General Assembly session, and gave a preview of the upcoming veto session. Mike Ludgate serves as the moderator for the event, which was recorded by Dan Daniels with help from Jim Peterson.

  • 00:00 – Introduction from Mike Ludgate
  • 03:36 – Delegate David Toscano (D-57)
  • 09:14 – Delegate Rob Bell (R-58)
  • 18:21 – Question on legislation requiring Virginia medical students to take at least one course on geriatric medicine
  • 20:47 – Question on transportation funding
  • 23:44 – Question on whether the Delegates would support in the gas tax
  • 29:34 – The Delegates are asked about their support for mass transit
  • 33:40 – Question about regional transportation authorities
  • 36:36 – Question about bipartisan redistricting
  • 39:20 – “What is the process used to provide support for the schools?”
  • 46:00 – Toscano discusses the revenue-sharing agreement between Charlottesville and Albemarle
  • 47:32 – Delegate Bell is asked a question about the role of the teacher in cases of bullying
  • 50:10 – Question about the state reimbursing dentists who accept patients on Medicaid
  • 51:57 – Question about how state lottery funds go to education
  • 53:20 – Question about pay-day loans
  • 58:50 – Question about using private funding to build roads
  • 1:00:20 – “How can we get more support for enlarging and improving rail service in Virginia?”
  • 1:02:23 – “Why can’t there be stiffer laws to get the mentally ill into treatment?” (Delegate Toscano had to leave, so the remaining questions are answered only by Delegate Bell)
  • 1:08:18 – “What is re-benchmarking?”
  • 1:09:38 – “What aren’t Charlottesville and Albemarle County consolidated into one authority?”
  • 1:11:52 – A question about prioritizing transportation spending