Episode 672 (1-8-24): Introducing the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Virginia Water Radio
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- Naturwissenschaften
Click to listen to episode (4:59). Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments Images Extra Information about the Virginia General Assembly Sources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.) Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 1-5-24. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;} TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of January 8 and January 15, 2024. MUSIC – ~12 sec – instrumental. That excerpt of “Dance of the Aisle,” by No Strings Attached, opens our annual preview of the Virginia General Assembly. On January 10, 100 members of the House of Delegates and 40 members of the Senate will gather in Richmond for their 2024 session, during which they’ll renew what you might call the “dance” of working across the symbolic “aisle” between political parties. The steps this year will be performed by a noticeably different group of people, because the 2023 elections resulted in significant changes in the age and years of service of the Assembly’s membership. Have a listen to the music for about 25 more seconds, and see if you know how the following pairs of numbers describe those membership changes: 34 and 17; 74 and 40; 9 and 21; and, last, 52 and 34; MUSIC – ~24 sec – instrumental. If you knew some or all of these, you’re a General Assembly genius! The 2024 General Assembly will have 34 new delegates and 17 new senators. Seventy-four members have served four years or less, compared to 40 such members in 2023. Nine members have served 20 years or more, compared to 21 such members in 2023. And 52 members will be age 45 or younger, compared to 34 such members in 2023. [Information not in audio: that the numbers for 2024, taken from the Virginia Public Access Project’s Web site on January 4, 2024, do not include one House member and one Senate member who were to be chosen in special elections on January 9, 2024.] The General Assembly convenes each year on the second Wednesday in January. So-called “long sessions” of 60 days are held in even-numbered years, while 30-to-45-day “short sessions” are held in odd-numbered years. A new biennial budget is proposed in each even-numbered year, while amendments to the current budget may be considered every year. Besides the budget, the General Assembly typically considers two-to-three thousand bills and resolutions. Usually about 150 to 200 of those measures relate to water resources, either directly through impacts on aquatic environments, water supplies, or other water uses, or indirectly through impacts on energy and land uses that, in turn, affect water. The budget also affects water, especially through funding of natural resource-related departments, such as Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Quality, Wildlife Resources, and the Marine Resources Commission. Action on General Assembly measures involves sub-committees, full committees, and floor debate. Passed bills go to the governor for approval, veto, or proposed changes, and bills with a governor’s veto or proposed changes return to the Assembly for further consideration during a “reconvened session,” scheduled for April. All along the way, citizens, interest groups, and other stakeholders vie to have a say. You can join in by following the Assembly’s work and by communicating with your local delegate or senator about issues of concern. Tools to help you do so are available online at virginiageneralassembly.gov. Thanks t
Click to listen to episode (4:59). Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments Images Extra Information about the Virginia General Assembly Sources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.) Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 1-5-24. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;} TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of January 8 and January 15, 2024. MUSIC – ~12 sec – instrumental. That excerpt of “Dance of the Aisle,” by No Strings Attached, opens our annual preview of the Virginia General Assembly. On January 10, 100 members of the House of Delegates and 40 members of the Senate will gather in Richmond for their 2024 session, during which they’ll renew what you might call the “dance” of working across the symbolic “aisle” between political parties. The steps this year will be performed by a noticeably different group of people, because the 2023 elections resulted in significant changes in the age and years of service of the Assembly’s membership. Have a listen to the music for about 25 more seconds, and see if you know how the following pairs of numbers describe those membership changes: 34 and 17; 74 and 40; 9 and 21; and, last, 52 and 34; MUSIC – ~24 sec – instrumental. If you knew some or all of these, you’re a General Assembly genius! The 2024 General Assembly will have 34 new delegates and 17 new senators. Seventy-four members have served four years or less, compared to 40 such members in 2023. Nine members have served 20 years or more, compared to 21 such members in 2023. And 52 members will be age 45 or younger, compared to 34 such members in 2023. [Information not in audio: that the numbers for 2024, taken from the Virginia Public Access Project’s Web site on January 4, 2024, do not include one House member and one Senate member who were to be chosen in special elections on January 9, 2024.] The General Assembly convenes each year on the second Wednesday in January. So-called “long sessions” of 60 days are held in even-numbered years, while 30-to-45-day “short sessions” are held in odd-numbered years. A new biennial budget is proposed in each even-numbered year, while amendments to the current budget may be considered every year. Besides the budget, the General Assembly typically considers two-to-three thousand bills and resolutions. Usually about 150 to 200 of those measures relate to water resources, either directly through impacts on aquatic environments, water supplies, or other water uses, or indirectly through impacts on energy and land uses that, in turn, affect water. The budget also affects water, especially through funding of natural resource-related departments, such as Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Quality, Wildlife Resources, and the Marine Resources Commission. Action on General Assembly measures involves sub-committees, full committees, and floor debate. Passed bills go to the governor for approval, veto, or proposed changes, and bills with a governor’s veto or proposed changes return to the Assembly for further consideration during a “reconvened session,” scheduled for April. All along the way, citizens, interest groups, and other stakeholders vie to have a say. You can join in by following the Assembly’s work and by communicating with your local delegate or senator about issues of concern. Tools to help you do so are available online at virginiageneralassembly.gov. Thanks t