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However, several days ago, HB 570 was before the Senate Finance Committee. It preceded this infamous bill hearing (you must see this if you havent; click here). This bill, patroned by Delegate Sal Iaquinto (R-84, Virginia Beach) would level the playing field when property owners appeal their often over assessed homes in order to reduce their already overwhelming tax burdens. Besides, if the government has a good case, it will still win. A no-brainer, right?

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Reach Julian Walker at (804) 697-1564 or julian.walker@pilotonline.com

March 13, 2010

Who says the House of Delegates is opposed to all fee increases?

Virginia Beach Republican Del. Sal Iaquinto was able to steer through the General Assembly a bill that will allow bail bondsmen to obtain for a $15 fee a criminal history report on individuals before bailing them out of jail.

The program is estimated to generate a little more than $464,000 annually for the state. Those funds will go into the Literary Fund, which is used for education-related purposes, Iaquinto said.

There are a handful of localities which have the ability to provide that criminal history information to bondsmen, including Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Response By Delegate Iaquinto

"I appreciate the post about the bill I was able to navigate through the General Assembly. I want to make sure everyone knows that the Bondsman agreed with the fee. They think it is reasonable to pay for the ability to know the criminal history of the incarcerated person before they post bail. I am particularly glad to be able to use the money for education."

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February 4, 2010

Del. Iaquintos effort to shift the burden of proof to the government in real estate tax assessments got a resounding show of support in the House of Delegates, passing with overwhelming bipartisan support, 86-13.

There is no reason that the taxpayer should have the heightened burden to defend his property. Iaquinto said. It is time we level the playing field so the taxpayer has a fighting chance to challenge his assessment.

House Bill 570, which passed the House of Delegates today with strong bipartisan support, would benefit homeowners who challenge a tax assessors valuation of their property.

Currently, when a taxpayer believes he is being overcharged, he faces an uphill battle because the governments assessment is presumed to be correct in any appeal. Iaquintos bill would lift that burden off the taxpayer by simply requiring the government official to demonstrate how the assessment was calculated.

Its a strong point. Government has lots of information at its disposal, and should have to justify its conclusion.

Iaquintos bill now heads to the Senate.

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Reach Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer at (757) 222-5216 or alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com

January 26, 2010

RICHMOND

A Hampton Roads delegate wants to ensure that no Virginia student winds up in the same situation as Lauren Cootes did last spring.

Cootes was a senior at Cox High School who was set to graduate last June, despite spending her last year of high school battling leukemia. Shed taken classes with a homebound tutor and had been accepted to Christopher Newport University.

A few weeks before graduation, however, Cootes parents found out she would not be able to receive her diploma because shed missed taking the second half of an English SOL test while she was sick. The test was a requirement, established by the state, to receive a diploma.

A bill, sponsored by Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, would allow the state Board of Education to waive some graduation requirements on a case-by-case basis.

We just dont think any set of rules or regs should trample any individual student, said Virginia Beach Superintendent Jim Merrill, who testified in a subcommittee meeting this morning in favor of the bill. The subcommittee passed the bill unanimously.

Cootes was eventually given her diploma last year, after Merrill worked out a deal with the state superintendent of public instruction.

Still, said her father Jim Cootes, who also testified Tuesday, She and my wife and I just dont want children in the future to run into an obstruction like Lauren did.

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June 16, 2009

A high school diploma is supposed to be a tangible sign that a young adult has mastered math and language skills, has shown an ability to reason and write, and has survived the social and academic challenges that make up high school.

Lauren Cootes, 17, a Cox High School honors student, did all that and more. For the past year, while earning A's, she battled leukemia, mostly from a hospital bed.

As Virginian-Pilot columnist Kerry Dougherty wrote Sunday, Lauren was diagnosed in May 2008, three months before her senior year. She needed only two classes to graduate, but she took four with a home tutor. The only thing she wasn't able to do? Take the part of the state exam that tests reading comprehension.

For that, the state Department of Education said Lauren, slated to graduate Saturday night in Virginia Beach, could not receive a diploma. Officials cited the law requiring students to pass the Standards of Learning exams to graduate.

Tests ensure that Virginia's graduates have certain skills, a laudable goal. The standards, the department's Web site says, "represent a broad consensus of what parents, classroom teachers, school administrators, academics, and business and community leaders believe schools should teach and students should learn."

But elevating the SOLs to the ultimate authority on who graduates bypasses common sense, another skill we expect students to have. Virginia's blind adherence to rules is keeping it from doing right by a conscientious student.

And it makes a strong case that the state's emphasis on testing as evidence of learning has simply gone too far.

Everyone familiar with Lauren's work has vouched for her abilities and effort. In a letter to state officials, Virginia Beach Superintendent Jim Merrill pointed out that Lauren has been accepted to Christopher Newport University. Her teachers put together a portfolio of Lauren's work to show she has mastered reading comprehension.

"There are times... when common sense, compassion and commitment to children must move us toward creative solutions," Merrill wrote.

The state's response: The law leaves no wiggle room. Schools must notify the state promptly when students face "extraordinary circumstances that may impact their ability to graduate on time or earn a diploma," state Superintendent Patricia Wright wrote Monday. The standards, she noted, "carry the force of law" and prohibit school divisions, as well as the state, from granting exceptions.

Del. Sal Iaquinto, a Virginia Beach Republican, began working the phones last week to help Lauren. He said the law must be changed to allow exceptions.

"This is a prime example of government for the people working against the people," he said. "The point of the SOLs is not to exclude someone with the skills."

Dozens of folks outraged by Dougherty's column called Richmond. Despite the state's position, Beach officials told Lauren's parents Monday that she would get her diploma.

Graduation is supposed to be a happy ending to a joyful year. For Lauren, whose memories of senior year are of chemotherapy and radiation, state bureaucracy has made a painful year that much worse.

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Reach Jen McCaffery at (757) 222-5119 or jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com

March 5, 2008

RICHMOND

First-time DUI offenders already driving on a restricted license could face a more severe penalty if they violate those conditions.

The Senate unanimously approved an amended version of HB1442, sponsored by Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, which would require breath-testing machines called ignition interlocks to be installed if a first-time drunken-driving offender convicted with a blood-alcohol concentration of between .08 and .14 violates the terms of their restricted license.

The devices prevent vehicles from starting if the driver has a blood-alcohol concentration higher than .02 when attempting to start the vehicle.

State law already mandates the interlocks for people convicted of drunken-driving offenses with a blood-alcohol concentration of .15 or greater, Iaquinto said.

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Reach Julian Walker at (757) 222-5119 or richard.quinn@pilotonline.com

February 13, 2008

RICHMOND

Sighs of regret won't be the only heavy breathing from some motorists if Mothers Against Drunk Driving has its way.

In a campaign to be announced this morning in the Capitol building, the group will push for a law to install breath-testing machines in the cars of convicted drunken drivers.

The machines, called ignition interlocks, prevent vehicles from starting if a driver's blood-alcohol concentration registers higher than 0.02 percent. They would be installed in a person's car for at least six months.

"We need to keep people from driving drunk," said Del. Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, who pushed a bill for the machines through the House of Delegates. "It's that simple."

State law requires the machines for convicted drivers whose blood-alcohol level was 0.15 or higher, nearly double the legal limit for driving of 0.08. Iaquinto's bill extends the penalty to anyone convicted of DUI.

The cost of installing, removing and maintaining the machines is estimated to be between $300 and $400.

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CAPITOL BRIEFS RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH

By Staff Reports

February 12, 2008

House OKs locks for 1st DUI conviction

Del. Salvatore R. Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach, wants to make sure that first-time DUI offenders don't drive drunk a second time -- at least not right away.

That's why he proposed House Bill 1442, which would require installation of ignition interlock devices upon a first conviction of drunken driving. An ignition interlock is equipment that the driver must blow into to start his car. If the driver has alcohol on his breath, the car won't start.

The law now requires the device upon a second DUI conviction. Iaquinto said that mandating it after the first offense will save lives.

The House apparently agreed and voted 80-18 to pass the bill.

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Watch Delegate Sal Iaquinto square off with Delegates Paula Miller and Tom Gear on Joel Rubin's On the Record, January 7, 2007. The Delegates discuss the upcoming General Assembly Session, the transportation question, and possible solutions for the Hampton Roads area. Click on the thumbnail to view.

Reach Hattie Brown Garrow at (757) 222-5116 or hattie.brown@ pilotonline.com.

VIRGINIA BEACH — Jasmine Phetteplace, 8, peered inside a parked ambulance for a few seconds before climbing inside with her younger brother. They immediately plopped down on a bench, avoiding the stretcher and the vehicle's other medical-related features.

"You wanna sit over here where we put the patients?" asked paramedic Joe Budy of the Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services.

Jasmine reluctantly said yes and sprawled onto the stretcher. She chatted with Budy and paramedic Chuck Singleton of Virginia Beach EMS, who showed her the stretcher could be adjusted so a person could sit up or lie down.

"Hey, I could sleep here," she said. "It's like my comfy chair at home."

On Saturday, hundreds of children like Jasmine were able to meet public safety officials as well as explore ambulances, fire trucks and police cars as part of Safe Kids Day. The event, held at the Green Run Homes Association, focused on providing information about child safety and wellness in a fun environment.

Jasmine said she's been afraid of ambulances since seeing a friend in one. After looking at an ambulance up close Saturday, she said it didn't seem so scary.

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PRINCESS ANNE -- School might be back in session, but there's still fun to be had Saturday at the first Safe Kids Day.

The community-centered initiative to promote child safety and health was the idea of Sal Iaquinto, 84th District delegate, and State Attorney General Bob McDonnell. The event will be held at the Green Run Homes Association, next to Green Run Elementary School.

"As elected officials, they have the opportunity to create legislation to keep our neighborhoods safe," said Ann Flandermeyer, the coordinator and Iaquinto's director of legislative affairs. "But they wanted to have a venue to get the messages of safety and health to the people, and specifically to the children."

The day will be both fun and educational. Features will include a firetruck and ambulance, a police K-9 unit, an inflatable moonwalk, fun carnival food, clowns, face painting, music and special appearances by McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey Bear.

The day will also include exhibits by medical, disaster and youth-oriented organizations, such as Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, American Red Cross and Youth Crisis Network. So far, 24 organizations will be represented, Flandermeyer said.

"One of my focuses has been child legislation," Iaquinto said.

However, "passing legislation is just the first step," he added. "This is all about letting people get information. Sometimes, people don't know what programs are out there."

Parents are busy, said Iaquinto, a Hunt Club Forest resident who has two preschool-aged sons with his wife, Stephanie.

At times, it is hard to get a grasp on all of the free information available, he said. Though Iaquinto and McDonnell will speak, Iaquinto was quick to note, "It's very light on presentation."

Iaquinto and Flandermeyer have been pleased by the support during the planning.

"We started out thinking it would be a small, neighborhood event, but it's really taken on a life of its own," said Flandermeyer. "People are jumping at the chance to get involved with the event."

Pat Davidson, a health educator for the city's Public Health Department and coordinator of the Safe Kids Coalition of Hampton Roads, will present tips on child safety seats, sports safety and bike safety.

"Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for children," she said.

Said Davidson: "All of us need safety reminders."

THE VETERAN DELEGATE from Henrico, face scrunched in a nasty scowl, rose to speak.

"Might the bill by the delegate from Virginia Beach interfere with that most sacred of American holidays – Mother's Day" barked Del. Jack Reid.

"Oh, no," promised Del. Sal Iaquinto, a novice striving to guide his first piece of legislation to passage on the House floor. The bill, designating the week preceding Mother's Day as Little League Baseball Challenger Week in Virginia, would do nothing of the sort.

"Shall the bill pass?" asked House Speaker Bill Howell.

A sea of red swept the vote tally board on the front wall of the House chamber. Iaquinto's bill died 46-51.

Moments later, amid laughter, lawmakers resurrected the bill and sent it on to the Senate on a 96-2 vote.

So passed another indoctrination ritual in the fledgling legislative career of Iaquinto, a 37-year-old lawyer from Virginia Beach and former legislative aide elected in November to replace his one-time boss, Attorney General Bob McDonnell...

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RICHMOND – Freshman state Del. Sal Iaquinto seemed to know everybody.

In the General Assembly building last week, back-slapping veteran lawmakers greeted him warmly. Seasoned lobbyists with bills to pitch streamed into his seventh-floor office. Reporters from Hampton Roads collared him for a quote...

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