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Other issue to watch in the
2007 General Assembly
Virginia Business
January 2007
Health care
Gov. Tim Kaine plans to introduce several initiatives
to improve health care and make it more affordable
for families and businesses. He wants to: improve access
to health care; strengthen the quality and safety of
health care; improve long-term care for senior citizens;
address concerns about the health-care work force,
such as the shortage of nurses; and finally, promote
good health.
READER
RESOURCES |
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Web
Pointers: For more information
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Video: Listen
to Gov. Tim Kaine discuss:
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Machinery and tools tax
Last year, Kaine vetoed a measure that would have reduced
the length of time - from one year to three months
- that manufacturing equipment must sit unused before
it can be exempt from the machinery and tools tax.
A sticking point was that some localities said the
law could adversely affect their revenues. Kaine will
push for a compromise plan this year.
Energy
Word on the street is that legislation will be introduced
to roll back some of the provisions of electric deregulation.
Market competition has not developed in the nearly
eight years since the General Assembly passed legislation
deregulating electric power. Consequently, some lawmakers
are worried that electricity prices will spike once
rate caps come off in 2011. Expect a big push in this
direction in 2008.
Medicaid
House Speaker William J. Howell plans to continue efforts
to reform Medicaid, which provides health care for
low-income citizens. Funded through the state and federal
governments, the cost of Virginia's Medicaid program
has surged from $2.5 billion in 2000 to more than $5
billion today. Legislators will review recommendations
from the Medicaid Revitalization Committee, created
last year to study ways to reform the program.
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