Guest Columns
Opinion — Surplus indicates taxes in state are too high
Virginia is seeing its second consecutive multibillion-dollar revenue surplus. The fiscal year ended on June 30 with a surplus of about $1.94 billion, bolstered by ...
Matt Fariss, Author at Farmville
Columns
Your Turn — Tourism programs intended to bolster local economies
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced updated guidance on quarantine procedures following exposure to COVID-19 in school, childcare and camp settings. This revised guidance outlines that quarantine ...
by Matt Fariss, Sunday, July 24, 2022 8:51 am
OPINION
Your turn — New alert system, alcohol, marijuana laws take effect
Continuing from last week’s newsletter, I wanted to update constituents on more legislation that passed the 2022 session and is law in the Commonwealth as ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, July 16, 2022 12:06 pm
OPINION
Your turn — Gas tax increase among new laws effective July 1
Virginia drivers will be paying more at the pump, as the gas tax rose on Friday to keep pace with inflation. A project of House ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, July 8, 2022 12:33 pm
Columns
Your Turn — Education improvements highlight amended state budget
Last Wednesday, Governor Youngkin sent 38 budget amendments, three in HB 29 (the caboose budget) and 35 in HB 30 (the biennial budget), focusing on ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, June 24, 2022 3:33 pm
Columns
Opinion — Budget to get final OK after amendments considered
On Thursday, June 9, both HB 29 and HB 30 were duly enrolled, signed by the presiding officers of each house and communicated to the ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, June 17, 2022 6:16 pm
OPINION
Your Turn — Prepare for hurricane season
The Virginia House and Senate passed two budget bills and sent the budget to the governor last Wednesday, setting the stage for final consideration of ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, June 10, 2022 12:30 pm
OPINION
More flexibility for health care workers
In the 2022 General Assembly session, we worked diligently to ensure that our health care workers in Virginia had more opportunities to practice their skills ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, May 28, 2022 12:00 pm
Columns
Opinion — Supporting our veterans
The mental health crisis being faced by our Veterans has been a crucial issue that needed to be addressed in our Commonwealth. That’s why we ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, May 20, 2022 10:33 am
Columns
Opinion — Bills address education issues
The Virginia General Assembly has completed its 2022 legislative session and while we are still waiting on the budget to be finalized, I would also ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, May 14, 2022 4:40 pm
Columns
Opinion — The work continues
The Virginia General Assembly reconvened for Governor Youngkin’s veto session Wednesday, April 27, and the Republican-controlled House of Delegates played part in upholding the Governor’s ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, May 6, 2022 9:47 am
Columns
Opinion — Returning to Richmond
On Wednesday, April 27, we will return to Richmond to review and vote on Governor amendments. We are currently still in special session, and we ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, April 30, 2022 5:26 pm
Columns
Opinion — What’s up next
The Reconvened Session on April 27 is likely to be a lengthy session given the amount of actions taken by Governor Youngkin. The Governor announced ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, April 22, 2022 7:06 pm
Columns
Opinion — New bills signed into law
Governor Glenn Youngkin has already signed over 700 bills into law from the 2022 General Assembly Session. This week I am highlighting several of those ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, April 15, 2022 3:07 pm
Guest Columns
Opinion — Budget work continues
When we adjourned Sine Die on March 12, there was a great deal of work left to be done. House Republicans were ready to stay ...
by Matt Fariss, Thursday, April 7, 2022 11:10 am
Columns
Opinion — Gas tax relief possible
The 2022 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 12th. House Republicans came into this session focused on addressing the ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, March 26, 2022 12:59 pm
Columns
Opinion — Making strides
Last week marked the fourth week of the 2022 General Assembly session. We’ve made huge strides when it comes to restoring election integrity for Virginians. ...
by Matt Fariss, Thursday, February 10, 2022 5:34 pm
Columns
Opinion — We work for you
We’ve been hard at work for nearly three weeks now in the Virginia General Assembly, and we’ve already made huge strides for Virginia’s families. With ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, February 4, 2022 10:02 am
Columns
Opinion — Taking decisive action
Governor Glenn Youngkin took decisive action Thursday in the fight against COVID-19. He is applying an equal mix of science and common sense to fighting ...
by Matt Fariss, Wednesday, January 26, 2022 7:00 pm
YOUR TURN
Your turn — Changes for the new year
The first week of session is completed. During that time, a new speaker was elected, and all appointments were made. This year, I was selected ...
by Matt Fariss, Saturday, January 22, 2022 5:00 pm
COVID-19
Opinion — COVID guidelines
Governor Northam will give his final State of the Commonwealth speech on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Due to COVID, the governor will speak from the House ...
by Matt Fariss, Thursday, January 13, 2022 5:49 pm
Guest Columns
Opinion — Withdrawing from RGGI is good for Virginians
Last Wednesday, Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin announced his intention to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is an 11 state, cap-and-trade program ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, December 17, 2021 3:15 pm
YOUR TURN
Ignoring violence in schools will hurt our children
Loudoun County is in the midst of an apparent cover-up, and two young women have been assaulted. The tragedy in Loudoun County has brought to ...
by Matt Fariss, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 6:00 am
YOUR TURN
Redistricting in Virginia
The Virginia Redistricting Commission will not finish its work on the state’s legislative maps and will instead move on to drawing maps for the state’s ...
by Matt Fariss, Wednesday, October 13, 2021 6:00 am
Guest Columns
Opinion — Grant program available
It was announced last week that a new grant program designed to support equitable and sustainable local food systems for small-scale agricultural producers, farmers markets ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, October 1, 2021 12:27 pm
Guest Columns
Voting, districts and more issues
I have compiled a list of important dates pertaining to the November Elections. Early voting began Sept. 17 and ends Oct. 30. Oct. 12 is ...
by Matt Fariss, Friday, September 24, 2021 3:19 pm
Guest Columns
Opinion — New services available
You can vote early at your local registrar’s office beginning 45 days before Election Day and ending the Saturday before Election Day. Early Voting starts ...