Delegate Jim Scott's Richmond Report

Utility lines underground?

Fortunately as development occurs now, localities generally require that utility lines serving new communities be placed under ground.

Because of concerns manifested during Hurricane Isabel, the General Assembly requested the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to review the issue again. As a result, the SCC is now seeking public comment on the feasibility of locating electric distribution lines under ground. The scope of this study does not include transmission (high voltage) lines or telephone lines, but it does offer the public an opportunity to weigh in on the need for policy changes.

Specifically, the SCC is encouraging online or paper comments by September 15 on the benefits, costs, potential obstacles, potential sources of funding and criteria associated with undergrounding overhead distribution lines.

Comments may be submitted via the following website: www.state.va.us/scc/hjr153.htm.

Keeping Track of Mandates

Frequently, state and local governments complain about “Federal Mandates,” those acts of the highest level of government that impose costs or other burdens on lower levels of governments or their constituents.

Thanks to the Virginia Liaison Office in the Office of the Governor, there is a biennial report that identifies those actions of the Congress or the Executive Branch that impose burdens on local citizens with limited opportunity for input.

Of course, almost everyone has heard of the largest of these mandates: the No Child Left Behind Act. Many know about the Federal government’s continuing default on its obligation to fund the federally imposed requirements of special education.

Not so many know about a recent bill that that preempts the law of 32states (not including Virginia) that prohibit out-of-state off-duty law enforcement officers from carry concealed weapons in those states. Many other such obligations go unobserved.

The Federal Mandate Report offers at least a partial accounting.

Copies of the Report are available by contacting The Virginia Liaison Office, 444 Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 214, Washington, D.C. 20001

Governor Warner is bringing the Southern Governors’ Association to Richmond next week for its 70th annual meeting. He has served as chair of this prestigious organization for the past year. He will be succeeded by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.

Governor Warner has focused his term as chair on preparing the states for the aging of their population, and much of the agenda for this year’s meeting will involve that topic. Also, improving rural high school education, tourism and transition to college will receive attention from the speakers and attendees, beginning Sunday.