The national healthcare debate came to Richmond earlier this week and a key Senate vote on the important issue resulted in victories for the basic freedoms that Virginians currently enjoy.

Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, is a co-patron of Senate Bill 417, often termed a Healthcare Freedom bill. He joined 17 Republican colleagues, as well as five Senate Democrats to pass the legislation designed to protect citizens from any federally imposed healthcare mandates. This Healthcare Freedom legislation would ensure that residents of the Commonwealth shall not be required to obtain or maintain a policy of individual insurance coverage if ever mandated by the federal government.

“I was proud to sponsor and cast my vote for the fundamental rights of Virginians,” McDougle said. “The people from my district have made it clear that they don’t appreciate the closed-door healthcare debate process taking place in Washington. Certainly our healthcare system needs reform, but it remains the best in the world and is not something to be hastily changed for the sake of political expediency.”

McDougle said more than 30 states across the country are considering similar bills that preserve the rights of their citizens with regards to healthcare coverage.

As McDougle and his colleagues attempt to remedy the state’s $4.5 billion budget shortfall, he is advocating another legislative initiative to fundamentally adjust the biennial budget fiscal calendar. Under the language set forth in Senate Bill 102, new budgets would begin in July of odd number years, rather than the current standard beginning in even years. The effect is a Virginia governor would be in office to see the impact of his or her proposed budget. This week Senate Bill 102 passed successfully through the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 10-5. The local senator said the legislation is a bi-partisan move forward for Virginia and will help to ensure our best managed state status for the future. His legislation will now be voted on the Senate floor. 

“We are working hard to correct an awkward budgetary cycle that requires incoming gubernatorial administrations to contend with fiscal suggestions made by a previous governor, often from another party,” McDougle added.

McDougle also has been working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft needed legislation to reform the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA).

VITA’s management of the privately-awarded $2.36 billion dollar state Information Technology overhaul has been a constant cause for concern due to expensive delays and payments made to the contractor.

Based on the recommendations of a two-year study of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), McDougle has introduced SB390, which will eliminate the ineffective Information Technology Investment Board and give the governor authority to appoint the state’s chief information officer, with the requirement that the General Assembly confirm the appointment. 

Among many changes to the technology agency within this legislation, the Secretary of Technology and a newly appointed CIO will have more oversight and review of major technology projects proposed within the agency. The bill will improve the decision-making process for funding new IT projects by providing policymakers with better information on the need for these IT projects and it also will prevent loss and waste of funds from failed projects by retaining and updating statutory review of IT projects. 

“I agree with the JLARC assessment that the oversight methodology under the Information Technology Investment Board and statutory authority within the agency is not working. The citizens whom I represent have told me that they want the state to be responsible with their tax dollars and this legislation will bring needed accountability and oversight of VITA. Under the Secretary of Technology and a new chief information oOfficer both appointed by the governor, sensible, pragmatic decisions can be made promptly and the custodians of Virginia’s largest outsourced contract will be held sufficiently accountable,” McDougle said. 

McDougle said he continues to seek feedback from his constituents during the legislative session. This week he hosted a live Tele-Town Hall phone call and talked with more than 1,500 citizens in his district. 

He encourages his constituents to continue expressing their views by e-mail at district04@senate.virginia.gov, by phone at 698-7504 or through his Web site at www.ryanmcdougle.com.