Click here to read Senator Martin's update on the 2012 General Assembly!

Dear Friend,

The 2012 General Assembly is entering its second full week, and deadline for  legislation submission has passed. Numerous bills have been introduced and my committees will see a vast number of them. I have been appointed to serve on two new committees - Commerce and Labor and Rules - along with the previous four: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Privileges and Elections. With the new committees, and taking chairmanship of the work-laden Education and Health committee, more legislation will come before me this session than ever before.

With the workload mounting, I wanted to take a moment to call your attention to two bills that my constituents have asked me to carry.

Central to a representative democracy is assuring the integrity of elections. To that end, I am proud to be carrying Senate Bill 1, which will ensure that every person who votes on election day is exactly who they say they are. This bill will require that ID be shown. If it is not, you can cast a “provisional ballot” that will not be counted unless and until you provide such identification to the registrar’s office. You would have until the electoral board’s meeting to certify the vote, to submit your ID. This will ensure that everyone voting is in fact registered to vote and is voting only in the correct precinct.

You are most likely aware that numerous private sector employers require job applicants (and in many cases, current employees as well) to submit to drug testing for illegal substances. For years, my office has been asked why it is not the same for those receiving taxpayer-funded VIEW benefits (welfare). Of course we would all agree that these benefits should support the children intended to benefit from this taxpayer support rather than a parent’s drug habit. With this and many other concerns in mind I have introduced Senate Bill 6, to require that VIEW applicants be pre-screened and (if deemed at high risk) required to take a drug test before they are eligible to receive welfare benefits. Any applicant that fails such testing would be ineligible for benefits for one year, unless they enroll in and successfully progress through a drug treatment program. This legislation is aimed at not only ensuring that families already in need are not further harmed by the effects of drugs, but also works to ensure state funds are used for their intended purpose of supporting Virginia families rather than spent on illegal substances.

Many visitors have stopped by our office. We have appreciated the input and encourage it. Over the past week and a half, visiting groups have included the Chesterfield NAACP, Virginia Citizens Defense League, ARC of Virginia, AARP, Virginia Physical Therapy Association, Better Housing Coalition, ABATE of Virginia, Virginia21, Virginia Hemophilia Association, Family Foundation, Virginia CURE, Virginia Interfaith Council, Tea Party Patriots, NASA, American Legion Post 284, RSOL of Virginia, Healthy Families Virginia, Virginia Association of Career and Technical Educators and the Chesterfield Technical Center, Virginia Dental Association, Virginia Dental Hygienists, VBA and numerous financial and banking representatives, and several other groups. Our office has also received upward of several hundred emails each day, both from my own district and from around the Commonwealth. Please call Ashley at (804) 698-7511 if you would like to try and set an appointment or send her an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You can track legislation at the Virginia General Assembly website (http://legis.state.va.us). My office is available to you, should you have questions or comments. I can best represent you by hearing from you, and look forward to our continued service together.

Sincerely,

Steve Martin