Mark Herring, Virginia State Senator

Several key local and state organizations have endorsed Senator Mark Herring’s (D-Loudoun & Fairfax) reelection to the Virginia State Senate.  Among those endorsing Senator Herring are:

- The Northern Virginia Technology Council
- NOVA BizPAC (political arm of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce)
- National Federation of Independent Business
- Northern Virginia Association of Realtors
- Dulles Area Association of Realtors
- Virginia Education Association
- Loudoun Education Association
- Fairfax Education Association
- Virginia Farm Bureau Ag PAC
- Virginia Professional Firefighters Association
- Fairfax County Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Association
- Virginia Police Benevolent Association

Said Senator Herring of the endorsements:

“I am proud to have earned the endorsement of so many important organizations both here in Northern Virginia, and across the Commonwealth. These groups recognize that I have a strong record of putting partisan politics aside and working together to find solutions and that I have successfully delivered results for the 33rd District and Northern Virginia.  I look forward to continuing this approach if I am privileged to be reelected on November 8th.”

State Senator Mark Herring will participate in a free webinar on Friday September 30, 2011, from 9:30 am – 10:45 am, hosted by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), to educate businesses on the new tax credit legislation aimed at encouraging private sector telework.

Virginia’s new telework tax credit, sponsored by Sen. Herring during the 2011 General Assembly session, provides for a tax credit of up to $1,200 per employee, up to $50,000 per organization, for eligible telework expenses incurred during taxable years 2012 and 2013.

“Telework takes cars off the road, improves employee productivity and allows workers to spend more time at home with their families and less time stuck in traffic,” Senator Herring said. “It’s a win-win.”

The webinar will provide additional information on the tax credit, the requirements to pre-apply and qualify for the credit, and how telework practically applies in the organizational setting.

To register for the webinar, and for more information on the new telework tax credit, visit this website. Pre-applications for the tax credit are due to the Department of Taxation by October 31, 2011

State Senator Mark Herring issued the following statement today in response to Virginia being named America’s “Top State for Business” by CNBC. The Commonwealth achieved the highest point total in the history of CNBC’s rankings:

“I am extremely proud that Virginia has once again, for the fourth time in six years, been recognized as America’s ‘Top State for Business’ according to CNBC.”

“Virginia is not Washington, D.C. In Virginia, we balance our budget and control spending and, this year, we made critical investments in education, our infrastructure and economic development in order to spur job creation in the private sector. We have succeeded in keeping taxes low and our unemployment rate now stands at 6%, three points below the national average. While there is much more work ahead, all Virginians can take pride in this national honor.”

“Virginians expect their representatives to go to Richmond and make the tough decisions necessary to put Virginia on the path towards economic recovery during these turbulent times. They expect us to leave partisanship and ideology at the door and do what is right for Virginia. I believe that this recognition demonstrates that we are living up to those expectations.”

Click here to download an electronic copy of “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. Please note that this is a very large file and might take a minute to download.

The Route 7 Task Force, established by State Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun & Fairfax) last September, concluded its work with the release of its action plan entitled, “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. The plan offers a set of concrete steps that can and should be taken to alleviate congestion along the Route 7 corridor, in both the short and long term.

Senator Herring formed the Task Force, comprised of fifteen business and community leaders, with the mission of exploring and prioritizing solutions aimed at alleviating congestion along the Route 7 corridor between the Town of Leesburg and the Fairfax/Loudoun border. From September 2010 through March 2011, the Task Force conducted eight meetings and heard testimony from county, state, and town officials, transportation interest groups, traffic engineers, and members of the public.

“Creating community consensus and bringing together those who have worked separately toward the same goals for years was one of the objectives I had for the Route 7 Task Force at the outset,” Herring stated. “I am proud to say that we have accomplished that goal.”

The work of the Route 7 Task Force has already paid dividends for Loudoun County. With the Task Force’s strong support, Senator Herring was able to secure state funding for the Route 7/Belmont Ridge Road interchange and the Sycolin Road overpass, two projects that were identified early on by the Task Force as top priorities for the county.

Copies of the Task Force’s plan have been sent to Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton, Delegates Joe May, Tom Rust, and Tag Greason, Chairman Scott York and the members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and Mayor Kirsten Umstattd and the members of the Leesburg Town Council.

Click here to download an electronic copy of “Seven For Seven: Getting Loudoun Moving”. Please note that this is a very large file and might take a minute to download.

Senator Mark Herring will participate in the first meeting of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board today in Richmond.  Herring was named to the board by Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Decker.  The board was established by Governor Bob McDonnell pursuant to Executive Order 25.

The Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board will make recommendations for more effective domestic violence services in Virginia through work with state and local agencies, as well as stakeholders.

“Domestic violence prevention is a critical issue affecting Virginia families,” Herring said.  “I take very seriously the charge of working to reduce the number of cases of domestic violence and to better manage our response when incidents do occur.  I am committed to the success of this Board and to a safer future for Virginia families.”

To read Gov. McDonnell’s Executive Order 25 click here.

Senator Mark Herring announced today that he would seek a second full term as the representative of the 33rd District. On Friday, he filed his first campaign finance report of 2011 – posting more cash raised than any other Virginia Senate candidate in the state, regardless of party.   Two impressive numbers stand out: over $100,000 raised for the quarter and a closing balance over $150,000 cash.  The final figures for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2011 break out as follows:

Total Raised — $102,712.00
Total Expenditures — $16,976.20
Final Cash on Hand — $151,513.63

Senator Herring’s showing is particularly remarkable due to Virginia’s restrictions on legislators’ fundraising activities during the legislative session.  For good reasons, incumbent legislators are prohibited from accepting or soliciting contributions while they are in session and bills are before the General Assembly.  This year’s General Assembly session ran from January 12 to February 28, leaving only 42 days available for fundraising.  Herring accomplished this feat with the support of 166 individual contributors.

“I am proud to be seeking my third opportunity to serve the citizens of Loudoun and Fairfax counties,” Herring announced. “Since I was first elected to represent the 33rd District in January 2006, I have worked diligently to ensure that both our district and the whole of Northern Virginia get the vigorous representation and precious resources we so desperately need.  Each year I return to Richmond I am able to accomplish more.”

“This year I was able to secure transportation funds for local projects, lower taxes, protect our children from dangerous designer drugs disguised as safe products, and continue planning for our future through sound fiscal management and investments in education.  I am humbled that as a result of this work I have received such an outpouring of support for my re-election campaign.”

“I sincerely look forward communicating about my successes over the past 5 years, having an open discussion about our needs going forward, and earning another term in Richmond.”

As of April 18th, Herring’s opponent Patricia Phillips had not yet filed her April 15th campaign finance report.

At a ceremony this morning in Richmond, Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law two bills sponsored by Senator Mark Herring that were part of the Governor’s “Opportunity at Work” and designed to attract new businesses to Virginia and help existing businesses grow and expand.

The first bill, SB 1326, creates a research and development tax credit for early-stage firms in targeted industries, especially those companies accessing research and development services through Virginia colleges and universities to strengthen our business competitiveness.

In remarks made at the press conference, Herring stated, “Innovation is a huge driver of economic growth.  This is an example of a smart tax policy to promote additional investment in advanced technology industries, which have high growth potential and pay high wages.”

The second bill, SB 1485, bolsters the Commonwealth Research and Commercialization Fund to create a comprehensive structure to grow Virginia’s innovation economy. This program will serve as a catalyst for leveraging venture capital, Virginia higher education research assets and private sector funding to encourage evolving technologies that create the industries, businesses and jobs of the future.

“States all over the country, and countries all over the world, have become very aggressive in trying to attract advanced technology industries to their areas,” Herring stated.  “It is vitally important for Virginia and our economy to remain competitive with those states and countries.”

Loudoun Legislator says public input is important to process

State Senator Mark Herring wants voters to give their input on this year’s legislative redistricting plans.

This week, the Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate and Republican-controlled House of Delegates submitted redistricting plans to the General Assembly’s Division of Legislative Services. The plans, which will determine the state’s legislative district boundaries for the next decade, are expected to be considered by the legislature during the week of April 4.

Details of the redistricting plans can be viewed online at the Division of Legislative Services website. The public will also be able to view maps during eight redistricting hearings to be held across the state.

A hearing will be held for the Loudoun area on March 31, 2011 at the Loudoun County Government Center (Leesburg) in the Loudoun County Board Room. This meeting will begin at 7:30pm.

A hearing will be held for the Fairfax area on April 2, 2011 at the Fairfax County Government Center (Fairfax) in the Board of Supervisors Auditorium. This meeting will begin at 10:30am.

“Public input is an essential part of the redistricting process. Redistricting hearings were held around the Commonwealth last year and will be continued over the next few days. I encourage all Loudoun and Fairfax voters to participate in this week’s hearings,” said Herring.

Governor Bob McDonnell today signed into law legislation sponsored by Senator Mark Herring establishing a research and development tax credit in Virginia. The measure passed the General Assembly with wide bipartisan support in February.

“I thank the Governor for his support of this important economic development and job creation initiative. This legislation will build on the great strides we have made in recent years to make Virginia more competitive with our neighbors and more attractive to technology industry,” Herring said.

“Our Commonwealth, and Northern Virginia in particular, is perfectly suited for the kinds of high paying, high growth potential jobs that science and technology industry brings with it. States all across the country have found that innovation is a huge driver of economic growth,” Herring continued. “Until now, Virginia had been only one of twelve states that did not have this tax credit. This is an important bill that promotes job creation at a critical time.”

This legislation was the top priority of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Virginia Biotechnology Association, with whom Senator Herring has worked closely in the past, including last year on the passage of the Virginia Innovation Investment Act.

For his efforts to promote science and technology based economic development, Senator Herring was named “Legislator of the Year” in 2010 by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

Dear Friend,
Another fast and furious General Assembly session is in the books, and I have returned home to Leesburg. A 45-day session is a short amount of time to attend to all of the people’s business. I am pleased to say that this was a successful session. While in Richmond, I worked with members of both parties, in both Houses, to solve problems and deliver results for you. Here are some highlights:

• I was a chief co-patron of the Governor’s transportation bill that, while not the long-term solution we need, will provide $4 billion to construct over 900 infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth including two right here at home: the Route 7/Belmont Ridge Road interchange and the Sycolin Road overpass.
• I passed a Research and Development Tax Credit that will make Virginia more attractive to the technology industry, more competitive with our neighbors, and create high-paying, high-growth potential jobs.
• I also passed a Telework Tax Credit that will encourage companies to set up telework programs and allow employees to spend less time in traffic and more time with their families.
• Working together with several members of both parties in the House and Senate, we crafted and passed legislation to criminalize synthetic marijuana and protect our children from these dangerous designer drugs.
• And I passed legislation that will protect Virginia’s Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAG) to ensure that Virginia tax dollars are awarded to Virginia students attending Virginia institutions.

Just as quickly as session has ended for the year, my campaign for re-election now begins and I am excited and looking forward to the road ahead. This November, you will once again have the opportunity to send me back to Richmond to continue to be a strong, independent, and effective voice for you.

I’m looking forward to traveling the district and speaking with voters about my strong record of putting aside partisan politics, solving problems, and delivering results. I am also excited to share with you my vision for Virginia and where I think we need to go in the future.  So stay tuned for email updates on events I’ll be attending in the months ahead and on ways you can get involved in the campaign!

Thank you for your continued support. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to represent you.

Sincerely,

Mark Herring

PS. I will be hosting a reception in the Bacon Room at Lansdowne Resort on Saturday, March 26 from 4 to 6pm. Please click here to register online. You may also email Jon at jon@markherring.org or call  703-729-3300 if you would like to attend. I hope to see you there!