Taxes
and Spending | Public Safety | Public
Education | Business/Jobs | The
Environment | Health Care | Transportation
| Traditional Family Values
Delegate
Frank D. Hargrove, Sr. has been a member of the House of Delegates since
1982, and therefore has cast literally hundreds of thousands of votes.
Frank's political philosophy closely adheres to Jefferson's maxim that
"the government that governs best, governs least", as well
as Washington's warning "that government, like fire is a useful
servant, but a fearful master." Frank's voting record is emblematic
of his fellow conservative Republicans, however the sheer volume of
his voting record is impossible to examine in this space. Any specific
vote may be obtained by researching the Legislative Information System,
or by contacting Frank's legislative office. The following information
is a brief synopsis of Frank's voting record on major issues. -top-
Taxes
and Spending
Delegate Frank Hargrove believes that every penny that state government
spends is derived from the hard work of Virginia citizens. For this
reason, Frank insists that increasing taxes must be an absolute last
resort. In 2004, Frank voted against the record $1.4 billion tax increase,
as well as attempts to increase the tax burden during the 2005 and 2006
General Assembly. Record budget surpluses have served to vindicate the
opponents of new and higher taxes.
During
the 2006 Special Session, Frank co-patroned HB 5019, which finally eliminated
the Estate, or "Death" tax, in Virginia. Frank was also a co-patron
on an unsuccessful attempt, (HB 1385), to fully phase out the personal
property tax on vehicles. In 2005 Frank voted in favor, (HB 1638), of
eliminating the state's portion of the sales tax on groceries, which
will reduce the sales tax on food to 1.5% on July 1, 2007.
-top-
Public
Safety
Delegate Frank Hargrove believes that maintaining public safety is the
first task of government. Frank was a vigorous supporter of Governor
George Allen's criminal justice reforms, which included truth in sentencing,
abolition of parole, and mandatory life sentences for violent repeat
offenders.
Frank
supported "Megan's Law", which requires community notification of sex
offenders and child predators. In 2006, Frank voted in favor of 25-year
mandatory minimum sentences for sex crimes against children, and for
also increasing the penalties for sex offenders who fail to notify authorities
of any change in their address.
Frank
has also been a consistent supporter of increasing penalties for drunk
drivers, and has been instrumental in defeating attempts to repeal VA's
motorcycle helmet law.
Finally,
Frank supported VA's "conceal carry" law, and has been a strong advocate
for the gun owner rights. -top-
Public
Education
Delegate Hargrove believes that education is one of Virginia's highest
priorities. In the past, many high school graduates were unable to read
their own high school diploma. In an effort to end mediocrity, Frank
supported Governor George Allen's "Standards of Learning"
reforms, which now make accountability a priority. The SOLs offered
a curriculum and testing program that made student achievement real
and measurable. School accreditation must now take into account student
progress, and student test scores have been steadily improving across
the Commonwealth. Frank has also supported legislation that helps teachers
maintain order in the classroom, and helps administrators remove disruptive
students. Frank also supported legislation that now sends 100% of Virginia's
Lottery profits back to local governments for K-12 public education.
Delegate Hargrove has also voted in favor of allowing for the establishment
of "Charter Schools", and for tuition tax credits for families
whose children attend private schools. Frank has also supported tax
credits for organizations that provide private school scholarships.
In
2006, Frank voted in favor of a budget that provides $6.61 billion in
2007, and $6.78 billion in 2008, in direct aid to public education.
These amounts increase funding for K-12 public education by $2 billion,
(19%) over the previous two-year state budget!
The
budget also includes $207 million for a 4% teacher pay raise effective
December 1, 2006. The budget also included an increase of $456 million,
(15%), for higher education base operating needs, financial aid, and
research. Frank also supported an increase in the "TAG" grant to $2,750
in 2007, and $3,100 in 2008. TAG grants are available to Virginia residents
attending VA private colleges.
In
2006, Frank introduced legislation, (HB 262), prohibiting "unlawful"
aliens from enrolling in VA's state supported colleges and universities.
HB 262 passed the House by a vote of 67-33, but was defeated in the
Senate Education & Health Committee. Delegate Hargrove will re-introduce
this legislation in 2007. -top-
Business/Jobs
"Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot.
Others as a cow to be milked. But few are those who see it as it is,
the sturdy horse pulling the wagon." Delegate Frank Hargrove subscribes
to Sir Winston Churchill's view of the importance of private enterprise.
Frank knows that a vibrant, growing economy can only be sustained where
entrepreneurs are allowed to thrive. As a successful business owner
himself, Frank understands the pressures of staying competitive, and
making the monthly payroll. In the General Assembly, Frank has consistently
voted to maintain Virginia's Right-to-Work law, and has worked to keep
Virginia's Workmen's Compensation Insurance rates, and Unemployment
Insurance rates among the lowest in the nation. Frank has also used
his position on the House Commerce and Labor Committee to ensure that
Virginia continues to use commonsense regulatory practices, and therefore
maintain the competitive environment required to preserve existing jobs,
and assist in attracting new business investment. During the 2005 General
Assembly, Frank joined other legislators in eliminating the accelerated
sales tax collections on about 9,700 retailers.
Frank
has consistently gained the endorsement of the National Federation of
Independent Business, and in 2006, Frank was awarded the Industrial
Strength Leadership Award by the Virginia Manufacturer's Association.
-top-
The
Environment
During the 2005 General Assembly, Delegate Hargrove voted in favor of
a budget amendment, which dedicates $50 million to the Water Quality
Improvement Fund. This fund provides localities with funds for upgrading
obsolete water treatment plants, and for helping farmers implement agricultural
"best management practices." These programs are vital for
improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, and its tributaries,
and the $50 million appropriation represents a significant investment
towards improving the Chesapeake Bay. Frank has also supported "Open-space"
legislation, including a dedicated funding source for the acquisition
of conservation easements. In 2006, Frank supported legislation creating
a land preservation tax credit. -top-
Health
Care
Delegate Hargrove has long been considered leading advocate for the
mentally ill/mentally handicapped. Frank has served on the Board of
Hanover Mental Health Association, and was instrumental in the founding
of Ashland's Sunrise House. In the General Assembly, Frank sponsored
a resolution that required a study of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
NPH is a disease that affects thousands and includes symptoms resembling
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The good news is that NPH is treatable
if diagnosed correctly. Because of this NPH study performed by MCV physicians,
many citizens will be able to receive the appropriate medical care,
and will be able to recover from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. In 2006,
and again in 2007, Frank has introduced budget amendments that increased
funding for community based mental health/retardation services. -top-
Transportation
In the 2005 General Assembly session, Delegate Hargrove supported the
largest transportation investment in Virginia history - $850 million!
This legislation also establishes the Commonwealth Transportation Investment
Fund, which dedicates insurance premium tax revenues, over $100 million
a year, on an ongoing basis for the support of transportation projects.
Dedicating these premiums equals an increase in the gas tax of about
6 cents. Frank also supported an attempt to pass a constitutional amendment
to prevent "raids" on the Transportation Trust Fund.
In
2006, Delegate Hargrove repeatedly opposed attempts to increase various
taxes for transportation. However, Frank did support the House of Delegates
effort to increase funding for transportation by diverting funds from
the auto insurance premium tax to back $583 million in bonded debt,
using $553 million from the budget surplus to put towards $853 million
in one-time projects, and to impose additional fines on abusive drivers
yielding an additional $590 million over 4 years. According to the Thomas
Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, that over a four-year period,
this House proposal would have provided over $2 billion in new state
funds for transportation, increased employment in the private sector
by over 8,000 jobs, without raising taxes! Unfortunately, the House
proposal was rejected.
However,
the 2007-08 state budget does include an additional $568 million for
transportation. -top-
Traditional
Family Values
Delegate Frank Hargrove has always supported policies, which empower
individuals, and their families. Frank supported parental notification,
and consent, for minors seeking an abortion, as well as legislation
prohibiting partial-birth abortion.
During the 2005, and again in 2006, Frank voted in favor of the constitutional
amendment defining marriage in VA as an institution between one man
and one woman. On Election Day 2006, the people of VA overwhelmingly
approved this constitutional amendment in a referendum.
Additionally,
Frank has been a co-patron of a constitutional amendment designed to
clarify the "free exercise of religion", and also supported legislation
reinstituting the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence, in
our public schools. -top-
