General Assembly "Cribb Sheet"

Good things to know about the General Assembly from the United Methodist Church

WHO: 100 Delegates and 40 Senators

WHAT: meeting yearly in winter legislative session

WHEN: Wednesday, January 12 to Saturday, February 26

WHERE: State Capitol in Richmond

WHY: To pass legislation (typically more than 1,000 bills and resolutions) and make changes in the second year of the two-year $61 billion budget. To become law a bill must be passed by the Senate and House and be signed by Gov. Mark R. Warner.

COST: Delegates get paid $17,640 a year; Senators, $18,000. All 140 lawmakers also get an allowance of $75 to $115 a day. The state has budgeted $53 million to run the legislative branch of government over the two-year period that ends June 30, 2006. This includes salaries of legislators, support personnel and several boards and commissions that report to the legislative branch.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR

PHONE: To learn who your legislators are, call your city or county registrar and give your address or visit the General Assembly's Web site (below) and click on Who's My Legislator.

Legislative Information also can tell you about legislators, as well as committees and bills:(804) 698-1500 (House) or (804) 698-7400 (Senate).

Call Constituent Viewpoint: (804) 698-1990 or (800) 889-0229.
Call this number between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm each day to communicate your opinion on legislation to your legislators.

Call Gov. Mark R. Warner's office: (804) 786-2211.

WRITE:
House of Delegates, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218.
Senate, P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218.
Governor's Office, Third Floor, State Capitol, Richmond, VA
23219.

E-MAIL AND INTERNET:
General Assembly: http://legis.state.va.us (do not use www.)
Gov. Mark R. Warner: www.governor.virginia.gov

BILL ROOM: To have copies of bills mailed to you call the bill room at (804) 786-6894.