RTD: Emmett Hanger would make excellent finance committee chair

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I wrote on Monday about State Senator Emmett Hanger moving into the chairman’s seat on the powerful finance committee after the retirement of Walter Stosch (see Emmett Hanger could be in line to chair state senate finance committee).

Today the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote an editorial suggesting the same (see GOP can move forward with finance pick):

Augusta’s Emmett Hanger stands second in seniority to Norment. A loyal Republican, he is not a fire-eater — and would make an excellent chair.

This year potentially divisive differences existed between the money committees in the two houses. Comity prevailed. A budget crisis was avoided. The adults overcame. Hanger is qualified by disposition and philosophy to guide with a steady hand and to provide stability. He deserves the job.

Winning the June 2015 Republican primary against two tea party opponents and garnering 60 percent of the vote was the first step for Senator Hanger toward chairmanship. It would be a good fit due to his experience serving as a member of the committee and chairing the Health and Human Resources subcommittee. We’ll be watching what comes out of the finance caucus later this month.

Emmett Hanger could be in line to chair State Senate Finance Committee

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Winning the June 2015 Republican primary against two tea party opponents and garnering 60 percent of the vote was the first step for Augusta County Senator Emmett Hanger toward chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee (see Election results set up Republican decisions on budget committee).

In line for chair along with Senator Tommy Norment and several other senators, there are compelling reasons why Hanger could eventually be chosen to head up the committee:

Bill Janis to run for retiring Walter Stosch’s state senate seat

Former Del. Bill Janis

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen) has announced that he will seek the 12th District Senate Seat that will be vacated by the retiring Walter Stosch, according to a tweet from Jim Nolan with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

BREAKING: Fmr. Del. Bill Janis. R-Glen Allen, declares for 12th District Va. Senate seat of retiring Sen. Walter Stosch. #vagov

— Jim Nolan (@RTDNolan) January 15, 2015

Janis, 52, represented the 56th House District from 2002-2012 that included Goochland, Louisa, and party of Henrico and overlapped parts of Stosch’s senate district.

He is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and the University of Virginia Law School. Janis was a member of the U.S. Navy from 1984-1995 as a Lieutenant Commander and served during the Persian Gulf War. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Bill Janis and his wife Rose have two children.

Update: Here is the announcement from Bill Janis:

For the past six years we have witnessed President Barack Obama attempt to fundamentally transform America. Through litigation, regulations, legislation and Executive Orders, he has systematically attacked and undermined the constitutional principles and institutions which have traditionally united us and made America great:

The principle that the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing Constitutional limitations;

The belief that all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society;

The commitment to fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints at all levels of government;

The belief that peace is best preserved through a strong national defense;

Our American free enterprise system, the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice the world has ever known;

And the common consensus that faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation.

Over the past year, we have seen Governor Terry McAuliffe attempt to fundamentally transform Virginia in the same way, and remake the Commonwealth in his own progressive image and likeness. He has made the priority of his first year in office an aggressive effort to expand Obamacare in Virginia through Medicaid. He has called for expansive new gun control laws that will limit the rights of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms. He has systematically pushed for higher taxes to fuel increased government spending without regard to the sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars which has traditionally been the hallmark of Virginia’s public finances.

In fact, during last year’s General Assembly session, the Governor nearly succeeded in forcingObamacare expansion in Virginia.  Only the hard work of the Republican majority in the House and the retirement of a single Democrat Senator, allowed the Republicans to regain the majority control of the Senate, defeat Obamacare expansion, and pass a balanced two-year budget.

As the General Assembly convenes today in Richmond, Governor McAuliffe stands ready to renew his push to fundamentally transform our state.  He will renew his push to expand Obamacare in Virginia through Medicaid.  He will put the power of his office behind new efforts to further limit our Second Amendment rights. He will promote the inexorable growth of government spending, which fuels the annual push for higher taxes and fees.

This session, the citizens of Virginia are safe from his efforts because the Senate Republicans still hold the majority necessary to say “no” to this fundamental transformation of our Commonwealth. 

This November however, every member of the Virginia Senate will stand for election by the people. With the retirement of Senator Walter Stosch, the voters of the 12th Senate District will have the solemn duty to elect a new Senator to represent them for the next four years.

The next Senator from the 12th District must be ready to stand with the Senate Republicans as they oppose the fundamental transformation of our beloved state. The next Senator from the 12th District must be ready to say “no” to Obamacare expansion in Virginia, “no” to further encroachments on our fundamental rights, “no” to the inexorable growth of government.

The next Senator must be ready, willing and able to fight on behalf of the people of Hanover and Henrico for “a wise and frugal government” which will preserve our liberty, defend our rights, and “will not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”

Because we need a Senator who will say “yes” to economic growth, better jobs, and higher take home pay for Virginians; and

Because we need a Senator who will say “yes” to less government spending and “yes” to less government regulation and red tape; and

Because we need a Senator who will put the people first and will stand firm against the special interests and reckless government expansion;  

For all of these reasons, I am announcing today that I am a candidate for the Republican nomination to be the next Senator from the 12th Senate District of Virginia.