For Release: August 2, 2006
Contact: David Clementson
Email: dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Announces Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force
--Initiative Seeks Regulatory Relief, Public Involvement—
Richmond- Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell today announced the formation of his Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force. McDonnell announced the task force at a Richmond press conference.
Speaking about the launch of the Task Force, McDonnell noted, “Today is the start of a serious, long-term effort to reduce unnecessary and obsolete regulations in Virginia, and to limit the regulatory burden on Virginia businesses and citizens. This is an issue that will not be completed overnight. It is critically important for our Commonwealth that we overhaul and streamline regulations and allow our free-enterprise system to function effectively.”
McDonnell continued, “Regulations affect our lives every day. They are hard to see, but they are there when we visit a doctor, go to the grocery store and the car lot, and in the day to day hurdles businessmen and citizens face as they struggle to navigate the nearly 24,000 pages in the Virginia Administrative Code. And excessive and burdensome regulation can be seen in increased costs borne by consumers.” McDonnell further noted, “This task force is comprised of leaders from across the political spectrum, government leaders, representatives from business and representatives from citizen groups. This is a task force that will make a positive difference in improving our regulatory system, promoting transparency in government, and increasing freedom so that individuals can achieve their dreams.”
McDonnell was joined at the midday press conference by a number of members of the Task Force. Among them, Jack Rust, a Northern Virginia lawyer & former Delegate who will serve as Chairman of the Task Force; Jacquelyn Stone, Partner, McGuire Woods; Paul Howe, Executive Vice President, Virginia Forestry Association; Lisa Guthrie, State Director, Virginia League of Conservation Voters; Tucker Watkins, staff member for United States Senator George Allen; and Michel Zajur, Founder/CEO, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
While Virginia has a well deserved reputation for providing great economic freedom and opportunity, recent studies have indicated that Virginia’s regulatory ranking has slipped in recent years. Pacific Research Institute’s 2004 Economic Freedom Index report gave Virginia a regulatory ranking of 15th. Similarly, a 1999 study by Clemson University ranked Virginia 2nd in terms of economic freedom, but gave the Commonwealth a score of 18th on the regulatory component.
Attorney General McDonnell’s Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force will conduct a systematic review of state regulations to minimize the adverse impact on commerce and society while preserving the important public safety, health and welfare protections that many of the regulations provide.
Attorney General McDonnell also announced the creation of three working groups: the Agriculture, Healthcare and Small Business Working Groups, made up of industry and issue experts to make recommendations to the Task Force on reform of regulations in these three areas. The Task Force will begin its work by focusing on these three areas and will focus on other issues during the course of its business.
In addition, the Task Force is seeking citizen input on this important matter. Any citizen who has a problem with a specific regulation, or a recommendation for the Task Force, is encouraged to email: regreform@oag.state.va.us
Mission of Attorney General Bob McDonnell’s Government
and Regulatory Reform Task Force
Evaluating Regulations
TASK FORCE MEMBERS:
Jim Beamer, JWB Consulting, Richmond
Jeff Brooke, Attorney, Huff Poole & Mahoney, P.C., Norfolk
Dr. Alvin Bryant, US Army Retired, Surgeon, Hampton
Dan Clemente, CDC Real Estate Holdings, Vienna
Walter Curt, Businessman, Harrisonburg
Gordon Dixon, Virginia Director, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Richmond
Dr. Jerry Ellig, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center, Arlington
Frank Genovese, President, The Rothbury Corporation, Richmond
Kevin Gentry, Vice President, Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation
Nancy Howell Agee, Chief Operating Officer, Carilion Health System, Roanoke
The Honorable Steve Landes, Member, House of Delegates, Weyers Cave
Irene Leech, President, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Blacksburg
Jorge Lozano, CEO & President, Condortech Services, Inc., Annandale
Donna Pugh Johnson, President, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Richmond
John Olivieri, President, Associated Development Management Corp., Virginia Beach
Mike Quillen, President and CEO, Alpha Natural Resources, Abingdon
Scott Rigell, Owner/President, Freedom Automotive, Virginia Beach
Tim Robertson, President, Bay Shore Enterprises, Virginia Beach
Mark Rubin, Senior Advisor to the Governor, Richmond
The Honorable Jack Rust, Attorney, Annandale
Larry Sartoris, President, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Glen Allen
Cliff Schroeder, Sr., President, Chronos, Ltd., Richmond
Rick Sharp, Chairman, Carmax, Inc., Richmond
Brenda Skidmore, Senior Vice President, Suntrust, Richmond
Jacquelyn Stone, Esq., Partner, McGuireWoods, Richmond
Brett Vassey, President & CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association, Richmond
The Honorable Frank Wagner, Member, State Senate, Virginia Beach
Michel Zajur, Founder/CEO, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Richmond
AGRICULTURE WORKING GROUP
The Honorable William Barlow, Member, House of Delegates, Smithfield
Hobey Bauhan, President, Virginia Poultry Federation, Harrisonburg
John Boyd, President, National Black Farmers’ Association, Baskersville
Jonathan Cavin, Farmer, Ewing
Bill Dickinson, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Lynn Gayle, Farmer, Onancock
Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Richmond
The Honorable Charlie Hawkins, Member, Senate of Virginia, Chatham
Paul Howe, Executive Vice President, Virginia Forestry Association, Richmond
Bill McKinnon, Executive Secretary, Virginia Cattlemen's Association, Daleville
Martha Moore, Director of Government Relations, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Richmond
The Honorable Phil Puckett, Member, State Senate, Tazewell
The Honorable Chris Saxman, Member, House of Delegates, Staunton
Dennis Treacy, Vice President, Environmental and Corporate Affairs, Smithfield Foods, Smithfield
Tucker Watkins, Office of Senator George Allen, Randolph
SMALL BUSINESS WORKING GROUP
The Honorable Charles Colgan, Member, State Senate, Manassas
Leonard Edloe, Edloe’s Pharmacy, Richmond
Rhoda Elliot, President, Bill's Barbecue, Richmond
Barry Grizzard, Chairman, Virginia Petroleum, Convenience and Grocery Association, Emporia
Thomas Johnson, Thomas A. Johnson Furniture Co., Lynchburg
Jack Kreuter, President, Jack Kreuter Jewelers, Richmond
Howard Lee, Esq., Managing Director and Executive Secretary, Cosmos Alliance, Lorton
Lowell Morse, President, Morse and Associates, Inc., Virginia Beach
George Peyton, Vice President, Government Relations, Retail Merchants Association, Richmond
David Smith, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Richmond
Ann Sullivan, President, Madison Services Group, Inc., McLean
The Honorable Lee Ware, Member, House of Delegates, Powhatan
HEALTHCARE WORKING GROUP
Mary Lynne Bailey, Vice President, Legal & Government Affairs, VA Healthcare Association, Richmond
Doug Bevelacqua, Healthcare Consultant, Newport News
William Caldwell, CEO, Retreat Hospital, Richmond
Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO & President, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Newport News
Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, Director of Health Care Technology/Public Sector, Oracle
Teresa Haller, MSN, MBA, RN, President, Virginia Nurses Association, Richmond
Gail Jaspen, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Richmond
The Honorable Benjamin Lambert, Member, State Senate, Richmond
The Honorable Stephen Newman, Member, State Senate, Forest
The Honorable John O'Bannon, M.D., Member, House of Delegates, Richmond
Dr. Dianne Reynolds-Cane, M.D., Past President of Virginia Board of Medicine, Glen Allen
Dr. Lou Rossiter, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, William and Mary, Williamsburg
Dr. Norris Royston, Jr., M.D., President, Medical Society of Virginia, Warrenton
The Honorable Mark Sickles, Member, House of Delegates, Alexandria
Rebecca Snead, R.Ph., Executive Director, Virginia Pharmacists Association, Richmond
Dr. William Ward, D.C., Vice President, Virginia Chiropractic Association, Fredericksburg
The Honorable John Welch, Member, House of Delegates, Virginia Beach
Cal Whitehead, Whitehead Consulting, LLC, Richmond
