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On Tuesday July 16th, Delegate Nichols sponsored his first live tele-conference town hall. Although the town hall was open to any topic, transportation became the main focus.
Delegate Paul Nichols of Prince William County became the first Democrat in the General Assembly to participate in a telephone town hall in the 51st district. More than 5,300 households participated in the live town hall tele-conference.
Delegate Nichols took live questions from constituents during the hour and a half tele-conference. Caller after caller wanted to discuss the transportation crisis facing Northern Virginia and urged the legislature to come to agreement to solve Northern Virginia's transportation crisis. Other questions and comments included how the legislature could bring Metro to Prince William County. There was near unanimous opposition to the Hot Lanes on I-95 and 395. Delegate Nichols discussed the failure of the recent transportation special session, the compromises offered by House and Senate Democrats, and long and short term solutions for the transportation crisis.
Delegate Nichols discussed the partisan divide and the attitude by many legislators that the state should continue to conduct business as usual which has so far delayed passing a transportation plan. He was even able to point to his own experience as a legislator when he referred to a bill he introduced which would allocate more funds to Northern Virginia transportation funds by altering the funding distribution formulas to better reflect population levels as means of distributing funding instead of providing rural areas with a funding advantage.
Many callers inquired about rail and metro expansions as a means of allieviating the problem. Nichols responded that he felt rail on par with the European rail systems is the long term solution to our problems, but the Commonwealth has to address short term solutions as well as start the long term solutions which would include extending the metroline to Woodbridge. He praised "Slugging" as an example of people solving their problems and discussed his opposition to HOT lanes which would wreck the "Slug" system.
Delegate Nichols plans to conduct another telephone town hall in the fall and to encourage his fellow legislators to reach out to their own constituents with their own telephone town hall.
Special Session Begins
The Special Session called by Gov. Tim Kaine began Monday June 23, 2008. This special session will deal with the transportation crisis that effects everyone in the 51st District.
End of Regular Session News
Although no agrement has been reached with the budget, and the session has been extended, Paul is proud to have supported bills that will have a positive impact on the lives of his constituents.
Del. Paul Nichols Has A Facebook Page
The Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash figure prominently in his list of musical likes.
The "Crossover" Has Begun
Bills which passed the House move to the Senate for further consideration.
First Delegate Nichols Town Hall Meeting next Saturday, 1PM at the Woodbridge Middle School Auditorium!
Paul is jointly sponsoring this event with Sen. George Barker (D-PWC, Fairfax.)
This Week's Update From Paul
Paul writes: "This is my second update for my constituents. It's a summary of the action the House and myself took this week. I really appreciate all of the input I have received so far and I expect and hope to get more in the following weeks."
1/23/08 Examiner Reports On Del. Nichols' Opposition To HOT Lanes
In its 1/25/08 edition two days later the Examiner quoted Del. Nichols further: "Del. Paul Nichols, D-Woodbridge, who is trying in Richmond to block the HOT lanes, said he believes opposition to the lanes is widespread based on his twice-weekly campaign visits to park-and-ride lots in the fall. 'This was hundreds of people and everybody made it a point to make it known they are against them,' Nichols said."
Several Nichols Bills Referred To Committee This Week
HB-135 prohibits HOT-lanes along I-95 in Northern Virginia. HB -158 is an anti-littering measure. Additional Nichols bills are in the area of the environment, public works, illegal immigration and animal cruelty.
Del. Nichols appointed to Transportation and Counties Committees
Del. Nichols' seat on the Transportation Committee makes him a key player in state and local transportation decisions.
Allocate Highway Construction Funding Based Upon Counties' Populations
A new bill introduced by Del. Nichols would correct a flaw in the current transportation funding formula which discriminates against heavily-populated counties such as Prince William.
Nichols Legislation Shields Immigration Enforcement Officials From Lawsuits
Lawyers can be pesky creatures. Even Paul, a lawyer himself, knows it. So his bill provides immunity to state officials and employees for authorized enforcement of immigration laws.
Nichols' Bill Bars Illegal Workers From Public Projects
Contractors and their subs on state and local construction projects are sometimes able to get away with hiring illegal aliens. House Bill 90 prefiled by Del. Paul Nichols on 12/13/07 will put a stop to that.
Special Session Begins
November 2008 General Election
Legislation as Chief Patron
