The short 45-day 2013 General Assembly session was a roller coaster, but I am glad to have the privilege of representing our community and our values in Richmond. I again came to the Capitol hoping to bring some moderation, common sense, and compassion into a chamber that can sometimes be dominated by extreme partisan politics.

It has been a week since Virginia Senate Republicans pushed through a partisan redistricting plan that has made our Commonwealth’s legislature become a national spectacle once again. While this issue remains deeply troubling to me and many other Virginians, other important debates demand our focus and our effort during this short legislative session. While issues around redistricting and the Electoral College have dominated much of the discussion, we must turn our attention to improving our economy by finding a solution to our state’s transportation crisis, strengthening our small businesses, responsibly expanding Medicaid, and ensuring the success of our public schools.