Week Two of the General Assembly Session began with meetings in our assigned committees. This year I will be serving on the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, Finance Committee and Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee. I look forward to working with other members on these important committees to pass practical solutions to everyday issues.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with so many of you who have stopped by my Capitol office over the past two weeks. If you happen to be in the Richmond area during this year’s General Assembly Session please stop in and say hello.

If you would like to review the bills I have introduced this session, please visit https://lis.virginia.gov/.

Last week when Speaker of the House Kirk Cox was sworn in, he delivered an inspiring speech on bipartisanship. Majority Leader Todd Gilbert followed that up this past Monday with a similar speech calling on both sides to work together to get things done.

However, our new Governor, Ralph Northam, struck a very partisan tone in both his inaugural address as well as his first address to the Joint Assembly on Monday night.

We’re going to have to stay focused on jobs and education and not getting wrapped up in the controversial partisan issues the Democrats seem insistent on passing. There’s a lot of work to be done over the next 55 days. My team and I are just getting started, and hopefully these first speeches by the governor were the exception, not the new normal.

Del. Matt Fariss can be reached at DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov or (804) 698-1059.