Views

Utility Regulation

Albert sponsored legislation giving electric utilities the ability to recover the costs of designing, implementing, and operating energy efficiency programs, if they are found to be in the public interest. The program takes into account the goals of economic development, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. Albert realizes it is absolutely essential that we look for new, innovative ways to handle the numerous issues facing the Northern Neck and Virginia today.

Bi-Partisan Budget Reform

Albert was proud to work with Delegate Chris Saxman (R-Staunton) to sponsor legislation that would have opened up and streamlined Virginia’s budgeting process. Working across partisan lines, the delegates introduced HB 2092, which called for the enactment of an annual budget, creating greater budget discipline and accountability.

Keeping Our Waters Clean

Albert believes that it is our responsibility and duty to take care of the natural resources God has given us. Proper and responsible stewardship of our natural resources so we can benefit from them today and our great-grandchildren can benefit from them tomorrow is the driving force behind measures such as his 2009 legislation that establishes “no discharge zones” in designated tidal waters of Virginia.

Standing Up for Fiscal Discipline

This year when a budget was proposed, Albert stood up against his own party in the best interest of the Northern Neck and all Virginians. Albert was the only member of the Democratic Party to vote against the budget due to his assessment that the revenue projections were too optimistic and, thus, unreliable. In the end, Albert was correct in his assessment. He knew from his experience as a small businessman that the budget was built on a foundation of poor revenue forecasting.

Charitable Gaming

In mid-July, Albert announced his plans to introduce legislation which will allow veterans and charitable organizations to hold charity bingo events at their own facilities with greatly reduced state oversight. Pollard recognizes the need to regulate gambling in Virginia, but believes common sense should be used when applying such overburdensome regulations to charity organizations that hold bingo events to raise money to benefit their charitable mission.