McDougle Presents Diverse Legislative Package
– Focus on public safety and saving the money of Virginians–
Richmond, Virginia: Delegate Ryan T. McDougle (R-Mechanicsville) has introduced a legislative package promoting public safety and reducing the amount of certain taxes the people of Virginia will pay. The bills in McDougle’s package will be considered before this year’s General Assembly session.
“I am pleased to be able to work with the Attorney General’s office on a computer crimes identity theft bill that will work to keep our citizens’ financial and identifying information safe from internet predators,” said McDougle. “Another set of bills that we are working to enact will provide Virginians relief from sales and certain other taxes. One of my key priorities has and continues to be helping the people of Virginia keep more of their hard earned money.”
Among McDougle’s legislative agenda is House Bill 2304, which is part Attorney General Jerry Kilgore’s legislative package. The bill intends to update the Code of Virginia and to address the growing phenomenon of “phishing” for the personal identifying information via the computer. Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses email (capable of by-passing some anti-spam filters) to entice unsuspecting recipients into disclosing valuable data, such as bank account and credit card account numbers, passwords and even Social Security numbers. McDougle’s bill makes it a Class 6 felony to use a computer or computer network to defraud another person of identifying information by means of a knowing misrepresentation as to the identity or authority of the person requesting the information. “Over 57 million internet users in the United States have received these “phishing” emails. My hope is that this bill will discourage the further practice of phishing and hold those who participate in this form of identity theft accountable for their actions,” said McDougle.
McDougle also submitted 4 bills that eliminate or reduce taxes. House Bill 1874 eliminates the Virginia death tax (estate tax). The death tax hurts family farms and family-owned businesses. Elimination of the death tax will keep taxpaying families and job producing businesses in Virginia, thereby fostering economic growth. Elimination of the death tax fully conforms Virginia to current federal law, thereby bringing Virginia into line with the at least 30 states that are phasing out the unfair death tax.
Another bill sponsored by Delegate McDoulge, House Bill 1875, exempts food products from the sales tax. The food tax is regressive and hits working families the hardest. Buying food is a necessity for everyone. This bill allows families to direct the money they would be spending on the food tax towards other needs and priorities.
Lastly, House Bill 1878 provides for a sales and use tax exemption for certain school related items purchased during a specific week at end of August each year. “Many families spend hundreds of dollars each year on school supplies. As a result of the recent sales tax increase, working families need a tax break as their children prepare for the start of each and every school year. Items such as pens, book bags and notebooks up to computer systems would be exempt from the sales tax during that specific one week period,” said McDougle.
“We have a positive legislative package this year,” McDougle noted. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure these bills are passed. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have. I also hope that many of you will stop by our office at the Capitol during the General Assembly session.”
During this year’s session, Delegate McDougle may be reached by phone at (804) 698-1097, by fax at (804) 786-6310, or by e-mail at del_mcdougle@house.state.va.us. His office is Room 517 of the General Assembly Building.
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