Gov. Warner addresses Virginia Capital Semester students

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Nearly a month after their General Assembly internships ended and a week before the one-day veto session, students enrolled in the 2003 VCU Capital Semester Seminar gathered at the Siegel Center for an exclusive visit with Gov. Mark R. Warner.

Warner shared his view of how the 45-day session transpired, outlined what battles lay ahead and took questions from a group of more than 30 political science students from VCU, the University of Virginia, James Madison University and other institutions. The students interned with the governor, legislators and lobbying groups as part of their course requirements.

The governor lamented that many of his legislative proposals had to be shelved because of the state's huge budget shortfall and an economic recovery that didn't materialize. He said that led to funding cuts in almost every area except K-12 education.

He predicted lawmakers would attempt to override his decision to veto the repeal of the estate tax and the creation of a license plate promoting adoption over abortion. He also expected lawmakers would try to remove his amendments to legislation banning late term abortions and requiring minors get their parents' consent before seeking an abortion.

The seminar, launched in January 2003, is offered by VCU's Department of Political Science and Public Administration and provides students from colleges and universities throughout the nation with real-life experience in state government during the legislative session in Richmond.

Warner praised the students for their interest in the political process and encouraged them to stay involved. "We're making decisions about your lives," he said. "Those decisions are too important to be left to career politicians. We need leaders like you."