Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Success
Senator Saslaw is known for his long record of fiscally disciplined leadership on the Senate Finance Committee. Since 2008, he has served as a key budget negotiator, and has worked across party lines to pass balanced budgets as constitutionally required. With a “pay as you go” philosophy, Dick has led the way to keep future generations from carrying the burden of present spending. 
Due to the fiscal prudence of Dick Saslaw and his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee, Virginia has maintained its AAA bond rating, even through the worst economic conditions of the last 80 years.
Dick Saslaw has spearheaded the charge in making Virginia a great place to do business. He has consistently worked to preserve and enhance Virginia’s strong business climate. In 2011, CNBC named Virginia the best place for business in the United States. Senator Saslaw chairs the Commerce and Labor Committee, and his stewardship has kept Virginia on its solid economic foundation. Dick Saslaw has supported key investments that have served as catalysts for job creation across the Commonwealth. It is no secret that by keeping costs low, businesses thrive.
Education
Virginia is known as the best place to raise a child due to the available opportunities for future success. Senator Saslaw believes a strong public education system is key to a productive work force and a strong economy for the 21st Century. Dick Saslaw supported increased funding for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs in local schools in order to keep Virginia on the leading edge of today’s work force. He has worked for smaller class sizes, state-of-the-art classroom technology, and more funding for school construction.
Appropriate funding for education is a core responsibility of state government that makes education affordable and accessible. Having served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Senator Saslaw has been a champion of our students and Virginia’s colleges and universities. He continues to work closely with parents and teachers to understand the challenges facing Virginia’s public schools. The Senator has fought to protect the General Fund, which provides money for Virginia’s schools, from being raided and money for education being spent elsewhere.
In 2006, the Association of School Boards named him legislator of the year for his commitment to improving education. The Senator understands that a quality education is the key to achieving economic success here in Virginia.
Public Safety
Dick Saslaw serves on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, which is responsible for legislation dealing with public safety. The Senator has been one of the strongest advocates for measures that will make our neighborhoods safer. Senator Saslaw was recently named “Legislator of the Year” by law enforcement for his strong public safety record. He has worked to protect our community by creating drug-free school zones and enacting “three-strikes and you’re out” legislation, which mandates that repeat violent offenders who enter the prison system three times will automatically be given life sentences. He supported the ban on synthetic marijuana and voted for legislation that will crack down on sex offenders who prey on Virginia’s youth.
Senator Saslaw believes we need common sense gun laws. He has worked to ensure that deadly weapons never fall into the wrong hands. Dick supports closing Virginia’s gun show “loophole” and fought efforts to allow guns in public areas such as bars and day care centers. He prevented deep cuts to local law enforcement because the Senator believes that localities must have the resources they need to effectively fight crime and keep cops on the beat.
Transportation
Dick Saslaw has led the fight for necessary transportation funding for our region. He chairs the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Transportation, and continues to work in a bi-partisan fashion to make sure that Northern Virginia receives its fair share of 
transportation funding. He has been a long time advocate for making critical investments in transportation infrastructure. He strongly believes that Virginia must expand the use of mass transit, increase efficiency, and keep up with the maintenance of existing projects. Northern Virginians know how congested our roadways are, and that’s why Senator Saslaw has continued to support vital projects like Rail to Dulles and HOT Lanes on I-495, I-395, and I-95. He has voted to speed up much needed transportation projects in Northern Virginia.
In the Senate, he is one of the leading advocates for new sources of sustainable transportation funding. In 2008 he introduced a transportation bill (SB 713) to raise the level of funding to meet Virginia’s transportation needs. After SB 713 passed through the Senate, the legislation was defeated by the Republican majority in the House of Delegates. Over the years, he has resisted efforts to pay for road maintenance by taking money away from public education. Senator Saslaw believes a strong transportation infrastructure is essential to a strong economy, public safety and ultimately the quality of life for Virginians.
