It’s the fast-paced hustle and bustle that best characterizes downtown Richmond while the Virginia General Assembly is in session. This year, lawmakers are scrambling to consider a number of pieces of legislation that would directly impact residents of the Middle Peninsula and are faced with the largest budget seen in the history of the commonwealth.

Other than finding ways to fund the budget, lawmakers have been challenged with a variety of issues this year, ranging from Sunday hunting to job creation and economic growth. Gazette-Journal reporters caught up with local lawmakers Monday morning in Richmond to discuss some of the more pressing issues facing the General Assembly.

Keith Hodges

Still getting his feet wet, 98th District House of Delegates representative Keith Hodges (R-Middlesex) said his first month in Richmond has been a positive and challenging experience.

Replacing long-time Del. Harvey Morgan, who retired last year, Hodges said the early mornings and la...