Hanger to chair Senate Agriculture Committee

 Sen. Emmett Hanger will deal with a couple of hot button issues in whether to allow Sunday hunting and lifting the moratorium on uranium mining as the new chairman of the Virginia Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources.

“I like the opportunity to be in control of the agenda a bit,’’ Hanger, R-Mount Solon, said on Thursday. He previously chaired the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.

Whether to lift the moratorium on uranium mining is a dilemma. Environmentalists are concerned about potential damage and waste removal, while others in Virginia seek to reap the economic and job benefits of mining uranium deposits in Pittsylvania County.

Hanger said his chairmanship would also keep him involved in such issues as clean water, the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and other issues involving the environment and agriculture.

As for Sunday hunting, the senator said there is a concern about the declining number of Virginians purchasing licenses and supporting game management programs.

Hanger said there are people lining up on both sides of the issue.

Meanwhile, an issue that Hanger plans to file legislation about surfaced on Thursday.

The Virginia Retail Merchants Association said fixing the Amazon sales tax loophole is the top priority for the Virginia retail business community.

Ken Vaughan, chairman the VRMA board, said small Virginia companies are struggling to compete against online retailers such as Amazon.

Amazon has avoided collected and remitting sales taxes in a number of states, including Virginia.

The online retailer has an agreement to submit sales tax in Indiana, and Amazon was assessed a bill of $269 million by Texas in 2010.

Hanger has met with the VRMA, and plans to submit legislation about Amazon and others regarding sales tax.

“This is a loophole allowing a huge retailer to take business away from Virginia retailers,’’ Hanger said.

Meanwhile, other Shenandoah Valley legislators received committee assignments.

Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, has been appointed to the House Committee on Finance, he announced.

Bell has also been re-appointed to Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and the Education Committee.

The Finance Committee handles legislation that relates to Virginia revenue and taxation.

“I’m honored to have been appointed to the Finance Committee,’’ Bell said. “I look forward to the challenges that will come with this new appointment, and am thankful that the speaker saw fit to give me this opportunity. I am also looking forward to continuing my work on the education and health, welfare and institutions committees.”

Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, has been reappointed to the House committees of Appropriations, Education, Rules and Privileges and Elections.

 Landes said he appreciated the trust House Speaker William Howell showed in reappointing him to the committees, and said he looked forward “to working with the other members of these committees as we serve the citizens of the commonwealth.”