Republican House leaders promise to keep tabs on subcommittee votes

RICHMOND

A month before the General Assembly convenes to debate billions of dollars in budget cuts, House Republican leaders eliminated a potential conflict with Democrats - all subcommittee votes on bills will be recorded.

In past years, legislation could be defeated in House subcommittees by a voice vote. That meant bills could be killed without a record of who voted for their demise.

Democrats had criticized Republicans, who control the House, for that practice in recent years, though it has long been standard procedure in the chamber.

House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, announced the change in a written statement Sunday after the Republican Caucus met to plan its strategy for the 2009 legislative session.

During the scheduled 45-day session, which convenes Jan. 14, Howell also said that Republicans will oppose earmarks for non-state agency spending and initiate changes to save $1.1 million in House chamber expenses.

Virginia is facing a revenue shortfall of at least $2.5 billion. That number may grow dramatically when Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announces his revised budget proposal Wednesday. Some lawmakers predict the shortfall may balloon to $3.5 or $4 billion.

“Right now, Virginia’s families and businesses are making necessary and sometimes difficult adjustments to deal with the effects of the current economic climate,” Howell said in a statement. “The people they elect to represent them have the same responsibility.”