GOP plot in Democratic-led state Senate fails

RICHMOND

Thinking they had the vote of a local Democrat, state Senate Republicans unsuccessfully attempted Tuesday to take over two powerful legislative committees in a chamber where Democrats hold a majority.

A central figure in the failed coup was Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, whose vote both Democrats and Republicans were courting for several hours Tuesday.

Before it was over, Democratic senators held at least two closed-door meetings in which shouting erupted at one and Northam was called to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's office for a talk.

The issue that Northam, a physician, said caused him to consider supporting the GOP effort was the proposed Medicaid budget cuts that would strongly affect Eastern Virginia Medical School and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. He also was concerned about budget cuts to Old Dominion University.

"We had a disagreement today," Northam said late Tuesday. "We talked through it and we resolved the issue."

The political stakes Tuesday were high.

The GOP plan would have created Republican co-chairmen on the Finance and Courts of Justice committees. Republicans would have stronger control on those panels, which consider some of the most high-profile bills in the legislature.

The Senate budget bill, for example, comes out of the Finance Committee.

Democrats, who hold a 21-19 advantage in the 40-member Senate, argue that every legislative district is facing budget cuts because of current economic conditions.

Had Northam participated in the GOP maneuver, the vote to change the committee hierarchy presumably would have been 20-20.

In cases of a tie, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has the deciding vote.

Earlier this session, Northam broke ranks with Democrats to appoint judges to local courts across the commonwealth, including candidates for the bench in Norfolk and Virginia Beach that had been contested for the better part of a year.

In doing so, Northam sided with Sen. Ken Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, in a spat between Stolle and Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk, over a judicial candidate.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com