Legislators: ABC plan discussed at McDonnell policy briefing

One of the gripes voiced by some legislators about Gov. Bob McDonnell's policy shop has been its perceived lack of communication with Republican lawmakers about key administration initiatives.

If those complaints are valid, perhaps an ongoing series of six regional meetings between the governor, members of his revamped policy team and Republicans lawmakers will enhance that dialogue and quiet those concerns.

The next session in that series is scheduled for Thursday at the private Bull and Bear Club in Richmond, according to an invitation that describes the gathering as a chance for lawmakers to discuss policy ideas for the upcoming legislative session.

Previous meetings were held in southside Virginia, Harrisonburg, southwest Virginia and Hampton Roads.

Lawmakers who attended last week's confab in Virginia Beach said topics covered included the prospect of lifting a state moratorium on uranium mining, changes to shore up the state employee pension fund, and the two-year budget McDonnell's staff is preparing.

The governor also assured legislators he hasn't abandoned his plan to privatize state liquor stores -- legislative support for the idea has been tepid -- though he didn't offer many specifics about that proposal.

In fact, much of the talk at the Beach event was surface level, said lawmakers who spoke with The Virginian-Pilot afterwards.

But officials said it was a useful exercise nonetheless to enhance familiarity between lawmakers and the governor's staff in advance of a 2012 General Assembly critical to McDonnell's pursuit of his fiscal and policy goals.

-- Julian Walker

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