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By Michael Sluss
RICHMOND
Republicans have working control of the Virginia Senate, but Democrats showed Thursday that they have enough votes in the divided chamber to grind state government to a halt.
Not one Democrat voted for the Senate's version of the state budget, preventing the chamber from passing a two-year spending bill and heightening partisan tension in the state Capitol.
"I have never seen a day like this," said Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the Senate's presiding officer. "It is a very disappointing day for the people of Virginia."
The budget bill received 20 votes, one short of the number needed for passage. All of the Senate Republicans voted for the bill, and 17 Democrats voted against it. Three Democrats missed the crucial floor vote, including Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Yvonne Miller of Norfolk. Had there been a tie vote, Bolling could not have broken the deadlock because he does not have the authority to vote on appropriations bills.
Senate Democrats cast their votes as an act of protest, angry about the way Republicans organized the Senate after taking control of the chamber in January. Democrats have pressed GOP leaders to give them more representation on committees, arguing that they should better reflect the evenly divided Senate that voters elected in November.
"They're trying to run the government based on power they do not have," said Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico County, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
The Republican-dominated House of Delegates passed its budget bill by a vote of 79-21. That bill will go to the Senate, where Republicans plan to amend it to mirror the same bill that failed to pass on Thursday.
No budget bill can get to Gov. Bob McDonnell's desk without 21 votes in the state Senate. At least one will have to come from a Democrat. The state's current two-year budget expires June 30.
Democrats raised no significant objections to the $85 billion spending plan during an exhaustive floor debate Thursday afternoon, but McEachin and other Democrats said they oppose some of the policies the budget would finance.
"When we're funding public schools at below 2007 levels and yet, at the same time, we're taking money in the form of a tax credit and giving it to private schools, the Republicans shouldn't expect us to vote for a budget like that," McEachin said.
Republicans emphasized that the Senate budget provides more funding for public schools, health care programs and aid to localities than the spending plan McDonnell introduced in December.
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Good job to all of the
Good job to all of the Republicans. Keep up the pressure and do not cave in to the socialist democrats who have been ruining our state and our country. They called it overreaching. I call it a return to sanity.
A Very Disappointing Voter
"I have never seen a day like this," said Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the Senate's presiding officer. "It is a very disappointing day for the people of Virginia."
Note to Bill: I have been disappointed since the Republicans started this sesson of the General Assembly... It should be about: Jobs, Jobs & Jobs and not guns, transvaginal or some rightwing social agenda.
Wow
Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Way to go dems...you showed them!
How so? The Dems hope to
How so? The Dems hope to pressure the Dominionists into fairly apportioned committee assignments. I know that fair representation is not a Dominionist priority but surely you can appreciate the move on a strategic level. The Dems are using the only lever they have left.
Absolutely
Just goes to show that the GOP has no lock on blocking legislation.
"Three Democrats missed the
"Three Democrats missed the crucial floor vote, including Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Yvonne Miller of Norfolk."
Why?
Well certainly...
they had more IMPORTANT things to do.
Live by sword die by sword
Republicans put the screws to Democrats on committee assignments and attempt to pass some of the most vile laws in our state's history and then have the nerve to feign amazement that Democrats won't cooperate with them to pass the budget. Guess Republicans should have listened and been a tad more magnaminous in governing.
No where else in Virgina
No where else in Virginia are citizens required to pay so much, for such a short distance, to get across a small river. Gov. Bob has imposed a user fee on citizens of Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight and areas West. Admittedly, our roads are falling apart, due to the Republican "No new taxes" pledge. Our gas tax has not been increased in 35 years. How would you feel receiving the same pay as you got 35 years ago?
Hampton Roads (Tidewater) is being singled out to be the scapegoat. In Northern Virginia, what are folks charged to go over the huge (and hugely expensive) Woodrow Wilson bridge? Nothing, Nada, Zip!
And...
Tim Kaine did absolutely nada, zip, nothing, nils while he sat at his desk for 4 years! Wait, he did hold a couple of neat little town hall meetings that produced zip, zilch, nada, nils! At least Gov Bob is trying to do something about it, but each idea brought up is shot down. The fact of the matter is, the problem with the HR highways have been neglected for so long, that no matter what the resolve is, it's going to hurt...that's a fact!