It’s February! And less than a month away from the adjournment (at least the scheduled adjournment) of the Virginia General Assembly.
The legislative session runs 60 days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days. But, as Lowell Feld writes at Blue Virginia, the state’s sessions are among the shortest in the country, given its population.
Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, writes on his blog that losing the two weeks in the short session – this year’s runs 46 days – is “costing us.”
“This year we are seeing a very cursory examination of significant legal issues,” he writes. “The budget process is wholly invisible, unless you’re a member of [the] Finance [Committee].”
So does anyone stand to benefit?
“When the time whittles down, there is less independent information and less constituent input,” he continues. “Instead, the lobbyists get more control – because who else has the time to be here full time?”
