Virginia lawmakers return to Richmond this week to tackle Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed bill amendments and changes to the state’s two-year, $80 billion budget plan — as well as the looming headache of the once-a-decade process of redrawing the state’s House, Senate and congressional lines. McDonnell vetoed four measures this year, including one that would increase the cap on medical malpractice awards from $2 million to $3 million over the next 20 years.
Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax, who helped broker a deal on the medical malpractice increase, said there were “no hard feelings” on the veto, but that legislators would still work to override the measure, which passed by wide margins in both the House and the Senate.
Another major battle figures to be over an amendment the governor attached to a bill beginning the process of setting up health insurance exchanges in the state. The amendment would bar plans offered through such exchanges from providing coverage for abortions except for cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger.
That amendment is likely to clear the Republican-led House, but the fate in the Democrat-controlled Senate is less certain.
During the regular session, a measure that will force abortion clinics in the state to meet hospital-like standards passed the Senate after two Democrats – Phillip Puckett, D-Russell, and Charles Colgan, D-Prince William — voted with all 18 Republicans in favor of it. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling then broke the 20-20 tie.
“Looking at the surface, I don’t know that the landscape has changed in terms of the 20-20 vote,” said Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax.
Lawmakers will weigh amendments from McDonnell on a measure long sought by autism advocates that would extend insurance coverage for autistic children ages 2 to 6. The governor has also sent down 86 amendments to the state’s current two-year budget, including additional money for the commonwealth’s depleted retirement system.
And lawmakers will work to redraw the state’s 140 state House and Senate districts after majority parties in each House revealed their respective plans last week. “I think we’re going to see a legislative catfight,” said Doug Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. “The minority party voices in both chambers realize that their oxes are getting gored by the majority.”
The assembly will also have to vote on new plans for the state’s 11 congressional district lines, though lawmakers may not take those up until the week of April 11 or later.
