A bill that would more than double the time spent on physical education in Fairfax County elementary schools is waiting for a flick of the pen from Gov. Bob McDonnell. Governors don’t make vetoes lightly — especially when legislation has passed a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Republican-dominated House. But many local jurisdictions have encouraged McDonnell to veto the bill mandating 150 minutes of physical education, citing costs above $18 million. They also say the time is better spent on subjects like art, music, science and social studies.
“Governor McDonnell is currently reviewing the hundreds of bills that have been passed by the General Assembly,” spokesman Jeff Caldwell said. “He has 30 days to complete his review and to take actions on the bills. He will conduct a thorough review of this bill in coming weeks before making a decision to sign, veto or amend it.”
In Fairfax County, where elementary school students are required to take 60 minutes of physical education each week, school officials wrote McDonnell asking him for a veto.
McDonnell, a Republican in his second year in office, has never vetoed a bill, Caldwell said. However, McDonnell has amended “many” and sent them back to the General Assembly.
Stephen Farnsworth, a Virginia politics expert at George Mason University, said that’s the much more likely option than a flat-out veto.
“What you see with the governor’s record so far is he’s a more moderate Republican than [he] was as a Republican member of the House,” Farsnworth said. “While some Republicans would have an instinctive rejection of unfunded mandates, McDonnell is more likely to view the issue on its merits than simply from standpoint of conservative politics.”
Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, said he introduced the bill after observing the dangers of childhood obesity firsthand as a pediatric neurosurgeon.
“I don’t buy into the reasoning that they’re using, that it’s an unfunded mandate — it’s all about priorities,” said Northam, noting that many teachers — already hired — are certified to teach physical education. “One in three of our kids is now obese. I think Virginia has to take the lead.”
